Progressive Business Publications

Review: Was contacted via phone for a "trial" version of their newsletter. We were very clear on the call that we were not interested, but the operator kept badgering until we agreed to the trial. However, we also made it very clear that we were not to be billed for any publications without explicit approval from the CFO of Ohio Transmission Corporation. Despite our request, we were invoiced $299 for this newsletter. We have refused payment and are now being harassed by International Credit Recovery.We had a similar issue with this same company years ago.Desired Settlement: We are refusing to pay the invoice in question, but it is now with a collection agency who continues to call in the same aggressive manner as the original operator.

Business

Response:

April 10, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/8/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 3/31/14. 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.Our computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods 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.If the newsletter's information is not helpful all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months,2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 4/8/14 and advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 1-paid in full account for our "Information Technology Alert" for 4-years; also, [redacted] has had 3-other trial subscriptions before that he cancelled without issue. We found that all other accounts were cancelled as we instructed except this account.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who regularly place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department if you have any further questions at ###-###-####. Thank you.

Review: Progressive Publications offers a trial subscription and never takes no for an answer. I received an e-mail to confirm the subscription which I never did. I did not want their publication. They call every year or so and want us to take their publication and we never do. This is the worst it has ever been. We are now being hounded by their credit agency [redacted] in [redacted] NY.Desired Settlement: I want these people to never contact our company agian and to be put out of business. They have a zero satisfaction rating and are in bad standing with the Revdex.com.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Consumer

Response:

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

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Although I take issue with their methods and what they say they do to confirm a person's identify. I do not, nor did I, confirm any personal information regarding myself. It would be ludicrous for me to do so. I would be opening up myself to an invasion of my personal credit. Their method of confirmation is for you to confirm by e-mail once you receive their e-mail. I never confirmed that I wished to received their "newsletter".

Regards,

Review: This company has contacted our school district on several occasions via phone/email under the premise of selling guides/subscriptions to our employees at "no cost". They use high pressusre sales tactics that convince the employees that in order to comply with current laws their service is a must have. The company offers a no obligation "trial" as long as the product is sent back within 60 days. Most often the employee is unaware of what they have agreed to. In 2 incidents the product was never received in order for the employee to send it back, yet this company has had collection agencies contact us with a final invoice. Our district has recently been target again, however, this time the product was sent back. The company is claiming they did not receive the product. I have requested on SEVERAL occassions that they do not contact our district again.Desired Settlement: The final invoice for products sent back be credited

Business

Response:

September 18, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 9/16/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 8/27/14. 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], Super. Student Services, placed an order on 2/6/14 for our Keeping Your School Safe & Secure : A Practical Guide 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 book, newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus goods that were Ordered by Mr. Walker 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. We do show the newsletter portion of the account was cancelled on 3/17/14 however the book was not returned.With all telephone Orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is write cancel on the invoice and return it 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 9/18/14 and they advised us that they did receive payment for the book portion of the account on 9/5/14 ($ 143.05).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 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 many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 4–paid in full accounts while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue. Further, we did find a paid account for Our Keep Up To Date On Payroll from 2001–2005.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. We also have a 24 hour /7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department if you have any further questions at [redacted].Thank you.Cordially.Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: This company contacted me and asked me if I wanted to purchase their newsletter. I said no. They asked me to provide my birth month and date to verify that they had spoken to a live person. I provided the information. Now they keep sending us bills saying that we have received their newsletter (we have not) and that we owe them money. There is no phone number on these invoices. I Googled them and discovered that many, many people have registered complaints about them with the Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: Stop sending us invoices saying that we owe them money, because we do not owe them money. We did NOT order their newsletters and we did NOT receive any newsletters from them.

Business

Response:

September 3, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/3/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/26/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Ops Mgr, placed an order on 4/8/13 for our Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage publication. We were provided with birth date information as 9/26, 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 4-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 9/3/13 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.

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

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: I AM PERSONALY BEING CHARGED AND SEND TO COLLECTION FOR SUBSCRIPTION I NEVER ORDERED AND

RECEIVED. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY CONFORMATION BY FAX OR EMAIL OR MAIL.I WAS TOLD THAT IF OWNER OF

BUSINESS DOESNT PAY THEN I (EMPLOYEE) WILL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY BECAUSE I VERBALLY AGREED.I NEVER

AGREED TO SUBSCRIPTION BECAUSE I DONT MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND WAS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE SOMETHING IN MAIL FOR MY BOSS TO MAKE THE DESICION OF SUBSCRIPTION. MY BOSS WILL NOT PAY THE BALANCE BECAUSE SHE NEVER ORDERED AND I DONT FEEL I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR BALANCE THAT IS NOT

PERSONALLY MINE AND WAS NOT CALLED OR MAILED TO MY HOME.I AM ONLY AN EMPLOYEE OF [redacted]

AND WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE CALL.I WAS PRESSURED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS FREE WITH NO OBLIGATIONS FOR SUBSCRIPTION.Desired Settlement: I REQUEST THAT THE BALANCE IS REMOVED AND POLICY CHANGED.PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS NEED TO TALK ONLY TO OWNERS OR ACCOUNT PAYBLE AND NOT ANY EMPLOYEES.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Consumer

Response:

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

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

Regards,

Review: Progressive Business Publications (PBP) contacted our office and claimed that our company could receive a newsletter for free based on our company needs. A staff member did give the verbal ok, after being harassed to the point of saying yes, just to hang up the phone with the sales person. Yesterday I received a call from an agency called [redacted] claiming they are the company that handles debt collection for PBP and that they are filing a collection dispute. PBP is an unethical company that using scummy tactics to make a sale, which they then rake up more charges and debt by sending more newsletters and add those to an invoice that we never receive.Desired Settlement: I want to be removed from any future solicitations or sales tactics. I was told that I need to put a request in writing to cancel, when all other aspects of the company use verbal confirmation for billing purposes.

Business

Response:

August 22, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 8/22/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/21/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Dev Assoc., placed an order on 1/8/13 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. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.

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

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

As a courtesy we did contact the collection agency on 8/21/13 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 8/22/13 that the company name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our

cancellation policy. We found many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 3-paid in full accounts, as well as 2-accounts for [redacted], herself and other accounts cancelled as we instructed without issue.

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: I accepted a free subscription to the Progressive Business Publication. I requested a hard copy of the publication which arrived sporadically. The company has placed my account in "collection" for not paying the bill after the 30 free day period. I requested all correspondence to be by U.S Mail. The company claims they kept sending me statements via my email address. I did not receive any emails from the company neither monthly copies of the publication or any bills. A bill collector, [redacted], from [redacted] called me and told me I owed $299.00. She said I did not check the box to stop the subscription after 30 days. How could I check the box to discontiniue the publication when I did not receive an email or a paper statement in the U.S. mail? If I had, I would have cancelled the subsciption after 30 days.Desired Settlement: I believe that I do not owe the $299.00 as I did not receive a bill. I would like to have the bill cancelled and any claims to my credit report be removed.

Thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Consumer

Response:

From: Revdex.com of Metro DC and Eastern PA <[email protected]>

Date: Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 3:14 PM

Subject: Fwd: You have a new message from the Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC & Eastern Pennsylvania in regards to your complaint #[redacted].

To: [redacted]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: [redacted]

Date: Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 11:59 AM

Subject: Re: You have a new message from the Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC & Eastern Pennsylvania in regards to your complaint #[redacted].

To: [email protected]

Thank you very much for helping me to resolve this issue. Your support has been excellent.

Review: Progressive Business Publications sent an invoice to collection company [redacted] for a periodical my company did not order. The total was $299.00. My company has refused to pay this balance.Desired Settlement: Cessation of collection activity.

Business

Response:

February 27, 2014

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 2/27/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 2/26/14. 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, 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], Ops Superv., placed an order on 7/24/13 for our Quality Manager's Alert publication. We were provided with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our 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 2/27/14 and advised the agency to cease collections and cancel the account. They have assured us that will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account.

While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our

cancellation policy. We found many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 6-paid in full accounts while other accounts were cancelled as we instructed without issue.

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

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

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

Review: Progressive Business Publications has sent us notices to pay for a subscription to FOUNDATION & CORPORATE FUNDING ADVANTAGE, but we never ordered a subscription. Now they are threatening to send this bill for $240 to a collection agency.Desired Settlement: We would like Progressive Business Publications to stop demanding payment for a subscription we did not order. We do not want this issue to affect our company's credit rating.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: I was contacted by an agent of Progressive Business Publications and began to receive information that I never requested or authorized to be provided. Then I received an invoice for a subscription I never authorized. I have emailed them three times, including one time today when I received the first invoice, asking them to cancel the account that I never set up or authorized. Their invoice calls for a $240.00 payment for a bogus subscription. I will also be putting in the mail a copy of their invoice with the words "Canceled" on it today, along with a copy of the three emails I have sent.Desired Settlement: That Progressive Business Publications have their accounts payable department stop sending invoices for an account we never authorize, cancel the account, send [redacted] a letter/email confirming they have canceled the bogus account and will stop sending invoices. Lastly, remove [redacted] from their contact list.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business Solutions allegedly spoke with one of my employees and stated the employee ordered a subscription to the Safety Compliance Alert. The employee who supposedly ordered the publication is the accounts receivable clerk and has nothing to do with safety. She does not remember ordering the publication over the phone and cannot find an email confirmation the company states was sent in May. The company cannot provide a confirmation of the email or supply a recording of the order. We have not received any publication to date. As the CFO I would not pay the invoice and we were sent to a collection agency.The collection agency stated the company has a roster of companies nation wide it calls continuously. The collection agency had [redacted] removed from the roster but we had to pay the $299 invoice. We are a nonprofit and as such have a fiduciary responsibility to our donors regarding their donations. After my discussion with the collection agency my AP clerk informed me this same company had tried to entice him into ordering the publication and he finally called and told them no.Desired Settlement: The only outcome I desire is Progressive Business Publications issue me a check in the amount of $299. It is my belief the organization did not order the publication and the organization has never received a publication.

Business

Response:

December 19, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 12/18/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 12/17/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Accting, placed an order on 5/10/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication and she provided us with her 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.

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 12/19/13 and they advised us that they have received payment in full of $299.00 on 12/17/13. They have reinstated the account so that [redacted] will receive the remaining issues of the one year subscription. Once the account expires there will be no further issues, invoices or renewals sent. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on the account. Once the collection agency has been paid there can be no refunds made.

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

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: This company telephoned me regarding an offer for a publication that I have no interest in. They offered a 30 day trial period which I could cancel if I wished. I did not agree to the 30 day trial period as I had no interest in their product at all. I started receiving mail correspondence from them, which I threw out. They evidently signed me up anyway and then sent the bill to a collection agency when I didn't pay.

I can only assume that the sales person on the phone needed to make a commission and signed me up for the 30 day trial anyway. As I didn't open their correspondence, I was unaware that they were billing me for anything. I have paid the collection agency. I want a refund. This is fraudulent conduct on the part of the sales person.Desired Settlement: Monitor or record your sales people's conversations.

Business

Response:

April 24, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/24/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 4/23/14. After review of our detailed electronic records, we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address, asking for the month and day of the persons birth date and asking for the persons email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours, as well as to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or corrections that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Controller, placed an order on 9/16/13 for our Safety Compliance Alert publication. She provided us with a birth date of **, as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation letter went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same Computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a -month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to her at their 2nd location [redacted], IN [redacted]. This computer tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show that we ever received a cancellation on this account or mail returned as undeliverable. If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that needs to be done is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return it to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industrys general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5 months, 2 warning notices plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 4/24/14 and they advised us that they have received payment in full ($299.00) on 4/23/14 for the subscription. [redacted] has marked this account Settled Satisfactorily" and they reinstated the account so that she will get the remaining newsletters of the 1-year subscription. There will be no ramifications due to this account being turned over for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account. Once the collection agency receives payment there can be no refunds made.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found many trial subscriptions had been accepted before and all were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of Companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and excellent customer service.All of Our contact information is in the newsletter. It contains our address and telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour7 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.Cordinally,

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:

In the business response, they state that the goods were ordered by [redacted]; my name has been [redacted] since 2012. All previous orders they alluded to were under the name [redacted] along with a record of my birth date. All information easily accessible by the CSR that called me. I do not now or have ever worked at the division located at [redacted] IN, which is where you stated you sent the product to. I never received it, and never would have requested you send it there. Since I never received it, how would I have ben able to cancel it?

I reiterate again, I very clearly told your CSR that I had ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST in this product and I didn't even want the 30 day trial. I believe he took my personal information out of your records and created an order on his own. The fact that you acknowledge that I went through the cancellation process on prior orders but not this one should tell you something.

I want a full refund.Regards,[redacted]

Business

Response:

May 14, 2014Dear [redacted] :Regarding the above referenced rebuttal that you received we submit the following:In reading both the original message sent to you along with the rebuttal message by [redacted], we identified inconsistencies in her messages. Due to this, we contacted **. [redacted] directly by phone to understand each other. Despite the order clearly being valid in our system, as a courtesy, we agreed to contact the collection agency to process a refund.The collection agency confirmed on 05/13/14 that the refund will be processed and issued back to **. [redacted].If you have any further questions, please feel free to Contact us .Thank you,

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Regards, [redacted]

Review: This company bills for publications not ordered or received.Desired Settlement: Stop billing [redacted]

Business

Response:

May 5, 2014Dear [redacted] :We received your email dated /5/14, regarding the above reference complainant.In order to respond to the complaint we require further information:1. What is the name of the person who is receiving thepublication? We can find nothing under complainants In -2. Did they receive an invoice? If so, what is theAccount number and name of the publication?Please be advised that the only accounts we could find were very old and cancelled.If you can obtain the current information, please send it to us and we will respond to the complaint immediately.Thank you very much for any assistance you may provide.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]. Below are the answers to the the questions on the letter from Progressive Business Publications.

Review: A representative of [redacted] contacted the small non-for-profit that I work for today stating that the Agency owes Progressive Business Publications $260 or so for some newsletters that she claimed I ordered. I did not order these publications, but they claimed they had my birthday which they used as confirmation for placement of the order. I did not authorize this company to send my Agency any publications. They offered to "settle" with the Agency today for $100. Rather than "settle," I have filed a consumer complaint with the Attorney General of Kentucky and this complaint with your organization. The person who contacted me today is named [redacted] and her phone number is ###-###-####Desired Settlement: I do not want Progressive Business Publications or any of its affiliates to contact me, my staff or my organization, [redacted]

Business

Response:

October 23, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 10/23/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 10/21/14. 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], Exec Dir, placed an order on 4/3/14 for our Communications Bulletin For Managers & Supervisors publication and she provided us with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletter and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation request or mail returned as \undeliverable”. If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry’s general custom. However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day wait period the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 10/23/14 and advised them to cease collection and cancel this account. They have assured us that this will be done. There will be no ramifications due to this account going for collection and there is no money due or owing on this account.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found 3 "risk free” subscriptions had been accepted before and all were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account.We have initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.Be advised that we will be happy to respond to any complaint received from any State office with this same information when we receive it.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place “repeat” orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour /7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department if you have any further questions at [redacted].Thank you.Cordially Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: I receive a call from a collection agency stating that my company was in collections for "the Selling Advantage" publication that they claimed I subscribed to. I notified the collection representative that I never subscribed to this publication. She explained that Progressive Business Publications says they spoke to me in September of 2013 and I agreed to receive the publication for the first month and can be charged if I did not cancel. I do not recall speaking to a representative and this is something I would never agree to, I do not do this in my personal affairs and would not agree to this in business. I feel these are always trap agreements that are misrepresented. The collection agent stated that they were emailing me the publication as well and provided an incorrect email. The invoice that my company received stated that the publication was being received by 5 people which is also not true. My company is in the process of paying the invoice to avoid the collection report.Desired Settlement: Refund company money and permanently remove the company and myself from contact and/or solicitation databases.

Business

Response:

April 14, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/11/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received 4/10/14. After review, of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on-line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer and 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 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], Mktg Mgr, placed an order on 9/18/13 for our Selling Advantage publication for 5-copies of the annual subscription and he provided us with a birth date of [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy. We do show that the confirmation letter went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, online programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation on the 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 and 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 4/14/14 and advised the agency to cease collections and to cancel the account. They have assured us that this has been done. There will be no ramifications due to the account being turned over for collection. There is no money due or owing on this account.We asked if they had received payment on this account, as **. [redacted] states in his complaint and they said they have not received any type of payment on the account. Be advised that once the collection does receive payment there can be no refunds made.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our cancellation policy. We found other trial subscriptions had been accepted before and were cancelled as we instructed without issue.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 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.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 our newsletter. It contains our address and 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 yours,

Review: We stated receiving phone call stating that we are in collection for $198.00 for a publication we have not order and we have never received. Also this company stated that they have send bills since 8/1/2012 and we have no records of this. This company has a collections department that is been calling 2 or 3 times a day trying to intimidate. I requested confirmation of the agreement and they disconected the call. I called them back and I requested to lisent to the recorded conversation (so they claim) I they againg hag up the phone.Desired Settlement: We never agree for this Publication and we have never received any Publication!!!! We have no financial obligation with them.

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:

1. I'm a billing specialist and I have not order any subcription the only person that is allow to order any type of subcription or any supplies is our office manager.

2. Our office have never received any letter, supplies, books and or any invoices from this peolple.

3. I have [redacted] this company and the motive operandoum is always the same. They take the name of anybody in the office and try to charge people with bogus subcription.

4. How can we cancel a subcription that we never order and have no invoice????

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

Review: Receiving collection calls and threats for a subscription that was neither ordered, nor desired.Desired Settlement: We are not paying for something we did not order. I am familiar with this company and their unscrupulous business practices, as I have fallen victim to their scam once before.

Business

Response:

April 7, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 4/4/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received 4/3/14. 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 person's mailing 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], Dir, placed an order on 9/3/13 for our Nonprofit Board Report (packet of 5 newsletters per month) 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 policyThe birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 5- month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows in this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. It does not show ever receiving a cancellation request or mail returned as "undeliverable". If we had we would have cancelled the account immediately.With all telephone orders placed, if the ordering person does not find the information helpful, all that is required is to write CANCEL on the invoice and return that to us or advise us any other way and the subscription will be stopped with no payment required, as is the publishing industry's general custom.However, if neither paid nor cancelled after 5-months, 2-warning notices, plus an additional 30-day "wait period" the account may be turned over for collection. That is what happened in this instance.As a courtesy we contacted the collection agency on 4/4/14 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 have initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who regularly place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in the newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department you have any further questions at ###-###-####.Thank you.

Review: Company constantly calls for payment for a safety bulletin that was solicited via soliciting calls to our company.The bulletin was not wanted or used. When asked for a signed document for approving the agreement, they stated they had phone recordings. We do not approve anything via phone only paper. Receive approx 1 -2 calls per week. Over and over explained our policy and [redacted] and [redacted] from [redacted] who call on behalf of Progressive Business Publications become very short.Desired Settlement: stop pursuing this bill of $299.00

Consumer

Response:

My name is [redacted] accounts payable for [redacted], let me know what other information we can forward to you regarding progressive business publications and [redacted]

Review: I requested a free newsletter to my email to see what the publication was about. I then received a phone call from them wanting to know if I liked it. I told them I did not have time to look at it because my daughter had been in the hospital, they called me a couple more times asking if I had looked at it and again I had told them I had not had time to. I then starting getting invoices saying I owed 299.00. I do not want this and did not want a subscription only the free news letter. I have emailed them and left messages and have not heard back.Desired Settlement: I would like them to cancel the account they set up and make sure there is a zero balance.

Business

Response:

September 23, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/23/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/19/13. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.

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

Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Office Mgr, placed an order on 6/19/13 for our CFO & Controller'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 2-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 9/19/13 as they requested when they contacted us that day. There is no money due or owing on the account.

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

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

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

Thank you.

Review: I was called and asked to accept a trial subscription to a business publication. I declined. The caller continued to try and sell the publication. I was offered what I believed was an email containing more information. When the email arrived, it said I had agreed to a 60 day free trial. I replied to the email stating that I did not agree to the trial.

I am being billed $299 for something that I did not want or KNOWINGLY agree to. They have now turned this over to a collection agency.Desired Settlement: I never wanted or used the product and want the balance adjusted to $0.00.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Consumer

Response:

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

Regards,