- Report: #377804
Complaint Review: United Metro Directories Inc - Pin Point Marketing - Metro Directories - Peoria Illinois
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United Metro Directories Inc - Pin Point Marketing - Metro Directories
3521 N California St Peoria, 61603 Illinois, U.S.A.
Phone:
877-6870758
Web:
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United Metro Directories Inc, Pin Point Marketing, Metro Directories, Toscha Wood (owner), Jennifer Brian, Matt Simmons Huge Nationwide Scam Ripping Off Small Business Owners Selling High School Ads Peoria Illinois
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Yeah, I was afraid of that.
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Yeah, I was afraid of that.
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Yeah, I was afraid of that.
*UPDATE Employee: The unhappy customer
*UPDATE Employee: The unhappy customer
*UPDATE Employee: The unhappy customer
*UPDATE Employee: The unhappy customer
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Not as they appear
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Not as they appear
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Not as they appear
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Not as they appear
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Not as they appear
*UPDATE Employee: ask me anything
*Consumer Comment: Matt & Toscha Simmons Arrested
Last October 2007 I received a phone call from Pin Point Marketing; aka, Metro Directories, aka United Metro Directories. The sales rep was selling ad space to be placed in three local high school sports schedules.
The cost was $200.00 for a 3" x 10" banner ad to be placed inside a 11" x 17" sports schedule. The sales rep said my ad will be placed in three independant local high school sports schedules to be released in the Spring of 2008. I was also told that Pin Point Marketing ships 5000 sports schedules to local businesses and public schools for distribution. The sale rep further explained that each school distributes these schedules at every game, and businesses posts them in their establishments. I purchased one banner ad for the Spring and one ad for the Fall schedule, a $400.00 investment.
The result has been an endless and frustrating game of cat and mouse. I have spoke to several representatives of the company in question, including Jennifer Brian, Matt Simons, and Shane (last name unknown). Since last February 2008 I have requested copies of the schedules be mailed on numerous occasions for my own marketing and distribution purposes only to be told by Jennifer time after time that they are in the mail. My original order was made on 10/22/07. To date yet to receive a physical copy of these posters nor have I ever seen such a poster in town or handed out at a high school game.
I have determined that Jennifer and her associates are nothing more than lying petty thieves that steal money from hard working small business owners. The proof is beginning to pour in.
I have learned that based on Better Business Bureau (BBB) files, this company has an unsatisfactory record due to failure to respond over complaints such as sales practice issues, delivery, product and refund/exchange issues among others. The BBB processed a total of 25 complaints about this company in the last 36 months. I wonder how many other small business owners who were cheated thought about doing something but didn't?
The Tomball Magnolia Tribune reported that The Tomball Independent School District and Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce warned local businesses that Pinpoint Marketing was contacting local business and asking them to buy advertising on athletic schedules. The company was claiming to be affiliated with Tomball High School when they were not. After I read this article I notified the Bellingham School District. They will be posting a warning out to our local business community in the days ahead.
It is evident that this company is a fraud to put it simply. Today, before I began writing this statement or whatever you want to call, I received a phone call from Samantha, one of Pin Points sales reps. Apparently Pin Point Marketing doesn't realize that I'm on to their scam.
I asked Samantha if she would email me a pdf of the 2008 Spring and Fall sports schedules before I decide to purchase anymore ad space. I was astonished to find an email a few minutes later from Pin Point Marketing. It was the Fall 2008 schedule!
Excited I opened that attachment only to find my suspicions were right. My schedule is completely bogus. United Metro Distributions or Pin Point Marketing or whoever they really are inserted unknown names of schools and inaccurate dates/times of games in the schedule. It's not real. And the 11 x 17 poster design is absolutely amateur. Maybe I should be thankful that this poster isn't being viewed by my local community folk.
Karma where are you? Find these people and make them pay for their disgusting lives. I have much work ahead to expose these people for who they are. Fellow readers it's time to act. If you've been scamed do something about it. Write to the BBB and your state attorney's office.
Damian
Bellingham, Washington
U.S.A.
The cost was $200.00 for a 3" x 10" banner ad to be placed inside a 11" x 17" sports schedule. The sales rep said my ad will be placed in three independant local high school sports schedules to be released in the Spring of 2008. I was also told that Pin Point Marketing ships 5000 sports schedules to local businesses and public schools for distribution. The sale rep further explained that each school distributes these schedules at every game, and businesses posts them in their establishments. I purchased one banner ad for the Spring and one ad for the Fall schedule, a $400.00 investment.
The result has been an endless and frustrating game of cat and mouse. I have spoke to several representatives of the company in question, including Jennifer Brian, Matt Simons, and Shane (last name unknown). Since last February 2008 I have requested copies of the schedules be mailed on numerous occasions for my own marketing and distribution purposes only to be told by Jennifer time after time that they are in the mail. My original order was made on 10/22/07. To date yet to receive a physical copy of these posters nor have I ever seen such a poster in town or handed out at a high school game.
I have determined that Jennifer and her associates are nothing more than lying petty thieves that steal money from hard working small business owners. The proof is beginning to pour in.
I have learned that based on Better Business Bureau (BBB) files, this company has an unsatisfactory record due to failure to respond over complaints such as sales practice issues, delivery, product and refund/exchange issues among others. The BBB processed a total of 25 complaints about this company in the last 36 months. I wonder how many other small business owners who were cheated thought about doing something but didn't?
The Tomball Magnolia Tribune reported that The Tomball Independent School District and Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce warned local businesses that Pinpoint Marketing was contacting local business and asking them to buy advertising on athletic schedules. The company was claiming to be affiliated with Tomball High School when they were not. After I read this article I notified the Bellingham School District. They will be posting a warning out to our local business community in the days ahead.
It is evident that this company is a fraud to put it simply. Today, before I began writing this statement or whatever you want to call, I received a phone call from Samantha, one of Pin Points sales reps. Apparently Pin Point Marketing doesn't realize that I'm on to their scam.
I asked Samantha if she would email me a pdf of the 2008 Spring and Fall sports schedules before I decide to purchase anymore ad space. I was astonished to find an email a few minutes later from Pin Point Marketing. It was the Fall 2008 schedule!
Excited I opened that attachment only to find my suspicions were right. My schedule is completely bogus. United Metro Distributions or Pin Point Marketing or whoever they really are inserted unknown names of schools and inaccurate dates/times of games in the schedule. It's not real. And the 11 x 17 poster design is absolutely amateur. Maybe I should be thankful that this poster isn't being viewed by my local community folk.
Karma where are you? Find these people and make them pay for their disgusting lives. I have much work ahead to expose these people for who they are. Fellow readers it's time to act. If you've been scamed do something about it. Write to the BBB and your state attorney's office.
Damian
Bellingham, Washington
U.S.A.
14 Updates & Rebuttals
Officer Jeff Wilson
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Matt & Toscha Simmons Arrested
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, February 23, 2009
Matt & Toscha Simmons, owners of Pin Point Marketing have been arrested! They are currently sitting in the Peoria County Illinois Jail. Bond was set at 1.25 million for the two of them. Matt needs 750 Thousand, Toscha needs 500 Thousand. 10 % applies, which means they need 125 Thousand to bond out. If you are a victim of their scam, please contact myself or the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office. They have an Investigator assigned to this case full time. All their files from the Peoria, IL office were seized in a search warrant we conducted on their business and home last Thursday, Feb 19th, 2009. Don't wait for someone to call you if you were a victim! We know they operate the same business out of two other Illinois cities. Their employees have promised to raise the bond money necessary to get them out of jail. This could mean credit cards on file within the other two businesses not raided being charged a second or third to raise this cash. If you did business with these thieves, cancel your credit card emmediately!
Payme Pleese
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
ask me anything
#3UPDATE Employee
Sun, November 30, 2008
i am a current employee of this company and know all about the scams and lies that go on. now you cant always blame the sales rep because that is what they are hired to do. now they dont give you your product or even produce them only the lucky ones even get a proof. and really dont try to cancel because all they will do is try to hurry up and produce the product so that they dont have to refund you. they do work all over the usa and even alaska and hawaii. they always call repeat buisness first so if you have done buisness with them before expect a call they also have offices in moline galsburg and peoria il. dont do buisness with them and let me know about any lawsuit i have great knowledge of inside info
Mike
Galesburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not as they appear
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 20, 2008
I worked for this company for a few short days.When I realized that it was a shady operation.Their goal is not in favor of others but in themselves.Training is slip in slick as possible get credit card # and amount for ad and thats it.Both bbb and il.atty general have piles of complaints.
Mike
Galesburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not as they appear
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 20, 2008
I worked for this company for a few short days.When I realized that it was a shady operation.Their goal is not in favor of others but in themselves.Training is slip in slick as possible get credit card # and amount for ad and thats it.Both bbb and il.atty general have piles of complaints.
Mike
Galesburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not as they appear
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 20, 2008
I worked for this company for a few short days.When I realized that it was a shady operation.Their goal is not in favor of others but in themselves.Training is slip in slick as possible get credit card # and amount for ad and thats it.Both bbb and il.atty general have piles of complaints.
Mike
Galesburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not as they appear
#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 20, 2008
I worked for this company for a few short days.When I realized that it was a shady operation.Their goal is not in favor of others but in themselves.Training is slip in slick as possible get credit card # and amount for ad and thats it.Both bbb and il.atty general have piles of complaints.
Mike
Galesburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not as they appear
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 20, 2008
I worked for this company for a few short days.When I realized that it was a shady operation.Their goal is not in favor of others but in themselves.Training is slip in slick as possible get credit card # and amount for ad and thats it.Both bbb and il.atty general have piles of complaints.
Jeniffer
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
The unhappy customer
#9UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 30, 2008
In regards to Damian's complaint,we have went above & beyond every effort to try & please Mr.Provalenko on several occasions,without any success.We have sent him several posters at his request,after the fact he received them he then tried on several occasions to get a refund, has even went as far as to dispute it with his credit card.Damian has even went as far as to call our business after hours & leave messages being very billigerant. The only thing I can say is that I am sorry that Damian feels he has been scammed but we have tried on more than one occasion to meet his expectations. He has made several threats to employees here which as a company we will never tolerate
Jeniffer
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
The unhappy customer
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 30, 2008
In regards to Damian's complaint,we have went above & beyond every effort to try & please Mr.Provalenko on several occasions,without any success.We have sent him several posters at his request,after the fact he received them he then tried on several occasions to get a refund, has even went as far as to dispute it with his credit card.Damian has even went as far as to call our business after hours & leave messages being very billigerant. The only thing I can say is that I am sorry that Damian feels he has been scammed but we have tried on more than one occasion to meet his expectations. He has made several threats to employees here which as a company we will never tolerate
Jeniffer
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
The unhappy customer
#11UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 30, 2008
In regards to Damian's complaint,we have went above & beyond every effort to try & please Mr.Provalenko on several occasions,without any success.We have sent him several posters at his request,after the fact he received them he then tried on several occasions to get a refund, has even went as far as to dispute it with his credit card.Damian has even went as far as to call our business after hours & leave messages being very billigerant. The only thing I can say is that I am sorry that Damian feels he has been scammed but we have tried on more than one occasion to meet his expectations. He has made several threats to employees here which as a company we will never tolerate
Jeniffer
Peoria,Illinois,
U.S.A.
The unhappy customer
#12UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 30, 2008
In regards to Damian's complaint,we have went above & beyond every effort to try & please Mr.Provalenko on several occasions,without any success.We have sent him several posters at his request,after the fact he received them he then tried on several occasions to get a refund, has even went as far as to dispute it with his credit card.Damian has even went as far as to call our business after hours & leave messages being very billigerant. The only thing I can say is that I am sorry that Damian feels he has been scammed but we have tried on more than one occasion to meet his expectations. He has made several threats to employees here which as a company we will never tolerate
Mike
Monmouth,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Yeah, I was afraid of that.
#13UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 09, 2008
Everyone rather employee or customer is getting taken by these crooks.I have alot of info on them.Let me know if I can help.
Mike
Monmouth,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Yeah, I was afraid of that.
#14UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 09, 2008
Everyone rather employee or customer is getting taken by these crooks.I have alot of info on them.Let me know if I can help.
Mike
Monmouth,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Yeah, I was afraid of that.
#15UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 09, 2008
Everyone rather employee or customer is getting taken by these crooks.I have alot of info on them.Let me know if I can help.
