Evening chaps.
Ive just spent some time looking into this and as far as i can see its actually quite a clear cut case.
As an ex trader, you know full well that we don't allow ex-traders to display any commercial information at all, be that in topics or siggys.
This part of the rules should clarify why that is for those who aren't sure:
because a Trade user will build up a level of trust and trade recognition within the community, they will no longer be allowed to trade on PassionFord, display any of their company information or retain their trade name if they choose to withdraw their trade status and site support.
This measure is in place simply to stop unscrupulous traders registering for a few months and then trading for free on the back of the status built up in that time. It used to happen a lot so we quelled it with this policy very effectively, thus supporting our paying traders.
The selling ban for ex-traders includes offering items for sale in signatures and posts as well as replying to wanted adverts.
The number you are sing for your free advice line is the same one you use for your business so you fall foul of this I'm afraid mate. Interestingly, you were one of the complainants that had me put this policy in place to start with because you hated bedroom traders so much and regularly voiced your opinion about us not doing enough to support you as a trader. I looked at many ways to help the traders out as it was common a trader would trade for one month and then cancel, retain the same user name etc and as a result everyone still contacted them by PM / phone etc. Its a great policy and it has stopped a lot of what was going on. Sadly, it no longer suits your current situation but we cant please all of the people all of the time, in fact we cant even please some of the people some of the time round here it seems.
As a side note:
If you are genuinely looking to get access to more cosworth owners in order to help them out with free advice, which is extremely good of you, then you are welcome to put your Rs500 registrar contact details in the Rs Cosworth forum as a sticky where all the Rs500 owners should come across it.
