Progressive Business Publications

Review: We have received multiple copies of newsletters/info packets from Progressive Business Publications. When we received the first one and an invoice I called and notified them that we did not order this product nor did we want it as it is useless to us. We continued to receive calls and billings from them after initially canceling their product. Each time we told them we did not want it and did not order it. All mailings were canceled and returned to them. Today I received a phone call from collections stating that we needed to pay today to avoid further legal action. They also stated that we had been notified by Progressive Business Publications through email that they were forwarding our information to collections. We have not received anything from them in months which is why I thought they finally processed our cancellation. This company uses tactics that are unethical to get information about personnel and the company and then use it later against them as confirmation that they want their product. We will not pay this bill or ever recommend this company.Desired Settlement: They need to adjust the bills sent and take us out of collection.

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,

Review: Company is charging for items not requested nor the y have correct information. Spam charges and were threating for payment claiming they would take legal action against us. When I requested a fax with back up information, nothing was sent. There is no record of e-mails ever received either.Desired Settlement: stop contacting me

Business

Response:

September 9, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 9/9/13 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/5/13. 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 Benefits Dir, placed an order on 1/17/13 for our What's Working In Human Resources 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 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 9/9/13 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 many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 3-paid in full accounts (1-account is ongoing at the present time) and all other accounts cancelled as we instructed without issue except this 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.

Review: This company contacted me by phone offering a product that they assured me was free of charge. I have since been receiving invoices for the product and was never informed that charges would be issued. I have ignored all requests for payment under the assumption that the invoices were bogus. Recently I was contacted by a collection company hired by Progressive Business Publications alleging that we are required to submit payment to avoid legal action.

When Progressive initially contacted me they informed me that the call would be recorded for quality control purposes, but I now know that they also record the conversations as proof that I agreed to accept their services. I was not clearly told in that initial communication that I would be subscribing to a service that is not free and that I would need to cancel within a certain amount of time in order for the fees to be waived. I feel that this is an example of sleazy business practices, and I refuse to pay for a product for which I never agreed to pay for in the first place.Desired Settlement: I would like the Revdex.com to resolve our outstanding bill with this company on our behalf. They allege we owe them $299 for a one year subscription to their service, and both myself and my superiors at my workplace will not be sending payment to a company that makes a habit of tricking consumers into ordering a product that they thought was free and then billing them later for it.

Business

Response:

See Attachment:

Review: Progressive Business publications claims we ordered something we did not order. They are claiming someone who is no longer with the company and would not have had the authority to place the order even when they were here ordred it. There was never a PO issued for anythingDesired Settlement: The have sent us to collections and we would like this to be cleared

Business

Response:

See Attachement:

Review: Sales person called asked for my birth date, and proceeded to tell me that they were going to send sample publication to which I agreed. Then said they would automatically start billing after trial period and got off phone. Immediately called them back at phone number ###-###-#### and told them I did not want them sending me anything and would not pay for any products from them. Spoke to Nicky at extension [redacted] who told me that the order had not processed yet, so she could not find it in the system. Assured me that she would cancel the order as soon as it processed and we would not be billed. Received bill from agency with my name spelled incorrectly, demanding payment of $230.00 or it will be referred to collection agency, for a publication that we neither wanted, nor used. The sales person never asked for my consent to bill our company nor send the publication, only stating that they would send it. After reviewing their complaint history with the Revdex.com, it appears that this is far from the first time that they've employed these highly unethical tactics.Desired Settlement: Cancellation of fictional balance and account, stop sending unwanted publications.

Business

Response:

August 21, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 8/20/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 8/14/14. After review of our detailed electronic records we would like to respond to your letter with the following explanation.Please note that our primary method by which we secure orders is by telephone solicitation. In such cases, our representatives take orders with a 60-day right of cancellation to a 1-year subscription to one of our newsletters, books or on line programs. We have very stringent quality control procedures regarding our representatives making this offer. These include verifying the address and asking for the month and day of the person's birth date.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], H/R Dir, placed an order on 3/27/14 for our Keep Up To Date On Payroll publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted]. Prior to ending the conversation we clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked cancellation policy.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a - 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 8/20/14 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.We initiated a request on the same day that the name, address and telephone number be removed from our computer files. This action takes approximately 30-days to process. In business we hesitate to say the company will never receive another mailing from us. If any company information changes our computers may not recognize it and something may go out. If that should happen, simply call us and we will remove that version, too.While researching this complaint we did find that this company has done business with us in the past and is aware of our Cancellation policy. We found many different trial subscriptions had been accepted before, as well as 2-paid in full accounts while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue.Please know that we do business regularly with thousands of companies who place repeated orders due to their continued satisfaction and our excellent customer service.All of our contact information is in our newsletter and it contains our toll free telephone number. We, also, have a 24 hour/7 days a week voice mail system due to the large amount of calls we receive daily from our coast-to-coast subscribers.Feel free to contact the Customer Service Department if you have any questions at [redacted].Thank you.Cordially Yours,Sylvia N. Dir. Of Subscriber Services

Review: I am being billed for a publication I did not order.

I have previously contacted this company, and was told the order was cancelled with no amount due.

I am still being billed.Desired Settlement: Cancel the order. Note on account that I never ordered the product. Send me a notification that there is order outstanding and no payment is due.

Business

Response:

August 22, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for your email of 8/21/13 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, 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], E&S Mgr, placed an order on 5/2/13 for our Supervisor's Safety Bulletin publication. We were provided with birth date information as 6/7, as well as an email address.

Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60-day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.

The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 3-month period of time.

Thus the goods that were ordered by **. [redacted] were sent to the same address that shows on this complaint. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests.

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

As a courtesy we cancelled this account on 7/26/13 as he 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 different trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 2-paid in full accounts 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: The company telephoned our organization and I took the phone call. During the phone call I was asked if I would like to subscribe to a newsletter - I replied that I did not have the authorization to make that decision and that we were not interested in receiving the newsletter.

Several weeks/months later I received a phone call saying that our organization was being sent to an international collection agency for a newsletter subscription. I told them I did not order any subscription and referred them to my supervisor, our Executive Director. She restated that at no time did we order any newsletter and furthermore at not time had we received any invoice. The company then faxed over an invoice that has an account number, invoice number, today's date (5-21-3013), and a balance due of $195.50. No where does it list when the order was placed or for how long the subscription was for.

We are not going to pay this invoice as we did not order this subscription. There should not be an amount due.Desired Settlement: Our desired outcome is to take us out of any system that shows we ordered a subscription and to $0.00 (zero out) any balance. Additionally there should not be anything going to any credit agency. Also to take us off any and all telephone call lists.

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 for this particular complaint is satisfactory with this caveot: we have researched our records and they do not match what this company is stating as the sequencing of events with regard to sending us their newsletter. We stand by our original complaint which states we began receiving these newsletters, requested them to end, and then were billed for the total amount of $195 and then sent to collections. This company is doing a fraudulent business and we request they be investigated as a company in addition to this complaint of ours. We have read several other complaints by others that are very similar in nature to our complaint - so, this is happening frequently to many others.

We do appreciate the great assistance you have been to have this account cleared and the collections to be eliminated.

Regards,

Review: We have received free pamphlets/publications for a few months, followed by invitation to subscribe. Invitation states it is not a bill, just an invitation and if they do not receive our answer, publications will discontinue after free trial period. Now, we are receiving Past Due notices for a service we have never subscribed, nor have ever returned any response or agreement. We have tried calling the 800 number but it keeps forwarding to automated responses.Desired Settlement: We wish to received a letter from the company stating there is not amount due, there is no active account or contract and we owe nothing, so we can present this proof to our Accounting Department, which are very upset with us (HR Department) because they believe we might have subscribed to this without proper authorization. The alleged (and false accounts) are: [redacted] - and [redacted] - .

Business

Response:

September 25, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 9/24/14 regarding the above referenced complaint that you received on 9/23/14. 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 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], HR Mgr / Pay, placed an order on 6/18/14 for our What’s Working In Human Resources publication. We were provided with birth date information as [redacted], as well as an email address. Within 24 hours of the discussion, we sent a confirmation letter that clearly restated the offer discussed, including the liberal 60- day, no questions asked, cancellation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.The birth date information is obtained, in part, to verify the Conversation took place. Once the order was placed, the same computer system sent the newsletters and invoices over a 3-month period of time.Thus the goods that were ordered by [redacted] were sent. 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 9/24/14 as requested. There is no money due or owing on the account.We feel that [redacted] is confusing the “free trial” that we sent to her on 8/11/14 for our Keep Up To Date On Payroll. What were sent were conversion notices which we send that clearly state "This Is Not A Bill” hoping that she liked our product and would like to change to an annual subscription. We cancelled this account on 9/24/14, also. There are no monies due or owing on either 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 a few different ``no risk” subsriptions had been accepted before and 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: This company has been billing us for a book that we did not order and did not receive. They have sent repeated invoices and made phone calls threatening to send our company to a collection agency. We have disputed their invoices by letter on multiple occasions and have received no response other than an email stating that they have processed our request to cancel the subscription on May 29, 2014 and continued monthly billings for the book in June, July and August.Desired Settlement: We would like our account to be cleared of the charges and collection activities against our company to cease.

Business

Response:

September 4, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for your email of 8/29/14 regarding the above referenced agency complaint that you received on 8/28/14. 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 and asking for the person’s email address or fax so we can send written confirmation of the order within 24 hours. This serves to encourage contact with us if there are any mistakes or changes that need to be made.Regarding the specifics of this situation, please note that [redacted], Office Mgr., placed an order on 1/28/14 for our Deskbook Encyclopedia of Employment Law book and its companion newsletter and she provided us with an email address at that time. 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 canceliation policy. Our computers show that the confirmation went through without any problems.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. This computer system records and tracks all confirmations, invoices, on-line programs, books, periodicals sent and cancellation requests. Further, our computers do not show ever receiving any calls from this company as Ms Scott states in the complaint.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 8/29/14 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 trial subscriptions had been accepted before; 1–paid in full account while others were cancelled as we instructed without issue except this account. The book was never returned because they state they never received it, but they did receive the newsletters which went to the exact same address. We found they did cancel the newsletter on 5/28/14 but not the book portion of the account.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:

[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 as long as the collection letters and phone calls for payment or return of merchandise we did not receive will finally cease. The Director of Subscriber Services continues to express an unrealistic expectation that somehow we should have been able to write cancel on their invoice and return their book that we never received in the first place. Additionally, they have not offered to provide any proof of delivery or proof of ordering these products. After the first letter we sent to Progressive Business Publications protesting two invoices, one for a book and one for a newsletter subscription, we received a response stating our order was cancelled and we should keep the newsletters already received with their compliments. After our second letter protesting receipt of another invoice for the book, we received no response except for a collection letter. After a third letter and filing a complaint with the Revdex.com, we received a response stating the invoice was cancelled even before they could have received our letter. We only hope that is the end of it. Thank you kindly for your assistance on our behalf.

Regards, [redacted]

Business Manager

Resource Concepts, Inc.