erroneous charges
Complaint
Dupree,, N.C,
Country: United States
Got the same letter yesterday and called them. They said my Husband had talked to them on the phone in 2008, and agreed to the charges of $624.99. We asked them to FAX the contract info to us but they did not. My husband called back last night and they said the contact person ( Mr. Cutler ) does not work for them anymore, bull crap, the letter was printed on January 12, 2011. We have NEVER heard of yellow pages express. If we were so behind on payment WHY haven't we received a BILL before now ??
Comments
It's a scam. This is how these scams are run.
They always claim you owe them AFTER "services" have supposedly been provided, since otherwise you would just tell them up front you didn't order anything. It's just a deceptive tactic to threaten you over a faked "agreement" you never actually agreed to.
"My husband called back last night and they said the contact person ( Mr. Cutler ) does not work for them anymore"
They will make up anything they think will get your money. "Mr. Cutler" was probably an alias anyway. Their goal is to put barriers (real or fake) in the way of any attempts you might make to dispute their fraudulent "invoice".
Contact FTC. They have already had complaints against ACA Recovery and goyellowpagesonline.
One of ACA Recovery's other clients, Thompson Hill Publishing/Regional Yellow Pages Online, and various other names, was sued by FTC, and is covered by a permanent injunction, yet ACA Recovery has been collecting on their bogus "accounts" after the injunction was issued. This company is running the same scam, using the same "debt collector", and might even be related.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/DqVvXDYsJwDn1gjMs3ZoRA
In addition, file fraud complaints with your state Attorney General, the NJ AG, the Florida AG, and at www.ic3.gov
If you receive a fraudulent "invoice" in the mail, file a mail fraud complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.
If they call you and play a doctored fake "authorization" recording, contact the FBI to file a wire fraud complaint.
Probably a threat they have no intention of carrying out. I have seen NO reports, among the many fraudulent collection complaints against ACA Recovery, of their reporting of these phony "directory debts" to consumer credit bureaus. That would expose them to the possibility of lawsuits under FCRA, which can result in awards of damages AND attorney fees even though the "debt" may allegedly be a business debt. They appear to be avoiding liability under FCRA, using primarily phone threats to coerce payment on what they clearly know are fraudulent "accounts". They also appear to be using a similar "chicken" strategy in their targeting of small businesses, schools, and churches, who may not have routine access to legal advice.
Contact FTC. They have already had complaints against ACA Recovery and various fraudulent "business directory" clients.
One of ACA Recovery's clients, Thompson Hill Publishing/Regional Yellow Pages Online, and various other names, was sued by FTC, and is covered by a permanent injunction, yet ACA Recovery has been collecting on their bogus "accounts" after the injunction was issued. This company is running the same scam, using the same "debt collector", and might even be related.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/DqVvXDYsJwDn1gjMs3ZoRA
In addition, file fraud complaints with your state Attorney General, the NJ AG, and at www.ic3.gov
File a "fraudulent invoicing" complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.