The Scam: Poetry Contest conducted by Poetry.com (aka International Library of Poetry aka National Library of Poetry aka Poets.com aka International Poetry Hall of Fame aka International Society of Poets aka Watermark Press) and these are just the aliases that I'm aware after some research on the "company". I supposs the number of times they've changed their name should be dead giveaway to the fact that they are scam artists. Obviously any time they get too much bad press they simply change their name and keep ripping people off.
The original scam, publishing your work (no matter its merit), however you may never see it in print. Because you must PURCHASE the anthology in which it appears. That being bad enough for me to say struggling poets beware, now a new scam: Let someone pay for a book (in advance) and then never send them a copy. Simply state that you've already sent a copy and every time they complain, grudgingly agree to send them "another" copy in 6-8 weeks and string them along until they get tired of trying. I know, because it's currently happening to me. The anthology in which MY poem is published was released in November 1999 according to the site, but according to one of their "customer service representatives" I should have received my copy mid to late December, which I did not. He agreed to send another copy, which would arrive in 6-8 weeks that was 8 weeks ago today and still I've received no book. So, poets beware, if you are willing to pay for a very expensive book which may contain a poem that you've carefully crafted, hope that you will at least receive a copy for your hard earned money.
I just want a copy of my book, I paid for it! I don't want my poem in one of their books that they are making money off of and not even being able to read the book myself. I don't know what I can do, because I not only want the book that I paid for almost a year ago, I also want as many people as possible aware that this company is riping people off. The people they rip off include retired people on fixed incomes according to reports I've read on the internet, this is even worse than scamming starving artists to scam elderly people with limited income is down right discusting. What can I do? [email protected]
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