The telesales practices of Progressive Business Publications — a.k.a. American Future Systems, Inc., Progressive Gifts & Incentives and other alternate names — and the collections efforts of its associated collection agency International Credit Recovery, a.k.a. “ICR” (Vestal, NY) are well-documented online (see ripoffreport.com and many other Web sites). But following is other information consumers might want to know.
Both Progressive Business Publications and International Credit Recovery (ICR) have “unsatisfactory” ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) “due to a pattern of customer complaints.” (Neither company is a BBB accredited business.) In the last 36 months, the BBB has received 488 complaints about Progressive Business Publications, almost all related to “selling practices” or “billing disputes.” Most commonly, customers allege billing for unordered newsletter subscriptions; alternatively, customers complain that requests to cancel subscriptions are not honored. Either way, their accounts are sent to a collections agency — International Credit Recovery, or ICR.
For its part, ICR has had 105 complaints in the last 36 months, almost all concerning credit or billing disputes, service issues or selling practices. More specifically, consumers report that ICR attempts to collect money for subscriptions to Progressive Business Publications. Consumers claim they do not owe money because they did not order any publications and/or did not receive the newsletters. Other consumers claim that they cancelled their subscriptions after they received free trial issues. The company has responded to complaints by stating, in most cases, that they will cease collection efforts. (Notably, ICR “prefers” that supposed debtors pay by credit card and typically claims it will put payee's on Progressive Business Publication’s no call list). Based on the above it would seem foolish to provide ICR (or Progressive) with any personal information, much less a credit card number.
It’s worth noting that ICR is NOT a member of the American Collector’s Association, and that a collection agency with the same name (one based in Fresno, California) has a huge disclaimer on its home page reading: “WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RECOVERY OF NEW YORK.” Take from that what you will. (International Credit Recovery of Vestal, New York, does not appear to have any Web presence.) Also, per the New York State Division of Corporations, International Credit Recovery (ICR) of Vestal, New York is an “Inactive” company, having been “dissolved” in 2004 for failure to pay franchise taxes.
Needless to say, it seems advisable for anyone with a complaint about either of these companies to file it with your local BBB and contact your state attorney general (AG). At least one AG (Missouri) has already sued Progressive Business Publications on behalf of consumers.
FYI: Following is a list of Progressive Business Publications’ subscription newsletters (per its own Web site): CFO & Controller Alert; Keep Up to Date on Payroll; Keep Up to Date on Accounts Payable; What's Working in Credit & Collection; Information Technology Adviser; Administrative Professional Update; Inventory Manager's Update; Communication Bulletin for Managers & Supervisors; Good Stuff; The Selling Advantage; What's Working in Sales Management; The Marketing Report; Internet Marketing Report; Customer Service Advantage; Safety Compliance Alert; Supervisors Safety Bulletin; Injury Prevention & Cost Control Alert; Environmental Compliance Alert; Facility Manager's Alert; Quality Manager's Alert; What's Working in Human Resources; What's New in Benefits & Compensation; Supervisors Legal Update; Keep Up to Date on Pediatric Coding & Reimbursement; Keep Up to Date on Internal Medicine Coding & Reimbursement; Keep Up to Date on Family Medicine Coding & Reimbursement; Nonprofit Board Report; Foundation & Corporate Funding Advantage.
In regards to both Progressive Business Publications and International Credit Recovery: Caveat emptor; let the buyer beware.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
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10 comments:
Despite their unsatisfactory rating at the BBB, they continue to draw customers, rip them off, and nothing gets done. I met one woman who has tried for months to get this off her credit card, but it keeps coming back. I suggest joining the troops at www.ripoffreport.com rather than the BBB. Nothing happens at the BBB, just an unsatisfactory rating, but no real progress. Maybe if enough people report them at ripoff report, something will finally get done. You say to file with the BBB and AG, but I'm far more likely to believe ripoff report will accomplish something than the BBB, and the AGs already visit ror regularly looking for scams.
Hello. Commenting on the issue of Business Complaints which you are discussing here I would like to say that these do work. The thing is that you have to know how to correctly compose and post them. On the Internet you can find numerous tips and samples. On of the best sources for that is www.pissedconsumer.com. It is a very informative site in terms of claims and complaints.
I'm currently in a dispute with these jokers. The facts are the the person that they claim to have gotten the subscription from no longer works here AND no reports or publications were ever sent here (of that I'm sure because I screen all mail).
I've gotten 2 calls from a chipper and 'concerned' young lady with the collections agency and she is 'giving us one last opportunity to pay before this gets on our credit report'...
Looks like we are in for a bumpy ride and people get screwed because no one puts a stop to this sort of felonious behavior.
I have subscribed to their publications and find them very informative, and have had no problems with them. I find the staff very helpful. The information they provide saves me money
The person who said they find their publications useful and staff friendly is a total moron and obviously an employee
The IT Director at my company subscribes to one of their publcations also, and says it's excellent. Another person here got one of their finance newsletters at one point, and said it was "okay." He cancelled it, and didn't seem to have any problems doing so.
Hi. I am a manager at a nonprofit and had a hardworking, underpaid staffer come to me very apologetically, saying that she's been getting harassed about paying for a PBP publication that she knew nothing about; she was offering to scrape together $299 out of her own pocket to make sure it didn't impact the organization!
She can't afford that, and neither can our small member-funded organization afford to pay for a PBP publication that we never wanted, ordered or received. (They didn't even have the staff person's correct name, and we never received even one issue of a publication.)
We've been getting harassed by their credit collection agency, who I finally told not to contact us anymore, and we are reporting it to all the authorities we can think of. I'm hoping that someone is working to put a stop to this company's very unscrupulous practices!
PBP contacted a staff at the company I work for and told her of the publications and when she stated that she had no authority to authorize such things, they asked for the company address, which she gave them. The Administrator proceeded to call them after we recieved a bill and they were extrememly rude to her and told her that they wouldnt speak to her because her name wasnt on thier list and they must have cancellation in writing on letterhead. Well, I am writing it now and we will see where that gets us.....
Please beware of a pattern I am noticing - these companies seem to be specifically targeting what they believe or know to be small non-profits.
We are not a small non-profit, but they thought we were because we are a dba for a larger company.
I am currently attempting to find out how these companies are being allowed to continue these abusive scams.
Having been a summer intern at PBP, I know how they work the telemarketing operation (as to what happens after that, I do not know). When businesses are solicited for a free trial, there are certain things that must be said for an order of the free trial to be confirmed. We had to verbally confirm the company name, address, their name, and position. Also, we needed anything but a negative response when we ask if they think that after the trial issues that it can be budgeted. The invoice section also MUST be covered: "You will receive your 1st issue in about 3 weeks and your second 2 weeks later. After the second issue, we will enclose an invoice. The cost is only (applicable amount) for 23 issues but if you don't find it beneficial, just write cancel on the invoice and there is no cost at all." Then finally to confirm you spoke to that individual you ask the month and day of their birth. ALL OF THESE ARE RECORDED.
As I said, I DO NOT know what happens after this, but I assure you that all the orders I had ever taken were legitimate.
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