Tiffany Lewis called to say she was from collections at Yellow Pages.
She said an employee authorized $599 for listing and it was going to collections. We do not advertise in the yellow pages. No employee has authorization to spend money on the company's behalf. No invoices had been sent prior to this. On top of this, every time they have called in the past, I have requested being taken off the call list.
She claimed to have a recording, but since we put together animations for a living, we know how easy it is to get someone to say yes in answer to a question, then apply it within a recording. We also know that it is easy to cut out phrases like, "only the owner has authorization" or "I can't authorize expenditures."
This scenario follows the scripts on the scam reports to the letter.
Tiffany Lewis called to say she was from collection for local yellow pages online.
She said an employee authorized by phone a purchase of $599 for a listing. I told her the employee was only a temp who was filling in for a sick employee, and had no authority to make any purchases. I pointed out to Tiffany Lewis that I was the only one who had that authority.
Lewis continued to pressure me to pay for the listing. She said payment was overdue and the bill was now $677. I said that since I did not authorize the listing, the billing was obviously fraudulent.
Someone who said they represented local yellow pages online called many times in the past. I made it clear I was not interested now or in the future I have been practicing for almost 20 years and have never used online advertising....this year is no exception.
I have searched yellowpagesonline.com for the listing I was billed for. The listing was just my name, address, and phone number taken from an outdated telephone directory.
Tiffany Lewis is running a nasty scam and small business owners should be aware of it.
I received a call from the Yellow Pages "collections department" by a woman who said her name is Tiffany Lewis. She claimed she called in September and spoke with an employee regarding online listings and that we owe her $600. She says they have a recording.
However, I am the only person who can make purchasing decisions, negotiate contracts or pay for services. I have never received an invoice, only "this is a soliciation" letters that I have thrown out. She said she is selling the debt to a collection agency. It does read like the FTC script.
Every legitimate business I work with either has me fill out a credit app (which I sign and send in) or pay by credit card up front.
I immediately contacted the FTC and filed a complaint. The FTC spokesperson said the recordings are often manufactured and manipulated and won't hold up in court. Is this true?
I have filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Consumer Protection.
They cannot legally charge you for something that you did not approve. Doesn't matter if they have a recording (basically, they will "manufacture" one to make it sound like someone did say "yes"). Recordings do not stand up in court. As well, they would have to have a written contract with you. If they call back, tell them you know they're a scam and they have been reported to the FTC and also alert the Attorney General of your state.