It was reassuring to discover many other reports on this company. They called our business initially in early June. I'm the manager; however, I make no decisions regarding serious purchases. Basically, the representative initially stated that we had done business with them previously and wanted us to renew our annual standing with them (internet advertising). I had only worked for my company since January, and wasn't even sure what all the advertising venues the owner typically used for our company. He explained, very speedily, all the benefits we would receive by continuing our business with them. I told him I would have to speak with the owner.
He then told me that he would send an information package, describing everything (all the benefits of their service, and how to use their service), and an invoice. He further told me that he would send an invoice along with the information; and, that if we wanted to continue our business with them, the owner simply had to mail in a check to reinstate our business. I made no agreement, whatsoever, that we would be using their services. I also stated repeatedly that I would have to talk to the owner about this. He kept insisting that we would not have to pay anything unless we wanted to use their service. That was the end of our conversation.
I had asked the owner if she had ever done business with them, and had told her about the call. They were not one of the advertising services that she had used in the past. She neither recognized them; nor, had she ever really done much advertising on the internet anyway. Also, she was not interested with advertising with them.
In early July, we received an invoice from them, stating that our account was 60 days past due. It was for $419!! I called to inquire about this to an accounts representative with their company. She told me that we had ordered the service, and that they recorded me telling the first rep., that I had the authority to make those kinds of decisions. I attempted to explain to her, that I had not told him that, and that the representative had told me that we would receive the information by mail, and if we wanted to use their service (which we had never used, in truth), then we simply only pay the bill. She then informed me that they had a "quality control" recording of me, stating that I had such authority, and that I had ordered their services. Again, I insisted that was not so, and we had no intention of paying this bill.
Then, about every 2 weeks, we began receiving calls from their collections department, basically threatening us that we had better pay this bill. They continued to insist that I had ordered their services.in mid August, per dirctions of the owner, I mailed a letter to the address that was on the statement. I explained what actually happened, and that we were not going to pay for something we did not order. We never got anything back.
Yesterday, Friday the 17th of September, a representative from a supposed collections company called. The owner happened to be in the office and answered the call. The representative was very unprofessional and demanding that they were going to sue me personally for this payment. They played this recording for the owner, and then for me. It was easy to tell that the tape had been spliced... And the evidence, on their part, was not forthcoming. No where in that conversation did I explicitly state that I had the authority to order their services, or that I was going to order the services.
Also, this rep. Told me that the original representative, whose name I found out is Kevin, had explained to me that we were obligated to pay, and "his side of the conversation". She never played that part of the recording for me, and basically conveyed a totally different presentation than I was orginally given by him.
Furthermore, the recording that was played for me, had a foreign woman making speedy statements, and all of my responses were clearly dubbed in. I honestly broke out laughing at the "hard evidence" that this collection agent was so viciously attempting to scare us with.
At that point, I told her, per the owner standing there with me, that we would be reporting them to the BBB, to consumer complaintss and to the Attorney General's Office, and that they should not call us again.in closing, I am very willing to sign on to any class-action, or other suits made against this company.
D
San Marcos, Texas
U.S.A.
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