Another scam for some state's Attorney General to look into - WickedFire - Affiliate Marketing Forum

Andrew · 02-10-2007, 12:37 PM

Made this post about BrightPages.com on my blog last month; I'm still recieving new comments from people who fell for this shit:

Quote:

I just got this bulk mailing from Yellow Pages via snail mail. It has one of my companies name, address, and telephone number (which is completely wrong) and says: Check one — O List as shown O List with changes or additions. Then you sign your name and stick it back in the mailbox.

Oh, whats this in the fine print?

“This offer is for a featured advertising listing in BPLLC’s online yellow pages directory, brightpages.com. Reach thousands of potential new customers with priority placement, enhanced search engine visibility, and the ability to list additional information such as a map to your location, a link to your website, your fax number, your toll-free number, or your email address. The listing fee for this service is $77 per month-billed quarterly.”

Here are some comments:

--"I was so shocked by the bill I thought perhaps my signature was stolen because I would never sign up for anything with out permission from my supervisor. It could have cost me my job and it did cost me embarrassment because I swore that I did not sign any contract."

--"The internet company that does this, Brightpages.com, bills quarterly, so I recently got an unexpected bill for $231.00! Before calling to dispute the bill, I went to the Brightpages website just to see how it works. It turned out that after many different searches for our organization name it always came back with “Sorry, we did not find anything for your search.”

mason · 02-10-2007, 12:56 PM

YES fuck yellow pages. my parents business was one of the victims, but luckily I caught it before they were charged too much.

Jon · 02-10-2007, 06:14 PM

How do they go about billing you though?

aeiouy · 02-10-2007, 06:21 PM

They have been doing this kind of stuff for a long time. I used to get that crap in my storefront businesses all the time.

mason · 02-10-2007, 07:45 PM

they give you a refund check through the mail saying there was an "error" on the business listing. Cashing the check means you accept the fine print written on it saying you gotta pay xx amount per month to remain listed or something. you have a 7 day window to get a refund.

cashing the check ties your bank account with the service.

one2 · 02-10-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mason

they give you a refund check through the mail saying there was an "error" on the business listing. Cashing the check means you accept the fine print written on it saying you gotta pay xx amount per month to remain listed or something. you have a 7 day window to get a refund.

cashing the check ties your bank account with the service.

Wow that is complete crap. I hate businesses that operate in this manner, someone needs to do something about this. Thanks for the heads up guys/gals.

Deliguy · 02-10-2007, 08:22 PM

this is the entire reason why businesses have a purchase orders system in place. These scams are all too common. Send a bill, hope someone mistakenly pays it. One of the popular ones we get at the office are the business name renewal bills.

Says your not in compliance with 20xx years government compliance and you have to order some certificates of business licenses and wage laws to put up on the walls. If you don't fill out the order form and send a check your business name will be revoked.

Then theres the ones that give you a fake credit card bill. then give you a number to call if the bill is incorrect. You call and they tell you, no no you don't owe, infact your eligible for 0% APR for the next six months!

Fun stuff!

$5 Submissions · 02-11-2007, 03:13 AM

I've seen that done with LLC/corp renewal services as well. The scumbag company sending the "bill" isn't your incorporator service but includes a TRANSFER form (for process service) in the packet.

Be careful of such scams.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deliguy

this is the entire reason why businesses have a purchase orders system in place. These scams are all too common. Send a bill, hope someone mistakenly pays it. One of the popular ones we get at the office are the business name renewal bills.

Says your not in compliance with 20xx years government compliance and you have to order some certificates of business licenses and wage laws to put up on the walls. If you don't fill out the order form and send a check your business name will be revoked.

Then theres the ones that give you a fake credit card bill. then give you a number to call if the bill is incorrect. You call and they tell you, no no you don't owe, infact your eligible for 0% APR for the next six months!

Fun stuff!

02-10-2007, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
mason Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 876 iTrader: 0 / 0%	YES fuck yellow pages. my parents business was one of the victims, but luckily I caught it before they were charged too much. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

02-10-2007, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
aeiouy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 926 iTrader: 0 / 0%	They have been doing this kind of stuff for a long time. I used to get that crap in my storefront businesses all the time. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Wickedfire is spanish for F'ed Up Make Wickedfire a better place. Click Here Hakuna Matata

02-10-2007, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
mason Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 876 iTrader: 0 / 0%	they give you a refund check through the mail saying there was an "error" on the business listing. Cashing the check means you accept the fine print written on it saying you gotta pay xx amount per month to remain listed or something. you have a 7 day window to get a refund. cashing the check ties your bank account with the service. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

02-10-2007, 08:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Deliguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 4,942 iTrader: 11 / 100%	this is the entire reason why businesses have a purchase orders system in place. These scams are all too common. Send a bill, hope someone mistakenly pays it. One of the popular ones we get at the office are the business name renewal bills. Says your not in compliance with 20xx years government compliance and you have to order some certificates of business licenses and wage laws to put up on the walls. If you don't fill out the order form and send a check your business name will be revoked. Then theres the ones that give you a fake credit card bill. then give you a number to call if the bill is incorrect. You call and they tell you, no no you don't owe, infact your eligible for 0% APR for the next six months! Fun stuff! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________

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