Pictured above: Wayne Farrington director of Brightfox Solutions

The ambition to get to the top of Google and other net searches is seeing unscrupulous web companies ripping off local businesses claims a director of a Warwickshire based web design company.

Wayne Farrington from Brightfox Solutions, based at Parrotts Grove, near Nuneaton, said disreputable companies are tarnishing the industry and hindering business in the region by making false promises that they can get companies to the top of Google, often asking for thousands of pounds.

Mr Farrington whose company have many customers around Coventry and Nuneaton said: "These cyberspace cowboy builders really are the scourge of reputable website design companies, making it harder to get across the message of what can be done to get noticed on the internet. They make wild promises and once the contract is signed, they fail to deliver, and in some cases take no action at all. It's a rip off."

With the Internet a major marketing avenue for sales, search engine optimisation (SEO), where website content is constructed to help businesses get spotted in searches, has become an increasingly important topic for business leaders. Many spend huge budgets so they can be in front of their competitors on Google and other search engines.

Mr Farrington added: "These unethical companies try to make it all out to be so easy and that they will be the answer to one of the most important marketing wants in today's business. We have spoken to businesses who are angry at the poor treatment they have had where the promises just weren't delivered."

He gave advice to all businesses who receive unsolicited calls or emails with big promises on SEO.

"Don't believe the hype," he said. "It's best to speak to at least three companies and see what they say. Only by talking to trusted companies can you be equipped to make an informed choice and remember the old saying of if it's too good to be true then it probably isn't true."

Katie Randino of Frank Brookes Ltd, who is now working with Brightfox Solutions, said: "We listened to one of these companies promising to get us to the top of Google and signed up to a 12 month contract costing thousands. They did nothing whatsoever except take our money. We had a right battle before we got the contract cancelled and our money back. We certainly learnt a lesson and we're glad this is now behind us freeing valuable time to concentrate on growing our business rather than having exasperating phone calls. I would warn all businesses not to make the same mistake."