Big guns barge in!

I had a private meeting arranged with a PCT as a potential customer and confirmed beforehand that I was the only one speaking and who was in the selected small audience. I could also set the agenda.

When I arrived I found reps from a large well known company were there in my slot, set up to give the first of 2 presentations - with mine to be second! They were involved with telehealth with a contact close to the PCT (and from a different PCT) and, having got wind of the meeting, got themselves invited along. I decided at notice, to listen to their presentation but not let them stay for mine. They talked longer than agreed and were not stopped. My time was cut from an hour to less than 20 minutes as as result. These tactics are apparently not uncommon.