Disputing Invoice

ComplaintsScamsYellow Business Ads

Complaint

0
Lila Keim
Country: United States
Do not talk to Yellow Business Ads.  I received a call from them asking if I wanted to renew my company's advertising.  I said no I was not renewing any advertising.  They have a recording of me stating this.  I really did not think about it much as I have a Yellow Pages ad, which I am billed an agreed upon amount monthly, and thought it was them calling.  The next week I received a phone call from someone saying they were in the Legal Department of Yellow Business Ads and that I needed to give them my credit card number to pay my final invoice.  I told them I would not give them my credit card number over the phone, and they could email the statement to me. I was shocked when the invoice came and it was for $789.00.  I checked all of my records for the past 6 years, and I do not have a contract with this company and have never recieved any type of communication from them until this call. Even though I have disputed the charges by letter and have asked them not to call again.  They continue to call and threaten to turn me over to a collection agency.  They say this invoice is for internet advertising.  I went to their website and entered my company name.  There is nothing there except my name, my company's name and my phone number, all of which is public record.

Comments

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  • 0
    NYCompany
    Hello I have received the same invoice.

    If someone knows WHERe and WHO to submit these fraud charges to please advise.

    Thank you
  • 0
    Dave Mason
    Just got off the phone with them, same thing as above, same fees, same threats, the funny thing my caller ID showed up at Kaleida Health  (how a ad agency shows up as a health ID beats me) These guys are just out there, I will be heading to the BBB as soon as I get my cancelation notice and invoice. They also said they would send me a copy of the recording where I "authorized"  the transaction but I have not seen that in the mail yet.  If anyone has had success reporting this and makeing them stop calling, please post the info.
  • 0
    jawslw
    Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20580 (202) 326-2222
    www.ftc.gov,

    Better Business Bureau  www.bbb.org · Official site,

    Your state attorney general's office, (Mine is: Minnesota Attorney General's Office. 1400 Bremer Tower 445 Minnesota Street St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 296-3353 (800) 657-3787 TTY:(651) 297-7206 TTY:(800) 366-4812)www.ag.state.mn.us)

    Your state law enforcement support office, (Mine is: Minnesota Law Enforcement Support Office (MN-LESO).https://dps.mn.gov)

    Report them to the IRS because these scammers: Yellow Business Ads, USBR Online, Yellow Blue Media, Universal Business Publishing, Blue Yellow Book, and Online Business Solutions use deceptive tactics to get your money, they more than likely don't report their ill-gotten gains as income to the IRS. I coppied and pasted info from the IRS web site below. Notice how "special investigators" is mentioned.

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has special investigators to help examine these cases.If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax laws, you may report this activity by completing Form 3949-A. You may fill out Form 3949-A online, print it and mail it to:
    Internal Revenue Service
    Fresno, CA 93888
    http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=106778,00.html.

    I was victimized by fraudulent business directory services. I paid them before I learned it was a scam (I will not give you details about how much I lost). When one of these scammers calIed to steal more money from me, I told  him that I reported them to the IRS (and all of the agencies mentioned above). He called me a f----r, and  hung up on me. That kind of behavior clearly demonstrates that they are nothing but criminals.
  • 0
    Chad
    Same story! I thought it was legit, but couldn't pay the whole thing so I told three different people who called to set up payments for me. They all said that they would have someone from "accounting" call me back, but all I get is someone demanding payment in full and invoices for $789.99 in the mail. Sure glad I read these complaints. They won't get a penny from me!
  • 0
    jawslw
    I recieved a letter from my state attorney general's office. I might be getting $789.99 back from Yellow Business Ads, and $745 back from Yellow Blue Media (I'll beleive that after I have and actual  check from them made out to me). I think filling out an IRS reporting form and emailing it to the offending companies to show them what you are doing to get them in trouble (stick it in their faces) and contacting all the agencies who deal with fraud pays off to some extent. I told them that they owe me more than the above mentioned. I made it clear that paying back the amounts mentioned above does not excuse them from giving back the remaining amount they scammed and should they ever end up in court, I intend to persue the remaining amount.
  • 0
    GBrown
    I love the ideas from 'jawslw' lsted above. As small business owner, we are all busy.

    I have taken the liberty enclosing some of the addresses and a 'stock' to send complaints. Also attached is a letter to send toYellow Business Ads (done by snail mail, this will cost five stamps), but hopefully this will serve to end this company's illegitimate practice. Feel free to cut and paste....

    BBB of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean
    4411 Beacon Circle, Suite 4
    West Palm Beach, FL 33407

    Federal Trade Commission
    600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
    Washington, DC 20580

    Pam Bondi
    Office of Attorney General
    The Capitol PL-01
    Tallahassee, FL
    32399-1050

    IRS
    51 S.W. First Ave.
    Miami, FL 33130

    Letter: (in part)
    Dear __________(addresses above),

    I am sending you this letter as my business has now been the repeated target of a fraudulent billing practice. The latest is from Yellow Business Ads whose address is listed as:

    7891 W FLAGER ST, SUITE 346,
    MIAMI, FL, 33144

    TEL:888-846-3506

    Essentially, they are claiming that I have requested a listing with them- I have done no such thing. Quite simply, I do not advertise. I would never authorize this alleged service.

    I cannot find this company listed on any legitimate business site (MyFlorida.com or the BBB, except under frauds and complaints), and I suspect that they are not paying taxes upon any income they earn (often illegitimately).

    My larger concern is that this criminal practice (billing for services not provided, or even requested) is becoming more common and is bilking legitimate businesses out of their money.

    Specifically, I am requesting that you begin an investigation into Yellow Business Ads for illegal business practices.

    I am strongly encouraging to pursue this matter. My small business is now spending a great deal of time dealing with this problem/crime. Based on a review of complaints that can easily be found with a Google search, this is becoming an enormous problem for a lot of small business owners. This can only serve to erode our enthusiasm to continue to do business in Florida. Of course, by it’s very nature, it is illegal; It also depletes the time, money and resources of business that are attempting to legally do business within the state.




    And the terse letter to Yellow Business Ads:

    Attention Dirtbag (or any salutation you consider appropriate- to be honest, I actually kept the greeting civil),

    You have no legitimate dealings with my business, as I did not order your service.

    I am requesting that you immediately place my business on the “Do Not Call” list.

    Void any bill or invoice that you plan on sending me, as I did not order this service.

    Know that I have reported your ‘business’ to the BBB, the Federal Trade Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, and the IRS

    Do not contact me, unless it is with a letter of apology.


    I hope this helps save some time and effort; I know this problem can be time-consuming
  • 0
    Karen
    I have been receiving these calls for a year now.  After the call they fax the bill for $789.  We have not paid it but I have learned how to get them off the phone quickly.  Tell them you have filed a complaint with the Attorney Generals office and they want your phone number and address.  They immediately Hang up, works every time.
  • 0
    Dan
    I got a bill from them for the $789.00,  i called them and they said i renewed my account for 2 years,  and he played a recording for me, and no where in it was anything about renewing,  this was canceled a year ago, and they kepp threating me with collections, and there collections is from the same place on the caller id.  the guy on the phone told me that it was a renewal phone call, and it might not be ethical, but its legal.  i proceeded to tell him to F@#K off and stop calling me, and he was ready to run my card,.  they need to be shut down.
  • 0
    JA
    Yellowbusinessads.com is hosted by a company called Hostway. I suggest that people forward any complaints and/or fraudulent invoices to: abuse (at) hostway (dot) com so that the  Yellow Business Ads site can be taken down and preventing this scam from continuing. Remember to replace the "(at)" with an "@" and "(dot)" with a "."
  • 0
    Don (Pacific C, LLC)
    I also posted a message on 1 Nov 2011.

    My first contact with Yellow Business Ads was in March 2011 where they said I owed them $789.99.  As others have mentioned, I was told that they have a voice recording of my ordering the service.  They followed-up by sending me an invoice via USPS. So, like a fool I sent them the $.

    In November 2011, I was contacted by Jane White (National Collections & Recovery) stating that I owed $789.00 for Yellow Business Ads.  I was told that I had to pay immediately with a bank withdrawal or they would proceed with legal actions.  To avoid any credit issues, I paid again, but went to the bank and put a stop payment on the withdrawal.  After that I received a very threatening letter from Jane White about the stop payment.

    I have received three (3) voice messages over the past few weeks from a Shantelle (sp?) of National Collections and Recovery with an urgent message to return her call.  Also, as mentioned by an earlier posting, Shantelle had the IDENTICAL voice as Jane White.  Also, the phone number was the same (305-240-6636).  I have tried to call that number but the calls only go to a voice mailbox (#110).  I have done a reverse phone look-up and that number is a cellular number located in the Florida Keys.

    I completed an on-line search for National Collections & Recovery and found a "National Collection & Recovery" in Oklahoma (note the singular for Collection).  I contacted them and they said that they have been in business for 40 years but do not do this type of collection.  They also do not have anyone working for them with the names listed above. They also have received calls by others with similar comments that I made.  They are very concerned that someone is using their name and they will be contacting their state attorney general.

    Beware of both Yellow Business Ads & someone claiming to be with National Collections & Recovery.

    Don
  • 0
    Steve
    I received an invoice from Yellow Business Ads this week just like all the other complaints for $789.99. I also do not remember authorizing this ad. I called and spoke to a Janet White about the invoice and like the others, she said we have a recording of me authorizing the ad. She said she will turn this over to their legal dept. and I will receive a call back with me authorizing this ad. I have now been waiting for 3days for the call back. I have left messages the last 2 days for Janet White to call me and she has not returned any messages. Before I received the invoice I did receive calls about our advertising will expire. I know we have no internet advertising as we are a small mvg co. that deals with the military. After reading the above comments, I am not going to pay the invoice and I will also contact the BBB.
  • 0
    Affordable Hardwood Floors
    Currently being harrassed by this company. Michael Silverman from their collection department is calling 2-3 times a day. This is not a company we have agreed to do buisness with. I sent a certified letter to the company saying we are not doing business with them. Sent a complaint to FTC and are in the process of filing complaints with Postmaster locally and the Attorney General in Fl. We will not give up until every effort has been exausted to put these people out of business. We will not pay. Has anyone ever actually had a lein filed or had it show up on their credit report? I like the IRS approach. How about the newspaper in Miami, and our local newspapers to warn other small businesses before they get scammed?
  • 0
    jawslw
    Yellow Business Ads, Yellow Blue Media and Blue Yellow Book are 3 names used by one company. #1 The same number that showed up on credit card statements for paying Yellow Blue Media "518-534-1007" was also used by Blue Yellow Book. #2 Yellow Blue Media's 877-878-6935 was also used by Yellow Blue Media and Blue Yellow Book. #3 Yellow Business Ads collected money to pay Blue Yellow Book; I have a Yellow Business Ads invoice that corresponds with a closure letter that was sent by Blue Yellow Book (stupid dirtbags can't keep their scam straight). The transaction showed up as  YELLOWBUSINESSADS 888-846-3506 FL. #4 The credit card company called the number that is listed on the Yellow Blue Media invoice "877-878-6935"  and some character named "Benjamin" told my credit card company that this is the payment center for Yellow Business Ads. What really pisses me off is that the credit card company will not take back the charges because they are just a mode of payment. All they care about is making money off the interest that accumulates. I will also forward this information the the IRS because the MFs behind Yellow Business Ads Blue Yellow Book and Yellow Blue Media are getting rich fast and free of tax by stealing from small business owners. I reported this information to the FTC, BBB and MN Attorney General. So much time and money wasted because of these parasites.
    Just last Monday, I recieved a telemarketting call and they tried to pull this crap again. The caller ID had no information. I was probably Yellow Business Ads again. I told the caller that he either has a lot of balls or is extremely stupid. I reminded this person that if the company he worked for would check the national do not call list, my business would be listed. I told him that I now tape all of my calls, and keep them incase I decide to sue scumbags who continue to try to steal from my company. He hung up.
  • 0
    Diane
    Same deal here to only difference the did not talk to me someone in my office for the day, I did indugle in the conversation but send an email stating I will report the to the atttorney general office and postal inspector.
  • 0
    Renee
    Just spoke to Jacob PHillips of YellowBusinessAds.  He said we have apparent fraud in our company, since I said I did not authorize this for $789.99.  When asked if I wanted to pursue a fraud investigation in our company, I said certainly!.  I'm on my way to mentioned websites listed to file formal complaints against them.  They caught me on a BAD day!
  • 0
    Notgonnahappen
    Wow, no other reports since Feb 2012.  Someone must have been in jail and just got out because they are back at it. I talked to a man named Eric Winters today stating that he was the Senior Officer from Regional Debt Recovery for Trans Union Credit Bureau. His number was (305) 240-6641, that's just the last 2 numbers off of the number listed in Denise's comment from Jan. 2012. The amount was the same $789.99. He had a recording of my husband that I listened to.  It sounded like it was a cut n paste job. It never states what he is purchasing. He said that if I didn't pay him today that he was going to turn the invoice over to the Credit Bureau today and that he was going to personally see that our credit was ruined because I had waisted his time.  LMAO
  • 0
    jawslw
    I was refunded 789.99, but that is not all they stole from me.A guy named "Benjamin" called me and we discussed the refund that I was promised. First he tried to tell me that it could only be done electronically and requested my account information. I told him that I will ask the bank officials for advise. I also told him that I know that Yellow Business Ads, Yellow Blue Media and Blue Yellow Book are just 3 names used by one company. He totally denied it. A few days later I recieved a check in the mail for $789.99. Benjamin then emailed a letter that I was supposed to sign and return. HERE IS THE LETTER THE PARASITES EXPECTED ME TO SIGN AND RETURN (NOTICE HOW IT SAYS "YELLOW BUSINESS ADS AND YELLOW BLUE MEDIA". BENJAMIN LIED & TOLD ME HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT YELLOW BLUE MEDIA).

    Yellow Business Ads
    7891 Flager St ste# 346
    Miami, FL, 33144
    Phone: 888-846-3506
    Fax: 888-849-2061
    www.yellowbusinessads.com

    Mrs Shannon Wisneski,

    This letter is to confirm that upon receiving the check for amount 745.00$ it clears any and all issues that Central Fleet Services may have had / having with companies (Yellow Business Ads and Yellow Blue Media), In effect Mrs. Wisneski will contact her Attorney General and local BBB to rectify any and all complaints made previously. If any further information or assistance is required please feel free to contact us directly at 1-888-846-3506.

    HERE IS THE LETTER I SENT INSTEAD:

         I appreciate the fact that Yellow Business Ads has taken a step to resolve a problem involving Central Fleet Service. A partial refund of $789.00 was received. This however does not absolve the whole issue with Central Fleet Service. If I were to sign the confirmation of settlement letter that Yellow Business Ads gave me, it would revoke my right to collect the remaining $------- if this case would ever be pursued by the FTC.

        Yellow Business Ads, Yellow Blue Media and Blue Yellow Book are 3 names used by one online advertising company with the main one being Blue Yellow Book aka Nationwide Marketing Bureau Inc., whose address is 334 Cornelia St Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The representative at Yellow Business Ads denied this fact when I brought it to his attention. The Ohio Attorney General has taken action against against them in the past.

    I kept all credit card statements that show the amounts taken with the corresponding phone numbers that withdrew those amounts. A total of $------- was taken from August ----- to August ------- by these three entities. As reported in the complaints, 518-534-1007 and 878-877-6935 were used interchangeable to collect from my credit card and $--- was collected by Yellow Business Ads for Blue Yellow Book (see attachments for examples).

    I enclosed the documents starting from the date August 22, 2008 through August 8, 2011. $-------- is the remaining balance to be refunded to me.

    IDIOTS STILL CAN'T KEEP THEIR LIES AND SCAM STRAIGHT.
  • 0
    jawslw
    I should clarify that I would not and did not give Bozo my account information. I did recieve a CHECK for $789.99 (after he told me it could only be done electronicaly),
  • 0
    Elizabeth
    Just got a call from someone saying they were with Regional Debt Recovery for Trans Union Credit Bureau. We have been dealing with these Yellow Page morons for months know and have let them know that we do in fact know that they are a fraud. When I tried to tell that to the debt recovery woman who called me today, she said that she didn't even want to accept this case because it's obvious I don't pay my bills, and so why would I care about another one? I kept asking her what "Regional Debt Recovery" was and she said that I was "beating around the bush" and that she was going to escalate this issue and hung up on me. Very glad to know that the EXACT same things are happening to other people.
  • 0
    Randy
    It's good to know I'm not the only one. I tried civility and lately have just started breathing into the phone heavy. I tell the person they have a beautiful voice and to please repeat the last part of whatever they said in a whisper and to please not hang up on me again. They get personally offended... I am glad I can creep them out and laugh a little at their expense.
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