Progressive Business Publications

Review: We excepted a trial offer of faxed publication called "The Selling Advantage." Last fall we wrote cancel on the invoice upon receipt and sent it back immediately. A second invoice followed and the same was written on that to cancel. This year we were put into collections for non-payment. This is a scam as they claim they never received our two mailings, the first within the 3 0 day trial period.Desired Settlement: We complied with the contract terms and request a refund of $94.56 that we paid to avoid collections.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I received several calls from [redacted] @ [redacted] wanting to speak with [redacted], Safety Director, for an overdue invoice. When I told [redacted] that [redacted] had nothing to do with the payables and what could I help her with. She would not talk to me and told me to have [redacted] call her. When I asked her for a copy of the invoice, she told me that the company had sent 5 invoices and they would not send a 6th one. I asked the Accounts Payable manager if he had any invoices from either of these companies and he did not. She called again that day and the next day. When [redacted] called her back, he told her that he did not order anything that he remembers, nor did he receive anything from them but he would look when he was in the office next time. When he looked in the office, he did find 5 of the safety bulletins - March 6, April 3, April 17, May 6 and July 2, which he had not opened because he did not order anything from Progressive Business Publications. When I opened the envelopes there were no invoices or any indications that we were being charged for them. These safety bulletins have absolutely nothing to do with our company and give no helpful information at all for our company. [redacted] remembers speaking to someone when he was in the office, but he doesn't remember who or what the conversation was about. He knows he would not order a safety bulletin because he belongs to the NFPA and also has several free electronic safety newsletters sent to him on a weekly basis. [redacted] called back yesterday, August 27th and wanted to speak to me and very rudely wanted to know why I hadn't called her back. She stated that [redacted] said I would call back to discuss payment. I told her I could not authorize any payments without an invoice showing what the charges were for and an amount. A faxed invoice was sent stating that an order was placed for a 1 year subscription for 5 people totaling $295. [redacted] did not order anything. I called [redacted] back to discuss things she became very hostile and when I put her on hold to have her talk to the Office Manager, she hung up on us. When I called back she was rude and only wanted me to pay the bill. I called back and talked to [redacted], Manager, and she told me that we received 10 issues, which we did not and that she would lower the account to $122.90; however if I did not pay that she would process the claim and it could be anywhere from $500 to $700. [redacted] said that an email was sent to [redacted], which [redacted] has no email record of. We did not order these safety bulletins and are being charged and harassed by [redacted] for payment.Desired Settlement: Right Electric wants Progressive Business Publications and [redacted] to zero balance the account and to stop contacting us. No phone calls and no more useless safety bulletins.

Business

Response:

September 16, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/16/13 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], Safety Dir, placed an order on 1/29/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of 3/4, 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.

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 9/16/13 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 1-other trial subscription had been accepted before and that was 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: This is a complaint that we have been billed for products we never ordered and did not want, we believe we have never received the product. We have been fighting Progressive/[redacted] for months over the company’s billing practices. From what I have read our business is one of many.Desired Settlement: We would like this resolved in a manner that we do not owe anything to Progressive Business Publications or [redacted].

Business

Response:

March 6, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 3/5/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 3/4/14. 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], H/R Mgr, placed an order on 7/26/13 for our Keep Op To Date On Payroll 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 her [redacted], AL [redacted]. 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 3/5/14 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.

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 (all sent to the same P.O. Box) and those accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this 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: On or before August 9, 2013 I was contacted by a sales person from Progressive Business Publications who was soliciting my company to sign up for their Supervisors Safety Bulletin. I said I was not interested many times and then ultimately agreed that they can send me literature referencing their product and that I would review it. The only reason I agreed to litature being sent was because I felt it was the only way to get the sales person off of the phone and to stop calling me. I am unsure how they got my contact info in the first place. I then received an email reguarding the product and deleted it as I was not interested. A day later I begin receiving at least 3 calls a day from the same sales person asking that I respond back to the email with my date of birth so they could send me the literature to review. At no point whatsoever did I agree to sign up for any free trial or anything of that nature. I feel I was bullied and harrassed by the sales person as they would not leave me alone until I said it was ok to send literature to review their product. Fast forward to February 2014 and I received a call from a collections agent saying my company owes $295 for their Supervisors Safety Bulletin subscription that I never knowingly agreed to. The invoice I recieved has my first name spelled wrong, my company name wrong (they are listing a company that is out of business but had the address prior to my company) and the address is not the address I work at but the address of a different branch that is a main hub of my company. I tried to resolve this with the collections agent, [redacted] of [redacted], and she stated she sees this all the time with places like Progressive Business Publications and that she had seen it with them before. She said she could not help me and that the $295 was going to to collections against my company in my name and ultimately lawyers would be coming after me. I then called Progressive Business Publications customer service to try and resolve this issue but the woman I spoke to was very rude, unhelpful, and actually yelled at me that I provided her company with wrong information in the beginning. When I said it was a company that was out of business she did an internet search and said she still found the company. I tried to explain that it was no longer in business but she did not believe me. I asked to be removed and that the debt be cleared and the woman kept yelling at me rudely saying that I agreed to the publication and that I provided them with false information so I am liable. I asked for her name and her supervisors name and she would not tell me and then she abruptly hung on me. I then called back and waited on hold for 45 minutes before I hung up because no one was answering. It is my belief that they saw the number on the called ID and would not pick up. I notified my company president of this matter and he directed me towards the Revdex.com and to notify all 3 credit bureau agencies of this matter. I am looking to have this balance owed dropped as I NEVER truly agreed to purchase anything and feel I was bullied by a sales person to furnish personal information when I thought it was just agreeing to preliminary information about the product. The fact that the address and company name are wrong and different from the branch I actually work at shows me they just did a simple internet search and prefilled the information against my behalf. To me this is a classic bully tactic used by high pressure telemarketing types of business. Not to mention the customer service was rude, abrupt and unhelpful when I tried to resolve the issue myself.Desired Settlement: All I ask is that the $295 balance owed in my company's name and my own be removed from collections and erased from their system for the reasons listed above.

Business

Response:

March 6, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 2/14/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received 2/27/14. 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], Branch Mgr., placed an order on 7/12/13 for our Supervisors Safety Bulletin 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 in writing that was 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.

Thus goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent. Our computer records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, online 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.

We received a call from **. [redacted] on 2/14/14 at which time he stated that he verified the information in the account, the mailing address and company name, with our representative when placing the trial subscription. He also stated he gave our representative his date of birth when asked during that same call.

**. [redacted] was then referred back to the collection agency.

As a courtesy we contacted 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 the account being turned over for collection. There is no money due or owing on this account.

Our telephone contact center is staffed by Customer Service representatives 9:00am-5:00pm EST Monday-Friday. We, also have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system. No call or voicemail was received from **. [redacted] on or after the initial call on 2/14/2014.

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 our newsletter and 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: The office had received a call from [redacted]. a debt collection company on 08-22-2014. The rep had stated that I owed $240.00 on subscriptions to Progressive Business Publication. I went ahead and spoke with Cindy in the customer service department that I had never ordered or receive anything from them what so ever. She gave me an incorrect date of birth that was not mine. She had apologized and stated that she will take care of it to disregard the bill. I had requested a reference number for this conversation #[redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like you if possible to investigate this situation if possible so this would not be repeated again

Thank You

Business

Response:

August 28, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 8/26/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 8/25/14. 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], Office Mgr/Billing, placed an order on 12/6/13 for our Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement publication and she provided us with birth date information as [redacted], as well as a fax number ([redacted]). 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 the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicalis 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 8/22/14 as she requested the same day she called us 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 8/27/14 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.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

Review: Progressive Business Publications solicited it's publications at my employment over the phone. I told them I was not interested as I have no authority to order any kind of services or goods without Corporate approval. They stated this is a free publication so I agreed to have their "FREE" publication sent. We recieve other free magazines thoughout our facility from other vendors, and they are truly FREE. Nine months later I am getting a call from their collection agency stating I owe them $299. I am clearly frustrated and angry that the company trying to get me to pay for products I never ordered and did not want, or that I believe were provided without charge.Desired Settlement: We want Progressive and its colleciton agency to quit harassing us for payment for a publication we did not want in the first place, and was told that up front. Also we want no further solitation from them.

Business

Response:

August 15, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 8/13/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/12/13. 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 mistake or changes that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], H/R, placed an order on 1/25/13 for our What's New In Benefits & Compensation publication. We were provided with a birth date of 12/1, 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 8/15/13 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 another different trial subscription had been accepted before by [redacted] and all information matches the current account. We, also, found 1-paid in full account while 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: This company is repeatedly calling regarding one of my company's employees that they say ordered a publication and has not paid for it. This employee states that she never ordered this publication on behalf of our company. They started calling her last year harassing her to the point that she got scared and went ahead and paid for the publication on her personal credit card after being threatened by this company. She then cancelled the payment. They are now a year later calling and trying again to collect this debt that was not authorized to begin with by our company and the employee still states that she has not received this publication. This is not the first time we have been harassed by this company over this type of collection/billing attempt on their part.Desired Settlement: I want this company to stop calling anyone at this number to attempt to sell their publications to us. We are not interested in their publications and have requested that they stop harassing us.

Business

Response:

June 12, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 6/11/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 6/10/14. 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 2 4 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], V/P of Admin, placed an order on 10/26/12 for our What's Working In Human Resources publication and she provided us 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 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 6/12/14 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 trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 18-different trial subscriptions for [redacted] herself (all information given to start a trial subscription matches the 1st account). We found 1-trial subscription was accepted by [redacted] on 12/29/12 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage. [redacted] gave us a birth date of [redacted] and email address. That account, too, was turned over for nonpayment or cancellation. She paid the collection agency with a [redacted] Credit Card on 9/5/13 but stopped payment shortly after. The collection agency is still showing her account has an outstanding balance of $240.00. We do show that other trial subscriptions were cancelled as we instructed without issue.We have initiated a request on 6/12/14 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.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 ###-###-####.Thank you.Sylvia N.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

This information sent to you is NOT correct. The "trial" subscriptions they describe "ordered" by me, [redacted], is absolutely not correct. I agreed to review ONE subscription, and one ONLY. When the invoice arrived, I wrote cancel on it and returned the invoice. I started then receiving many, many other newsletters, none of which I agreed to review. After writing CANCEL on four subsequent invoices and returning to them, I still kept receiving newsletters in the mail. I finally stopped opening all of their mail and trashed everything that came because I could not stop them even after cancelling the subscription. I was then harassed and threatened by their very vicious collection staff. I ended up sending an email to their company president threatening to turn him in to the Federal Trade Commission if the harassment did not stop. If you google this company's name, you will see many, many similar complaints. Last year, unaware of this company's tactics, one of our staff, [redacted], also agreed to review one of their newsletters, but said she never received the first newsletter. In fact, she did not even recall the conversation until they started threatening her the same way they did me. She paid the invoice with her personal credit card only because they had her scared to death. That is how intimidating their collections people are.

Regards,

Review: We were advised that we could cancel the service within the trial period but are still reciving the services. I have been trying to cancel the service since 12/21/2013. The email address the provide to cancel doesn't work, no calls back, and we are still recieving the service. I have even sent a written request. The service that we would like to cancel is The Selling Advantage provided by the Progressive Business.Desired Settlement: Cancel the product.

Business

Response:

January 6, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 1/6/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 1/2/14. 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 12/12/13 for our Selling Advantage 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 newsletter and an invoice over a 3-week 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 industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 1/6/14 as they 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 several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before and those 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: I received a call from [redacted] on July 12th from the [redacted]. She stated that I have an outstanding bill with Progressive Business Publications. She said that once I received the complimentary newletter I was supposed to read it over and check the do not bill box. I actually thru it away thinking it was junk mail.

She stated that I gave my date of birth out, which I DO NOT do, so they must of found my birthdate another way.

She got me nervous stating that if I didn't pay the outstanding amount of $195.50 that I was going to have my companies credit be tarnished because of this unpaid bill. I almost did at first and then said, I need back up documentation, and talk to our legal department. I also stated again that I had never ordered the newsletter from them...

I goggled them and I saw an article from St. Louis Revdex.com.org dated July 18, 2012 sating the following: Revdex.com Alert: Firms Say Progress Business Publications Charged Them For Unwanted Newsletters and saw the list of complaints/stories that matched my experience.Desired Settlement: I want them to cease and desist these collection tactics towards this false debt.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I just recently received a letter from Progressive Business Publications saying that I owe them for publication that they have been sending me. I didn't order the publications and now they are sending me to a collection agency. I have not spoken with or had any contact with this company asking for the product but yet I owe them a hefty sum.Desired Settlement: I would like this debt to go away and progressive publications and the collection agency to stop contacting me. I would like this cleared up because I didn't order any of their publications.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I was contacted by telephone by Progressive Business Publications. They wanted to send me free copies of ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ALERT. I did not receive any hard copies of their publication but did receive email copies that went to spam. I later began receiving invoices for $399.00 for these publications. I never authorized these publications and do not want to pay for this. They also turned me over to a collection agency and had them call me and try to collect. I think their practices are unethical and I need your help. I have seen hundreds of blogs on the internet with similar complaints. I need your help to get them to stop bothering me at work with phone calls and to discontinue sending invoices to me. I also don't want them to damage my companies credit by turning us over to their collections agent which I understand is not a legitimate business.Desired Settlement: I would like for them to stop contacting me and trying to collect for a service I did not want or order. I do not want them to contact other people in my company. I want them to remove me from their collection company. I am afraid they will try to damage my company's credit.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Our company did not authorize the purchase of an annual subscription from Progressive Business Publications, however we continue to receive notices saying that our $299 invoice for newsletters is past due. On the invoice they list the name and DOB of an employee as proof of the authorization. The employee does not recall providing his DOB to authorize this purchase. What kind of company needs to justify it's authorization with a DOB (instead of a PO): a shady one! Lastly, the invoice also threatens that we will be reported to a collection agency if we do not provide payment.Desired Settlement: We wish to be placed on a "NEVER CALL/EMAIL/FAX US AGAIN" list.

We would also like to see this company come up with a more ethical way of staying in business, aside from harassing and threatening and taking advantage of and wasting the time of other HONEST small businesses trying to get through this recession.

Business

Response:

June 12, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 6/11/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 6/10/14. 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 and it includes verifying the address.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Shop Mgr, placed an order on 1/13/14 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. 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 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.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 6/11/14 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.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 8-different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; including 1-paid in full account for their Vice President, while other 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 ###-###-####.Thank you.

Review: In March of 2014 we were contacted by a representative at Progressive Business Publications. This representative claimed that we had subscribed to their newsletter, "The Selling Advantage." Our office did not (knowingly) sign up to receive this newsletter or pay for it; however, the representative insisted that if we did not pay the $295.00 fee then we would be sent to collections. We paid this fee via credit card on 3/19/14 and asked to be removed from their mailing/subscription list. On April 30, 2014 we were sent a "Special Survey Renewal Form" for the Selling Advantage newsletter. This subscription amount requested is $255.60. We want PBP to cease and desist- we do not want to be contacted or charged erroneously.Desired Settlement: Reimbursement followed by Cease and Desist.

We wish to be reimbursed for the charge of $295.00 and do not want to be contacted or billed by PBP thereafter.

Business

Response:

May 15, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 5/14/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 5/9/14. 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 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 corrections that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Mktg Mgr., placed an order on 7/30/13 for Our Selling Advantage publication. She provided us with a birth date of **, 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 electronic records 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 -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 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 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 5/9/14 and they advised us that they have received payment in full ($295.00) on 3/26/14 for the subscription. They have marked this account "Settled Satisfactorily" and they reinstated the account so that she will get the remaining issues of the 1-year subscription. Once it expires there will be no further issues, invoices or renewals sent. A "do not renew" was placed on the account on 5/9/14. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account. Once the collection agency receives payment there can be no refunds made.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 after the expiration date. 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 are aware of our Cancellation policy. We found that they have accepted many trial subscriptions before; 5-paid in full accounts while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue and we did find an account for our Supervisors Safety Bulletin publication that has been renewed each year for 3-years. Further, our computer files show that we received a call from **. [redacted] on 5/9/14 (34:53 PM (EST) to verify the information we have is correct and we explained to her our Do Not Renew policy that has been placed 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 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.Please feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at [redacted].Thank you.Cordially,

Review: In the spring, a salesperson contacted me offering me a newsletter subscription. I said sure, send it so I could get the person off the phone and back to work. I received one or two newsletters which were not very good or helpful December 5 I receive a phone call from a collection agency threatening to turn my employer over to collection because I hadn't paid the $240 subscription invoice. I think I received 2 newsletters. I do not remember an invoice, but I may have received one. I cannot believe that they would threaten to turn it over to collection when they could just stop the subscription.Desired Settlement: I paid the $240 subscription. I would like to cancel the subscription and be refunded for the remainder of the subscription. I am willing to pay for any issues from April-December.

Business

Response:

December 9, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 12/9/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 12/7/13. 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 [redacted]s, 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 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 corrections that need to be made.

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Secty, placed an order on 4/9/13 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication. She provided us 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 electronic records 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 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 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 contacted the collection agency on 12/9/13 and they advised us that they have received payment in full ($240.00) for the subscription on 12/6/13. They have marked this account "Settled Satisfactorily". They have reinstated the account so that she will receive the remaining newsletters of the 1-year subscription. A "do not renew" will be placed on the account once it expires. Then there will be no further issues, invoices or renewals sent. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account. Once the collection agency has been paid there can be no refunds made.

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; 3-paid in full accounts and others cancelled as we instructed without issue except this 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 the newsletter. 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 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.

Review: Received phone call asking that I obtain free subscription to newsletter. As soon as I received the first one, I wrote CANCEL on it and sent it back. There was a bill for $230.00. Soon thereafter (all in 2013) I started to receive more bills, along with the newsletter. Each time, I wrote CANCEL on the bill and mailed it back. The new bills now said $299.00. There is no phone number on the bill so I cannot call them. I have no intention of paying them for something I did not want, and repeatedly sent cancellation notices for. I certainly understand whiy they have received 1624 complaints for billing issues. I hope you can help me resolve this issue to my satisfaction. Thank you.Desired Settlement: For them to stop sending me the newsletters, and stop attempting to collect that I do not owe.

Business

Response:

November 29, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 11/27/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 11/27/13. 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 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], Owner, placed an order on 8/7/13 for our CFO & Controller's Alert publication ($299). We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as a fax number ([redacted]). 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 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 11/27/13 as requested. 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 by **. [redacted] (all information given matches the account in question) and those accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.

The first account he mentions was a "promotional" piece and it was sent on 7/1/13. It was entitled Keep Up To Date On Payroll. This type of promotional mailing expires of its own volition and there is never any money due. We do send a Continuation letter that clearly states "This is not a bill" and the account was cancelled on 8/19/13. This was the $230.00 figure he mentioned in his complaint. There were two different accounts with two different amounts. There is no money due on either account now.

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:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. However, I don't agree with the statements made with the company as it relates to the issue of acceptance of one free offer which was cancelled and the one which was not. This is blatantly false. I do however, accept their cancellation of the amount due and promise not to call you to intervene if I am ever stupid enough to do business with them in the future. Merry Christmas.

Regards,

Review: I received a call last year some time from a guy who asked if I wanted this publication. I said no, and he said but it's free. I still said no and he asked if he could send me one issue to look at for free and then I can decide if I want it. I said he could send an issue but I don't want a subscription (I'm not authorized to buy subscriptions on behalf of the company). I never received the issue and thought nothing about it. Now I'm getting calls from a collection agency stating that I owe $299 for 2 issues of CFO & Controller Alerts that I have not received and told the salesman that I didn't want in the first place. The collection agency faxed a copy of an invoice that states I have received 2 issues, but I have not. There is no phone number on the invoice, so I looked them up via Google. I tried calling 800-220-5000, the number on their website, but the automated answering message was so garbled I couldn't understand it. I then called 610-695-8600, the local number on their website and the phone rang a few times then just stopped. Nobody picked it up. The collection agency called and spoke with the CEO whom they told that I authorized the purchase and that I received an invoice via fax that 'clearly' stated that I needed to contact them to 'unsubscribe' to their services. Our faxes are electronic and I have not been able to find any invoice other than the one from the collection agency.Desired Settlement: I do not feel that I nor my company owe Progressive Business Publications any money. I said from the beginning that I didn't want the publication, but said yes to the free copy to get the guy off the phone. I never received anything more from the company until the collection agency called on 4/18/14 for the first time.

Business

Response:

April 24, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 4/23/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 4/22/14. 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], Fin Dir, placed an order on 9/12/13 for our CFO & Controllers Alert publication and she provided us with birth date information as [redacted], as well as a fax number([redacted]). 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 it 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 4/23/14 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 would like to apologize to [redacted] for not being able to reach us by telephone on 4/22/14 but as of 9:30 AM that day our entire business complex was without electricity.Please know that we do business with thousands of companies who regularly 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: Progressive Business Publications ("Progressive") sent unsolicited "newsletter" material to my Company, for which it later invoiced Company. Progressive states in its invoice that Company ordered its newsletter. No Company personnel have ever ordered any product from Progressive. In fact, in the past Company has explicitly written to Progressive to demand that Progressive no longer call Company because their solicitations had become a nuisance bordering on harassment.

It is Company's opinion that Progressive's business practices are dishonest and possibly fraudulent. In reading other complaints on the Revdex.com website, it appears that Progressive has done this to other companies in the past.Desired Settlement: Company requests that Progressive cancel its groundless invoice with confirmation, issue an apology, and never contact Company ever again.

Business

Response:

April 24, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/23/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 4/23/14. 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] placed an order on 1/28/14 for our Facility Managers 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 3-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 4/23/14 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.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 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.

Review: Progressive Business Publications sent [redacted] the publication of "Keep Up To Date On Payroll". [redacted] did not authorize this subscription. Now PBP has handed over collection of $230 to [redacted].Desired Settlement: Cancel the subsciption, cancel the collection, do not call [redacted] anymore.

Business

Response:

April 24, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/23/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 4/18/14. 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 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], Accting Mgr, placed an order on 9/18/13 for our Keep Up To Date On Payroll publication and she 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 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 4/23/14 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; 3-paid in full accounts while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue.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 regularly 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 ###-###-####.Thank you.

Review: I took a 30 day trial subscription on "Keep Up To Date On Payroll". I faxed back an invoice with "cancel" on the invoice on 8/15/13, I called and canceled the subscription on 9/12/13, I went on line and canceled the subscription and I still keep getting invoices and copies of the subscription. I receive another invoice toady date 10/03/13 saying they were going to add service charges.Desired Settlement: Just want the subscription canceled and stop sending my copies of the "Keep Up To Date On Payroll"

Business

Response:

October 17 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 10/16/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 10/11/13. 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 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 6/28/13 for our Keep Up To Date On Payroll 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 3-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 industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 10/11/13 as they requested; we do not show any other requests to cancel, if we had that would have been done immediately. There is no money due or owing on the 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]. The Company did cancel the subscription but only after I put in a complaint. I find it interesting that they show no record of me trying to cancel the subscription since I followed all of their suggestions - write cancel on the invoice, by e-mail, by phone and on their website.

Regards,

Review: A representative of this company contacted me by phone. I was told that they would be sending me a desk top encyclopedia of employment law free of charge. It was mine to keep, and there no obligations to purchase anything. I was told that they would send me advertisements of their legal newsletter, but I was under no obligation to buy them and the desk top legal reference was mine regardless.Desired Settlement: Stop sending me inoices for services I did not request or order.