Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Universal AdCom/HomeTown Productions Scam
I'm the advertising coordinator at my workplace and I've been dealing with Universal AdCom since I started working here. They run a pretty slimy business and pit coworkers against each other, but I've finally decided to take a stand and do something about this. This post was inspired by Kina, a business owner from Oregon. When I googled Hometown Productions and Universal Adcom, her blog post came up- from 2008.
The Scam: This company cold calls companies (mostly nonprofits) and offers them ad space on various products such as maps for your city or magnets. The caller tells you that these products are distributed around the city. They usually say, "I'm calling with the City of Warrensburg (or WHS, etc). They claim that other businesses in your area are on board with this (They name off a few for authenticity). Usually they will claim that you have already ordered this (or ordered in the past and it's an automatic renewal) and they're just calling to check on changes. When you say you don't want it, they tell you that they've already been printed, so you can get them for a cheaper price. They then say they will give you a complimentary box of the product. Months later, you get billed for $299 or $399. They come automatically, even if you've cancelled or said that you do not want them.
Whoever they're talking to, they claim that it was one of your coworkers that ordered them. In my case, they implicated my Executive Director, who doesn't order these things. When we caught onto this, we started directing everything through me- so that I could track my budget and what we have purchased. They are also not affiliated with anyone that they say they are, like the city or the high school. I have actually called the schools and Chamber to see if they are legit and when the caller calls back, I confront them. They bold-face lie. They say, "Did you talk to so- and-so?" Usually I get hung up on.
Another kicker is that you get the product, they do not distribute like they say that they do. In fact, they also only make room enough for your ad on YOUR product, and then do the same for the other companies. My coworker saw a stack of identical magnets like ours with a different business in the spot where our ad was.
What Really Happens: I have confronted them and told them that there's no way that they have already printed these if they were just calling me that day for the changes. It's all semantics with them. "Well, I didn't say they had been printed yet" (After she just did) And I say, "Then what's the problem? I don't want your product." A couple of months later (When your memory has faded a bit) you get boxes of "complimentary product". And a bill/invoice.
Last time that I spoke to them, I told them that we would not be ordering it. Three months later, I get this: Invoice and a box of "complimentary maps" for Benton and St. Clair County. We don't even SERVE St. Clair county. So, I call up HomeTown Productions.
I speak to a woman named Marlin (Who knows if that's her real name) and I ask her why we received it, as we didn't order it. I go on to tell her that the person who has been claimed ordered it wasn't even here that day. I told her that we would not be paying for it. She looked up my account and said that these were "complimentary" and our balance is $0.00. I ask her why I got this invoice, then. She said, "We like to send out invoices for your records." I tell her that it appears that they're asking for $299.50 in payment. She says, "No ma'am, your balance is $0.00." I ask her to look at any other accounts, as we will not be purchasing anything, and they better not send us anything else either. She says all of our accounts are closed and we will not be billed. Ha. We'll see.
I look closer at the Invoice. It's very, very sneaky. For example, it says "complimentary product" but it still says, "Total: $299.50." They have left out the word, "Due" as in, "Total Amount Due". Just "Total 299.50". This allows them to say, "Oh those are complimentary, you don't owe anything." if we're on to them. Then WHY, at the bottom, do you have a "Detach Portion with Payment" that says, "Amount: 299.50"? If this truly was honest, it would say, "0.00" due. It doesn't say "Due" anywhere.
Customer Service is hard to get ahold of- the phone number on the invoice will not take you to CS. You call them and they will give you a different number to get ahold of CS. And they defend it to the death. They really are sneaky, and shady. They're also known by 15 different names:
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Links about them:
Universal Ad-Con
BBB Article about them
The Scam: This company cold calls companies (mostly nonprofits) and offers them ad space on various products such as maps for your city or magnets. The caller tells you that these products are distributed around the city. They usually say, "I'm calling with the City of Warrensburg (or WHS, etc). They claim that other businesses in your area are on board with this (They name off a few for authenticity). Usually they will claim that you have already ordered this (or ordered in the past and it's an automatic renewal) and they're just calling to check on changes. When you say you don't want it, they tell you that they've already been printed, so you can get them for a cheaper price. They then say they will give you a complimentary box of the product. Months later, you get billed for $299 or $399. They come automatically, even if you've cancelled or said that you do not want them.
Whoever they're talking to, they claim that it was one of your coworkers that ordered them. In my case, they implicated my Executive Director, who doesn't order these things. When we caught onto this, we started directing everything through me- so that I could track my budget and what we have purchased. They are also not affiliated with anyone that they say they are, like the city or the high school. I have actually called the schools and Chamber to see if they are legit and when the caller calls back, I confront them. They bold-face lie. They say, "Did you talk to so- and-so?" Usually I get hung up on.
Another kicker is that you get the product, they do not distribute like they say that they do. In fact, they also only make room enough for your ad on YOUR product, and then do the same for the other companies. My coworker saw a stack of identical magnets like ours with a different business in the spot where our ad was.
What Really Happens: I have confronted them and told them that there's no way that they have already printed these if they were just calling me that day for the changes. It's all semantics with them. "Well, I didn't say they had been printed yet" (After she just did) And I say, "Then what's the problem? I don't want your product." A couple of months later (When your memory has faded a bit) you get boxes of "complimentary product". And a bill/invoice.
Last time that I spoke to them, I told them that we would not be ordering it. Three months later, I get this: Invoice and a box of "complimentary maps" for Benton and St. Clair County. We don't even SERVE St. Clair county. So, I call up HomeTown Productions.
I speak to a woman named Marlin (Who knows if that's her real name) and I ask her why we received it, as we didn't order it. I go on to tell her that the person who has been claimed ordered it wasn't even here that day. I told her that we would not be paying for it. She looked up my account and said that these were "complimentary" and our balance is $0.00. I ask her why I got this invoice, then. She said, "We like to send out invoices for your records." I tell her that it appears that they're asking for $299.50 in payment. She says, "No ma'am, your balance is $0.00." I ask her to look at any other accounts, as we will not be purchasing anything, and they better not send us anything else either. She says all of our accounts are closed and we will not be billed. Ha. We'll see.
I look closer at the Invoice. It's very, very sneaky. For example, it says "complimentary product" but it still says, "Total: $299.50." They have left out the word, "Due" as in, "Total Amount Due". Just "Total 299.50". This allows them to say, "Oh those are complimentary, you don't owe anything." if we're on to them. Then WHY, at the bottom, do you have a "Detach Portion with Payment" that says, "Amount: 299.50"? If this truly was honest, it would say, "0.00" due. It doesn't say "Due" anywhere.
Customer Service is hard to get ahold of- the phone number on the invoice will not take you to CS. You call them and they will give you a different number to get ahold of CS. And they defend it to the death. They really are sneaky, and shady. They're also known by 15 different names:
So at this point I decided to write this blog post, about them and their deceptive techniques. I hope people will happen upon this just as I did with Kina's post, and know what to do when they call.
Remember: Always check things out. You're not being rude by asking them to call back, by calling the school/business that they're "representing" (Plus, don't you think that if your kid's school was selling magnets, they'd let you know so you could buy from them?)
Always get their name and company and GOOGLE their phone number. You'll find some interesting information.
Universal Ad-Con
BBB Article about them
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Scariest Day of My Life
This weekend, I headed down to the lake for the Fourth of July weekend. I hadn't seen my mom since late April, so I was excited to spend the weekend with her. I spoke to her Saturday morning and she sounded tired. She said that she had a fever and wasn't feeling well, not sleeping well and she was going to rest.
By the time I reached the lake, my sister called me and told me to meet her at the hospital ER, as our mother had just been taken in. My sister said that Mom was confused and she wasn't able to make complete sentences. At this point, I knew that something was terribly wrong.
My sister Kiley, who had realized that Mom was not well that morning, had insisted that she go to Urgent Care, who sent her to the hospital. Kiley and I went back to see Mom, who had been tucked into an exam room. She was hooked up to an IV, in a hospital bed, and smiled when I came in. She tried to explain how she was feeling- but got stalled on the words. She knew what she wanted to say, but it couldn't come out. Her lip quivered; I knew that she was on the verge of tears. Honestly, I was too. I've never seen my mother this way before.
We talked amongst ourselves and Mom continued to try to talk to us for awhile. The doctor and nurses came and went, drawing blood, taking her blood pressure and temperature, examining her. Soon, my other sisters were there- all four of us were in the exam room with her. We huddled around her bed. Mom heard the doctor mention West Nile Virus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
We stayed with her for hours, until they finally decided to admit her. She was taken to a hospital room at 8:30, and her speech hadn't improved. My sisters and I were panicking; the doctors were stumped at this point and we were worried that her condition would continue to worsen. At 9:30, a new diagnosis emerged: meningitis. We were told that if we wanted to see her, we had to put on hospital gowns, masks and gloves. Fearing for her condition, the doctor called for a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) that night- no need to wait for morning. When I left the hospital that night around eleven, we had no answers- my sister Lauren insisted on sleeping in the chair next to Mom's bed in case something happened overnight.
Many people who lose their parents do not get a chance to say goodbye; as my mother struggled to speak to us, I realized that this was a very real possibility- that I would have to say goodbye. What do you say to someone that may not survive the night? Panic set in and I didn't know what I should tell her- that I loved her? Of course. I briefly thought about what life would be like without her- unbearable.
I was restless that night and we returned to the hospital early the next morning- and were told that we didn't have to put on the gowns and masks. Her diagnosis was viral meningitis, but it wasn't contagious- and we'd be able to be near her without taking any other precautions. The medicine was also working wonders- she could speak with only a few stalls and she would be able to go home as soon as she felt better.
The panic that I felt the day before disappeared- I was so grateful and cheerful that my mama was going to be okay. It made me realize that all of those silly things that we think are important- squabbles and disagreements with family members- they're not worth it. Love your family members, make up with them after tiffs, and always forgive- because one day, they might be gone in a blink of an eye.
By the time I reached the lake, my sister called me and told me to meet her at the hospital ER, as our mother had just been taken in. My sister said that Mom was confused and she wasn't able to make complete sentences. At this point, I knew that something was terribly wrong.
My sister Kiley, who had realized that Mom was not well that morning, had insisted that she go to Urgent Care, who sent her to the hospital. Kiley and I went back to see Mom, who had been tucked into an exam room. She was hooked up to an IV, in a hospital bed, and smiled when I came in. She tried to explain how she was feeling- but got stalled on the words. She knew what she wanted to say, but it couldn't come out. Her lip quivered; I knew that she was on the verge of tears. Honestly, I was too. I've never seen my mother this way before.
We talked amongst ourselves and Mom continued to try to talk to us for awhile. The doctor and nurses came and went, drawing blood, taking her blood pressure and temperature, examining her. Soon, my other sisters were there- all four of us were in the exam room with her. We huddled around her bed. Mom heard the doctor mention West Nile Virus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
We stayed with her for hours, until they finally decided to admit her. She was taken to a hospital room at 8:30, and her speech hadn't improved. My sisters and I were panicking; the doctors were stumped at this point and we were worried that her condition would continue to worsen. At 9:30, a new diagnosis emerged: meningitis. We were told that if we wanted to see her, we had to put on hospital gowns, masks and gloves. Fearing for her condition, the doctor called for a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) that night- no need to wait for morning. When I left the hospital that night around eleven, we had no answers- my sister Lauren insisted on sleeping in the chair next to Mom's bed in case something happened overnight.
Many people who lose their parents do not get a chance to say goodbye; as my mother struggled to speak to us, I realized that this was a very real possibility- that I would have to say goodbye. What do you say to someone that may not survive the night? Panic set in and I didn't know what I should tell her- that I loved her? Of course. I briefly thought about what life would be like without her- unbearable.
I was restless that night and we returned to the hospital early the next morning- and were told that we didn't have to put on the gowns and masks. Her diagnosis was viral meningitis, but it wasn't contagious- and we'd be able to be near her without taking any other precautions. The medicine was also working wonders- she could speak with only a few stalls and she would be able to go home as soon as she felt better.
The panic that I felt the day before disappeared- I was so grateful and cheerful that my mama was going to be okay. It made me realize that all of those silly things that we think are important- squabbles and disagreements with family members- they're not worth it. Love your family members, make up with them after tiffs, and always forgive- because one day, they might be gone in a blink of an eye.
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