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Complaint

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Linda Yannetty
Country: United States
We received our third invoice in as many months for yet another company claiming that we had signed up for their online listing.  This company is a new name but the website is the same picture, etc.  It's a total scam.  They invoiced us for $479.95.  When contacted by their "legal" department for our unpaid invoice they played back the call that our secretary answered.  All they asked was for her to confirm our shipping and mailing addresses that they needed to send the invoice to.  Never asking if we wanted such service or describing in the call what the invoice was for.

Comments

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  • 0
    tj
    | 4 replies
    File a fraud complaint with FTC.

    Also file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.  Postal regulations prohibit sending invoices for unordered products through the U.S. Mail.  It's mail fraud.

    FTC sued and got a permanent injunction against one very active Canadian "business directory" scam, (calling themselves Regional Yellow Pages Online, RYPO, Thompson Hill Publishing, and a few other names) earlier this year.

    What name are they using?
    What other scam company do they appear to be connected with?
    What phone number?
    • 0
      Jim Bear replies to tj
      | 3 replies
      I am relieving bills for $689.55. I have never signed up for advertising with this company. I called the number on the invoice and no one ever answered.
      • 0
        The healing connection,  INC replies to Jim Bear
        | 1 reply
        We received the same bill for the same amount without ever ordering the service...
      • 0
        Carol replies to Jim Bear
        Did you ever get rid of them? I have the exact same thing happening to me today.
  • 0
    Scammed
    | 1 reply
    We received a call from Business Info Source and told that 2 years prior we had contracted for online advertising and wanted to know if we wanted to renew.  Told them we were on a spending freeze and weren't able to do so. I was told that since we closing account that we had to pay the previous balance in full.  I was told I would be recorded that when asked if I had the authority to make this purchase that I needed to say yes.  I told them I wasn't purchasing anything.  They said, no you aren't but that's how you have to answer when we record.  I kept arguing and they convinced me that I needed to say yes.  STUPID ME.  Thankfully I never paid them!

    I have reported them to the NY Attorney General, the MO Attorney General and the FTC.  In addition, they are breaking the Fair Credit Practices Act for "debt collection."  Even if I did legitimately owe them this money they cannot call 3 times a day, email and fax requesting payment.  

    FTC advised us to tell them we will not accept their calls and everytime they call to report it to the FTC.
    • 0
      Jan replies to Scammed
      Yes!  The same thing happened to us only when they called , I told them this was nothing than a scam and the lady on the other end used fowl language... Called back to talk to some one, and they will get back with me.  I will not pay them a dime.  No authorization.... Wants to bill us for what???  I will report them to the New York Attorney Generals office, and FTC... Folks beware of these scam artists.
  • 0
    Scammed
    What I meant was they cannot call 3 times a day, email and fax - which has been going on now for the past week.  The federal law states that "making the phone ring" with the intent to annoy or harras for a debt violates the law!

    Also, according to the law if you notify them in writing to cease communication and they continue that they are in violation of the law!
  • 0
    GlassGal
    The same company, BUSINESS INFO SOURCE did the EXACT same thing to me.  Also, they "recorded" my call, but when they played it back to me, the end of the recorded conversation where I said "I do not want to purchase any advertising" was mysteriously absent!  I googled their address and also their "Accounts Receivable" address (YP BUSINESS INFO in Boston, MA), and neither had a legitimate address.  Both addresses were UPS locations.  Coincidentally, another scammer, RC Dominguez, has an invalid address that shows up as a UPS location. Must be the fad for scammers!
  • 0
    Curious
    This is to inquire whether resolution was reached in any of the above circumstances.  On behalf of an intimidated Japanese speaking Buddhist reverend, here in Hawaii, I'm seeking to address the very same issue as he is being hounded by calls and faxes to pay $489.55 for services he wasn't aware that he was receiving and was also provided with a recording of a telephone conversation simply seeking to verify his position and confirm his authority at the church along with vaguely referencing an invoice to be mailed to him.  If anyone did get resolution, please provide guidance as to what approach was taken.  
    Thank you.
  • 0
    Erin
    I am thankful to all of you for your postings.  I received an invoice from Business info source today.  The invoice is for my business that no longer exists & the amount is crazy.  They are claiming that I agreed to 1 year of online advertising for a business that has not existed for almost a year.  When they played back the recording they have me giving them my mailing address & last name.  Somehow the part were i said I am not buying anything wasn't recorded.  
    I did call the FTC so hopefully if enough of us report them something will be done.  
    I do see that all of your postings are from 2011, & I am wondering if any of you have had a resolution to your situations.  I would love to find out what happened with your individual dealings.
    Thank you again!
  • 0
    Bobby
    I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone in this.   Business Info Source submitted an invoice to me for over $600 claiming I agreed to purchase their services which I did not.  They played back the recording with me answering their general questions like address and position in the company but not including the part where I said I was not interested.  I have filed the complaint with BBB but concerned that these people will try to hurt my credit rating.
  • 0
    kate
    they continue to call me for several weeks, 2 to 3 calls per day.  the woman Kristen is snotty.  we didnt agree to anything either.  the company is fraudulant.  i tried looking up the info on the website and my company doesnt even come up.
  • 0
    Gus
    I am currently dealing with the fraudulent company Business Info Source that so many on here have had difficulty with. Business Info Source called my business and recorded the phone call and then altered the recording to make it seem as if I were authorizing a purchase when in fact I specifically told them I was NOT PURCHASING ANYTHING. Conveniently, that part of the conversation was cut out of the recoding but you can tell where it is because there is a break in conversation right before I say "I'm just making sure" in reference to the fact that I clearly stated "I am not purchasing anything".  Business Info Source has continued to harass me at my place of business with threatening phone calls and faxes despite the fact that I have sent letters and faxes to them demanding they cease such communication with my office. How can I get them to stop and how can I avoid this damaging my credit in any way?
  • 0
    Gerald Soukup
    I am currently writing a letter to the company that identified themselves as Corporate Business Source out of Columbus OH. and their collection agent Union Finance, Champlain NY,  claiming my client owes $2,520 for internet advertising. My client has gotten similar letters for years in part because I believe they mistakenly paid one or 2 invoces from other companies early on. We have been able to stop the onslaught for the last year until recently by asking for proof of the debt under the Fair Debt Collection practice act.
  • 0
    Alex
    | 1 reply
    Same story for me with Business Info Source. Although the moment he called I told him that I will not give any information in light of the amount of scam artists I have call every day.

    He told me an ex-employee had signed up, and the 2 year term was coming to an end. He asked who replaced him, and I told him it was myself. He asked if I could make decisions, and that I was being recorded. I told him I can not make decisions. He asked if anyone at this business could make decisions, and I told him that I'm the only one here. He asked again if I could confirm, and I told him again that I cannot. I told him I will discuss this matter with my business partner.

    He promised to call back tomorrow. If he takes me to court I will collect his personal information from the court proceedings, and post them online here on this website. We can all make a trip to his front door to confront him afterwards.
    • 0
      tj replies to Alex
      Shakedown rackets don't take anyone to court.
      They've got nothing any court would accept as proof, and these scams are too well known, with numerous warnings from FTC, state AGs and BBB.
      It's all just lies and threats.
      They are looking for suckers.

      File fraud complaints with FTC.
      If you get fraudulent invoices in the mail, file a mail fraud complaint with the US Postal Inspector.

      If he does give any addresses or phone numbers, please post.
  • 0
    SandraB
    Same with my company, received a call from Business Info Source back in Feb this year. They called the same day as another company (with a similar name).  My boss talked to the first one & I talked to BIS. Then the next week they sent an voice by fax, I returned the fax stating my boss did not agree to this or their company.  Like in so many previous postings, they played back my recording leaving out parts of what I said. I told them each of numerous times they called that my boss is not going to pay this because he did not agree & that there was a misunderstanding because of the 2 company names were close in name. We are now receiving a collection fax from First Corporate Collection....which has the EXACT address & phone number as Business Info Source.
  • 0
    Cathy G
    The same thing happened to me where they got me to record something and said I could ask questions later.  They have so many companies under one roof and claim to be 411 then Website Services then now YP Info Pages.  This is such a scam. I was tricked for our small company.  They said they put us on a "do not call list".    Ten minutes someone with his same voice called and said he was from National Business Advertising and wanted wanted $800 for 2 years.  When will this ever end?
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