My girlfriend worked at Infotel Directories for the UK (The British Business Directory), I'm glad she's finally out. She felt bad about the deceiving nature of the job but the ad in the newspaper asked for office work and paid well. She asked me to post a general comment because these guys (The Franks) are ruthless and might recognize her comment. Sean Frank is the only Frank she ever saw.
The Franks run the same scam for the US (The Directory of American Business)
They already sued one girl for commenting to the CBC. Here in St. John's Newfoundland, there is no work since the fishing moratorium on the Grand Banks. This is her story. I worked at Infotel Directories now named Vericom at 152 Water Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
I did not know it was a scam until later on. Industry Canada raided the office in 2004. The job was stressful after this raid and in 2005 two people were sent from Montreal to tell us what to change to avoid complaints. Infotel dropped the name Directories on the old invoices and changed the name to Vericom on the new invoices. The business is a Big Scam.
The script used by Sales for the UK is I'm calling to update your free listing in the British Business Directory. The listing is Free, the directory costs the 189.95 pounds but they are not told that. I did Sales and Ver. Ver is calling the business after the sales scams a prospective buyer. The Ver people use the script Hello so and so, this is so and so calling from the distribution department of Infotel Directories, you had spoken to so and so about your listing in the British Business directory, just calling to get your details and give you the approximate shipping date before we send out the directory. The directory is going to so and so etc. (The Name, Address Tel. & Fax #'s, e-mail and Websites are rechecked).
In the script the price is mentioned as one eighty nine ninety five (no hundred or pounds is mentioned). Also, the prospective buyer is asked if he or she is authorized to make the purchase. The call was taped and sent to Montreal but now St. John's keeps them and does collecting under the new name Vericom. We call Montreal if we have a problem. The business sells 1200+ directories 3-4 times a year. (Thanks to a friend for this info).
Often the business name is not listed or incorrect telephone numbers etc. Mistakes are common in the directory. The directory is the size of a standard phone book, one half white one half yellow. The white section is an index of the yellow section which has tiny three line listings. The key person there was Fat Pat (Pat Robinson) as she was called; she left for Infotel Publications in Montreal.
Both InfotelUK & VericomUK websites still exist because InfotelUK still collects from Montreal. The sites are identical except for the name. The three sites below are all for Infotel United Kingdom. (Thanks to a friend for this info). infoteluk.com vericomuk.com mediacorpuk.com/
What do you do? Hang up & don't pay. You will keep receiving invoices, ignore them, they can't do anything. When they keep calling & faxing contact Trading Standards, The Office of Fair Trade, (OFT 08457 22 44 99
[email protected]), The Federation of Small Business and most important the Canadian Competition Bureau
If you are in the USA, Contact:
The Federal Trade Commission or your Local Attorney General and the BBB.
Here's some web links to stories about Infotel/Vericom by the CBC News in Newfoundland.
Former Employee
Cote Saint Luc, Quebec
Canada
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