Public Yellow Pages phoned my home and spoke with my granddaughter, recording the conversation and asking questions about my previous professional corporation (dissolved in 2007).in Dec. 2011 through Jan. 2012 several phone calls to me demanding payment of an alleged bill. Each time I denied any agreement or contract with their company and requested a copy of any such document. On Feb. 2, I received an invoice demanding payment of $676.81 (599.99 plus 76.82 interest and fees); no confirmation of services ordered/rendered or valid contract. I spoke with a representative of Public Yellow Pages and they played a recorded phone call to my granddaughter which was blatantly deceptive and manipulative and obviously altered. The representative maintained this was a valid contract and unless payment in full was received, they would pursue collection thereby affecting my credit. I denied their claim of debt, reaffirmed that I would pay them nothing and that I would be contacting the Attorney General and the BBB. I have filed formal complaints with the State Attorney General, the BBB and the Federal Trade Commission.
Some 40 similar complaints are posted under the Group "Yellow Pages Prime". Twelve of those identify the Public Yellow Pages, the balance either do not name a specific company or identify "Local US Pages Online" or "Yellow Pages Prime". All these scams use similar techniques. The approach is either claims an unpaid invoice or "a response to a cancellation request from your company". The former may claim a recording of a phone agreement with a member of your staff (highly suspect of being altered) and a demand of payment. The cancellation scam generally demands payment of the current year's invoice (fictional) or one risks automatic renewal for the next year. None of the posting individuals were able to secure a valid contract or agreement from these companies and none reported any valid or official collection procedures or negative effects to their credit ratings when they refused to validate or pay the demand.
It would appear that the best approach is to refuse to validate or pay these demands if they are untrue, refuse to take their calls and to report their false claims to BBB at a minimum and consider reporting them also to the State Attorney General and the FTC.
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