Unauthorized yellow pages listing
Complaint
Joe Gabel
Country: United States
Seems like I got the same letter as other people. Norman G Kalina "of counsel". Dated Jan 25, 2010. $574 for goyellowpagesonline.com listing. I have never heard of nor authorized any of this. Says please contact Mr Cutler at 800-356-3713. Sounds like it might be related to an old dispute with The OYP Group.
Comments
Related complaints.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/ocbgPRSIQAD4ogjMKixQeg
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/0iaiJPFCIABjzAjMXonSdw
BBB report for OYP Group, Las Vegas NV address.
http://www.vegasbbb.org/bbb_rated_acc_rpt.asp ... %2C19%2C20%2C26
Another BBB report, NY address. BBB claims they are actually located in Canada.
http://www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business- ... h-ny-141318644/
"...
Government ActionsBack To Top In November 2008, the North Dakota Attorney General issued a Cease and Desist Order against OYP Group.. North Dakota residents allege the company contacted them by telephone and represented that OYP Group was a local yellow pages provider. The operation is actually based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and does not publish a local directory.
According to the North Dakota Attorney General, OYP Group followed up the telephone calls by sending fraudulent invoices claiming the business owed between $399.95 and $487.95 for a two year listing. Even though the businesses asserted they did not authorize a listing they were not able to cancel. Many businesses report being harassed and threatened with collection and legal action.
The Cease and Desist Order prohibits OYP Group and its principals from conducting any further solicitations or advertising in North Dakota.
For more information go to: http://www.ag.nd.gov/documents/11-18-08_002.pdf
..."
BBB report for Ypages Group, AKA OYP Group, AKA "Regional Yellow Pages Online".
http://www.bbb.org/centralohio/business-revie ... bus-oh-70053898
"...
Name: Ypages Group
Phone: (888) 751-1247
Fax: (877) 338-2024
Address: 605 N High St # 306
Columbus, OH 43215-2024
Website: www.ypageslive.com
Original Business Start Date: January 2009
Principal: Ms. Sharon Banks, Agent
Customer Contact: Ms. Sharon Banks, Agent - (888) 751-1247 or clientservices@ypageslive.com
Email Address: clientservices@ypageslive.com
Entity: Limited Liability Corporation
Incorporated: October 2008, MI
Type of Business: Yellow Page Advertising Agencies, Publisher Directories
BBB Accreditation: Ypages Group is not a BBB Accredited business.
Additional DBA Names: Official Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages Media, LLC
YPagesLive
Regional Yellow Pages Online
Thompson Hill Publishing Inc
Local Internet Listing.com
...
Government Actions
The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.
On 07/16/07 Thompson Hill Publishing, Inc. entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Idaho Attorney General's Office. The assurance settles charges the business sent invoices to Idaho consumers for yellow page advertisements in the "Official Yellow Pages" which the consumers argue were never ordered or approved.
The Assurance of Voluntary Assurance included the following:
1. Thompson Hill agreed to cancel the outstanding accounts of the ten Idaho business owners who received invoices from Thompson Hill disputing their validity and to refund $494.85 to one business owner.
2. Thompson Hill agreed to pay the Attorney General $2,685.91 in civil penalties and attorney fees.
3. Thompson Hill agreed to take specific steps toward full disclosure of the business and its practices to Idaho consumers.
4. Thompson Hill agreed to respond within 30 days to all future consumer complaints that it receives from Idaho consumers, the Attorney General, or the Better Business Bureau.
The Assurance was for settlement purposes only and should not be considered as an admission of guilt or finding of violation of the law.
This Case has been assigned the following case number: CV 0T 0712336
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the:
Idaho Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0010
(208) 334-2424
http://www2.state.id.us/ag/
or
District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho
Ada County Court
200 W. Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
On 7/19/07 the Attorney General of North Dakota ordered a Cease and Desist Order for Thompson Hill Publishing, Inc. d/b/a The Official Yellow Pages and Karl Garon, Kevin Secours, and Brian Norberg, Individually. The Order responds to inquiries and complaints alleging misleading or deceptive advertising and fraudulent business practices in connection with the advertisement and sale of merchandise as defined by North Dakota law. Thompson Hill Publishing, Inc. was found to have contacted businesses by telephone asking them to renew their advertisements in "The Official Yellow Pages", a publication by Thompson Hill Publishing, Inc., falsely suggesting the consumer's business had previously approved the listing. Consumer businesses were then sent false and fraudulent invoices claiming the consumer business owes $399.99 per two year listing. Consumer businesses are prohibited from canceling the unauthorized service and are harassed for payment of unpaid invoices.
Under the terms of the Order,
1. OYP Group must immediately cease and desist from soliciting, selling, or advertising goods, services and/or merchandise.
2. OYP Group must immediately cease and desist from issuing any invoices or bills
3. OYP Group must immediately cease and desist from taking any payments from North Dakota consumers including but not limited to direct debits or withdrawals from consumers' bank accounts, cash, check, or credit card payments.
This Case has been assigned as CPAT 070012.014
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the:
North Dakota Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division
4205 State Street
Bismarck, ND 58502-1054
(701) 328-3404
www.ag.state.nd.us
..."
Been in the telecom industry, I can tell you spoofing is illegal, you can always use other resources to follow thru. You may want to contact The US attorney general, the FCC as well as the FTC. Also if this is interstate you can actually contact the FBI.
Based on the law, they cannot contact you at your place of business. They are only legally able to contact you at your home; you can also send a stop and desist letter via certified mail.
Record their conversation, when you speak to them if you do, many of them have no clue of the law and make drastic mistake threatening people. They can't make any statements in which they can destroy your credit, call your family, call your work and or tell everybody that you have debts and you do not pay, this is protected by the law. IN this case now you have the upper hand, as now they open the door for a lawsuit, almost any attorney will take this type of cases on contingency. Is an infringement of your rights and punish by law. This people use scare tactics to scare people and even collect many times the same debts that have been paid previously.
The reality nothing that they can do, if you do not or can't pay, they must take you to court and get a judgment against you, then they need to be able to collect.
You want to get even, call then day in and day out, to their numbers use redial, and have anybody that you know do the same, do it day in and day out, that will shut down their PBX system, if they do it to you do it to them.
Yes annoying, but effective if hundreds of people do the same and saturate their phone lines.
Remember their 800 are free to you, they pay for it, call put them on hold and have your friend do the same, do this every day as much as you can. IF they have the right to harass you, you have the right to do the same to them. They called you first! Block your number if that makes you feel more comfortable. You are not subject to the same laws , do not talk to them, that is what they want, if you call back and talk to them they are verifying that you are acknowledging the debt regardless of the purpose of the call as they will not believe you are not the right person.
Here are some of the biggest scan bags in the industry, and believe me they are all scan bags at the end. They count on you to be afraid of them.
RGS Financial
http://www.rgsfinancial.com/
P.O. Box 852039
Richardson, TX 75085-2039
RGS Financial, Inc.
1700 Jay-Ell Drive
Suite 200
Richardson, TX 75081
Call their 800 numbers is free to you but not to them.
They use many spoof numbers if any, as many times they use no caller ID on purpose but they leave you a number to call. Always keep the recording particularly if they are menacing and report does to your police local department as now you have a legal record.
Spoof Number used: 1310-953-3485
Viking Collection Service, Inc.
Minnesota
7500 Office Ridge Circle, Suite 100
Eden Prairie, MN 55344Arizona
2075 West Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 110
Phoenix, Arizona 85027 Spoof number use caller id Block. One of their numbers is 1800-287-5802
Primary Financial Services also uses Collection agency services to mask there illegal practices (http://www.collectionagencyservices.net/)
http://www.primaryfinancial.com/ (Their web site is been down for long time to be able to cover their illegal practices)
3115 N 3rd Ave Ste 112
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 279-1000
1800-661-0086
If you want to negotiate a settlement call your original lender directly, do not negotiate with this scan bags, they are on commissions or percentages based. Many banks and lender will negotiate up to 80 % of the debts, make sure they do not report it to the IRS if not they can make you pay the taxes on the remaining amount, and make sure they clean your credit, get it in writing first.
Don't get mad get even.
People which do block the caller ID and or use Spoof numbers always have something to hide, that is the only reason they will use a Spoof number (Fake number / Voip Number / Or PBX number whit no actual connection only rings and then dies) Report them to the Authorities, this business practices are illegal and punish by law: if they use spoof numbers, Obscene and rude language, threats, harassment, all this are felonies and punish by law. Report them to your Local Telecom provider, your local District attorney, the local police department, your local senator, record the conversation and keep any and all voice mail left, don't be afraid, they can do absolutely nothing to you till they take you to court if you owe them any money, is futile to argue with ignorant people.
THIS IS AMERICA,
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID BY CC, CALL AND REVERSE PAYMENT.
IF YOU ARE BEING HARASSED, CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE WITH A COMPLAINT. THE LOCAL POLICE WILL CALL THESE GUYS.
ACCREDITED COLLECTION AGENCY IS IN ON THE SCAM, THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO YOUR CREDIT.
ALL MONEY MADE BY RYPO IS SENT BACK TO PAKISTAN TO FUEL THE AL-QAEDA.
RYPO CONNECT (Written on Door) REGIONAL YELLOW PAGES ONLINE
1425 Rene Leveques West*
Montreal, Quebec Canada
4th floor - Suite 402
Calls made from Montreal* and Pakistan.
*Building: http://www.imtl.org/montreal/building/Hotel-Ford.php
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Regional Yellow Pages Online - Script
May I speak with the Office Manager please. . .
Hi, my name is - -. I am calling with the Regional Yellow Pages. I am calling regarding your request that you made about three months ago, that you want to remove your listings from our database and cancel all your future listings. Is that correct?
YES/NO
Yes = Closer. No = Opener
An opener means you do not want to cancel and will be charged the $479.95. This rarely happens so it will be mostly a Closer.
Closer
Alright - What I will do today is that l will close your account and provide you with a cancellation file # and also, we will send you a Letter of Closure stating that the account is permanently closed with us, which means that we will not be contacting you for any renewals or updates, and we will also put it on our do-not- call, do-not-renew list, OK.
Since the listings were started in - - they will expire in - - and will be purged from our database.
You will also receive the balance of the invoice, which is $ 479.95 and the invoice will be marked FINAL on it.
Do you use purchase order numbers down there or should we just mail this invoice to your attention?
Alright, and the address we have on file is - - OK and your name is- - ? And position - - . Are you authorized to approve and accept this Final Invoice for your Company? (Must be Yes)
OK someone from my Quality Control Department will give you a call later on today and will confirm the mailing address and provide you with your file number.
Anything else I can do for you today?
Thanks for your time and business, and have a great day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN COLLECTION COMPANY INVOLVED IN THE CROSS BORDER SCAM
ACCREDITED COLLECTION AGENCY
76 N MAPLE AVE STE 141
RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450-3212
USA
800 356 3713 fax: 201 670 8272
http://www.acarecovery.com/
1-800-356-3713
rhascup@acarecovery.com
accounts@acarecovery.com
"...
Plaintiff: Federal Trade Commission
Defendants: 6253547 Canada, Inc., Opus Media, Inc., Karl Garon, Claude E. Berthiaume, The Official Yellow Pages and The OYP Group
Case Number: 1:2009cv01211
Filed: May 27, 2009
Court: Ohio Northern District Court
Office: Cleveland Office [ Court Info ]
County: Cuyahoga
Presiding Judge: Judge James S. Gwin
Nature of Suit: Other Statutes - Other Statutory Actions
Cause: 15:0053 Federal Trade Commission Act
Jurisdiction: U.S. Government Plaintiff
..."
FTC actions against several Canadian "business directory" scams.
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/status/status.pdf
Permanent Injuction against Thompson Hill Publishing/OYP Group.
"...
FTC v. 6253547 CANADA, INC., No. 1:09-CV-01211 (N.D. Ohio)
Parties: 6253547 Canada, Inc., d/b/a Thompson Hill Publishing, The Official
Yellow Pages, and The Oyp Group
Opus Media, Inc.
Karl Garon
Claude E. Berthiaume
Assigned Attorneys: Michael Milgrom (ECR)
Larissa L. Bungo
Jon M. Steiger
Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 in connection with
the sale and billing of business directory listings.
Status: Complaint filed 5/27/09.
TRO with asset freeze and other equitable relief entered 6/2/09.
Preliminary injunction entered 7/1/09.
Commission’s motion to consolidate case with FTC v. Integration Media
Inc., No. 1:09-CV-01776 (N.D. Ohio) filed 8/14/09; granted
8/24/09.
Clerk’s entry of default 2/9/10.
Permanent injunction and default judgment entered 3/30/10.
FTC v. 6555381 CANADA INC., No. 1:09-CV-03158 (N.D. Ill.)
Parties: 6555381 Canada Inc., d/b/a Reed Publishing
3189651 Canada Inc., d/b/a Reed Publishing
Assigned Attorneys: Gary L. Ivens (BCP/MP)
Guy Ward (MWR)
Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 in connection with
the sale and billing of business directory listings.
Status: Complaint filed 5/27/09.
TRO with asset freeze and other equitable relief entered 6/1/09.
Preliminary injunction entered 6/11/09.
Default entered 7/2/09.
Order for permanent injunction and final default judgment entered
1/21/10.
..."
"...
FTC v. 6555381 CANADA INC., No. 1:09-CV-03158 (N.D. Ill.)
Parties: 6555381 Canada Inc., d/b/a Reed Publishing
3189651 Canada Inc., d/b/a Reed Publishing
Assigned Attorneys: Gary L. Ivens (BCP/MP)
Guy Ward (MWR)
Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 in connection with
the sale and billing of business directory listings.
Status: Complaint filed 5/27/09.
TRO with asset freeze and other equitable relief entered 6/1/09.
Preliminary injunction entered 6/11/09.
Default entered 7/2/09.
Order for permanent injunction and final default judgment entered
1/21/10.
..."
"...
FTC v. 6654916 CANADA INC., No. 1:09-CV-03159 (N.D. Ill.)
Parties: 6654916 Canada Inc., d/b/a National Yellow Pages Online Inc.
9187-4131 Quebec Inc., d/b/a Sharing Telecom Solutions
National Yellow Pages Online, LLC
DRS Without Prejudice, Inc.
Riaz A. Butt
Faheem Ahmed Mughal
Nabeel Azmat
Sohail Azmat
Bilal Ahmed Malik, a/k/a Bobby Malik
Assigned Attorneys: William J. Hodor (MWR)
Theresa M. McGrew
Alleged Conduct: Deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5 in connection with
the sale and billing of business directory listings.
Status: Complaint filed 5/27/09.
TRO with asset freeze and other equitable relief entered 5/27/09.
Preliminary injunction with asset freeze and other equitable relief as to
defendants 6654916 Canada Inc., 9187-4131 Quebec Inc., and
Bilal Ahmed Malik entered 6/10/09.
Preliminary injunction with asset freeze and other equitable relief as to
defendants National Yellow Pages Online, LLC, DRS Without
Prejudice, Inc., Riaz A. Butt, and Faheem Ahmed Mughal entered
6/22/09.
Stipulated preliminary injunction with asset freeze and other equitable
relief as to defendants Nabeel Azmat and Sohail Azmat entered
6/22/09.
Default as to defendants 6654916 Canada Inc., National Yellow Pages
Online, LLC, and DRS Without Prejudice, Inc. entered 9/17/09
..."
6253547 Canada, Inc.
Thompson Hill Publishing
The Official Yellow Pages
The Oyp Group
Opus Media, Inc.
Karl Garon
Claude E. Berthiaume
"Claude E. Berthiaume"
https://800notes.com/news/zgKmY-U8vQD_HAjLsyGq_g?cp=7
"...
India call-centre replies to Juli Wright
9 Feb 2010
This is the latesssss, this is being run By a Claude E. Berthiaume ( A.K.A`s) Perter Dee/J.B/William Bernard.
French-canadian.
Telephone: 1-866-689-5084
Inquiries: info@regionalyp.com
Billing: accounts@regionalyp.com
Customer service: cs@regionalyp.com
..."
Regional Yellow Pages/Regional Yellow Pages Online complaints.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-689-5084
From their website:
http://www.regionalyellowpagesonline.com/contact-us.php
"866-689-5084"
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-689-5084/7
"...
RYPO CONNECT (Written on Door) REGIONAL YELLOW PAGES ONLINE
1425 Rene Leveques West*
Montreal, Quebec Canada
4th floor - Suite 402
Calls made from Montreal* and Pakistan.
..."
"November 18, 2008
STENEHJEM HALTS PHONY YELLOW PAGES SCAM
Cease & Desist Order Issued against “Official Yellow Pages”
BISMARCK – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued a Cease and Desist
Order against OYP Group aka Official Yellow Pages and its principals Grant Jamieson, Claude Berthiaume, Karl Garon, Rebecca Donalds and Marc Lafroamboise aka Marc Lefebvre. North Dakota residents allege OYP Group contacted them by telephone and represented that OYP Group was a local yellow pages provider; in fact, the operation is based in Montreal, Quebec and does not publish a local directory.
OYP Group followed up the telephone calls by sending fraudulent invoices claiming the business owed between $399.95 to $487.95 for a two-year listing. Even though the businesses asserted they did not authorize a listing of their business with OYP Group, they were not able to cancel the unauthorized listings. Many businesses were harassed regarding unpaid "invoices" or threatened with collection and legal action. Repeated attempts by the Attorney General to contact OYP Group were ignored.
"Businesses are inundated with solicitations and bills," said Stenehjem. "Scammers like OYP Group exploit that fact to submit bogus invoices in the hope they will get paid along with the legitimate ones."
The Cease & Desist Order prohibits OYP Group and its principals from conducting any further solicitations or advertising in the state. The Order also bars them from taking or collecting any payments from the fraudulent invoices.
The Attorney General's investigation revealed OYP Group and its principals appear to be associated with, if not the same enterprise as, Thompson Hill Publishing dba "The Official Yellow Pages." Stenehjem previously issued a cease and desist order against Karl Garon, Kevin Secours and Brian Norberg and Thompson Hill Publishing dba "The Official Yellow Pages" on July 19, 2007 for similar illegal conduct.
# # #
"
Since their offer was fraudulent, due to misrepresenting who they were and what they were selling, treat the alleged agreement as void due to fraud.
It's basically a fraudulent telemarketing/extortion racket. When they threaten to send the police, you know that all they can do is threaten.
Not much else they can do, as they are well known for running this scam, even pretending to be other companies, including doctoring, editing, or misrepresenting phone recordings. The recordings are intended to be used to intimidate and threaten you, for which they will leave out any part that might disclose their deception, often just playing some dubbed "yes" copied into a different script.
There are NO reports that they have "arrested" anyone, "sued" anyone, or even damaged the credit of anyone. They, and the debt collector who works with them, reportedly give up if you don't appear to be falling for it, or notify them you have contacted authorities. It doesn't look like they can run the risk of threatening too far, since this scam is too well known.
File fraud complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and at www.ic3.gov