Contract Communications Inc. Telemarketing Reference Kansas State Troopers Association are they really working together? Virginia Beach Virginia
Our company received a call this morning from someone asking for the owner. I asked for the person's name, which he gave me. Since I did not recognize the name, I asked who the person was with. He stated he was with the Kansas State Troopers Association. When I told him the owner was not available, he hung up. We have Caller ID. The telephone number that came up was 757-486-7400, name unavailable. I knew this wasn't a Kansas area code, so I did a reverse phone directory search. The listing is for:
Contract Communications, Inc.
3630 S. Plazw Trl
Virginia Beach, VA 23452-3310
I did an Internet search and found their website:
http://www.contractco.com/
I also found this information while doing the search from the BBB:
Contract Companies
3630 S Plaza Trl
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(Yahoo Map)
General Information
Original Business Start Date: January 1975
Type of Entity: Corporation
Principal : Mr. James P. Wootton President
Customer Contact: Ms. Valorie Craigen Rose Dir Customer Affairs
Phone Number: (757) 486-7400
Fax Number: (757) 631-2056
Membership Status: Yes
Type-of-Business Classification: Telemarketing Service(s)
Website Address: http://www.contractco.com
Better Business Bureau
Of Greater Hampton Roads, Inc. Serving Southeast Virginia & Northeast North Carolina
586 Virginian Drive, Norfolk, VA. 23505
"Anytime Line" (757)531-1300
Report
Contract Companies
3630 S Plaza Trl
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(Yahoo Map)
General Information
Original Business Start Date: January 1975
Type of Entity: Corporation
Principal : Mr. James P. Wootton President
Customer Contact: Ms. Valorie Craigen Rose Dir Customer Affairs
Phone Number: (757) 486-7400
Fax Number: (757) 631-2056
Membership Status: Yes
Type-of-Business Classification: Telemarketing Service(s)
Website Address: http://www.contractco.com
The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.
BBB Membership
This company has been a member of this Better Business Bureau since March 1999. This means it supports the Bureau's services to the public and meets our membership standards.
Program Participation
This company participates in BBBOnLine, and the BBB Membership Identification Program. This means the company has agreed to use special procedures including mediation and arbitration if necessary to resolve complaints.
Customer Experience
According to information received from The Contract Companies, there are 5 divisions: Contract Advertising, Inc. Contract Communications, Inc., Contract Marketing, Inc., Contract Media, Inc. and Contract Publishing, Inc. The company telemarkets businesses nationally to sell ads in the "Business Review". The company has been the subject of customer complaints alleging billing disputes and miscommunications in selling practices and costs of services. These complaints are of a low volume for the amount of advertising sold and generally are of a nature that is routine to the company's type of business. The company has responded to these complaints by providing their position, and, in the majority of cases, cancelling the bill or refunding the customer's money.
Additional Information
Additional Doing-Business-As Names: Business Review
CDL, Inc.
Contract Advertising, Inc.
Contract Communications, Inc.
Contract Company
Contract Media
Contract Publishing, Inc.
Additional Addresses: 3710 Indian River Road, Chesapeake, VA 23325
1919 Commerce DriveSte. 400, Hampton, VA 23666
Additional Phone Numbers: 800-669-8017
757-578-3500
757-578-3514 Fax
803-825-1676
800-827-6692
757-486-4900
Additional TOB Classifications: Advertising Agencies & Counselors
Advertising Specialties
Company Management
Additional company management personnel include:
Mr. Frank J. Livelli CEO
Ms. Valorie Craigen Rose Dir Customer Affairs
I also found the Kansas State Troopers Association website and sent an e-mail to them asking them if this was a legitimate call. I have not received a response from them at this time. The only approved agency named on the KSTA website is DayCom, Inc.
Does anyone know anything about Contract Communications, Inc. and is it legal for them to say they are "with" a law enforcement agency?
S.n.
Bucyrus, Kansas
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Atlantis63
Virginia Beach,Virginia,
Truth be told..
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, January 13, 2015
I worked at Contract Advertising. I was indirectly or told to"drive them home"...the potential customer that is. I was given the yellow pages for numerous businesses and I was to call and let prospective business know that they would be the ONLY one of their kind to be showcased in the BUSINESS REVIEW.Well..the part that is deceiving??...the canned write-ups, the actual location of the advertising, the information written by each "Executive advertiser" was not factual and "fudged". I witnessed how individuals would speak with a southern accent to pretend they were local or legit. I also witnessed and experienced how the company handled employees that "rocked the boat"..they railroad you on a Friday afternoon and blame you for low sales or a bad attitude. The fact is..they control what newspapers or businesses that are called..and by the employees they deem most suitable to make the sale. It kinda seemed like the "casting couch" and if you were willing to kiss-up to those who could make or break you. For me, and my rebellion, I was given the worst newspapers, in places I never heard of and told to sell. I felt the intimidation by the owner and staff that I was not performing up to their expectations...and let go. I tried to get unemployment after being with them for several years, they told the Unemployment Commission that I left them..and they had plenty of work for me.LIE! And of course Virginia sides with employers "the RIGHT TO WORK" state. Heres the bottom line..buyer beware...and it's glorified telemarketing from an office located on Indian River Road in Hampton Roads. I also just have one more comment about their rude and condescending receptionist....fire-her honey...very unprofessional and makes your company sound like it's selling NUTS!
MBC
Virginia,United States of America
Cancer Recovery Foundation and Operation Lookout
#9General Comment
Mon, December 20, 2010
Contract Communications is based in Chesapeake, VA. They fundraise for groups like Cancer Recovery Foundation in Hershey PA and Operation Lookout in Olympia WA. They call businesses and ask them to donate money. The charity gets just 10%-15% of the money and theykeep 85%-90%.This is public record.The charities are good ones, they just need cash flow and this is the best way small charities can get it. It's legal, just not very fair. Businesses that donate have no idea how little money goes to the charity, because if they did, who would donate?
S.n.
Bucyrus,Kansas,
U.S.A.
You Are a Little Late Responding to This Report
#9Author of original report
Wed, October 08, 2008
but as far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter. If I choose to give money to any organization, I hand them a personal check...I would never hand it to an outside group who removes funds for their fee.
Inspirationchic
Virginia Beach,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Misunderstood
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, October 08, 2008
I am an ex-employee of Contract Communications and understand the guidelines that are strictly followed. Since you are obviously not the person who handles contributions or advertising then you were only given a small amount of information. And the person calling most likely said he was calling for the Kansas State Trooper Association, not from. That is an easy mistake since a person only hears 50% of what is actually said and retains only 5%. Obviously before posting such things you need to do a lot more checking cause many Faternal Order of Police, Sheriff Associations, And state Trooper Associations across the country contract this company to create fundraising magazines. There is no rip off involved.
S.n.
Bucyrus,Kansas,
U.S.A.
KSTA & Contract Communications Inc.
#9Author of original report
Wed, June 16, 2004
I received an e-mail back from KSTA's website indicating that Contract Communications Inc. is doing fundraising work for them at this time. The e-mail did state, however, that the person calling should say that he/she is calling "for" KSTA, not that they are "with" KSTA.
S.n.
Bucyrus,Kansas,
U.S.A.
KSTA & Contract Communications Inc.
#9Author of original report
Wed, June 16, 2004
I received an e-mail back from KSTA's website indicating that Contract Communications Inc. is doing fundraising work for them at this time. The e-mail did state, however, that the person calling should say that he/she is calling "for" KSTA, not that they are "with" KSTA.
S.n.
Bucyrus,Kansas,
U.S.A.
KSTA & Contract Communications Inc.
#9Author of original report
Wed, June 16, 2004
I received an e-mail back from KSTA's website indicating that Contract Communications Inc. is doing fundraising work for them at this time. The e-mail did state, however, that the person calling should say that he/she is calling "for" KSTA, not that they are "with" KSTA.
S.n.
Bucyrus,Kansas,
U.S.A.
KSTA & Contract Communications Inc.
#9Author of original report
Wed, June 16, 2004
I received an e-mail back from KSTA's website indicating that Contract Communications Inc. is doing fundraising work for them at this time. The e-mail did state, however, that the person calling should say that he/she is calling "for" KSTA, not that they are "with" KSTA.