My partner has little recollection of signing a contract or ever talking with anyone from this company. One day we received an e-mail asking for confirmation of our ad copy. My partner sent them an e-mail requesting that a sales person contact him immediately, since we were unsure why we were getting this ad copy. No one ever contacted him or responsed to the e-mail.
Not sure when, but we started receiving invoices from a company called NAC or National Advertising Center. There was nothing on the invoice that allowed us to determine what we were being billed for... My partner called and left a message... Nothing... This happened over and over again. We are a new business and it has been so busy... My partner thought the bill might have been for a program we were doing with Smiths/Kogers and was waiting for "the" return call... Nothing.
The other day, we received a call from Mrs. Dickinson. She asked for my partner, who was not available. When I pushed for more information, she became a bit irate and proceeded to tell me that my parther was going to be sued in court if we did not pay our bill for our ad at Albertsons. We never placed an ad with Albertsons Supermarkets so I challenged her information. Mrs Dickinson represents herself as a collection agency, she DOES NOT.
The bills from NAC state they are a collection agency... They are not... NAC is not registered in CA in the Sec of States register of business... The corpration is registered as Video Reporter Inc. The CA Department of Justice advised me they are registered as a publishing/advertising company. It is important to note that CA no longer requires collection agencies to register to get a license.
If and when you question Mrs. Dickinson regarding her affiliation or challenge your legal rights, she states the marshall will visit you with a supeona and hangs up on you... She hung up on my Attorney who called on my behalf to secure a copy of the "supposed signed contract" and magazine in which the ad was published. This comment was a huge tip-off of the corporation's sham... The marshall service does not deliver supeon's. NAC cannot sue anyone in small claims court in my state and she must hire somone to go to court and serve our business.
I am in contact with the CA regulatory agencies and will consider filing consumer fraud reports and anything else that will put pressure on this company or can help shut their scam down. I have also contacted the Sr. Executive Staff at Albertson's regarding NAC's sham and use of their quality brand name... They have been quite helpful to date.
In my frustration, we contacted the Attorney who acted as their Agent of Process in the state of CA and who is currently their attorney. Surprisingly, he has called me back and took some basic information regarding my issues was surprised to hear that NAC represented themselves as selling for Albertsons... He confirmed they only send their magazines to a company who distributes in supermarkets. I also advised him how Mrs. Dickinson misrepresents her company and her job as a collections agent for her client NAC... She is just another employee of NAC.
Most of Mrs. Dickinson's actions and behavior on behalf of NAC and Video Reporter are illegal and in violation of most consumer rights.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY. For for the benefit of other businesses, take the time to report them to the BBB and the CA Attorney General. Although the AG can't provide legal advice, I have been strongly encouraged to file a report.
Anyone who is going to file a class action suit or needs other business to help go after this company... I will participate
Jill
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