Yellow Book USA Deceptive sales practices. Columbus Ohio

We are a small IT consultation firm located here in Columbus Ohio. For the last few years we have used different Directory advertising to promote our business locally, with great success. In 2004 we switched our advertising from AT&T Yellow Pages, due to the fact that they printed a number we didn't own, and refused to credit us for the advertising we didn't receive. We ended up with Yellow Book as a solution to this problem, since AT&T was unable to satisfy our needs.

At first we found them cheaper and seemingly care alot more about our needs as a young corporation. As time went on, they convinced us, with sales figures, charts, and other testimonials, as to why we should expand our advertising into other books in Central Ohio. So likewise, since we had great success advertising with them previously, we accepted the new books, and the likewise additional financial hit of increased advertising, based solely upon the information their sales rep provided us.

At over $1000 a month, we expected atleast twice the business from the increased service area, only to see calls trickle in, one at a time, and the increased exposure not increase our bottom line even by 1%. They tell us that if we modify our current advertising we will lose our placement in the Columbus Ohio book, but the quarter page they're selling us hasn't increased the bottom line of my business.

Because of such expenses, with little visable impact, our advertising bill went into default. I had numerous telephone conversations with their collections reps, and I agreed I would send them $4000 at the beginning of November to get within a few hundred dollars of being within 90days due. I was unable to send them money in December, because of Christmas.

It was then, days after the holiday, that I received an angry call from one of their collections reps. He told me that unless I gave them a post-dated check for over $1000 he would send my account to a collections attorney. I told him that previously I had given them post-dated checks and that they ran them early. He called me a liar, and said that that never happened. So I finally told him, I would not authorize a post dated check, and that I would mail them a check at the end of the month.

This check I did mail. It has posted to my account. I come back from vacation, and have received a collections letter from an attorney, demanding I pay the full amount of my advertising, all the way through to September 2008 (It's currently Feb 08) or they will sue me, attach garnishments on all checking accounts, and will come after my inventory and accounts payable.

Six months ago... I never thought a company I have done business with for years would treat a long term client in this matter, but all it took was one Collections Rep to get mad, and somehow all my previous payments to them don't show, and I don't even get offered a payment plan. I'm automatically sent off to an attorney, and now have work out a settlement or declare bankruptcy. The local boss of advertising here in Columbus, says it's very unusual that after paying $5000 on $15,000 of advertising, that I would be sent off to collections and not offered a payment plan. He's washed his hands of me, and has said their is nothing he can do.

This amount will be settled and paid for over time, and I am currently in contact with an attorney. I told my rep before I left town I wanted to settle the past due amount on this account, and never received a call back.

I feel cheated, since the advertising I bought never produced the leads I was promised. I feel lied to, since they deny they ever predated a post dated check that I wrote to them, when my ad rep shows me in person what was written in my file concerning it, when getting me to renew my current columbus ad. I also see what other people are saying on here in a new light, and why this company should probably be avoided at all costs.

This company wouldn't exist without post dated checks, it seems. I wonder how many other people they have "punished" by doctoring accounts, to have them sent off to collection attorneys, that refused to post date payments they couldn't afford, and not to offer payment plans, that almost every other business abides by.

Buyer beware. Don't trust claims on coverage, or how many households they deliver to. Any business can fall into the pitfall I have. We have gotten good clients from Yellow Book, but I feel we could of gotten better exposure elsewhere for ALOT less money and headaches.

Daniel
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.