ADS Enterprise Scammed - JIC Emerg Guide ripoff Davenport Iowa

ADS ENTERPRISE WANTS YOUR MONEY BUT NOT WORKING WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE!!!
BUSINESS LINK - March 2007

The Better Business Bureau of the Southwest has been notified that ADS Enterprise, LLC is contacting members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and selling advertising in a relocation guide. The BBB has been advised that the company is NOT calling on behalf of the Chamber.

The Chamber learned that one of its members had been contacted by ADS Enterprise, LLC and sold an ad in a relocation guide. The cost of the ad - $749. Being a smart consumer, the company contacted the Chamber and was told that they did, in fact, have a relocation guide. The only problem is that ADS Enterprise, LLC is not working with the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce at all. While the Chamber does have a relocation guide, they are not currently selling advertising for a new guide.

ADS Enterprise, LLC has contacted companies in other areas of the country claiming to be working with various Chambers of Commerce. The BBB of Spokane issued a press release in April 2006 warning of the same scam. Then the ads cost $549. Now they cost $749.

Information provided to the BBB, shows that the company is located at 4711 N. Brady, PO Box 2470, Davenport, IA 52809, 877-996-6611. The Better Business Bureau of Des Moines reports that the company also does business as Milestone Marketing and has an Unsatisfactory rating with that Bureau due to a pattern of complaints. The Bureau has processed a total of 56 complaints against the company in the last 36 months with 54 of those being in the last year.

The company's website, www.adsenterprise.org appears to be registered to Gloria Barnum and the Iowa Secretary of State's office shows Ms. Barnum is the registered agent for the corporation. The BBB of Des Moines shows that Jason Alexander is the Owner/Manager of the company.

The BBB of the Southwest suggests that if your company purchased and paid for advertising with this company because ADS Enterprise, LLC misrepresented its' affiliation with your local Chamber of Commerce, that you file a complaint against the company with the BBB of Des Moines at www.desmoines.bbb.org.

The BBB of the Southwest is familiar with other such questionable directory advertising tactics. Although we are just now receiving calls about this occurring in the Albuquerque marketplace, chances are that it will spread quickly to other markets. The Bureau offers the following tips:

If your company receives a call from anyone stating that they "represent" an affiliate, vendor or program that you may be familiar with, check with the company that they are supposed to represent, first. Especially if the company is asking for credit card information.

Businesses should ask that all advertising propositions be made in writing. Ask for a list of satisfied clients and contact them for feedback and ask to review copies of their ads.

Check the company's report with the Better Business Bureau through our website or by calling our office at 505-346-0110 or 800-873-2224.

These people are amazing.

After I contacted the Better Business Bureau in Davenport, Fred REFUSED to issue me a refund. He said that because I involved a third party, they were "not allowed to speak about the case". What a joke. These people are amazing.

I think I'm going to take a little road trip to Iowa...

I actually got a call this morning from Raquel who started to give me a story about how my magnets were not supposed to ship until the end of Jan 07. Recognizing the story, I told her that my invoice stated ship date of 12/06.

I asked her to speak to a manager, she told me none was available. I asked her to give a message to Mr. Jason Alexander, the owner of the company that I had filed a report with the BBB, the Attorney General's Office in Iowa and on RipOffReport.com. She then told me she would call me back with the status of my order. When I questioned her how it could change, she ended up hanging up on me.

I immediately called back and told her that I forgot to mention that I also filed a complaint with the US Postal Service for mail fraud. She asked me "how is that mail fraud" and I gently explained it to her. She switched me over to our friend FRED right away. Fred asked me for my invoice number and then put me on hold for a few minutes. (Hopefully he was talking to Raquel). He came back on the phone, verified my mailing address and promised me a full refund no later than a week from now. We'll see what happens.