When I decided to self-publish my first novel, I found a company in Indiana ~ Xlibris Corporation. I did my research and from all accounts, the company appeared reputable. My representative was extremely helpful in getting my process up and running smoothlyor so I thought. Once the company had my money and there was no turning back financially, I was no longer able to reach anyone that spoke (or understood) proper English. Suddenly everyone I was connected to was located in the Phillippines and working from a script. None of their responses had anything to do with the questions I was asking or the reason for my call. None of the people I originally dealt with in Indiana were available by phone.
It wasnt until after they had my money that I learned nothing would happen with my book unless I paid more money, and lots of it. Stores wouldnt purchase the book unless I paid another fee for insurance; no marketing would be done to sell the book unless I paid another fee for marketing services. All of these fees were thousands of dollars.
None of my phone calls were being returned when Id call about suspected sales that werent being credited to my royalty account. Then a friend told me she purchased my book in October and another said she bought it in December of both directly from Xlibris Corporation. I am holding the receipt from her purchase in my hand as I write this report. It is dated October 14. Unfortunately for me, my Xlibris account shows no sales since April. No one at Xlibris will tell me what is going on.
For over a month now, Ive been trying to reach someone in Indiana about the fraud being committed against the sale of my book. Every time I call Indiana, I get transferred to the Phillippines. I demanded an audit of my sales and was told one would be conducted immediately and I would receive a call back in 2-3 days. Its been ten days and no call every came. So I followed up with another call to Indiana today, and again was transferred to the Phillippines. The woman I spoke with, who I was informed was an attorney in the companys legal department, says she is only a customer service supervisor and knows nothing about an audit on my sales. Butshe would look into it and get back to me in 2-3 days. Click!!!
Do not do business with this company. They will take your money, sell your book and steal your royalties out from under your nose. Youll never get the same person on the phone twice. Who knows how many copies of my book they have sold and havent paid me on. Theres no way to get that information either because no one understands you when you call or calls you back when you leave a message.
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