I called National Imaging Systems to get a price on a toner cartridge for our computer printer. Their price was too high, so I told them, "no thanks, " and bought my cartridge at the local office supply store. A few days later, a generic cartridge arrived (I can't remember if it was via UPS or USPS) with a packing slip from National Imaging Systems, and the P.O. No. Said "Verbal." I called them on immediately to tell them I did not order the cartridge.
This was 7/2/08 (the packing slip had invoice 53438 and 6/25/08 on it) at 10:40AM EDT, and I spoke with a woman named Shella. I explained that I had not ordered the cartridge and she said that the cartridge was sent at no charge as an 'evaluation cartridge, ' as they were "trying to get our business." The only thing they asked is that we try the cartridge and evaluate it after we use it. I told her I had just installed the new cartridge and that it would last us at least a year, so we wouldn't be needing their cartridge. Shella said she would be a note in their file for their reps not to call us every 30-60 days, and that the cartridge was ours free anyway to keep and use whenever and however we wished.
A few weeks later, a bill arrived in the mail for $249.99 for the cartridge. I called them again and spoke with the nastiest, most abrasive woman named Victoria. She tried to bully me into saying that I ordered the cartridge and that I owed them for it. I tried to tell her about my conversation with Shella, but she just kept shouting that I owed them and I better pay the invoice. I finally told her I didn't order the cartridge, I wasn't paying for it, not to send any more bills, and I hung up.
Two weeks later, another bill arrived. I called again and got the same miserable woman. This time she yelled so loud that the woman in the office next to mine could hear her. I told her she could send a UPS pre-paid pick-up call tag if she wanted the cartridge back, but she refused that option and just kept screaming. Once again, I told her I didn't order the cartridge and wasn't paying for it.
By now, I felt I'd taken just about enough verbal abuse and wasted more than enough time about something I didn't order. So when she called back later and said she'd decided to send someone to pick up the cartridge, I told her not to bother—it was now a donation to the office of a local church, because I had found one that had the same type of copier as we have (a very common model used in stores where you went in, made your own copies, and paid 10 cents a page—remember those?).
I came in this morning and there was a message on my voice mail from Victoria—this woman is a real nut case—saying that I have now gone over my 30-day trial and I had better pay for the cartridge or send it back. I called her back this morning in response to the message she left and told her this would be my last call. I reiterated my conversation with Shella, and I told her not to call here or send another again. Should she call again, I will hang up on her, but record the date and time of the call. Should they send another bill, it will be added to the stack for possible future need. This company and its representative, Victoria, need to be shown that the public simply will not tolerate being bullied this way. I hope that you can be of assistance in this effort.
Just as I'm completing this correspondence to you, Victoria has called again three times in the last seven minutes. Each time I have told her not to call again and have hung up on her. (Of course, their number comes up as "private" on our caller ID display.) I appreciate your efforts on irritating and time-wasting issue.
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