Ameri-source Publications Convinced our employees that they were "the real yellow pages" HA consumer fraud ripoff Champlain, New York
On three different occasions Amerisource Publications convinced three different employees with three different companies that we own that they were the "Real Yellow Pages." They are not the real yellow pages, in fact they are a business publication company which lists businesses in a publication called Eastern American Business Source.
Our name appears on the 500th page in print so small that you need a magnifying glass to read it. Ameri-source's reps misrepresent themselves and do not speak to people with the authority to authorize this $299.00 charge per year. They must speak to a business owner or officer of a corporation, not a secretary or data entry person. Ameri-source must also quit representing themselves as the "Real Yellow Pages" they most certainly are not. I now have three different bills for $299.00 and I will never pay them, and if this damages mine or my companies credit, I will seek legal action.
Travis
St. Augustine, Florida
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Staunton,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Ameri-source is a REAL FRAUD! Look what I found on the State of Vermont Attorney General's Web Site!
#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 04, 2003
Dear Travis,
These people are a total fraud. Read on.
Look what I found on the State of Vermont Attorney General's Web Site! I wish I had known about the settlement sooner. Even though I've missed the claims deadline, we can still shut them down before they hurt too many others. Missouri also has a suit pending. Your Attorney General needs to be contacted, then rest easy and ignore the bad people. It is they who are in legal hot water.
***
STATE OF VERMONT
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
109 STATE STREET
MONTPELIER 05609-1001
(802) 828-3171
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Elliot Burg, Assistant Attorney General
March 21, 2002 (802) 828-2153
ATTORNEY GENERAL SETTLES CONSUMER FRAUD CLAIMS AGAINST CANADIAN TELEMARKETERS
Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell announced today that his office has settled consumer fraud claims against two Montreal-based telemarketers that sell listings in business-to-business directories. W.W.S. World Wide Source Publishing, Inc. ("WWS") and Ameri-Source Publications, Inc. ("Ameri-Source") will together pay a total of $125,000 to the State of Vermont and provide refunds to all of their Vermont customers.
In a lawsuit filed in Chittenden Superior Court in November 2001, the Attorney General alleged that WWS and five of its chief officers had systematically violated the Vermont Consumer Fraud Act in the course of selling listings in a directory called the "American Business Index." According to the Attorney Generals complaint, WWS, using a Vermont return address, solicited orders for two-year listings in its directory for $399.95, by means of outbound telemarketing calls to businesses throughout the United States. Over 100 of those customers complained to the State of Vermont.
The court complaint alleged that WWS violated the Consumer Fraud Act by:
Misrepresenting that the company offers renewals of listings in the local Yellow Pages, when in fact it offers primarily new listings in a non-local directory of limited circulation.
Overstating the circulation of the directory as 1 million, when in fact it is closer to 35,000.
Misrepresenting WWS location by using local Vermont addresses in Alburg and Williston in all dealings with customers.
Billing many customers without their authorization.
Failing to provide customers with their legally-required three-day right to cancel.
Overcharging customers for a directory that is of limited value to most businesses.
Ameri-Source, a company which shares common management and ownership with WWS and uses a return address in New York State, also telemarkets listings in a business-to-business directory.
The Attorney Generals settlement is contained in a Consent Decree approved this week by the Chittenden Superior Court. Although they have denied any wrongdoing, under the Consent Decree WWS, Ameri-Source and their President, Pavlos Angelatos, are barred from doing business in or into Vermont, or using a business address or facilities in the state. Also, by April 1, 2002, WWS and Ameri-Source must send refunds to all of its customers in Vermont; or, where payment records are unavailable, Vermont businesses listed in a directory must be sent a letter offering a refund upon proof of payment. Finally, the Consent Decree requires WWS to pay the State $79,000 ($59,000 in penalties and $20,000 in fees and costs), and Ameri-Source to pay the State $46,000 ($36,000 in penalties and $10,000 in fees and costs)for a total of $125,000.
In addition, out-of-state customers of WWS will have until September 30, 2002, to send a written complaint to the Attorney Generals Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) at Morrill Hall, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405, and receive a refund.
Commenting on the settlement, Attorney General Sorrell noted that his office will continue to take tough action against fraudulent telemarketersincluding out-of-state and out-of-country companies that pose as Vermont companies by using a local mailing address. "Companies like this undermine Vermonts good name. We are taking a hard line against fraudulent telemarketing, especially where it hurts Vermont residents or threatens to tarnish the Vermont business communitys reputation for honesty."
For further information on the settlement, businesses can contact the Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424 or 656-3183 (in Chittenden County)