Complaint Review: Ypedia - Internet

We are a US distributor and recently opened our first brick and mortar store.  We had a long list of things to do for the opening of the store, talking to the local press, joining the local business organization, etc.  It seemed ideal when "Yellow Pages Online Services" contacted us with a form that read: THIS IS NOT A BILL and stated "Verify Your Local Listing Information Below."  We sent back our information and were glad that that was taken care of.  A month later we received a bill from Yellow Pages Online Services, for $361.00 which includes a $32.90 late fee (we didn't even receive a first bill).  We were SHOCKED to receive a bill for a service that appeared to be free advertising.  On the bill there was a fake Yellow Pages Logo, it looks just like the yellow pages logo but is missing one line off the left side of the logo - Yellow Pages logo in a hand and this bill had a hand missing a thumb.

I called "Yellow Pages Online Services" on Friday 8/1 and once I provided my "account number" was transferred to a voicemail.  This happened twice before I asked the operator to just speak to me because there was a misunderstanding.  They stated that they weren't able to help me and I needed to speak to the appropriate representative.  

Finally after a few more phone calls I got through to a person whose name was Louis.  He stated that the only thing he could do for me was wave the late fee and then cancel the second half of my subscription. (What subscription?)  He informed me that in verifying my information I signed up for 12 months of an online listing - $329.00 for 6 months. 

I gave it a rest and called back today, Monday, 8/4.  Today when I called the number there was no operator and after the phone rang a few times I was placed in a waiting que for 7 minutes.  Each 30 seconds of my wait the recording stated, "Your estimated wait time is less than one minute!".  Finally the phone rang (after 7 minutes) and then went to voicemail.

I called back immediately and went through the same routine.  To my surprise, a human answered the phone after approximately 7 minutes.  I went through the whole story of what happened and got nowhere.  He continued to mention that I needed to talk to Louis because he was a supervisor and he would be back in 15 minutes.  While on the phone, I looked up this "listing" that costs $329.00 and found that is wasn't accurate...I let him know that the service he was attempting to provide and scam us with wasnt even listed with the verified information we provided.  He asked me what site I was on, I was on yellowpages.com.  He then told me that actually I was on the incorrect site!  The site that we are "paying" to be on is ypedia.com.  What is ypedia.com?  The original "Verify your address request" said nothing of "ypedia.com".  He then informed me that there are over 1,400 yellow page companies that solicit new businesses.

This is a total and complete scam and it really saddens me that this type of thing happens in the business world this day and age.  I have not yet called Louis back but will try to get through again.

Watch out for any mailings or "Veryify your address requests" from any Yellow Pages Online Services and do not fax back your information.  Unfortunately what we thought was legit was a TOTAL SCAM.