In October I received a phone call from a Larry Smith asking to update our business listing. My husband and I own and operate a small business. I specifically asked if this was for our Yellow Page listing and thru our local phone company. I was assured it was. He mentioned it was our "Telecom Directory."
Unfortunately for me, that is our local phone service's business name. He informed me that I would receive another phone call to confirm certain information and that I was to tell the next caller that it was not a "purchase order" and that it would be billed as usual to our monthly phone bill. As per our conversation, I received the second call, confirmed the information, told the caller about the billing, he acted somewhat confused and ended our converstaion.
Approximately an hour later, I received another phone call, again from Larry Smith. He claimed that there had been a problem with the "confirmation call." He said that they would call me again to get the order "straightened out." A few minutes later, I again received the "confirmation call." Again, the caller seemed confused and at the end of the conversation, he said that we would be receiving the "CD-Rom" by UPS in a few days. I started to ask the caller "What CD? We didn't order a CD!" and he abruptly hung up.
At this point in time, I realized that I had not received a confirmation number, nor a telephone number as per our usual dealings with our local phone company. Realizing that the CD-Rom had not been mentioned thru-out the prior conversations, a huge red flag was waving in front of my face! I informed my husband that I thought we had been scammed, and that if a small package came thru UPS, not to accept it.
In early November, I received an Invoice from N.B.I.E. For a "Corporate Telecom Directory" in the amount of $414.00. I promptly called the number listed for the business based in Chesapeake Beach, MD., and spoke to the infamous "Tiffany." I explained that I had received 4 phone calls, that I was led to believe this was my local phone company, that this was for my Yellow Page listings, that I did not order a CD-rom, and that I was not given a return phone number to cancel the order. I had to wait for a bill (invoice) with a phone number, so that I could call them and cancel this. She said she would look into this matter and call me later. A few days later, UPS tried to deliver the CD-Rom, we refused delivery.
I received the first of several phone calls from the "delightful" Tiffany... Everything from "We have you on tape, " "We will ruin your credit, " "We will start Collection proceedings." Trying to talk reasonably with Tiffany proved to be futile. I have never lost my cool talking on the phone up until now. She is abusive, combative and very intimidating.
I started investigating N.B.I. E online and thru other methods. Most of the harrassing phone calls have come from their "offices" in Montreal, Quebec. I have had as many as 6 calls in one day! I now hang up whenever their number comes up on my Caller I.D. The number is (514) 337-7776
I have filed complaints with the "National Fraud Information Center, " the Maryland Attorney General's Office (they have on file 85 complaints over the past year) and the "Phone Busters" in Canada (they have 15 complaints since the beginning of the year.) The National Fraud Information Center recommended that I write a letter to them stating my reasons for not paying and to continue "hanging up on them."
I recently received two letters from them. One states that their past due accounts are referred to "Receivable Management Services - Dun & Bradstreet." (Investigating this company, D & B will provide official looking letterheads to assist a company in collecting accounts...)
The second letter describes how N.B.I.E. Gave a full description of the product, quoted the price in full, and inquired about purchasing policies. They also inform us that the service is non retractable which consists of a company profile listing for a two year duration. (That is the first time a 2 year listing has been mentioned!)
I am mad as hell and I'm not paying these people! I want the harrassment to stop! I want others to be made aware of this scam! I will continue to fight and I encourage others to do the same!
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