Progressive Business Publications

Review: I was solicited by phone to subscribe to a professional publication. The discussion went back and forth where I expressed no desire for the publication but was assured I can just look at it if I don't like it no problem. I can cancel anytime no obligation etc.

I received the first magazine which appeared to be a sales catalog with no professionally substantial information. After the first issue the publication was thrown out. The next time I heard about the publication was when a collection agent called and threatened to go after $300+ dollars in unpaid subscription and they were authorized for one day only to give me a great deal of Paying only $130.00 to close the account.

I am complaining about unethical sales practices and collection practices.

Business

Response:

September 23, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/23/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/18/13. 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 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], Assoc. Principal, placed an order on 2/8/13 for our Safety Compliance newsletter and we were provided 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 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.

With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the newsletters 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 9/23/13 and they advised, us they received payment on 9/5/13 for "issues served" or $130.00. 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. Once payment has been made for issues already sent there can be no refunds made.

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.

Review: They sent us a book we did not order along with a bill for $241.95.Desired Settlement: They should not be allowed to send out unordered products with invoices.

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 10/9/13. 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 and asking for the month and day of the person's birth date.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Admissions Dir, placed an order on 9/9/13 for our Higher Education Law In America book and its companion newsletter and we were provided with birth date information as [redacted]. Prior to ending the call we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy.

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 1-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 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 the newsletter portion of the account on 10/9/13 as requested that day. Further, they requested a "Postage Paid" label so they could return the book at our expense. Once the book is returned there will be no money due or owed 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, many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 8-paid in full accounts 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.

Review: Progressive Business Publication continues to send bills for Safety Compliance Alert Publications, which was never agreed too and we have yet to receive a single copy of the publication.Desired Settlement: stop contacting me.

Business

Response:

November 29, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 11/26/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received 11/25/13. 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 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], Safety Superv, placed an order on 7/23/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication and we were provided 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 the confirmation went through without any problems.

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 mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had the account would have been cancelled 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.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 11/26/13 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.

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 4-different trial subscriptions had been accepted before and all 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.

Review: Progressive Business Publications sent after soliciting information from an employee to send free newsletters for coding and reimbursement updates without any further confirmation correspondence on this request received. The call was made over the, short staffed, Christmas holiday and first newsletter was sent 1/2014 with at that time a return letter requesting cancellation of services and account requested. This was apparently not completed and 2 months later in March the office received an "Overdue Invoice Notice" indicating that this was their third attempt to collect, being the first we had ever received, on this account and that we should pay the subscription promptly. A call was made to their cancellation services number and message left noting discrepancy and request for correction and confirmation call back. On April 17, 2014 the office received the "May 2014" newsletter at which time another letter including correspondence documentation noting our attempts to correct their records and confirm the cancellation was prepared and sent back to both mailing addresses listed for Progressive Business Publications. On 4/24/14 the office received another account overdue notice and again I myself called their 1800 number being transferred to multiple areas and then disconnected. A certified return receipt letter with copy of all prior documentation was prepared today and will be mailed to Progressive Business Publications tomorrow 4/25/14.Desired Settlement: Billing adjustment adhering to their cancellation policy with original letter requesting cancellation sent within specified timeframe and account balance zeroed out.

Business

Response:

April 28, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 4/28/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 4/24/14. 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 persons birth date.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Office Mgr., placed an order on 12/5/13 for our Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted]. Prior to ending the conversation we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy.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.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 4/17/14 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 [redacted].Thank you.

Review: Received a call from a collection agency called International Credit Recovery Inc. on behalf of Progressive Business Publications stating that Modern Information Systems owed them for an annual subscription for "What's Working in Human Resources". However, we do not remember placing the order, receiving the monthly flyers, or even receiving a bill from them. Therefore, I refused to pay the bill. As far as we know we did not have any contact with this company or order anything. The collection agency did offer to reduce the bill to $130.00 to cover the issues we were supposed sent. However, again we did not receive them so we do not feel we owe for them. Have a great day,K.C. InmanDesired Settlement: Release of Modern Information Systems from this bill we do not owe.

Business

Response:

May 15, 20Thank you for your email of 5/14/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 5/13/14. 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 need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Ops Mgr., placed an order on 10/23/13 for our Whats Working In Human Resources 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 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to her @ [redacted], ND, [redacted]. 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 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 5/14/14 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 many, many trial subscriptions had been accepted before and were cancelled as we instructed without issue.We have 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 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: Below is email sent to editor and customer service department at company.

I just received a call from a collections agency regarding the above publication.

I was informed there is a claim of $130 for 5 issues.

I was shocked to hear this! I recall the cold call solicitation for the publication and understood it would be a no risk free trial.

There was no mention that I needed to cancel nor was there any invoice or credit card number provided.

I did not receive any notification that this was my last issue or payment was due.

I do want to cancel the publication and do not wish to receive any future issues.

I also want to dispute payment above claim of $130.

I am also submitting a complaint to the Revdex.com as I am concerned about the above process.

Please find below and attached a copy of insert enclosed with publication.

I believe this contains the account number and other identifying information needed to process my complaint for payment and cancellation request.

Please contact me with any questions.

I look forward to your response to this unfortunate situation and hope to resolve it quickly.Desired Settlement: Cancel future publication delivery and withdraw $130 claim and calls from collection agency ([redacted]

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.

I would like to clarify that the two (2) warning notices referenced by the business was never received, otherwise due action would have been taken to cancel. Also noted is the reference to paid subscriptions and trial offers. As the publication was sent to large company, it is possible that other representatives of the company participated with the business in the past and were aware of their invoicing processes. This was first personal encounter and therefore there was no historical experience to draw from.

Regards,

Review: I received a call today from International Credit Recovery representing Progressive Business Publications, stating that I had, through a service rep, responded to materials offered by Progressive, of which they have not received payment for, and it was going to collections. The person I spoke with had my name and street address right, but other personally identifiable information wrong. I nor anyone on our staff are familiar with PBP, have never ordered or asked for any of their materials, nor do I have any invoice or record indicating I owe them anything.Desired Settlement: Remove the fraudulent 'billing' to me from Progressive, remove any negative credit/billing information from PBP and International Credit Recovery, remove my name, and our company name from any of their mailing or call lists. This company has thousands of complaints against it for this very conduct.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

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.

That said, I would also like to point out that one; my title is not nor ever has been MIS Mgr, and further, it can be confirmed that I was not even in the office on 11/12/12

as stated in their response. Additionally, I have as of this date received no invoices or any other deliverables, I can't cancel something I don't have. To close, a simple

Google query would quickly show that there's quite a number of people that have experienced the same treatment from Progressive Business Publications. I appreciate the help

of the Revdex.com in resolving this issue to satisfaction.

Regards,

IT Manager, [redacted]

Review: Progressive Business Publications, operating under the name Center for Education & Employment Law, has been sending invoices and calling our establishment seeking payment for a publication that was never ordered, delivered, purchased or paid for. The Publication is called Private School Law in America. Progressive Business Publications sent us a mailing return label for us to return the product, but we never received the publication and have nothing to return. Today (May 5, 2014), I received a notice from a Collection Agency, dated April 16, 2014.

We did not do business with Progressive Business Publications. We did not order a product from this company. We did not receive a product for this company. We will not be paying this company and nor should any other private schoolDesired Settlement: I would like this fraudulent sales transaction eliminated and a written guarantee from Progressive Business Publications and [redacted] (the Collection Agency) that there will be no impact on our company's credit rating.

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, 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 need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Principal, placed an order on 10/30/13 for our Private School Law In America book and its companion newsletter. He 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 goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals and cancellation requests. We did receive a cancellation request on 3/2014 for the newsletter and that was processed the same day. However the book has not been returned.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is write cancel on the invoice and return it along with the book, or advise us by 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 and 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 collections and cancel this account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to the account being turned over for collection. There is no money due or owing on this accountWhile 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 several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before and all those accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account.Continuing to search we found that we left a message on 2/12/14 with (Secretary) regarding the book. We called again on 2/18/14 and the person on the telephone refused to verify any information we have and hung up on our representative. On 3/24/14 we sent a "postage paid” label to them so that they could return the book at our expense. To date, we have not received the book.We have initiated a request the same day that the name 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 companys name information changes, our Computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, please call and we will remove that version also.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 excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter. It contains our email, address, telephone, and fax numbers, as well as our website. 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.?

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. As the letter indicates, the collection agency has been advised to cease collection on this account and Progressive Business Publications assures no money remains due on this account. Further, we are pleased our business entity will be removed from the call list and respectfully understand the challenges of never receiving correspondence from this business again.

Regards,

Review: These people called me a week ago asking if I wanted to try a "free trial publication". I told them no and they asked for my birth date. I did not think anything of it and gave it to them. It was stupid I know. Now I have an invoice from them dated May 8th. The called me on Friday May 16th. I was told this is a scam. I refuse to pay this invoice as I did not order anything.Desired Settlement: stop contacting me

Business

Response:

May 29, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 5/23/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 5/22/14. 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], AP Mgr., placed an order on 4/14/14 for our Keep Up To Date On Accounts Payable publication. We were provided 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 newsletters and invoices over a 1-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 5/23/14 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 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 [redacted].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,

Review: I was sent a trial subscription for a newsletter, when the first bill was received I sent it back marked cancelled. It was never cancelled and now a collections agency is calling me, saying I incurred a debt. At a former employer the exact same situation occurred. The trial subscription is never cancelled as they promise.Desired Settlement: I want the subscription cancelled and the company never to contact our office again.

Business

Response:

September 22, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 9/22/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 9/18/14. 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], Fin Mgr., placed an order on 1/27/14 for our Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement publication and she provided us with birth date information as [redacted], as well as a fax number (###-###-####). 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 sameComputer system sent the newsletter 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 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 9/22/14 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.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 "repeat” 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.Cordially,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

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. Thank you for intervening for me in this matter, It is too bad that a free offer has to come to this point. Repeated cancellations in writing meant nothing to Progressive. Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Review: My complaint is the same as thousands of others you have received on this company. Last year I was told I had subscribed to certain publications , which I had not. Since that time I have continued to receive the publications, have sent them all back and requested the service be cancelled. I am still receiving the publications. I know it is only a matter of time before I am invoiced and harrassed by their chorts in crime, [redacted]. I just want this stopped.Desired Settlement: Cancellation of services with no furether contact.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business Publications claims that I ordered a 1 year subscription to ADMINSTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL UPDATE .

I did not order anything from them. I asked for a copy of my order and they said it was verbal.

The first time that I heard of this company is when I got a notice from the credit recovery company mentioned below.

They have turned this account over to [redacted]. FOR COLLECTION OF $195.50.Desired Settlement: I would like them to contact the [redacted]. and tell them that $195.50 bill was done in error.

I also want them to get rid of the $195.50 they say I owe them and send me a letter saying the $195.50 bill is gone and I don't owe them any money for anything.

Thank You

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business Publications (PBP) sent me trial newsletters followed by a bill which I sent payment for on March 1, 2007 check number 2425. PBP took it upon themselve to send the newsletter, I did not order or request a trial newsletter. Later they (PBP) sent me a form to cancel the newsletter; I filled this out and returned it. Several months later I received another bill, I sent this back to PBP and requested them to cancel this product, also I tried to call PBP & sent an email requesting cancellation (during this time I searched PBP on the web and found lots of complaints). Each year I would send the cancellation form back with no response from PBP but still receiving the newsletters. On April 4, 2013 a lady from [redacted] called & said we owe $195.50 for the newsletters. I told her no we didn’t because I sent the cancellation form, her response was she was doing her job & the newsletter had to be cancelled through the cancellation form because of a barcode PBP scans. In the meantime I talked to my Superintendent, he agreed to send the 195.50 but before we did so he wanted a letter stating we would be removed from PBP’s list and no longer be contacted. I called her back informed her of what we wanted, she replied back saying I was wanted her to bend the rules (sort of speak), then she came back saying we had to pay with a credit card or a certified check. By this time I had enough of the situation and turned it over to my Superintendent. He got on the phone told her what we wanted, she told him okay and faxed over an invoice (which I had never seen before) not a letter stating we would be removed from their contact list, newsletter and collections.Desired Settlement: I am formally disputing this bill. Upon receiving a letter stating we will not owe anything else to this company and we will stop receiving newsletters, our company will pay the $195.50. The letter should also state that our company will no longer be in collection status and our company name be in good standing. I would appreciate my name also be taken off of any collection letters as well. Please note a check will be mailed only after receipt of a letter in which all of our requests have been met.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: This company sends you newsletters you do not request. They then expect you to respond with "NO" to stop the newsletters. If you do not respond to their advertisements they then bill you. You call to cancel and they say ok no problem we will send you complimentary issues. The process starts all over. When you call and have to pretty much threaten legal action, they are very curt and nasty on the phone.

SCAM! UNETHICAL PRACTICE!Desired Settlement: This company should be put out of business! STOP CONTACTING ME and STOP MAILING ME ANYTHING!

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: They are billing for a subscription that I said we were not intersted in. They offered free copies, and I declined. They sent them in anyways, and I told them I did not want anything that cost the company money. They keep sending in copies, and have sent in invoices for $432.00 for the subscriptionDesired Settlement: I want them to stop calling the comapny, and sending items to us.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I have started receiving bills for some publications that started to come in the mail that I did not order. My wife called the company and said that they need to stop sending items I did not order and stop harassing him with bills, as he is not paying for something he did not order. Today 6/27/13 another mailing came to us. Help stop the madness please. Thank youDesired Settlement: I want them to remove me from their mailings, billings, etc..for I am not going to pay for something that I did not order.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Sent invoice for a safety compliance alert subscription. We have not received any product and did not agree to anything to anything. I went online and saw that there are A LOT of people that have been scammed by this mail fraud letter.Desired Settlement: I do not want to see another bill to us for something that is clearly mail fraud or worse they try and turn over to a bill collection agency.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business Publications contacted our Administrative Assistant via phone and had her answer a few questions in order to agree to a free newsletter called the Administrative Profressional Update. Everything was verbal, and although she should not have answered any questions, she also did not sign anything nor want the newsletter. A few months later, she started recieving collection calls for the amount of $195.90 for the newsletter subscription. I personally contacted Progressive Business Publications today on behalf of [redacted] to dispute the agreement and charges. They did not have the correct mailing address, nor her correct email address on file. They said to disregard the collection calls and if they continue to call them back. We are a private non-profit agency who works to help people in our community. Collection calls from an agency running a scam interferes with our business operations and the people we are trying to serve by trying to collect money from us and wasting our time with phone calls because of collections. I also spoke to the so called collection agency and they said it was not a scam and her date of birth was "legally binding". They also said that we had to pay the $195.90 and she was "closing the book on the collection today". We inform our staff members not to sign or verbally agree to phone, fax, or email offers and any service that cost the agency money MUST be approved first. I understand they are legally allowed to call and sell their products, but they catch people unaware and off guard then our business operations suffer trying to argue over the validity of the charges.Desired Settlement: To stop calling us and speaking to people who have no authority to approve a service or approve recieving a service. Also, businesses who do fall for this type of sales call should not be held liable for the cost of a service just from a verbal discussion.

Business

Response:

August 19, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 8/15/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received 8/15/13. 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.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], A/A, placed an order on 1/23/13 for our Administrative Professional Update Alert publication. We were provided with birth date information as 12/6. Prior to ending the call we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy.

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 5- month period of time.

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

Sincerely,

Review: We have received phone calls asking us to pay $240 by Progressive Business Publications for "Foundation Corporate Funding Advantage Newsletter's". We do not have a clear recollection of ever ordering these newsletters and certainly would never have agreed to pay $240 for them as we are a small Not For Profit Agency and money is tight for us. We have never received any invoices from us even though the collection agency "[redacted]" claims that they had sent us one in March of 2013 addressed to myself and four other after that addressed to the "accounts payable" department. As I said, we are a very small agency and these invoices would not have been missed if they were ever sent and in addition they would have been disputed on the spot. In reviewing this company on your website and also on various others there have been many complaints about this company all mostly similar to ours. The Revdex.com itself has given it a "F" rating and also states that it has not clear understanding of this businesses purpose. I have also seen where this company has had a class action lawsuit filed against it.Desired Settlement: We request that this company stop calling us to try to collect this mystery $240 and that they reduce the balance they claim we owe them to $0. Thank you for your assistance.

Business

Response:

September 5, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/4/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/28/13. 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], Exec Dir, placed an order on 1/14/13 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 computers show that the confirmation 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 9/4/13 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.

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.

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.

Cordially,

Review: I received a call from [redacted] saying that they were trying to collect a debt for a publication from Progressive Busniess Practices. They informed me that it was for a free trial subscription to some food safety newsletter that was not cancelled within the allotted time. I do not have any recollection of agreeing to this at all. I asked for proof of this and they gave me my month of birth as a "digital signature". This is information that I give to every free industry/trade magazine. I did not order this product nor have I used thier product. I told them that I was not going to pay for this since I did not order it. The lady tried to pressure me into paying it by saying it was going to make things "difficult" for my company. I told them not to call again. After I got off the phone I looked the company up on the Better Businees Bureau website and saw that many others have had the same problem with both this company, and their collection partner , [redacted] credit [redacted]. Both recieved an F rating from the Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: stop contacting us

Business

Response:

September 19, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/19/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/16/13. 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 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], Quality & Reg. Mgr, placed an order on 2/19/13 for our Quality Manager's 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 computers show that the confirmation 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 9/19/13 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.

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; 7-paid in full accounts and other accounts 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.