Signed up for a yellow pages ad in 12/07. When asked if the ad would autorenew and what the rates would be at that time, I was told by the sales rep that she would call me prior to renewal to discuss the ad and renewal rates.
We did a voice verification thing where they recorded my voice answers to questions on the basic terms. This voice prompt call terminated with "You will receive additional terms and conditions in the mail. You have 14 days to respond." I have no idea when the T&C arrived, but they did and I promptly filed them. After all, their sales rep told me all I needed to know, certainly she knew her job.
Billing did not start until April. It's now March. I figured I had time to cancel my ad for the upcoming year since I had not heard from my rep. Not so. The cut off to do so was a few days after the New Year.
For my ad last year, I rec'd maybe 8 calls. Of those 8 zero turned into paying jobs. The ad could not pay for itself.
When I called to cancel, was told no dice. I was on the hook and the book had already gone to print. At that time I pulled out the T&C. As it turned out, it was a bifold document where the pages were stuck together. After working to split the pages, then and only then did I see the autorenew clause that was set in stone. I asked that they meet me halfway since I had specifically asked my rep and been told that it would not autorenew. No dice. A lady called and left a message stating that they spoke with the rep. The rep had notes indicating that I had specifically asked to be contacted before renewal and that the rep had agreed to do so. However, the rep had no knowledge of the contract automatically renewing and did not recall me asking if it did. Naturally.
So now I am on the hook for another $900 for an ad that's already left me in the hole and probably won't pay for itself, yet again. If anyone is looking for someone to sign onto a class action, I'm willing.
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