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dlb
Guest
I own a small biz in Indiana....this has to do with advertising in a telephone directory for universities. History....have advertised with this directory for years(University Directories, a telephone book with "yellow pages" that deals with universities in the United states.)and have had no problems. Also advertise in the local telephone book yellow pages.....gave picture of my biz to local yellow page to use in advertisement...local yellow pages (Ameritech) copied and used in advertisement, great ad.
1. Year 1999-2000...local sales rep shows up from UD to advertise again...I said my Ameritech ad was so successful, would like to do the same in UD. I went to get the original pic, sales rep, said don't need it, we will copy from local yellow page. Charge $650.00 a year. Gave $158.00 (approx) for deposit.
2. UD was sent to me(do not remember getting proof) and the picture of my ad was sooooo bad you could not even see my front door of the biz. I refused to pay the balance ($492 approx).
3. After several phone calls, spoke to person at UD, told him how upset I was, the ad was not worth $650.00....he agreed that original sales rep should have taken original pic and it should have not been copied....I told him atleast you could see my phone number...I would pay 50%..because atleast 50% of my ad would be seen...he said he would check and call me back....he called me back and said yes we accept your 50%.....but he wanted 50% of balance, not 50% of total cost!!!!Remember I had all ready given them a deposit. He refused and said he could not accept my offer..I refused also
4. months went by.....nothing heard.....collection agency starts calling...I refused, I tried to offer, they refused.....
5. New sales rep walks in in July for 2000,2001 directory.....I stated, why are you here, you must not know what is going on.....He had no idea,,,,explained to him what happened, that no one wanted to talk to me, that this company had lousy customer service.....he said he would see what he could do for me....contacted me a couple of days later....talked to his sales manager.....the sales manager and sales rep said how sorry they were (this is repeated from sales rep, did not meet manager)....that they were very very sorry......it should have not happened.....the rep said the company had wrote everything off and that I did not owe them anything....I could not believe after a year, that this was taken care of....they offered me a deal for the next year because of the mess up, I resigned up again....gave him a deposit once again.
6. three months later I get another phone call from collection agency.....it was still in collections......call the main office, talk to manager......I was told "didn't you read your contract, sales reps have no power to give discounts"!!!!!!! also was told, that there must have been some mis communication. I said now why would I sign up again, and wirte another check if I was sooooooooo unhappy......First, you do a terrible job, take advantage of the customer,,,,and now your people are liars....Collection agency is calling again.....
What right do I have as a business owner when I am unhappy with a service? Can I go to small claims court? Someone told me I could not go to small claims court because no monies are due......what recourse do I have? thank you for any info..........db
1. Year 1999-2000...local sales rep shows up from UD to advertise again...I said my Ameritech ad was so successful, would like to do the same in UD. I went to get the original pic, sales rep, said don't need it, we will copy from local yellow page. Charge $650.00 a year. Gave $158.00 (approx) for deposit.
2. UD was sent to me(do not remember getting proof) and the picture of my ad was sooooo bad you could not even see my front door of the biz. I refused to pay the balance ($492 approx).
3. After several phone calls, spoke to person at UD, told him how upset I was, the ad was not worth $650.00....he agreed that original sales rep should have taken original pic and it should have not been copied....I told him atleast you could see my phone number...I would pay 50%..because atleast 50% of my ad would be seen...he said he would check and call me back....he called me back and said yes we accept your 50%.....but he wanted 50% of balance, not 50% of total cost!!!!Remember I had all ready given them a deposit. He refused and said he could not accept my offer..I refused also
4. months went by.....nothing heard.....collection agency starts calling...I refused, I tried to offer, they refused.....
5. New sales rep walks in in July for 2000,2001 directory.....I stated, why are you here, you must not know what is going on.....He had no idea,,,,explained to him what happened, that no one wanted to talk to me, that this company had lousy customer service.....he said he would see what he could do for me....contacted me a couple of days later....talked to his sales manager.....the sales manager and sales rep said how sorry they were (this is repeated from sales rep, did not meet manager)....that they were very very sorry......it should have not happened.....the rep said the company had wrote everything off and that I did not owe them anything....I could not believe after a year, that this was taken care of....they offered me a deal for the next year because of the mess up, I resigned up again....gave him a deposit once again.
6. three months later I get another phone call from collection agency.....it was still in collections......call the main office, talk to manager......I was told "didn't you read your contract, sales reps have no power to give discounts"!!!!!!! also was told, that there must have been some mis communication. I said now why would I sign up again, and wirte another check if I was sooooooooo unhappy......First, you do a terrible job, take advantage of the customer,,,,and now your people are liars....Collection agency is calling again.....
What right do I have as a business owner when I am unhappy with a service? Can I go to small claims court? Someone told me I could not go to small claims court because no monies are due......what recourse do I have? thank you for any info..........db