THE chairman of the Thames Valley branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging its members to read the small print after a Spanish company that was forced to stop trading appears to be up and running again.

In 2003 Barcelona-based European City Guide (ECG) was shut down for one year and fined more than £200,000 for mail shots which gave the impression that inclusion in their directory was free.

However the small print revealed that firms which signed and returned the form were committed to paying thousands of pounds for the entries and a copy of the guide.

The Office of Fair Trading received more than 280 complaints and in conjunction with the Catalan authorities eventually found that the company had infringed EU advertising laws.

Now a member of the FSB has received a request from a company in Valencia with the name European City Guide asking for details to be included in a guide on CD-Rom.

There is however a paragraph on the form warning people to only sign the form if they want to place an insertion. This would cost 917 (approx £611) per version.

Robin Lawrence, FSB Thames Valley regional chairman, said: "The ever increasing paper chase and a lack of dedicated administrative departments mean small employers have little time to go through all their mail with a fine tooth comb.

"If they are ever in any doubt they should contact the local trading standards office."

A spokesman from Buckinghamshire Trading Standards said in 2003 it was aware of the company European City Guide and complaints were referred to the Office of Fair Trading.

The spokesman added: "So far we haven't received complaints from this latest mailshot that has reportedly been distributed to businesses.

"Trading Standards reminds businesses to treat with caution all requests for company information which will be included in trade directories or databases."

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards can be contacted on 01296 383212.