File complaints with FTC, your state AG, and US Postal Inspector.
Under federal law, merchandise shipped without being ordered is the property of the receiver, to dispose of as they see fit.
Mailing of invoices for products not ordered is prohibited under US law and postal regulations, hence file a complaint with the Postal Inspector for mail fraud.
Sometimes, these scam outfits avoid actually sending illegal invoices, to avoid mail fraud statutes. Instead they attemt to use telephone harassment, sending "bills" by FAX, threatening to send you to "collections", or calling pretending to be a debt collector.
Using common carriers other than the Post Office (UPS, FedEx, etc) for shipments as part of a fraudulent scheme is ALSO prohibited by mail fraud statutes, so you can file complaints with the US Postal Inspector even if they didn't use the Post Office to send their unwanted overpriced toner.
Their claims are not legitimate, being based on deceptive misrepresentations if there was even any attempt at a sales pitch at all, they are well known to law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and they are pretty much all bark and no bite. With a markup over 10X retail, they only need a few businesses to fall for the scam to keep going. They are unlikely to have repeat "customers", so they have to keep searching for new suckers, usually among very small businesses or non-profits.
They attempt to turn a call claiming they are sending some information on their products into an alleged "verbal contract" for overpriced unordered office supplies.
This type of scam, since it starts with deceptive telemarketing, may employ false claims that they have a recorded "authorization". Such recordings may be edited or clipped to hide the actual conversation or create the appearance of some agreement, or they may otherwise have been doctored for this purpose. Deceptive pattern is similar to fraudulent "business directory" telemarketing.
0
mike
Can anyone tell me if there is a legit shipping address for United Business Supply to return unordered goods? thanks
0
tj
What did they do, send goods to you without even any return address? If you never ordered from them, why would you bother?
Under U.S. Postal regulations unordered merchandise is the property of the receiver, to dispose of as they see fit.
It is illegal to mail bills for unordered merchandise through the U.S. Mail. Sending something that looks like a bill, but is actually an offer or solicitation, without clearly indicating that it is just a solicitiation and the receiver has no obligation to order or pay, is also illegal.
It is mail fraud to use U.S. Mail or common carriers as part of a scheme to defraud. Thus, even if they sent unordered goods by UPS, or FedEx, file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.
If they sent you junk you didn't order and they are threatening you for payment, file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector for mail fraud.
Then send them a letter indicating that you did not order their merchandise, that you have filed a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector, and that if they do not make arrangements to pick it up within 10 days, you will handle their junk in accordance with postal regulations.
If you have any further problems contact the Postal Inspector, FTC, your state AG, or the California AG. In fact, if they sent you unordered merchandise, you already have reason to file a complaint, so put it on record.
We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices. ... Complaint Experience
Complainants generally allege that the company by telemarketing deceptively contacts their company under the guise that they are their regular office supplier. In some cases, customers said that the business shipped unordered merchandise and then invoiced them an exorbitant amount for the unwanted goods. The company generally responds by removing customers from their contact list and crediting invoices. "
0
ecrted
Their invoice has an address of 43759 15th St. West, #144 Lancaster, CA 93534
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Caro
These people have nothing better to do. They constantly call my work trying to connect with me as I am the person who orders all office supplies. They are often pleasant when you first get on the phone but when you start to question them or deny their services they get nasty or just hang up on you. Don't fall for their scams. If you get a call from a company that you know you do not order from advise your employees to deny any request that they are trying to get.
0
1devildoll
these guys are a piece of work, I had just started a new job, and someone calls, and askes for the person I was replacing, I stated she no longerr worked here, and have them my name, and asked how I could help them, he says he is the wharehouse manager from united supply source, and he has an order that was put on hold some time ago, and he wants to get it shipped out. I asked, what is the order....he says 3 toners. I sid should be fine(seemed ok to me, as he didnt try to verify any info,not brand or model, or even shipping,and becasue the girl i repalced orders office supplies ) a few days later i get 3 toners....cool. then about a month i get 4 more, that was not asked for, nor promised...i call, and speak with someone and they go AGAINST what the original guy says, its part of the "original order" then i get a letter saying to sign and fax for the "certificate of holding" that there were FIVE more waiting to be shipped!! (didnt sign that) sent them a letter by fax stating that we did not need any further toners, as we had already recieved 7!! I got caught up in the middle of this scam as these ppl asked for somone who does not work here anymore, and i didnt know that I dont even order the toners, our IT guys do(just found that out recently) NOT HAPPY!! and its funny, because i was aware of "toner scams" I have been ordering office supplies for almost 10 years now! I would NEVER have told a strange supply compnay any info, when they cold call!! GRRR!
0
rk
I just had the same thing happen from these guys..the lady on the phone was talking so fast saying that our price for the toner had not changed with the company wide price jump on that toner, and everything was still good with our old price and the toner would be shipped out asap. She was done talking and hung up before I could catch on to what she was doing. We received a toner about 3 days later. However i called back in and immediately got a return number to send it back.
0
tj
File a complaint with the California Attorney General, and the U.S. Postal Inspector for mail fraud.
0
SS
I had no idea about toner scams. I too had just started a new job and John Moore presented himself on the phone from a Z Rock company who said we regularly ordered supplies and that there was a price increase but that we hadn't been notified so I could get some at the old price. I had someone named Lisa also calling to verify equipment brand. I feel stupid now but at least I learned. So "John" called me again, I told him I was canceling the order and he quickly hung up, and then someone from United Supply Source called and I told her I was canceling the order. Two days later (today) the toner shows up. I'm sending them a certified letter stating they must pick up the toner or we will be forced to dispose of the goods after 30 days. The company name is United Supply Source and the return address is 43759 15th St. West, Suite 144, Lancaster, CA 93534.
0
JS
Same scam line - United Supply Source used it on one of our newer employees.
Looks like they are getting some mileage out of that story.
Fake PO numbers and everything on the invoice. Trying to return the items now. Who in their right mind would ever pay $1300.00 for 2 toners!!!
Phone number in this invoice is Ph:661-723-9000 fax:661-726-9002 Federal tax ID# = 26-4300722
0
thisguy
Duped our receptionist with the same old story. "Can you please verify the model printer you have, your address, and your name for a toner order that was placed?". She's new and gave it to them, then a toner showed up a week later. Just called them today to get the "All representatives are busy so please leave your name, company, phone number, and invoice number...". Nothing like asking you to leave everything they'd need to try to pull it off again.
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tj
When their invoice arrives, file a mail fraud complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.
0
tj
If no terms were disclosed, then there is no offer, with no offer no acceptance, and therefore no agreement to pay, hence no order.
0
at
Same old story ..sent toner with fake Po#. If they don't pick up the toner. I will put into the trash.... ha,ha,
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LH
I found it odd that they tried to send me toner, and the only company I order from is www.Quill.com. I just purchased a copier not even a month ago, and I dont know who United Supply Source is!!! Maybe an inside souce at Quill is selling customer info to United Supply Source so they can scam people for more money???? Anyone else order from Quill?
0
caught in the game
Well sadly this happended to us too. I filed complaints with the FTC, AG and the Postal service. Hopefully they will stop these guys. Thanks for the advice and I too will send a certified letter stating they can come pick up their supply or else we will be throwing it out. Really they think we would return it with our money and then be charged a 15% restock fee which would come out to $104.22. Yeah right! Now I see how these scammers make their money.... Lets take these guys down and all file complaints.
0
Don
I have received so many of these calls in the past and they keep on comming. After getting frustrated with them I decided to have some fun with them. Without actually giving them an order I have given them the addresses to send the catalogs etc to local police departments, county district attorneys, 1600 Pennsylvania ave. in DC, Federal trade Commission and the FBI.
0
Upset
I just came back from lunch and here are 4 toner cartridges which I did not order -- has anyone been able to return? I called and they said a supervisor would call me back - I'm still waiting.
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Tiffany Porter
What was the number for returns? This just happened to me. I thought something might be up but he talked so fast that I could tell exactly what was going on. I asked for a name and number and he said Jeremy, United Supply, and the number he gave me was to some humorhotline.com fake number. I am afraid I might get into trouble at work.
Comments
File complaints with FTC, your state AG, and US Postal Inspector.
Under federal law, merchandise shipped without being ordered is the property of the receiver, to dispose of as they see fit.
Mailing of invoices for products not ordered is prohibited under US law and postal regulations, hence file a complaint with the Postal Inspector for mail fraud.
Sometimes, these scam outfits avoid actually sending illegal invoices, to avoid mail fraud statutes. Instead they attemt to use telephone harassment, sending "bills" by FAX, threatening to send you to "collections", or calling pretending to be a debt collector.
Using common carriers other than the Post Office (UPS, FedEx, etc) for shipments as part of a fraudulent scheme is ALSO prohibited by mail fraud statutes, so you can file complaints with the US Postal Inspector even if they didn't use the Post Office to send their unwanted overpriced toner.
Their claims are not legitimate, being based on deceptive misrepresentations if there was even any attempt at a sales pitch at all, they are well known to law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and they are pretty much all bark and no bite. With a markup over 10X retail, they only need a few businesses to fall for the scam to keep going. They are unlikely to have repeat "customers", so they have to keep searching for new suckers, usually among very small businesses or non-profits.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/HJXINbze5AAEWgjK1RXKfQ
They attempt to turn a call claiming they are sending some information on their products into an alleged "verbal contract" for overpriced unordered office supplies.
This type of scam, since it starts with deceptive telemarketing, may employ false claims that they have a recorded "authorization". Such recordings may be edited or clipped to hide the actual conversation or create the appearance of some agreement, or they may otherwise have been doctored for this purpose. Deceptive pattern is similar to fraudulent "business directory" telemarketing.
If you never ordered from them, why would you bother?
Under U.S. Postal regulations unordered merchandise is the property of the receiver, to dispose of as they see fit.
It is illegal to mail bills for unordered merchandise through the U.S. Mail. Sending something that looks like a bill, but is actually an offer or solicitation, without clearly indicating that it is just a solicitiation and the receiver has no obligation to order or pay, is also illegal.
It is mail fraud to use U.S. Mail or common carriers as part of a scheme to defraud. Thus, even if they sent unordered goods by UPS, or FedEx, file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.
If they sent you junk you didn't order and they are threatening you for payment, file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector for mail fraud.
Then send them a letter indicating that you did not order their merchandise, that you have filed a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector, and that if they do not make arrangements to pick it up within 10 days, you will handle their junk in accordance with postal regulations.
If you have any further problems contact the Postal Inspector, FTC, your state AG, or the California AG. In fact, if they sent you unordered merchandise, you already have reason to file a complaint, so put it on record.
BBB report:
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/United-Supply-Source-100080620
"Company Rating F
Our opinion of what this rating means:
We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices.
...
Complaint Experience
Complainants generally allege that the company by telemarketing deceptively contacts their company under the guise that they are their regular office supplier. In some cases, customers said that the business shipped unordered merchandise and then invoiced them an exorbitant amount for the unwanted goods. The company generally responds by removing customers from their contact list and crediting invoices. "
Looks like they are getting some mileage out of that story.
Fake PO numbers and everything on the invoice. Trying to return the items now. Who in their right mind would ever pay $1300.00 for 2 toners!!!
Phone number in this invoice is Ph:661-723-9000 fax:661-726-9002
Federal tax ID# = 26-4300722