Complaint Review: Dex

I am appalled.  This company is a high pressure, rip off and they need to be stopped.  I am reporting them to the Better Business Bureau, The Arizona Attorney General's Office and others.  First of all, when they tried to sell me advertising last year, I made an appointment with them and they were given a report by me, that states where all of my leads come from.  They are a small part of my leads, but I do need to advertise in the telephone directory, as I live in an area where there are a lot of retirees, and many of them don't use the internet to search out local businesses.  Many find businesses with which to do business in the telephone directory.  When they are satisfied with a particular business, they may also write the name and phone number down in their address book.

Last year, they showed up about a month before the telephone book went into publication, saying that they were sorry, but we had to hurry, as the book was going to press in just a few weeks.  The books always come out in April.  There is no time to even read a contract, which you cannot see, until you have agreed to the advertising "copy" itself.  This year, I think I was presented, via email, with the contract about 03/13/2013, being told I had to sign right away, as we were very far behind, and holding up publication of the directory.  I believe I was contacted by phone, on or about February 19, 2013 for the first time, this year.  As a matter of fact, I believe it was me that contacted them.  They were so busy, that they did not even have time for an appointment, I had to do everything over the phone or by email.

Last year, they told me that they had a "guaranteed action program" and they were again using similar high pressure tactics, and hidden somewhere in that contract, was verbage that they were going to change my phone number in my ads, both in print and on the internet.  This is so they can track my calls, to prove how many "leads" I am getting.  I told them that I didn't need that service, that I tracked where all of my calls come from via my own software.  They did it anyway, and the phone numbers were changed.

As near as I can tell, I ended up with 9 different phone numbers. I was not able to do anything about it.  I then found out, that out of those, five of the numbers were being recorded.  Literally every phone call that came in on those numbers, had the entire conversation recorded.  You could log onto the internet and hear them.  I was offended, and unsure if that was legal.  I was directed by Dex, when I called and complained, how to turn off the recording of calls.

This year, I opted out of their fancy tracking programs, and cut my advertising way back, only to start receiving complaints from my customers, that when they try and call me, they get dead air, or there is no answer, or another company answers the phone.  I started doing some checking.  On or about April 12th, 2013, they started a referral to a "new phone number" on about 1/2 of the original 9 phone numbers, to my original phone number, which is the only number I have ever agreed to have published as my own.  One of the phone numbers, answers at another business, yet if you type it in on the internet, it comes up as mine.  According to Dex, they are "giving" me free of charge this referral service for 30 days!  If I want it for any longer, I can "buy" those phone numbers.

What can be done to stop these guys?  They are trying to ruin my business.  My current bill with them is over 300.00 per month, and they consider me less than a customer, and will not work with me on what I consider a deliberate attempt to sabotage my business, because I cut my advertising with them.  HELP!