Progressive Business Publications

Review: Progressive Business Publications (PBP) is attempting to bill us for services not rendered. They called us without invite. They offered, over the phone a trial subscription with an option to cancel. We did accept the trial subscription offer, but PBP failed to ever send the trial publications. In their recent invoice dated July 10th 2013 they claim they sent us a previous invoice and this was the second invoice and our account is now past due. We never heard from PBP since the initial solicitation by phone. They have never sent confirming emails, as they indicated they would, they never sent any publications as they said they would, they never sent an invoice to which we could have responded to cancel the publication as they said they would. We do not wish to conduct business with PBP and we do not want any harassing calls or contacts from a collection service.Desired Settlement: No further contact with PBP other than to advise us our account has been closed with no payments due as the service was canceled

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I the office manager, received a phone call yesterday at the office -6/10/14, form a a company called [redacted] - a collections company. The rep- [redacted] said that she was giving me a courtesy call to let me know that my account was being processed by them, and it was from a company called Progressive Publications. I asked her for what reason, and told her we did not order any product from them (publications), and since I do all the ordering and opening of mail, I did not know what she was talking about them. She then said, that late last year, a Progressive Publications rep called our office and spoke with someone- she gave his name, and gave me a date of birth that he was supposed to have given the rep. And that they send the publications and since he did not cancel after some certain days ( I forget how many she said), he was responsible for the payment, and since he did not pay, he was turned over to their collections company which is [redacted].

I then told her that, that was false because 1.) The named person is a physician who does not answer the phones in the office, 2.) the date of birth which she gave as [redacted], was not even his date of birth, and 3.) He would not have agreed to cancel the publications because he does not open the ofiice mail, and does not read such publications- whatever they are -we don't know.

Finally, I am filing this complaint, because this same company- Progressive Publications did the same thing to me in 2005, and not knowing their history of scamming people into this, I did pay the amount in July 2005, after getting a call from a collections company on their behalf.

I did let the [redacted] rep know that we will not paying, and I am going to report to Revdex.com, and if they did not desist, we will have to file a complaint with the USPIS, and Attorney General's office, because not only did they circle back to us again, it seems this will continue to happen, and I have seen the huge amount of complaints filed against them. I have faxed a letter to them urging them to close the account with [redacted] and remove us from their mailing list, since they do not answer their phones, only voice mail options are available.

Lastly, I never got a call from Progressive Pub rep, and only got a call from the [redacted] collections company rep- [redacted] yesterday - 6/10/14.Desired Settlement: I would like for them to remove our names from their mailing list, and never ever send us any publications or call our office, and also close the account with [redacted] and make sure [redacted] does not contact us or try to put any damaging information on the above names.

I would also like a letter stating or confirming above actions.

Business

Response:

June 12, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email regarding the above referenced complaint. After review, we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders 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 they 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 someone who identified himself as Dr. [redacted], placed an order on 10/29/13 for our Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement publication he provided us with a fax number (###-###-####). Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy.We do show that the confirmation letter went through without any problems.Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5- month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by Dr. [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 6/11/14 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; 1-paid in full account that was renewed the following year, while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue.We have initiated a request on 6/11/14 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 you have any further 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. However, I want it noted that, I did not do business with this company willingly. As stated in my initial complaint, it was this same tactic which I did not recognise, and not knowing my rights years ago, I paid the money because their collections agency called me.You can let them know that the next time, their computer makes a mistake and sends me anything, I will be contacting the Postal Service fraud dept and the attorney general's office.

Regards,

Review: Our organization is receiving continuous invoicing from Progressive Business Publications (PBP). Invoice amount is $299 for an annual subscription that was not legally ordered by our company. The sales presentation via telemarketer was unclear, unfair, and sneaky in regards to an explanation of their subscription costs, full services, "trial offer", cancellation methods, and services offered.

We feel we were "tricked" into having to pay for this weak service. No warning was given to cancel this subscription, only upon receiving the initial bill, we began questioning this service.

After receiving invoices, we ran a search on the internet including Revdex.com website, only to find that PBP has an "F" rating and over 2,400 complaints received by the Revdex.com with similar complaint details of shady and sneaky sales and billing tactics.

We will not pay for these false erroneous services and DO NOT want this to go to their own collection company ([redacted].) which also has a "F" rating and from some sources is owned by the same person or company as PBP. How can this even be allowed to go on? Please sh in this country? PLEASE shut these guys down or make a law that states all details must be disclosed prior to somehow "obligating" yourself to any service.Desired Settlement: Do not bill, invoice, or attempt further collection. DO NOT contact us any further via phone or mail. DO NOT send any newsletters. DO NOT send to collections. STOP your unfair business practices and sales methods.

Business

Response:

April 14, 2014

Review: This complaint is about questionable business practices by Progressive Business Publication, ###-###-####, including coercive telephone solicitation followed by inappropriate billing and dunning efforts by [redacted].

On 6/21/13, [redacted] (###-###-####) from the processing department of [redacted] called threatening collection. Our CFO contacted **. [redacted], who asserted that a verbal contract was entered by me with Progressive Business Publications. **. [redacted] asserted a verbal contract was entered by me providing my birth date. Our CFO asked what birthdate was given. **. [redacted] replied 4-28. Our CFO advised **. [redacted] the apparent scam was noted in out accounts payable department on 11/3/12. There never was any agreement, verbal or other, whatsoever by me.

It appears a sales person entered a fictitious date to force a sale.Desired Settlement: The desired outcome is to register a complaint supporting our position for non-payment and to make the greater business community aware of these practices.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Began sending newsletters to our Safety Manager unasked. Would not stop sending them. Began billing us and tried to send her to collections ([redacted]).Desired Settlement: I never want to hear from these people again.

Business

Response:

November 7, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 11/[redacted]3 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 11/6/13. 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], Safety Mgr, placed an order on 4/30/13 for our Facility Manager's Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our records show the email went through without any problems.

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

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

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

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

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

**. [redacted] states in this complaint that he contacted us on 4/1, 5/1 and 6/1/13 to cancel. Regrettably, our electronic records do not show ever receiving a cancellation request on this account.

Further, when we spoke to [redacted] on 11/6/13 04:37 PM (EST) she confirmed that all the information we have to start her trial is correct and that she remembers the initial call.

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; another trial subscription that [redacted] accepted on 8/14/13 entitled Supervisor's Safety Bulletin (all information given matches the other trial subscription) and we cancelled this account on 11/6/13, also. We found 2-other accounts that had been paid in full.

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

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: [redacted]) received a collection letter from [redacted] on 4/25/14 informing us that we owed 2 invoices from the Center for Education and Employment Law in the total of $241.95. After leaving voice mails on 4/25/14 and 4/28/14 I emailed [redacted] of [redacted] to get copies of the invoices in question. [redacted] sent me copies of invoices [redacted] in the amount of $137.00 and [redacted] in the amount of $104.95 for a total of $241.95 both invoices dated 10/11/13. These invoices were from the Center for Education and Employment Law which is a division of Progressive Business Publications.

Due to previous interactions with Progressive Business Publications, of which I filed complaints with the Montana Office of Consumer Protections, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and the Revdex.com, [redacted] presented Progressive Business Publications via email on 7/31/13, a cease and desist letter informing them that [redacted] requests they no longer contact [redacted] or do business with [redacted] also mailed a copy of the cease and desist letter with a return receipt, on 8/2/13, and [redacted] received the return receipt that showed that Progressive Business Publications received the letter on 8/6/13. So despite this letter Progressive Business Publications dba, Center for Education and Employment Law, still proceeded to contact an employee of [redacted] and fraudulently obtained 2 subscriptions to publications the employee in question would have no reason to subscribe to since said employee has nothing to do with legal matters for [redacted]. The most important part of the cease and desist letter states:

You are instructed to cease further advertisement or promotion of Progressive Business Publications to any employee at any address or email address of [redacted])

So due to the date of the invoices, [redacted] should not be liable for these invoices since we did inform Progressive Business Publications that [redacted] would no longer do business with Progressive Business Publications after 7/31/13. I will attach to the complaint a copy of the cease and desist letter, the proof of email and the return receipt for proof of delivery via US Postal Service of the cease and desist letter to Progressive Business Publications.Desired Settlement: I desire that Progressive Business Publications stop the collection process on the invoices dated after they received [redacted]'s cease and desist letter. I also desire that Progressive Business Publications inform their collection agency [redacted] of [redacted], DE, to close the collection file, stop collections, and insure that there is no ding on [redacted]'s credit file. Lastly I also desire that Progressive Business Publications honor the cease and desist letter they received on 7/31/13, and never contact [redacted] or any of it employees again.

Business

Response:

May 1, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/30/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 4/28/14. 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, 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], Asst Residential Dir, placed an order on 10/4/13 for our Higher Education Law In America book and its companion newsletter. He 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 and the book to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 4/30/14 and advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many, many trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 13-paid in full accounts. For example: 1-account for our Keep Dp To Date On Payroll (2003-2009) and Supervisor's Legal Update (2010-2013), 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 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.

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:

I am rejecting their response because it does not address the fact that they were sent a cease and desist order from [redacted]'s legal counsel via email on 7/31/13 and it was sent via US Postal Service on 8/2/13 and received by Progressive Business Publications on 8/6/13. The subscription in question was obtained after the cease and desist letter was received by Progressive, therefore it should never have been done. The cease and desist letter, which I have attached to this form, clearly states that Progressive Business Publications and any of their divisions are to no longer do any business with [redacted] and this was ignored with this supposed subscription. What I want from Progressive is for [redacted] to be put on a do not contact list, as per our cease and desist letter. I do not want to have to deal with doing this process of contacting the Office of Consumer Protection in Montana, contacting the Attorney Generals Office in Pennsylvania, and contacting the Revdex.com to get Progressive to cancel the bogus subscription. The response is basically a form letter where they explain their process of obtaining the bogus subscription, how you can cancel the subscription, how this business has done business with their business, and then as a "courtesy" they forgive the debt and for [redacted] none of this matter as we sent the cease and desist letter to stop any further subscriptions. So the only response that I will accept for Progressive Business Publications is a response that states that Progressive will abide by the cease and desist letter they received on 7/31/13 and have no further contact with anyone associated with [redacted]. Regards,[redacted]

Review: The company offered my a free 30 day trial on that I could cancel with out receiving a bill for 30 days. I was to sign and electronic signature that was sent via e-mail to confirm acceptance of the service. I did not electronically sign the agreement and the birth date used as verification is incorrect. But we still received a bill. I have found many similar complaints about this company and see that they have not stopped their dishonorable business practices.Desired Settlement: That they stop invoicing Pompeian Inc, and do not contact our company under any circumstances.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I have returned their publications per mail & deleted their e-mail publications because I do not want nor ordered them.Desired Settlement: Stop sending me these advertisements

Business

Response:

November 13, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 11/13/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 11/10/14. 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. 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 number 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], Staff Develop. , placed an order on 6/17/14 for our Safety Compliance Alert, publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same Computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 2-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by Ms Blodget 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 9/15/14 as requested the same day we received their cancellation via the mail. There is no money due or owing on the account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many different `risk free” Subscriptions had been accepted before and all accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.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 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.Cordially,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: A while back, someone called asking if we would like their free news letter. I told him as long as it was free, maybe. I then thought and asked if we would have to pay for anything. He said if we canceled and I just decided I didn't want to do it anymore. I never authorized any payments. They did start sending them out. We communicated back with them telling them we never paid for this and did not want them. They just kept coming. Now we are receiving invoices and collection attempt. They are attempting to collect $200.Desired Settlement: Cease and desist collection efforts and consider any contract they may have null and void.

Business

Response:

October 10, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 10/10/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 10/4/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that **. [redacted], Editor, placed an order on 2/12/13 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our records show the email went through without any problems.

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

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

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

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

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

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

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found 1-other trial subscription that **. [redacted] had accepted before; all the information to start a trial subscription matches. However, he did cancel that account 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: We are being billed for newsletters that were not desired, ordered or delivered.Desired Settlement: Stop contacting us and cease deceptive practices.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I am filing this complaint as personal representative for an elderly lady, [redacted], who several years ago received a phone call from someone representing Progressive Business Publications offering a sample of informaton that was supposed to help charitable organizations. [redacted], at that time was involved with Historic [redacted] which has about a dozen active members. She explained the publications would be of no value. She began to receive the publication anyway. She wrote to Progressive Business Publications to cancel what they were sending. The mailers stopped for the remainder of the year. The following year publications were again sent along with invoices.

September 2013 she again has begun to receive the publication mailing. [redacted] is holds no office in Historic [redacted] and is no longer physically able to be actively involved. This mailing of an unsolicited publication with potential invoices to follow is causing extreme anxiety for an elderly lady. This is unnecessary and not an ethical business practice. As personal representative for [redacted] I requesting confirmation that her name has been purged permanently from any mailing list at Progressive Business Publications and she recieve no further mail that causes stress and sleepless nights for her.

Helen's address as used by Progessive Business Publications is:

Director of Development

Historic [redacted]

The account number referenced by Progessive is:[redacted]

Thank you for investigating this.

[redacted]Desired Settlement: A clear confirmation from an authorized agent of Progessive Business Publications that this elderly lady's name and address have been removed from their mailing lists and invoicing mailers.

Business

Response:

October 7, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 10/7/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 10/2/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Develop. Dir, placed an order on 10/8/12 for our Nonprofit Board Report (packet of 5 newsletters monthly) publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted]. Prior to ending the call we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy.

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

Thus goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals and cancellation requests. 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 write cancel on the invoice and return it to us, or advise us by any other way, and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2 warning notices and an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.

As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 10/7/13 and they advised us that they did receive payment in full ($249.00) on 9/5/13. They have reinstated the account so that [redacted] will get the remaining issues of the 1-year subscription. A "do not renew" was placed on the account so that once it expires there will be no further issues, invoices or renewal notices sent. There will be no ramifications due to the account being turned over for collection. There is no money due or owing on this account.

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

While researching this complaint we found that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before. These accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.

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

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

Cordially yours,

Review: Our company received a phone call from [redacted]. ([redacted]) on 10/14/2013 stating that they are representing Progressive Business Publications on a past due invoice for a publication that a former employee authorized on 15 March 2013. They stated we received 10 issues of this publications. I contacted all office personnel, accounting and office staff and we have never received any of their publication nor have we ever received any of their invoices. [redacted] stated that we have received 10 copies of this publication and the invoices were included with the publication each month. [redacted] stated that our former employee was baited with a free issue at first and if he did not cancel, then they would start billing each month. However, this former employee did not have purchase authority for our company. [redacted] then advised that they had the previous employees birth date and this makes it a legal and binding contract. [redacted] stated she was calling to give us the opportunity to pay this invoice prior to turning it over to the credit reporting agencies. I asked her to fax over a copy of the invoice and she sent over an invoice for $299.00 for one year subscription for a publication called "Safety Compliance Alert" - 12 months, 23 issues. Progressive Business Publications had [redacted] on the invoice and not as our company name states; [redacted]. Our company did not authorize or request this publication. I asked [redacted] for a name and phone number of Progressive Business Publications so I could speak with them and she stated that she is representing their company and she doesn't have any names or phone numbers.Desired Settlement: We are requesting that Progressive Business Publications and [redacted]. adjust this invoice off our account since we did not request or authorize the purchase of this publications. We feel their business practices are not ethical based on the bait for free ite** to employees of a company. They should have been issued a purchase order or contract from our company in order to authorize the purchase of the publications. We have no signed documents with either company authorizing this purchase and were not aware of any invoices until [redacted] called on 10/14/2013. Based on our research on the internet, we have noticed that Progressive Business Publications has a "F" rating with the Revdex.com with over 2,446 complaints filed and [redacted]. also has a "F" rating with the Revdex.com with over 910 complaints filed. These two companies appear to have been doing the same process to numerous other companies for the past years and appears to be their normal operations. It would be nice if these poor business practices could be stopped somehow.

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 10/16/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent 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], Safety/Ops Mgr, placed an order on 3/14/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy.

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

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable" or that "**. [redacted]" was no longer there. If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

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

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

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 10/16/13 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 company name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.

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

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

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

Consumer

Response:

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

1. No charges are due or owed.

2. No collection actions will continue, and

3. No action was taken against our credit report.

We have double checked [redacted]'s old email account and could not locate any records about this publication as defined in their letter. We have also double checked the office and could not locate any of the publications that they stated they mailed to our office. We did notice that they had our company name incorrect in their invoices.

Regards,

Lone Star Relocation Services

Review: Your article here : http://www.Revdex.com.org/us/article/Revdex.com-alert-firms-say-progressive-busi...⇄ />
This sums up my situation. I've been sent to collections for a publication I never agreed to pay for nor rember ever even seeing. To get a call from a collections agency out of the blue for a publication I don't remember seeing is nuts! Horrible company!Desired Settlement: I would like my name sticken from the Publication company and my record totally cleared from whatever reporting agency is trying to screw me over. This is nuts!

Business

Response:

September 26, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/25/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/23/13. 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], H/R Mgr, placed an order on 2/21/13 for our Supervisor's Legal Update publication. This time we were provided with a birth date of [redacted] (he gave us a birth date of [redacted] for an account that was cancelled some time ago), as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.

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

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

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

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

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 9/25/13 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

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

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before 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.

Cordially,

Review: [redacted]) did not agree to purchase/pay for any products/services offered by Progressive Business Publication yet, Progressive Business Publication claims [redacted] owes $299 for some accounts payable news letters. Progressive Business Publications sent [redacted] an invoice for $299 without any prior agreement/contract. Then later [redacted]) calls and says they are a collection agency and are collecting the $299 on behalf of Progressive Business Publications. [redacted] has told [redacted] that no agreement was ever made with Progressive Business Publication and that the $299 will not be paid and to stop calling [redacted] continues to call demanding payment of $299 and claiming that [redacted]'s credit will be affected negatively unless payment is made.Desired Settlement: [redacted] would like for both Progressive Business Publication and [redacted] to cease any contact including but not limited to phone calls, faxes and mailings. [redacted] is not and has not been interested in any products or services offered by Progressive Business Publication.

Business

Response:

September 30, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/27/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/25/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the 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], A/P Mgr, placed an order on 2/26/13 for our Keep Up To Date On Accounts Payable publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as a fax number (###-###-####). Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.

The 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 9/27/13 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.

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: Progressive offered this publication for free and are now trying to charge us without our approval. We had no contract with Progressive Business Publications before receiving the invoices they supposedly sent that we did not receive. They now turned this over to [redacted] to collect on the invoices we never received.

I was contacted today 3-8-13 by a company called [redacted] stating I owed for unpaid invoices from Progressive Business Publications over the past few months which we never received. Furthermore we did not signup or have a contract with Progressive Business Publications.

We will not be paying Progressive Business Publications or [redacted] they are trying to scam us into paying for something we did not order.Desired Settlement: We do not owe the money because we never ordered these publication subscriptions.

Progressive Business Publications and [redacted] should cease their collection efforts relating to these false invoices they are saying we owe. I want the newsletter cancelled and all collections ceased.

This is a scam and I hope the Revdex.com can help others not have to go through this hassle.

We also want to be place on the NO Call list for this company.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

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:

I did not contact Progressive Business Publications they solicited me and provided me with inaccurate information about their free newsletter. When speaking with the sales solicitor in this instance it was stated the the newsletter was FREE of charge, there would be no charge for the newsletter ever. They never mentioned anything about having to cancel or even being billed for it after a certain amount of time. Hence the reason I stated we never ordered this newsletter. I would like to further express that fact that their sales people are lying to the customers while on the phone saying this is a free newsletter when in fact it is not. Furthermore I did not receive the a confirmation letter from Progressive Business Publications computer system stating anything about an associate cost or cancelling this so called free newsletter.

Regards,

Review: Myself or my company did not order this publication or service but I am receiving bills in my name for the company for which I work.Desired Settlement: To receive no more bills or materials from this company.

Business

Response:

August 28, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 8/26/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/26/14. 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 person’s email or fax number 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], Mktg Dir, placed an order on 4/7/14 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication and [redacted] 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 newsletters and invoices over a 4-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation on this account or mail returned as `undeliverable”.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry’s general custom.As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 8/27/14 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many, many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before and all accounts are cancelled now.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.Cordially,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: This company continually bills us for a publication (Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage) that we did not request and do not want. Their bill makes it look as if we have placed an order, and then their invoices become progressively aggressive, telling us that shipment has been made on so many months of issues. We have never received the publication in question. The cost of a 12 month subscription is $240. We would never order it because of the price and the topic. We are a public library and this would not serve our constituents. We are refuting all charges.Desired Settlement: All charges dropped and name taken off their mailing list.

Business

Response:

August 14, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 8/6/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/4/14. 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 and asking for the person’s email or fax number 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], Library Dir, placed an order on 3/4/14 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication and we were provided with an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the Confirmation went through without any problems.Once the Order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent 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 8/6/14 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 several different trial subscriptions had been accepted before that were cancelled as we instructed without issue except the same newsletter for [redacted] in 2011 that had never been cancelled; so it has been written off, with no money due.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.Cordially,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: A sales representative contacted me regarding a newsletter they were trying to subscribe me to. I declined the offer. Than the sales representative asked if I would at least like a 2 free sample newsletters to try the product free of charge no purchase necessary. After two months I receive a bill for $299.00 for a twelve month subscription. I did not authorize that purchase and they never received a purchase order from me. This company should not be in business with these types of practices. See the google and yelp reviews for proof.Desired Settlement: Remove charges and delete my account. This company should not be in business with these types of practices. See the google and yelp reviews for proof.

Business

Response:

November 10, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 11/7/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 11/4/14. 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 date and asking for the person’s email or fax number 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], Q/M, placed an order on 9/11/14 for our Quality Manager’s 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 1-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry’s general custom.As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 11/4/14 as he requested that same day. 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 7-different `risk free” 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 “repeat” 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.Cordially Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Consumer

Response:

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

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

Regards,

Review: For two years in a row this company has been advised DO NOT SEND a publication to our organization. Both years they sent the product anyway. Both times products were returned, the first time with a letter advising that they remove us from all mailing lists and place us on thier DO NOT CALL list. The second year they contacted another individual who clearly indicated that we did not want anything they had to offer. The item was shipped anyway but place back in the mailing bin indicating "RETURN TO SENDER". I received a notice from a collection agency wanting payment for the publication that was sent in February, which was returned.Desired Settlement: We do not want this company or any of its subsidiaries to contact anyone at or school either by mail or by phone. Future contact will result in harrassment charges being filed.

Business

Response:

September 25, 2014Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your email of 9/3/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 9/2/14. 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], Resource Officer, placed an order on 2/19/14 for our Keeping Your School Safe & Secure: A Practical Guide book and its companion newsletter and he 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 book, newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that and the book to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry’s general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 9/3/14 and advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many, many different ``no risk” subscriptions had been accepted before; 12-paid in full accounts while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue. While researching further, we found that they did cancel the newsletter portion on 4/15/14 but have yet to return the book.We have initiated a request on 9/3/14 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 [redacted].Thank you.Cordially,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Consumer

Response:

October 7, 2014Thank you to Progressive Business Publications for ceasing collection for the publication that was returned to them. As was stated in my initial complaint, Officer [redacted] is not authorized to place or accept an order for any [redacted] Public School because he is an employee of the [redacted] Sheriff’s Department.Due to the way that these publications are solicited, it is not always clear that books will be mailed to you simply for accepting the call. I was very adamant in 2012 when they contacted me to NOT SEND the book, which they sent anyway. I also asked them not to contact us again. Instead of calling me, they called an unsuspecting person who does not understand their sneaky tactics.I am pleased with the results from this complaint. I do want it on record that our school does not wish to receive any further communications/solicitations from Progressive Business Publications or their subsidiaries. There should be no change in status as this is a public high school and I don’t see it closing or moving in my lifetime. Might I suggest that they confirm that the person they are speaking with is authorized to make purchases for that company?

Review: We as a business never opted into the Selling Advantage's newsletter therefore we never paid for them. We were automatically sent into collections after ignoring and discarding numerous periodicals that we had received in the mail. After paying the collection agency we are still receiving periodicals from this company. I have sent e-mails and I have contacted their customer service an uncounted number of times and I am being told that they will continue to send another 11 issues of this newsletter. Although it is state law that they are required to send all of the newsletters that were paid for we don't want them. The only reason it was ever paid wasn't because we ordered them but because we were sent to collections for something we did order in the first place.Desired Settlement: Quit sending us mail that we do not want.

Business

Response:

July 31, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 7/30/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 7/25/14. 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 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 corrections that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], G/M, placed an order on 10/7/13 for our Selling Advantage publication and he provided us with his 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.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 to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals 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 write cancel on the invoice and return it to us, or advise us by any other way, and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry’s general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2 warning notices and an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 7/31/14 and they advised us that they did receive payment in full ($295.00) on 5/14/14 for the subscription. They have marked this account * Settled Satisfactorily”. They reinstated the account so that he will get the remaining newsletters 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 after he called us on 5/23/14 and again on 7/25/14. There will be no ramifications due to the account being turned over for collection. There is no money due or owing on this account.We initiated a request on 7/31/14 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 the company’s name is misspelled or the zip code incorrect, our Computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, please call and we will remove that version too.While researching this complaint we found that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found that they have accepted 4 different trial Subscriptions before and have 1-paid in full account with 9–issues remaining until expiration. Other trials were cancelled as we instructed without issue.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who regularly place repeat orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter. It contains our 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, Sylvia N. Dir. Subscriber Serv.