National Business Information Exchange NBIE Chesapeake Beach Maryland
deceptively used recording of consumer's voice to confirm order of $400 cd rom directory and then refuse to take back
Attempted rip-off by company called NBIE-(National Business Information Exchange)for CD version of Corporate Telecom Directory. Called me one day at the office to say they were confirming an order my boss had supposedly made over the phone and they needed our shipping address. I was wary about giving them any affirmative answer like "Yes" or "OK" because I had heard about these type of scams. They eventually said they would send it for free and if I did not want it I could send right back.
I hung up and 5 minutes later I got a call from another company stating they were just the shipping company and needed my shipping address. Since I had just given them my address I wondered why another company called back.
About a week later I received a CD in a small envelope with an invoice for $399.00. I never opened it and called the phone number on the invoice to say I did not want it and would be sending it back. They informed me I would have to pay a restocking fee of 10%. When I requested they prove to me who exactly ordered the CD they said I did. I then refuted this and told them they had told me that my boss had ordered it and they just called me to get the shipping address, twice. When I again requested they prove this to me they connected me to some supervisor who had a recording of me saying "That is correct". Just three words. They did not have the rest of the recording. Just me, obviously confirming my shipping address and not a definitive "Yes" or such. They had no recording of my boss or any any other part of my conversation. I told them this was a scam and would be contacting the BBB and their local sherriff's dept.
When I called the local Sherriff in their town he went by the address and called me back to tell me it was a small house owned by a few people. Not a very corporate looking establishment like their letterhead and product purported. Turned the matter over to my lawyer. Suggest you steer clear of this scam and not talk to anyone from an obscure company like NBIE- National Business Information Exchange.
Britton
Middleburg, Virginia
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Staunton,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Apology ..My point should have been directed to Pavlos Angelatos who is most likely not even Canadian.
#8Consumer Comment
Sat, March 08, 2003
Dear Marie:
Please accept my apology. It was not my intent to impune ALL Canadians. My point should have been directed to Pavlos Angelatos who is most likely not even Canadian. (I'm not picking on Greeks now, just him and his company).
The heart of the matter is that they misrepresent themselves and give anyone they associate with a black eye. Phonebusters and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been most helpful and will surely find a way to curtail the activities of these scammers.
Again, I'm sorry for creating a misunderstanding.
Marie
Dartmouth,Ontario,
Canada
Don't Bad mouth Canadians..It's The Company that burned you Not Canadians!!!!!
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, March 07, 2003
I am a former employee of World Wide Source. I know lonmger work there because of ther unsavory business pratices.
I am sorry that you got burned ,BUT don't blame it on CANADIANS ....Yes the owner of WWS and Ameri-Source and Americian Soulution Info is Canadian. IT was their company there Idea and there training manuals that ALL EMPLOYES used.
But that does not mean that WE Canadians are all scaming Americians. Take it out on the company not us Canadians, we have to work to feed our families. Just the same as you do.
We only followed company rules. We didnt know the company was bad when we first started working there. We have been burned too.
In the future just tell all telemarketers that your company dosent do any business over the phone.Or ask them to send you info by fax or mail. another idea is ask for appointment to meet with them. That will stop the calls and your company name will be removed from there calling list. Some places will remove your name if you ask them to.
Robert
Staunton,Virginia,
U.S.A.
..Pavlos Angelatos & World Wide Source paid $125,000 in a settlement with Vermont's Attorney General & now face similar action by the state of Missouri
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, March 06, 2003
"They All Spring from the Same Mother Ship"
Hey Vincent:
Wake up and smell the coffee! This "directory scam" out of Montreal is so prolific that a librarian recently gave me a long list of "companies" that pull this. Libraries, who process many standing orders for directories are especially plagued by these people as you might guess. My librarian friend surmised that "they all spring from the same mother ship."
Onre of the big perpetrators of this scam is a company called "World Wide Source." They use the exact same methods as you and I have only one question for you. Why did Pavlos Angelatos and World Wide Source have to pay $125,000 in a settlement with Vermont's Attorney General and now face similar action by the state of Missouri if this type of operation is, as you assert, so above reproach.
As to your remotre shipping facility, there is nothing wrong with that in itself, but you Canadians are misrepresenting yourselves as local (or U.S.) companies in order to coerce approvals.
Vincent Thomas
Chesapeake Beach,Maryland,
setting the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions
#8UPDATE Employee
Thu, November 14, 2002
NATIONAL BUSINESS INFORMATION EXCHANGE
C/O/ T.I.M.S
6226 4TH ST
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD 20732
November 8, 2002
Attention:
www.RipOffReport.com
www.badbusinessbureau.com
Re: David Condon Inc.
109 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 7
Middleburg, VA 20118
ATTENTION ALL TELESALES/DIRECT MARKETING ESTABLISHMENTS:
The above referenced posting online represents a significant new trend in the use of sly, deceptive tactics in order to discredit perfectly legitimate operations whereby sales transpire via the telephone. Such unsavory conduct is not only attributed to the inaccurate, unfounded information claimed, but also to use of "victimization" to stigmatize telesales companies as the perpetrator of an alleged injustice. We appreciate the structure of this website because as soon as a defamatory accusation is presented, the opportunity to object is offered immediately. Therefore, we will gladly set the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions.
National Business Information Exchange does not process orders without prior authorization. On 05/08/02 we corresponded with Britton Condon on two occasions regarding our periodical. A potential future customer is never forced or coerced into accepting our product or service. We clearly identified ourselves, stated pertinent product information, quoted its respective fee, & inquired about the necessity for a purchase order number. I don't think that means that we sell "free" products. Britton advised us to send the publication to her attention, and assured us that a PO # was not required. The second phone call is not from "another company", but rather from our administration to reconfirm all terms of the transaction. Here we have a key phenomenon: SELECTIVE ATTENTION, and believe me they love it. If the proof of order in the form of an audio file contains a verification of their address, suddenly that's the only thing that exists and all the other crucial details are mysteriously forgotten. The fact that the same recording, which we can provide to BadBusinessBureau.com, proves that we quoted a price, referenced other expenses associated with the order, asked if a purchase order number is needed, and most importantly, made sure that we had permission to send the shipment ends up becoming nullified in their consciousness.
The first time our Accounts Receivable Department had any contact with David Condon, the owner, was on May 31st. It is a profound mystery to me how an owner can perceive him/herself as a business person and at the same time loves uttering 4-letter obscenities without any restraint. Well, as bewildering as that may be, that was Mr. Condon. I wonder who the victim & the perpetrator are now? Isn't it interesting that the one doing the besieging claims to be the besieged? The most obvious sign of their shady plan was revealed on 07/17 when he notified us that he was having a great deal of "fun" with our invoice, and was ready to consult the Police. Furthermore, the major discovery was that we operate out of a "house". In other words, the millions of residential businesses across the country should be closed down because they operate in houses? Nothing could be more preposterous. Furthermore, what is referred to as our location is our shipping facility. Therefore, all facts should be understood before premature presumptions are expressed.
In conclusion, in order for this fraud to end, companies that sell by phone need to promote awareness, as I am doing now, that the phone is a medium for salesmanship as any other. If prospective customers refuse to do business over the phone, that will be fine. In such cases, simply say "no", and not "yes". You don't like giving authorization on the phone, don't. If you don't like what the Sales Agent is telling you, tell him/her to get lost. However, to appropriate services/orders, have a company incur expenses, and subsequently deny having approved the purchase is an unacceptable practice that ought to be stopped. I am relieved we are catalysts in bringing this exposure to the limelight.
Sincerely,
National Business Information Exchange Inc.
Vincent Thomas
Chesapeake Beach,Maryland,
setting the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions
#8UPDATE Employee
Thu, November 14, 2002
NATIONAL BUSINESS INFORMATION EXCHANGE
C/O/ T.I.M.S
6226 4TH ST
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD 20732
November 8, 2002
Attention:
www.RipOffReport.com
www.badbusinessbureau.com
Re: David Condon Inc.
109 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 7
Middleburg, VA 20118
ATTENTION ALL TELESALES/DIRECT MARKETING ESTABLISHMENTS:
The above referenced posting online represents a significant new trend in the use of sly, deceptive tactics in order to discredit perfectly legitimate operations whereby sales transpire via the telephone. Such unsavory conduct is not only attributed to the inaccurate, unfounded information claimed, but also to use of "victimization" to stigmatize telesales companies as the perpetrator of an alleged injustice. We appreciate the structure of this website because as soon as a defamatory accusation is presented, the opportunity to object is offered immediately. Therefore, we will gladly set the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions.
National Business Information Exchange does not process orders without prior authorization. On 05/08/02 we corresponded with Britton Condon on two occasions regarding our periodical. A potential future customer is never forced or coerced into accepting our product or service. We clearly identified ourselves, stated pertinent product information, quoted its respective fee, & inquired about the necessity for a purchase order number. I don't think that means that we sell "free" products. Britton advised us to send the publication to her attention, and assured us that a PO # was not required. The second phone call is not from "another company", but rather from our administration to reconfirm all terms of the transaction. Here we have a key phenomenon: SELECTIVE ATTENTION, and believe me they love it. If the proof of order in the form of an audio file contains a verification of their address, suddenly that's the only thing that exists and all the other crucial details are mysteriously forgotten. The fact that the same recording, which we can provide to BadBusinessBureau.com, proves that we quoted a price, referenced other expenses associated with the order, asked if a purchase order number is needed, and most importantly, made sure that we had permission to send the shipment ends up becoming nullified in their consciousness.
The first time our Accounts Receivable Department had any contact with David Condon, the owner, was on May 31st. It is a profound mystery to me how an owner can perceive him/herself as a business person and at the same time loves uttering 4-letter obscenities without any restraint. Well, as bewildering as that may be, that was Mr. Condon. I wonder who the victim & the perpetrator are now? Isn't it interesting that the one doing the besieging claims to be the besieged? The most obvious sign of their shady plan was revealed on 07/17 when he notified us that he was having a great deal of "fun" with our invoice, and was ready to consult the Police. Furthermore, the major discovery was that we operate out of a "house". In other words, the millions of residential businesses across the country should be closed down because they operate in houses? Nothing could be more preposterous. Furthermore, what is referred to as our location is our shipping facility. Therefore, all facts should be understood before premature presumptions are expressed.
In conclusion, in order for this fraud to end, companies that sell by phone need to promote awareness, as I am doing now, that the phone is a medium for salesmanship as any other. If prospective customers refuse to do business over the phone, that will be fine. In such cases, simply say "no", and not "yes". You don't like giving authorization on the phone, don't. If you don't like what the Sales Agent is telling you, tell him/her to get lost. However, to appropriate services/orders, have a company incur expenses, and subsequently deny having approved the purchase is an unacceptable practice that ought to be stopped. I am relieved we are catalysts in bringing this exposure to the limelight.
Sincerely,
National Business Information Exchange Inc.
Vincent Thomas
Chesapeake Beach,Maryland,
setting the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions
#8UPDATE Employee
Thu, November 14, 2002
NATIONAL BUSINESS INFORMATION EXCHANGE
C/O/ T.I.M.S
6226 4TH ST
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD 20732
November 8, 2002
Attention:
www.RipOffReport.com
www.badbusinessbureau.com
Re: David Condon Inc.
109 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 7
Middleburg, VA 20118
ATTENTION ALL TELESALES/DIRECT MARKETING ESTABLISHMENTS:
The above referenced posting online represents a significant new trend in the use of sly, deceptive tactics in order to discredit perfectly legitimate operations whereby sales transpire via the telephone. Such unsavory conduct is not only attributed to the inaccurate, unfounded information claimed, but also to use of "victimization" to stigmatize telesales companies as the perpetrator of an alleged injustice. We appreciate the structure of this website because as soon as a defamatory accusation is presented, the opportunity to object is offered immediately. Therefore, we will gladly set the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions.
National Business Information Exchange does not process orders without prior authorization. On 05/08/02 we corresponded with Britton Condon on two occasions regarding our periodical. A potential future customer is never forced or coerced into accepting our product or service. We clearly identified ourselves, stated pertinent product information, quoted its respective fee, & inquired about the necessity for a purchase order number. I don't think that means that we sell "free" products. Britton advised us to send the publication to her attention, and assured us that a PO # was not required. The second phone call is not from "another company", but rather from our administration to reconfirm all terms of the transaction. Here we have a key phenomenon: SELECTIVE ATTENTION, and believe me they love it. If the proof of order in the form of an audio file contains a verification of their address, suddenly that's the only thing that exists and all the other crucial details are mysteriously forgotten. The fact that the same recording, which we can provide to BadBusinessBureau.com, proves that we quoted a price, referenced other expenses associated with the order, asked if a purchase order number is needed, and most importantly, made sure that we had permission to send the shipment ends up becoming nullified in their consciousness.
The first time our Accounts Receivable Department had any contact with David Condon, the owner, was on May 31st. It is a profound mystery to me how an owner can perceive him/herself as a business person and at the same time loves uttering 4-letter obscenities without any restraint. Well, as bewildering as that may be, that was Mr. Condon. I wonder who the victim & the perpetrator are now? Isn't it interesting that the one doing the besieging claims to be the besieged? The most obvious sign of their shady plan was revealed on 07/17 when he notified us that he was having a great deal of "fun" with our invoice, and was ready to consult the Police. Furthermore, the major discovery was that we operate out of a "house". In other words, the millions of residential businesses across the country should be closed down because they operate in houses? Nothing could be more preposterous. Furthermore, what is referred to as our location is our shipping facility. Therefore, all facts should be understood before premature presumptions are expressed.
In conclusion, in order for this fraud to end, companies that sell by phone need to promote awareness, as I am doing now, that the phone is a medium for salesmanship as any other. If prospective customers refuse to do business over the phone, that will be fine. In such cases, simply say "no", and not "yes". You don't like giving authorization on the phone, don't. If you don't like what the Sales Agent is telling you, tell him/her to get lost. However, to appropriate services/orders, have a company incur expenses, and subsequently deny having approved the purchase is an unacceptable practice that ought to be stopped. I am relieved we are catalysts in bringing this exposure to the limelight.
Sincerely,
National Business Information Exchange Inc.
Vincent Thomas
Chesapeake Beach,Maryland,
setting the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions
#8UPDATE Employee
Thu, November 14, 2002
NATIONAL BUSINESS INFORMATION EXCHANGE
C/O/ T.I.M.S
6226 4TH ST
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD 20732
November 8, 2002
Attention:
www.RipOffReport.com
www.badbusinessbureau.com
Re: David Condon Inc.
109 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 7
Middleburg, VA 20118
ATTENTION ALL TELESALES/DIRECT MARKETING ESTABLISHMENTS:
The above referenced posting online represents a significant new trend in the use of sly, deceptive tactics in order to discredit perfectly legitimate operations whereby sales transpire via the telephone. Such unsavory conduct is not only attributed to the inaccurate, unfounded information claimed, but also to use of "victimization" to stigmatize telesales companies as the perpetrator of an alleged injustice. We appreciate the structure of this website because as soon as a defamatory accusation is presented, the opportunity to object is offered immediately. Therefore, we will gladly set the record straight to prevent further distortions & falsified assertions.
National Business Information Exchange does not process orders without prior authorization. On 05/08/02 we corresponded with Britton Condon on two occasions regarding our periodical. A potential future customer is never forced or coerced into accepting our product or service. We clearly identified ourselves, stated pertinent product information, quoted its respective fee, & inquired about the necessity for a purchase order number. I don't think that means that we sell "free" products. Britton advised us to send the publication to her attention, and assured us that a PO # was not required. The second phone call is not from "another company", but rather from our administration to reconfirm all terms of the transaction. Here we have a key phenomenon: SELECTIVE ATTENTION, and believe me they love it. If the proof of order in the form of an audio file contains a verification of their address, suddenly that's the only thing that exists and all the other crucial details are mysteriously forgotten. The fact that the same recording, which we can provide to BadBusinessBureau.com, proves that we quoted a price, referenced other expenses associated with the order, asked if a purchase order number is needed, and most importantly, made sure that we had permission to send the shipment ends up becoming nullified in their consciousness.
The first time our Accounts Receivable Department had any contact with David Condon, the owner, was on May 31st. It is a profound mystery to me how an owner can perceive him/herself as a business person and at the same time loves uttering 4-letter obscenities without any restraint. Well, as bewildering as that may be, that was Mr. Condon. I wonder who the victim & the perpetrator are now? Isn't it interesting that the one doing the besieging claims to be the besieged? The most obvious sign of their shady plan was revealed on 07/17 when he notified us that he was having a great deal of "fun" with our invoice, and was ready to consult the Police. Furthermore, the major discovery was that we operate out of a "house". In other words, the millions of residential businesses across the country should be closed down because they operate in houses? Nothing could be more preposterous. Furthermore, what is referred to as our location is our shipping facility. Therefore, all facts should be understood before premature presumptions are expressed.
In conclusion, in order for this fraud to end, companies that sell by phone need to promote awareness, as I am doing now, that the phone is a medium for salesmanship as any other. If prospective customers refuse to do business over the phone, that will be fine. In such cases, simply say "no", and not "yes". You don't like giving authorization on the phone, don't. If you don't like what the Sales Agent is telling you, tell him/her to get lost. However, to appropriate services/orders, have a company incur expenses, and subsequently deny having approved the purchase is an unacceptable practice that ought to be stopped. I am relieved we are catalysts in bringing this exposure to the limelight.
Sincerely,
National Business Information Exchange Inc.