The Green Magazine - Vision Media & Communications National Advertising Scam and Fraud Canoga Park, California

There sales rep Rob Mahanes came into my office in January of 2010. He told me that their magazine was a premier publication and they did market research and wanted premier advertiser in the magazine. (They polled some Whole Foods customers and my agency came up the most)

He said the magazine would be placed in every bag of every customer that enters Whole Foods and I would be the exclusive insurance agent in the magazine.  He also said they would provide a television commercial for free.  I charged $199 to my credit card.  

A few months later my wife was in Whole Foods and did not get the magazine.  When I heard this I called the company and they said it would be in the bags next month.  At this point I went ahead and paid my next installment of $304.00.  

My wife returned to Whole Foods a month later and still no magazine.  So she asked various employees and the manager and no one had ever heard of the magazine.  

I repeatedly called over the next 4 months no return phone calls but I kept getting billed.  I refused to pay because the magazine was no where to be found.  

In the mean time the illegally charged my credit card with out my permission.  

About 2 weeks ago a lady called me at my house claiming to be a lawyer for green magazine.  When I asked what firm she was with she refused to tell me.  This triggered me to call my lawyer and let the lawyers handle it.  My lawyer called and was hung up on twice.  I called to get a mailing address and the lady that answered the phone (Ms. Dickenson) strangly had the same voice as the lady that claimed to be a lawyer.  

I asked her if they were a collection agency.  Their invoices say they are a collection agency.  She said they were not and my case had been turned over to the Marshall's office.  I asked my attorney about this and she thinks that is not true because the only situation you would use the US Marshall's office is if you have no money or assets.