I have dealt with this company in when I wrote a poem, it was accepted, published and I purchased it. Although it took over a year, and several e-mails to Jeff Humphrey Founder, Contest Director, Executive Editor, I finally received my book.
My Son on the other hand, after writing a poem for a friend who died in for his funeral, has had the "scam" played on him.
After reading my Son's poem, I encouraged him to submit it to Voices Net, as I did, with hopes that it would also be published, as it was an extremely important piece of work which meant very much to him.
He did, after a few months, he was then told that it was accepted, but they needed his authorization to publish it, which he gave them. He then got an e-mail asking if he wanted to puchase the book him poem would be in.
I offered to purchase this for him, and did so via Paypal for $62.00 Canadian. The transactin number is: Transaction ID: 7LN73041452695425
Total: $62.00 CAD
It's been almost a year, and since then, before I began to investigate why the book had not arrived, they posted on their still existing web site (which still accepts poems from around the world, and publish them) said: We are no longer putting on our Poetry Contests or producing our contest books or certificates. If you have previoulsy ordered a book and have not received it, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to VoicesNet, PO Box 936, Powell, Ohio 43065 and include ordering information and we will refund your order amount.
I have e-mailed them several times, as I have dealt with Mr. Humphrey's himself in the past, and all I have been given is a one line response, that "your refund will be out in a week", this was on August 3. With nothing received to this date, and no further replies from the company I e-mailed Mr. Humphrey's to state, that I was told I was receiving this book, then told I was getting a refund, and that if I did not get any responses, I would report the issue.
After that I had a reply that I knew right away, was not from Mr. Humphrey's, but they were trying to give me the impression that it was from him. I know this, because Mr. Humphrey's knows how to write, and the person impersonating him, obviously did not.
This really upset me, as I still have an e-mail from Mr. Humphrey's from 2003 or 2004 stating that their company was not a scam, after I waited a year for my book the first time.
My question is, if they are still advertising the Poetry Competitions still on their site, and still taking orders for books. They may have the notice that they are no longer doing this, but if you check their web site you will see that they are still taking orders.
They are playing with peoples inner feelings, who have written their deepest feelings down on paper, promised them something, and not delievered. I fell this is disgusting and not acceptable.
Please help me to stop this from happening to someone else.
Yours Truly,
Michele (for my Son Mathew)
Michele
Oakville, Ontario
Canada
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