Progressive Business Publications

Review: Employee [redacted] was not authorized said magazine/publication without authorized permission. Employee was not clear on cancellation requirements - Tried to cancel after 90 days and was unable to do so- Apparently there was a 30 days notice required - PBS was not very forthcoming with Rules and guidelines for canceling the trail. Now we are being harrassed by collection company for 295.00 - [redacted] - We would like other consumers to beware of this company - Their practices are business worthy - They are making money by scamming employees of companies and not be forthright with the rules. Employees will say anything just to get these people off the phone. [redacted] feels this is wrong and not business like. Account number [redacted] Invoice [redacted]Desired Settlement: Would like them to take this off our credit report and stop contacting us and our employees.

Business

Response:

May 8, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 5/7/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 5/5/14. After review, we would like to respond to your letter with the following detailed explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the mailing address and asking for the persons email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the Order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Sls Mgr., placed an order on 10/11/13 for our Selling Advantage publication and he provided us with an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.Once the Order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletter and invoices over a -month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation request or mail returned as undeliverable. If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industrys general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after -months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 5/7/14 and advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware Of Our cancellation policy. We found several trial subscriptions had been accepted before. Prior to this, **. [redacted] has accepted -different publications that he never cancelled or paid and those were turned over for collection, too. Those accounts have been ceased.We have initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department if you have any further questions at [redacted].Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards, Thank you

Review: They claim to have send us a 1 year subscription to Environmental Compliance Alert but we did NOT authorize this service. We also have NOT received a copy of said services and they have a lot of information wrong from business address, company name, to email address. They claimed to have emailed me for approvals but also said I did not reply so they took that as approvals but it was probably spam filtered if true. I think this is a scam and did not find any trace of an email.Desired Settlement: Remove invoice from collections ([redacted]) and tell them to stop contacting us. They are rude and not resolving the matter professionally.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I was contacted by [redacted] (collections agency) regarding a debt for a Progressive Business Publications newsletter that I supposedly signed up for. The alleged debt/account is listed under our business, but in my name. I did not, do not read, or sign up for, let alone purchase newsletters. There is absolutely no way I agreed to purchase this product/service. They claim that they have proof I purchased it based on having my date of birth. I also as a rule do not give out my date of birth, so I have no idea how they obtained it.

They claimed this occurred on August 13th 2012. In checking our phone logs, I had received no calls from their number, nor any out of area code calls that I was not able to identify. We have no record of receiving a call from them on the date provided. I asked for further proof, and was informed they have a transcript of the call, but upon asking for it, they refused to provide it. They claim they will process this through collections, and take legal action. Of course defending any legal action will cost more than the $299 they are trying to extort. In researching this it appears I am not the only victim of this type of fraud.Desired Settlement: I would like to make sure this does not negatively affect the company credit nor my own personal credit, and to have this fraudulent debt erased.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: The company called my assistant and stated they would send her a 30 day free trial publication and continue semding it if the first one was not return to stop sending the publication. My assistant does not have the authority to accept anything concerning this type of business. The company continued to send the publication for an additional 5 months and then stopped becuse of non payment. Now they are trying to collect an amount of $299.00. Threatening collections through [redacted].Desired Settlement: stop contacting us

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: We were called by a Progressive Business Publications company in December offering us a free newsletter. To our knowledge we never received such a newsletter. 6/19/2013 we received a phone call from [redacted] (###-###-####). A Chris Bennett informed us that we had been turned over to his collection agency by PBP and owed $253.00. We are being charged for something that we did not agree to purchase and have no record of ever receiving. We will not pay for these services. We deem this business practice as fraudulent and deceptive. We wish to register a formal complaint against [redacted] and PBP for harrassing us to pay for services that we never agreed to purchase.Desired Settlement: We demand that [redacted] and PBP cease and desist from any future attempts at collecting this fradulent charge of $253 and that neither business contact us again.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: We ar receiving invocies and a publication that we did not order. No phone number listed on invoices. I have mailed back the voucher stating that we did not order this publication.Desired Settlement: to stop the scam.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business Publications has sent three invoices saying we owe them $ 299.00 for a safety alert email that they send that does not pertain to our business as a police department. I did not authorize them to send this email nor did I authorize any charges for this publication. My boss received this invoice and said that it had taken 5 months for this business to clear another unauthorized invoice when he dealt with this same company some time ago. I have tried to block their emails and marked them as spam but they still continue to filter through our City's email system. I have sent them a fax requesting that they stop this and clear this account.Desired Settlement: For them to stop sending the emails and invoices.

Business

Response:

August 22, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 8/21/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/16/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent guality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth date and asking for the person's email or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that needs to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Property Officer, placed an order on 5/1/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with birth date information as 7/8, as well as an email address.

Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.

The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 3-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 8/21/13 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 6-paid in full accounts for our Center For Education & Employment Law Division and all other accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.

Please know that we do business continually with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: received advertisement to try magazine free and if did not want or like, could cancel. Did cancel within time frame, also called company to state my desire to not have magazine. Eventually paid unwanted subscription but subsequent notifications from this company continued to arrive indicating a continuation of the subscription. These notifications were returned with CANCEL written across the notice in a diagonal manner. Also included was the sentence: "Do not want. Did not order, and do not want anything else. Please do not send any more. COPIES were made of the returned forms, however as of this filed complaint, they continue to arrive.Desired Settlement: Return/Refund of cash, since they DO NOT honor any type of refund and ignore their own 'refund policy'. I want a refund AND I want them to STOP CONTACTING ME!!

Business

Response:

September 12, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/12/13 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 9/8/13. After researching this complaint, we would like to respond with the following explanation.

We are a publisher who, from time-to-time, sends out promotional mailings of our publications for companies to review. We sent such a promo mailing of the "Facility Managers Alert" to **. [redacted] on 6/20/13.

We send out issues and then a "Conversion Notice" that states, "This is not a bill". We send out a Conversion Notice to see if the company would like to change to a regular one-year subscription. If we do not get a response the newsletter stops, assuming the company is not interested. There is never any money due or owing on this type of promotional mailing. Also, this type of account expires of its own volition. In this case the account ceased on 8/22/13. We never received payment on this account so there can be no refunds made.

While researching this complaint, please know that we found an old account for **. [redacted] entitled the Facility Manager's Alert dated 9/27/11. He gave us a birth date of 1/1, as well as an email address. **. [redacted] paid this account in full on 1/31/12 and received the full 1-year subscription. The account expired on 9/20/12.

We did request that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30 days to complete. In business, we hesitate to say they will never receive another telephone offer or mailing. If any information changes or the name is misspelled or the zip code different our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, please call us and we will happy to remove that version, too.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: This company currently has an F rating with you. They sent me a "2nd Notice - Payment is now OVERDUE" letter for two newsletters that I never received. I tried contacting the company and I can't communicate with a human being and they are not returning my calls. I contacted the Federal Trade Commission and spoke to [redacted] who transferred me to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I spoke to [redacted] who told me that I should file a complaint with the Revdex.com and with the US Postal Service since I received this scam by mail. I refuse to pay for a publication I did not request and that I did not receive. My name is even misspelled!Desired Settlement: REMOVE my name from whatever list they got it from, ADJUST THE BALANCE TO ZERO AND CEASE AND DESIST!

Business

Response:

January 13, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 1/13/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 1/9/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth date and asking for the person's email or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that needs to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Office Mgr, placed an order on 10/1/13 for our Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.

The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 4-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable".

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 1/13/14 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.

We initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.

Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Please feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: Progressive Business Publications contacted [redacted]'s offices in 2013 regarding a trial subscription to a publication that we did not have any interest in. The company was incredibly persistent and would call our offices on a daily or weekly basis. We started receiving the publications, but when I attempted to contact the business to cancel our subscription, my request was not honored or acknowledged. On February 12, 2014, I received a call from the credit collection agency [redacted]., who stated that unless the account balance of $295 was made and processed today, [redacted]'s credit would be affected.Desired Settlement: We request that our balance of $295 be cleared.

Business

Response:

February 27, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 2/26/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 2/12/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address and asking for the month and day of the person's birth.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Proposal Coord, placed an order on 6/28/13 for our Selling Advantage publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted]. Prior to ending the conversation we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy.

The birthday information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5 months, 2 warning notices plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 2/27/14 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Please feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS CONTINUALLY OFFERS FREE E-MAIL PUBLICATION TO OURS HR, PAYROLL, A/P AND VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WITH THE OPTION TO OPT OUT BEFORE YOU ARE CHARGED AND THEN THEY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.I FILED A COMPLANIT A FEW YEARS BACK AND THEY SEEMED TO LEAVE US ALONE FOR A WHILE. HOW IS A COMPANY RUNNING A SCAM LIKE THIS PERMITTED TO STAY IN BUSINESS?Desired Settlement: FOR PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS TO STOP CONTACTING THIS COMPANY COMPLETELY

Business

Response:

March 6, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 3/4/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 2/20/14. After researching this complaint, we would like to respond with the following explanation.

We are a publisher who, from time-to-time, sends out promotional mailings of our publications for companies to review. We sent such a promo mailing to [redacted], Payroll Mgr, entitled "What's Working In Human Resources" on 9/9/13.

We send out 2 issues and then a "Conversion Notice" that states, "This is not a bill". We send out the conversion notice to see if the company would like to change to a regular one-year subscription. If we do not get a response the newsletter stops, assuming the company is not interested. There is never any money due or owing on this type of promotional mailing. Also, this type of account expires of its own volition. That is what happened in this instance. There is no money due.

While researching this complaint, we found that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many trial subscriptions had been accepted before and cancelled as we instructed without issue. Too, we found that **. [redacted] has been receiving our Keep Up To Date On Payroll since 2005 and paid to have the account renewed each year until 2012.

We did request on 3/6/2014 that the name, address and telephone be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30 days to complete. In business, we hesitate to say they will never receive another telephone offer or mailing. If there are any changes made our computers may not recognize it and something may go out.

If that should happen, please call us and we will happy to remove that version, too.

Please know we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.

If you require further help, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Department at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: We did not receive any subscription newsletters or invoices from the vendor until item was placed in collections. When this information was given to [redacted], they said they could only "reduce the debt" for the actual number of issues we had received even though we had never received the actual newsletter that was supposed to have come with the invoices. Employee attempted to cancel online subscription several times during "trial period" to no avail.Desired Settlement: Reduce debt to zero as we never received actual newsletters in question.

Business

Response:

March 6, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 3/4/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 2/20/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth and asking for the person's email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Ops Mgr, placed an order on 7/1/13 for our Environmental Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our records show the email went through without any problems.

The birthday information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place-. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5 months, 2 warning notices plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 3/6/14 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Please feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Review: In January I received a phone call asking if I was in charge of safety in our medical clinics.I was told I could review a Safety publication for free. I denied and was told it would be sent free for me to check out to see if it was helpful. I denied again.I was reassured it was free and I could review it to see how helpful it would be to our company.I finally agreed, asking if there was any charge and I was told no.First issue came, I opened it and found it to contain no information at all for medical offices.I never even opened the 2nd mailing. I never accessed the website.Today I get a bill for $299. I did not order anything. Was not told by phone I had to call to cancel. I will not pay for this publication. It does not apply to medical safety at all and I feel as tho I have been scammed by a company that scams for a living.I did write on the bill to cancel any subscriptions they think I have.Desired Settlement: I do not want to have to pay for something that I did not purchase. do not need and is of very little or no benefit.

Business

Response:

April 10, 2 014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/8/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 4/1/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth date and asking for the person's email or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that needs to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Site Mgr, placed an order on 1/17/14 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 2-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by Ms Blank were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 3/21/14 as they requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.Thank you.

Review: This company ROUTINELY SCAMS companies into paying for items not ordered. I have had this problems with this company in the past. I have asked them to cease and desist sending us bills for unauthorized charges. They have now turned our company over for collections and I want them put out of business once and for all. How this company continues to still operate after numerous complaints is beyond me.Desired Settlement: I want this company to quit calling and sending their bt bills to our company.

Business

Response:

May 29, 2014 Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 5/29/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 5/23/14. After review, we would like to respond to your letter with the following detailed explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the mailing address, asking for the month and day of the persons birth date and asking for the persons email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that needs to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Receptionist, placed an order on 10/17/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication and she provided us with birth date information as **, as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletter and invoices over a -month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation request or mail returned as undeliverable. If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industrys general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after -months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 5/23/14 the same day [redacted] called us and we advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing On this account.When [redacted] called us on 5/23/14 Gl: 18 PM (EST) she would not verify any information we had for opening a trial subscription for [redacted]. She eventually hung up on the Customer Service Representative refusing to give her a chance to resolve matter.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; other trial accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account.We have initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, Simply call us and we will remove that version, too.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour 7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department if you have any further questions at [redacted].Thank you.

Review: I am a teacher, and was contacted in the middle of a class in October to see if I wanted to review information. I was not told that I would be charged for a book and a newsletter, costing $284.95. I did not open the book, as I had not ordered it. I kept the book, but in it's packaging, as I thought it was a mistake and would need to be sent to another person in my school. The company clai** that they sent me an email with this information, which was never received. Additionally, the company clai** that in the phone call, it was made clear that I could return the material. This was never explained to me. I am very frustrated with the lack of consistent communication, and feel as if I was scammed by this company to pay this money by sending me a book without my consent. In order to pay this bill, I will need to take money away from my students and my classroom. This company's practices are fraudulent.Desired Settlement: After I return the book they charged me without my consent, I want all charges dropped. I want all information in their records cancelled, and all further correspondence to cease.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 6/6/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 6/4/14. After review, we would like to respond to your letter with the following detailed explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the mailing address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth date and asking for the person's email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours. This serves to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Dir, placed an order on 10/7/13 for our Deskbook Encyclopedia of American School Law book and its companion newsletter. She provided us with birth date information as 9/6, as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the book, newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation request or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that and the book to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 6/4/14 as she requested that day; she also verified all the information we had to start a trial subscription is correct. We advised the collection agency to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account. To date, [redacted] still has not returned the book as she said she would.We have initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department you have any further questions at [redacted].Thank you.Cordially,

Review: I received a call from Progressive Business Newsletters approx. 1/2013. I was offered to have them send a newsletter, at no cost, to our business and if we wanted to continue to receive the newsletter, we could sign up for a yearly program. I declined all offers and never received anything in the mail or any call backs. Yesterday I was contacted by [redacted] stating that myelf and the business I work for had an outstanding invoice for this newsletter, to which we never said we wanted and have never received.Desired Settlement: There should be no outstanding invoice and I would like this company to stop contacting our business.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: Pressured to pay for publications we do not want and don't think we ordered. Say invoice was turned over to credit recoveryDesired Settlement: Stop contacting and remove name and phone number from their contacts

Business

Response:

October 10, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 10/10/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 10/7/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth and asking for the person's email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Fundraising Dir, placed an order on 2/5/13 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our records show the email went through without any problems.

The birthday information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5 months, 2 warning notices plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 10/10/13 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

We initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 4-trials for **. [redacted] himself that he did cancel. All other accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account.

Please know that we do business continually with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you,

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

From: Revdex.com of Metro DC and Eastern PA <[email protected]>

Date: Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 4:45 PM

Subject: Fwd: Complaint [redacted]

To: [redacted] <[redacted]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: [redacted] <[redacted]>

Date: Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 4:13 PM

Subject: Complaint [redacted]

To: [email protected]

Thank you for the expeditious handling of the captioned claim. We do appreciate your help.

Director of Administration

Direct Line - [redacted]

TollFree - [redacted]

Fax - [redacted]

Review: Received an invoice for a product never ordered and never received.Desired Settlement: Nullify invoice [redacted] for account [redacted]. Not ordered. Not requested. Not received. Not wanted.

Business

Response:

October 21, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 10/21/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 10/17/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on-line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the mailing address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth and asking for the person's email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as.well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Grants Mgr, placed an order on 8/13/13 for our Nonprofit Board Report (packet 5 per month) publication. We were provided with the month and day of birth only, as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. We do show that the confirmation letter went through without any problems.

The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 2-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals and cancellation requests.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us, or advise us by any other way, and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 10/15/13 as they requested the same day they called us. There is no money due or owing on this account.

We initiated a request on 10/21/13 that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30 days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If the company's name is misspelled or the zip code incorrect, our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, please call and we will remove that version also.

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 1-paid in full account and others cancelled as we instructed.

Please know that we do business regularly with many tens of thousands of companies who regularly place repeat orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in the newsletter. It contains our address and telephone number. We also have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me, although the claims they made were still untrue. I find their argumentative and defensive nature unprofessional, as verified by the "F" rating they maintain. I only hope other customers don't fall into the same trap of "ordering" on the phone.

Review: Progressive Business Publications alleges that [redacted] subscribed to a publication called "Environmental Compliance Alert" in March 2013. We have no record of ordering this publication. We are now being contacted by a collections company called "[redacted]." who is demanding that we pay them for this publication. We have tried to explain that we did not order this publication and do not want to receive it.Desired Settlement: Progressive Business Publications and [redacted] should correct their records to show that [redacted] has not ordered this publication and owes nothing.

Business

Response:

November 7, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 11/5/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 11/4/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the person's birth and asking for the person's email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Owner, placed an order on 3/27/13 for our Environmental Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our records show the email went through without any problems.

The birthday information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

We did find that we were contacted on 5/14/13 and were informed of their new address from [redacted] to [redacted] and that was changed the same day.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5 months, 2 warning notices plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 11/6/13 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

We initiated a request on the same day that the company name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.

Please know that we do business continually with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.

All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.

Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at ###-###-####.

Thank you

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

It is my understanding that the business will (1) stop sending the non-requested publication, (2) notify its collection agency to stop contacting me, and (3) update any records to show that I do not owe money.

Regards,

Review: Progressive Business Publications initially called a few months ago asking if I would be interested in their products. As a new employee, I told them that they could send me an email with information if they wanted and I could run it by my supervisor. She was not interested. I never told them that I wanted to order anything. Since then, I received small newsletters here and there with little to no substance that I figured needed to be thrown away. Last month, I received another phone call from Progressive Business Publications and I told the woman that I wasn't interested and to please cancel everything. She never mentioned an invoice, but told me to call the customer service number and select option 2. When I tried to do this, it asked me for an account number that I did not have. On April 21, 2014, I received an invoice stating that this was my second notice for a payment that is now overdue for $299.00 for a newsletter that I have never subscribed to. It claims that the 60-day cancellation period has expired for this subscription that supposedly ordered. I mailed back the invoice stub with "Cancel my services -- I never ordered this" written on it. I have also emailed their customer service email account, describing the situation and asking them to handle it.Desired Settlement: The desired outcome is for Progressive Business Publications to adjust their billing to show that I have never ordered anything from them and therefore should have a $0 balance. I would also like to cease all communication with them after the problem has been fixed.

Business

Response:

April 24, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/23/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 4/22/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the persons birth date and asking for the persons email or fax number so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that needs to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Acct 1, placed an order on 26/14 for Our CFO & Controllers Alert publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same Computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 2-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industrys general custom.As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 4/22/14 as she requested that same day she contacted us. There is no money due or owing on the account.We initiated a request on 4/23/14 that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found 3-different trial subscriptions had been accepted before and all those accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of Companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it Contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour 7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at [redacted].Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. While I still disagree that the subscription was ever ordered, I am glad that no payment is due or owing on the account.

Regards,