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
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