Public Yellow Pages

Complaint

0
Marina
Country: United States
This is from "Public yellow pages"

REMINDER
 
For the attention of: (our name)
Company: XXXXXXXXX
Account Number: U5246383
From: Anna Harris
Date: February 10, 2012
Amount: 686.96
 
Message:
COLLECTION NOTICE
Dear XXXX
This courtesy notice is a reminder that the above referenced account with Public Yellow Pages Inc has fallen 162 days past due which has been referred for collection and is accruing additional costs and interest. We understand this may have been an oversight.
 
I have attached a further copy of our invoice for your records in an attempt to give you an opportunity to resolve this delinquency. Please send your payment or explanation for non-payment.  
Thank you in advance for your prompt payment.  
Please send payment or contact your creditor directly and save 10%. Sincerely yours,
Anna Harris
Collection agent
Public Yellow Pages

 
1-800-881-9495 ext. 403
646-863-6211

 
 THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. AS REQUIRED BY LAW, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT A NEGATIVE CREDIT REPORT REFLECTING ON YOUR CREDIT RECORD MAY BE SUBMITTED TO A REPORTING AGENCY IF YOU FAIL TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF YOUR CREDIT OBLIGATIONS. FURTHERMORE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS NOTICE IS FROM OUR INTERNAL DEBT COLLECTION DEPARTMENT OFFERING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE THIS DELINQUENCY DEBT.  

They are located at
405 Lexington Avenue
Chrysler Building 26th Floor
New York, NY 10174

They also included (after I requested) W-9 form
Of course there was involved "cancellation of the invoice" supported with number for cancellation and persons name Sarai.
How to stop them. I don't have any intent to pay something we didn't ordered. Our listing was made when I asked them where is our listing, it took them time to actually make that listing.

Comments

  • 0
    DanP
    Oh - and my final advice is to simply hang up on them when they call - before they have a chance to talk. They will snow you with threatening faxes. Ignore them and go back to your business. I wish for once someone would hang one of these [***] from a light pole. I think the Taliban had the right idea for fighting crooks and frauds. Hang one and the rest will disappear.
  • 0
    CC Florida
    | 2 replies
    Same story here, I guess when I am in NY I won't stop by because they won't be in. I didn't think it would be that easy. My guys name was Mark Stevens. They called to verify our address and next thing we are getting a bill. SCAM
    • 0
      Misty replies to CC Florida
      I had the same thing happen to me.  They threatened us with collection.  We are already in the phone book.  With the type of services that we provide there is no need for this.  The guy was a complete jerk.  I told him when he called back that I knew it was a scam and was turning it over to our state's Attorney General.  Wonder if they will call back again?!
    • 0
      Misty replies to CC Florida
      I had the same thing happen to me.  They threatened us with collection.  We are already in the phone book.  With the type of services that we provide there is no need for this.  The guy was a complete jerk.  I told him when he called back that I knew it was a scam and was turning it over to our state's Attorney General.  Wonder if they will call back again?!
  • 0
    j bishop
    | 1 reply
    we have the same problem two names given are  david parker  & kevin lockhart  phone # 18008819495 ext 408   409    410  this  goes around front desk give the hell
    • 0
      tj replies to j bishop
      So is this the number for a Canadian call center, or for a NJ "collection agency"?

      https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-881-9495

      Reported as the "sales through extortion" side of the scam:
      https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-797-2437/3
      "...
      TICKED OFF
      16 Feb 2012SAME AS ABOVE.  PHONE NUMBER IS 800-881-9495.  
      CALLED MY BUSINESS TODAY AND MY WIFE ANSWERED. TRIED TO GET ME TO PHONE. SHE SAID IT WAS SOMEONE FROM THE YELLOW PAGES ABOT MY AD.  SHA ALSO SATED SHE COULD BARLEY UNDERSTAND THEM AND BEING THE LOVELY REPUBLICAN THAT SHE IS (I AM TOO) SHE REMARKED "HAVE THE YELLOW PAGES OUTSOURCED THEIR SERVICES TO INDIA AS WELL" I WAS BUSY & TOLD HER TO TAKE MESSAGE....THEY THEN BEGAN QUESTIONING HER IN A HARASSING WAY... VERIFYING ADDRESS ETC... THEN ASKED HER IF  I AUTHORIZED ANY ONE ELSE IN THE OFFICE TO MAKE BUSINESS DECISIONS FOR ME... SHE SAID NO... THEY CONTINUED TO HARRASS HER.  THEY TOLD HER IF SHE DID NOT GET A CANCELATION NUMBER I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A 5 HUNDRED SOMETHING DOLLAR BILL FROM THEM.
      ..."

      "The FTC guy wouldn't hear me out--he gave me a case number to reference and told me they are flooded with calls and are very well aware that Public Yellow Pages is fraud.
      ..."

      Again, it's the "business directory" call center itself.
      http://www.scambook.com/report/view/90868/Yellow-Pages-Prime-False-Advertising-for-676.80-on-11-10-2011
      "...
      PUBLIC YELLOW PAGES @405 Lexington Ave, Chrysler Building, 26th floor, NY, NY 10174. Tel (800) 881-9495. Fax (646)530-8774.
      ..."

      Possible connection between "Public Yellow Pages call center, and reports of "fix your computer" scam prossibly run from an overseas call center.
      https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/2102490540/17
      "...
      Dan
      2 Mar 2012Got a call from this number with no answer.
      Then got a fax from this number the next call.

      Posing as "Public Yellow Pages" company with (800) 881-9495 customer number.
      Company is frauduantly sending an invoice for $599.99 billing for internet marketing and marketing and services rendered.
      Services never ordered.
      Odd no one else has had this faxed to them though.Caller: Public Yellow Pages
      Call Type: Debt Collector
      ...:"

      One of the fraudulent Canadian "business directory" telemarketers that FTC sued and got a permanent injunction against was reportedly using a Pakistani call center.  This one is showing the possibility of a similar connection.  That may imply we are dealing with the same scam as FTC already sued, but they just changed their names and kept running.
  • 0
    jimmy bishop
    very sorry company
  • 0
    Vickie
    Thanks for all the great info, everyone. We just got a call today at our business (and a letter yesterday), saying we owed $600 and were 140 days overdue, and it was going to a collection agency at 4:00 today. I appreciate all of you sharing this so I can be sure it is a scam. Our contact person was "David Parker" as well. Phone number 646-863-7069.

    We bought our store from someone else and changed the name. The weird part is they had a recording of my husband's voice spelling our last name, but also saying any bills should be sent to the old owner of the store.. My husband must have (at some point) tried to get them to send the bill to the old owner, thinking it was one of his leftover bills, but spelling his own name in the process. Scammers are the worst.
  • 0
    Pit Bull
    | 1 reply
    We should hunt these dogs down and take them for a boat ride.  They need to know we can find and visit their homes and familys and explain to them the grief thay cause to hard working business owners and then take them, the scam artist, for a little boat ride in Lake Erie.  They chuckle at people they are shaking down and they don't realise a good hacker is tracking them down and getting closer and closer.  They need to realise they have to be careful getting in and out of their cars because that a common palce for personal injuries to take place.  Taking out the trash, getting the mail, going to the grocery store or out to dinner.  All places where accidents happen.  I hope to meet Tyler Woods (it appears his real name is Jerry), the scammer, in person real soon!  Jerry, you are going to ruin my credit? I don't think so!  Se you real soon. :)
    • 0
      erh replies to Pit Bull
      when you get done with them send them down south we got a swamp tour for free if mr woods reads this we will get to you just wait it will happen
  • 0
    annie
    The company I work for too was a victim of this scam.  When I called the collections department I was treated rudely and when I expressed interest in doing an article about this hoax they hung up on me.  Will be interesting to see if it shows on our credit report....beware all this is truly a scam....
  • 0
    CD
    We had the same thing. We reported them to the FTC. They claimed they sent faxes earlier on. We archive every fax we receive digitally and we never received one before the supposedly late invoice. The recording was spliced together from a phone call that was for verifying the address.
  • 0
    A Idaho
    Thank you all for sharing this with everyone.  I too thought I had made a bad mistake for the company I work for which is very very small.  I heard the recording and thought, crap I really did that.  After calling the Public Yellow pages # back to contact Tyler ext 415 he was very rude and threatening toward me and didn't care if I got good customer service of not.  I did file some complaints and followed the advice of all of you.  I did also contact our true yellow book rep who meets with us in person to make him aware of the scam to try to prevent others from paying any money to these people.  Thanks again from Idaho.
  • 0
    kd
    I have had the same thing. After calling me for a couple of years, I finally got someone to cancel the service I had never agreed to. He told me to agree to the charges when someone else came on the line, that it was the only way to get it taken care of without paying the $599. I foolishly believed him. He gave me a cancellation number that was to take care of the charge. Turned out that was the invoice number. That showed up a few months later. A man named David Parker has called from the pre legal department to collect. Had a nasty conversations with him. They won't let you talk and threaten collections and credit rating. So glad to see all these postings. I won't be paying them a dime!
  • 0
    mw
    Same thing happened to us.  Jessica from public yellow page called twice today. They will charge us $599 if we cancel our online list. It will be free if we keep the service for another two years.  WE NEVER HAD ANY ORDER OR AGREEMENT WITH THEM.  SCAM!!!
  • 0
    Cry4me
    Thanks everyone for your input. I will see if they send me my invoice and I will report them. I spoke with James and Sam. Very typical names, but they sounded very foreign(by that I mean that they did not at all speak english well).
  • 0
    Jenny
    One man called our office. Our secretary answered the phone. He said he has already talked to me about advertising on their yellow page. He need to verify some information about our company. Our secretary believed him and gave him the information. Actually nobody called me. When I received invoice, I called them. I said we don't want advertise on their yellow page and we didn't agreed on it. She said our secretary agreed. I said our secretary doesn't have authority to any agreement. Why not ask for me. She said I have to pay anyway.
    Now I got their letter, saying if we don't pay, our account will be sold to a third party collection agency. It will pursue full balance, interest, legal fee, other associated cost.
    Their tape is highly suspicious. Our secretary told them he is a secretary. He has no authority to agree on it. Why they don't ask for manager or owner of the business.
  • 0
    OK in CA
    Our company had most of the same experiences as stated here.  The contact with Nathan at x410 was different during all 3 of my calls.  These occurred over a 36 hour period, and Nathan's on-phone persona was quite variable.  My first contact was a very heated encounter where he accused ME of being a liar.  He used the usual threats listed.  The second was more laid-back, yet he was confident of their ability to collect.  The last one was where I told him I tried to actually use their service to locate us and it was an utter failure. I kept screen shots of all the failures of documentation.   I invited him to sue, but reminded him he had to file in the local area AND show up to collect.

    From the various experiences with Nathan, I think he either has a poor memory (not remembering my company or my name, even though the exchanges were VERY contentious) or there's MULTIPLE NATHAN's.

    As far as actually using their search, until I enterered our precise name and localion including city and state, WE WERE INVISIBLE.  With the precise match to their "invoice" we here finally found.  Four of us, all at the same address, but 4 different industries/specialties and various telephone numbers.

    Incidentally, the "fax number" on the invoice is for an escort service.  I kept those search results as well.

    One last word; don't assume they'll go away.  Plan for them to call or mail again and again.  They kept calling until they found someone dumb enough to allow themselves to be recorded, and edited to suit their needs.  Also don't bother sending cancellation letters, its a waste of time.  They've received at least 4, from the owners, and other managers here.  The chased us for over a year before they found their dummy.
  • 0
    CK in IL
    My company received an invoice from these people. Our advice: Follow all the steps listed in the bottom of this website:

    http://www.givemebackmycredit.com/blog/2012/0 ... e-its-back.html

    We followed them and got a letter today stating that all debts with this company have been absolved and we have been removed from their database. We actually received an invoice via the USPS mail however, so we're looking into filing mail fraud charges against them.
  • 0
    BP Tennessee
    Just received my letter today saying I owe them $599.99.  Same office in New York, NY.  We Just put our small business on line in Dec.  They started calling my husband and he told them we did not want their services.  They said this was the second notice and of course they are charging interest.  We have not made one penny off the web site and I can't see paying someone for services we did not ask for or agree to.  I will call and make a complaint tomorrow.

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