I was asked by a newsagent recently to help them exit Hubbed as they were encountering challenges in achieving this for themselves. For those not aware of Hubbed, it is a parcel service promoted to newsagents by Hubbed in partnership with and endorsement from the ANF.
Resolving any issue starts with the paperwork from the start of the relationship. I can see the newsagent has a relationship with Hubbed Pty Limited, ACN 159 190 833 and ABN 28 159 190 833.
A check of the ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission) website shows that a series of changes in 2014 including: October 10, 2014, Hubbed Pty Limited changes its name to A.C.N. 159 190 833 Pty Limited.
The next ASIC entry is: June 2, 2015. The ATO commences winding-up proceedings against the company that was Hubbed {Pty Limited lodging a Form 519. The ASIC website shows that matter is still pending.
This is important for newsagents wanting to exit Hubbed as it goes to the status of the entity with which you contracted and whether any interest Hubbed or related entities had in your business has been transferred or sold to any other entity. There is another entity, Hubbed Pty Limited, which was called A.C.N. 600 398 178 PTY LTD until October 8, 2014. The last activity on ASIC registers for that company are on October 17, 2014.
I am posting this here to seek help from others who may have more information that could help newsagents in relation to their Hubbed relationship.
We lost a lot of money on Hubbed’s Connect. For the first a few months, we rang Hubbed quite a few times and intended to stop, but every time we were persuaded to keep going by their promise that there will be more exciting things happening such as international parcels, receiving the parcels etc. But it didn’t work, we keep losing money. It took the best place in my counter, and we keep working on it to lose the money. That’s really a headache. We are still trying to quit, but we were told we signed and committed for 3 years. It’s really a pain.
Brad if you got into Hubbed because of endorsement and promotion by the ANF I suggest you approach them for assistance.
I have been called by eight newsagents in the last two days all wanting to get out of their Hubbed agreements. Four say they have contacted the ANF without success in exiting.
Yesterday Email from Exchangit
“Dear Newsagent,
XchangeIT has formed a partnership with blueshyft to upgrade the Nparcel software and hardware platforms and extend the services offered through Nparcel.
Owned by Matt Handbury’s Murdoch Media, blueshyft ”
I seem to remember at one time Mr Matt Handbury was asssociated with Hubbed.
Now he is associated with another new computer system potentially offering us the world.
Further I forgot to mention AFR on Line an Article on Matt Handbury “Handbury’s newsagency plan hits ‘socialist’ post offices
I am reading it now.
Peter please see the response I have posted just now from Matt Handbury: http://www.newsagencyblog.com.au/2015/07/09/matt-handbury-speaks-about-hubbed-and-support-for-newsagents/