It all started with a simple sales phone call back in 2008 when I first started my flower business.
One day I got a call from a sales rep @ 411.ca promoting their ad spaces on their search pages. Normally, I would not response to those sales calls just to be on the safe side. But I decide to give them a try for the fact that, at the time, they seemed to be a reputable company and also their ad space seemed very promising.
My ad was up & running fairly quickly after the sales call. My ad was one of first ones to be on the search pages as they just started selling ads on their search pages. At the time, the sales lady pointed out to me the number of the searches for "florists or flowers" in my areas, it was in the thousand range (can't remember the exact figure), but I believe it was in the 2k~3k range. She
also indicated that those results would likely to increase as more people are starting to shop online. I went ahead with the sign-up feeling confident that 411.ca was able to generating some leads for me as I was offer a promotion to have my ad appear "nationally" as opposed to just locally. The results was very disappointing, only 71 unique traffic and 3 sales in 6 months!!! What bothers me was not the result as we all know there is no guarantee in any type of marketing, it was their customer service that truly pisses off even until today.
Initially, I was offered a 6 month guarantee with my 1-year contracts, which means I can cancel the service if "i'm not satisfied" after the 6 months is up. I was NOT satisfied AT ALL, so I called 30 days before the 6 months is up as according to my "terms of conditions" and I was asked to put it in writing. I faxed them the cancellation request and also emailed the lady to confirm that she indeed have received it. I got a email replay back from her with only one word "received". So I thought everything was fine and been taken care of. I was totally wrong!!!
I came across this other complaint the other day:
Http://usacomplaints.com/organized-crime/411-ca/411-ca-scam-411-rippoff-aka-4-89q98.htm
Which I finally decide to post my experience after all these years of frustrations.
Initially, they said I had to be putted on an automatic credit card payment because of "SPECIAL" promo they tried so hard to got me. After my cancellation and my ad was taken off the website, they are still auto charging me after the 6 months is up. Every time I tried to call the company back, the lady I initially sent the cancellation to was either away on vacation or on maternity leave or simply away from desk, simply unreachable. The other customer service reps I talked to would only gave me excuses after excuses. After numerous attempt to reason with the company, I finally reached a customer service rep that assured me that my account was canceled & the last payment would be refunded to me. Little did I know of course that didn't happen, I was charged again on the 8th month!!! I called the company again and they transfer to their "accounting" department, and guess what the accounting lady said "We're a big company, your money could take up to 60 days to get refunded". What kind of excuse is that???!!! Just like the other ripoff indicated, THEY JUST WON'T LET YOU CANCEL!!!
I finally fed up them and decided to talk to the my credit card company directly. They suggested me to dispute on the charges and also get a new card to prevent any further charges. I got my last 2 payment reverted on my card and which 411.ca was not so happy. I got a call from them soon after saying that I still owe them the payment for the 7th month because I didn't not cancel in time. I argue that I shouldn't be paying for that month simply because my ad wasn't even showing that month. They didn't believe what I said, so I sent them a screen shot of the their website (as my prof) dated that month after my ad was taken off. They finally indicated that they will close my account. Again, little do I know my account was sent to a collection agency.
The first collection agency asked to send them prof showing them that the service was not rendered and prof that my cancellation requested was received. I sent them all prof I had at the time, including emails, screen shots and faxed copies. The lady accepted those document and indicated they will forward these document for processing so they can close the account on my collection. Of course that didn't happen, and my account was sent from agencies to agencies. Recently I just received a phone call from the 3rd collection agency after the incident, which I gave up trying to proof to them that I shouldn't be paying those outstanding charges.
Now, 3 years after the incident, I still regret my decision signing up with 411.ca. Not only they proof to be non-effective advertising, but also wrongful charges and poor poor customer services. I still got calls from collections agencies from time to time which I ignore and I just hope this would someday all go away. Stay away from this company and beware, they will only cost you frustrations and your hard earn money!!!
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