I just received a call from a "Credit Protection Manager" at Dun & Bradstreet. I know it was D&B, because I returned the call (888-665-6270.) She indicated that our 30 yr old small business recently had 58 inquires regarding our credit worthiness. She was concerned because our D&B rating was "poor" and it may cause our insurance rates to increase and vendor terms to become unfavorable.
Of course this concerned me, so I asked who had reported the negative credit. She informed me that I could gain access to D&B report for a mere $799.00. And with that access I could dispute any incorrect reporting and possibly add more favorable creditors to the report. So I asked if she could give me an example of who was giving us negative reports. She went on to list several industries, not specific companies, just industry classifications. Several of which we have never used. This didn't concern her, she wanted to know how I would like to pay the $799.00.
Just to be clear, I asked her why I would have to pay a fee to verify information others are providing her. I asked why I would have to pay D&B to dispute information about my company that they are compiling and dispensing. She said "your not paying to dispute or confirm the information, your paying for access to the information." I said "What's the difference?" She then went into a 5 min very informative narrative about how I should monitor my business credit, just like my personal credit regularly and that I was entitled to a free credit report every year.
So of course I said "okay, send me the free report." She said D&B does not send free reports and "access" to my report is $799.00 and how would you like to pay.
So again, I asked why I should have to pay her to verify the information others, possibly total strangers, had provided her company. And again "Your not paying to verify the information, you paying for access to the information. And how would you like to pay for that?" She just doesn't get it.
Sounds like extortion to me.
Bruce & Rocco told me last week if I paid them $200 a month, they wouldn't burn my company down. If I pay D&B $799 maybe they will not report negative credit information.
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