JOHANNESBURG – A UNITED Kingdom-based public relations (PR) agency, Ocere, is accused of failing to pay African news publications it enlists to run its media campaigns on behalf of its clients.
Allegations against Ocere are that they approach the unsuspecting media with genuine media campaigns on behalf of their clients, but once such services are rendered, they stop communications with the service provider for the purportedly sponsored campaigns.
“Maybe Ocere are reliable in the United Kingdom, but their conduct in Africa leaves a lot to be desired,” said a source from a media company.
“We dealt with them once, but they did not pay our money for services rendered. Therefore Ocere cannot be trusted.”
Another source concurred.
“We dealt with one of the Ocere executives called Lucy Roberts. My high respect for the United Kingdom partnerships or cooperation has been shuttered. It will take time to trust any United Kingdom PR or marketing agencies because of Ocere’s actions,” the source.
He added: “Whenever Ocere approaches news publications looking for partnerships to enhance media campaigns on behalf of their clients, Ocere displays highest professionalism, credibility, humility and trustworthiness yet once they receive all the marketing services they immediately disappear and stop communicating with service providers.”
Ocere claims to be an agency that offers more transparency, greater simplicity, and the kind of meaningful results that turn ambitions into realities for all its customers.
– CAJ News
