Victim Location 91710
Type of a scam Other
Progressive states they receive authorization to send trial newsletters and then send an invoice demanding payment saying the trial period is over. I never – ever – accept any phone offers because my company does not have a budget for such expense outside of corporate. We have strict rules for approval of purchases. When I received an invoice noting that my trial period was over, even though I did not receive any materials at all, I mailed it back with a note to cancel. Many months go by, I have not received any newsletters nor any more invoices and I get a call from their collection agency that says they have been sending me invoices that are now in collection!
International Credit," 607-748-4686 – is the collection agency. I explained to the rep that I never authorized the purchase nor received the materials. The rep was so rude and told me that my company would now need to pay for something I authorized and was receiving according to her records. She then proceeded to tell me that I had been receiving the materials because she had records of this. I thought I could explain what actually happened to this woman and politely asked to please cancel whatever service was under my name and to send me the invoices that had been sent to me via email so I can review. She replied that I had to pay now with a credit card. Then she said that invoicing had been sent to me and my accounts payable office and that she needed my credit card for payment. At this point, I realized this woman was ruthless and was actually trying to intimidate me into giving her my credit card number and had no concern to hear my side of the story nor to understand my problem. I ended up the conversation asking her to please email me the invoices and I would call Progressive to request records of these charges before I would ever pay anything. She hung up on me.
Victim Location 27502
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
This company had billed us for $299 for a newsletter service we never ordered. This has been going on for more than a year. This is something every company should watch out for.
Victim Location 20190
Type of a scam Yellow Pages/Directories
An employee received a phone call from Progress Business Publications and after a number of questions and his answer of "no" – they asked if they could send their newsletter (which he assumed was free) and he said "yes" – Next thing we know we receive an invoice in the amount of $299.00. We will not pay and sent an email to customer service and told them "no."
Victim Location 75243
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
Progressive Business Publications contacted me (HR Manager) telling me about their newsletter. I was not interested. They called multiple times until I finally agreed accept a trial that was free. She never told me a price nor that she was locking me in for a year if I didn’t call back to cancel. They ask your name/title/birth date. I did receive a few newsletters and wasn’t interested. They became junk mail. They now have sent me a bill for $299.00 and are threatening to send to collections if not paid immediately. I have not received one phone call since I was suckered into this whole thing. Any legitimate business would at least reach out with a call before threatening collections.
Victim Location 02453
Type of a scam Other
This business initially contacted the business via phone. I’m assuming by LinkedIn. I’ve been receiving numerous scam phone calls. They tell you that they can send you a magazine publication "risk free". They don’t take any personal information besides your email and birthday (no year was given). No magazine or issues have arrived (yet).
Victim Location 77054
Total money lost $240
Type of a scam Other
As a certified Medical billing and coder, I receive sales calls for publications all the time and turn them all down because they are so rudimentary and basic in their articles, they are of no use after being in my position for over 21 years. Somehow they got my birthdate which they said confirmed my order, and the first I heard from them was a collection agency demanding money.
Victim Location 94501
Type of a scam Phishing
I was contacted by this business and asked if I would like to receive a risk free publication. I asked specifically if I would be charged anything and they said "no". I have received a past due invoice for $249. I recall the phone conversation clearly where I asked if this were a situation in which I would need to cancel anything in order to not be a subscriber and they confirmed that no I would not need to take any action.
Victim Location 89104
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
I have sent a letter to this company to demand cancellation of account and billing. This company contacted me by phone and offered a onetime sample of a news letter and said they would call me the following month to see if I was interested in using their services. I never received a phone call, but received an invoice for account set up and monthly news letters. All services were unauthorzed.
Victim Location 76107
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
This company begins by sending invoices, followed soon by a telemarketing call purporting to subscribe you to newsletters for businesses. No degree of decline is accepted by the telemarketer. Shortly thereafter the invoices continue to be mailed with the same annual subscription fee. Even after several times contacting this marketer to decline any of their literature, the invoices continue, and begin to threaten collection processing. I am filing this complaint with my final email to this scam marketer.
Victim Location 45356
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
Our Plant Manager received a phone call from Progressive Business Publications on 11/10/16 wanting him to purchase a subscription to a newsletter. He told them he was not interested. We received an invoice in the mail from Progressive, yet never received a confirmation of the order nor have we received the product. On 06/13/17, an individual from International Credit Recovery contacted our office in regards to a past due account that was placed for collections. When asked, this individual would not state the name of the company she was collecting for or the dollar amount; figured this information out on our own. I told her that I would not proceed further with the phone call if she did not provide this information. She became aggressive at this point and had the nerve to tell me to calm down. She kept on asking questions in regards to our business and I told her I was not continuing the conversation with her and hung up the phone. She called back again from a different number. I called the number back and told the individual who answered the phone where I was calling from and that I did not want to talk to the same individual I just spoke with. I was transferred to the same lady and she demanded that she talk to the Controller. Told her the Controller would not talk to her and that I was the one she needed to speak with. She refused to disclose any information and continued to ask questions in regards to our company. Told her I could see right through her scam and that she could hangup the phone on me now and she did exactly that. She then called back three different times in a matter of five minutes trying to speak with the Controller or Financial Analyst. The last call I told her if she called back again our company would be contacting the proper authorities and filing phone harassment charges on her.
Victim Location 35603
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
For at least 7 years we have been receiving invoices for publications that were not ordered. They are mailed to us every couple of months. Then about once a year someone will call saying they are from a collection agency to collect on the nonpayment for the invoices. The calls are always extremely aggressive and hostile. We have called Progressive Business Publications countless times to request that our name be removed from their "mailing" list and have been assured that it would be. Obviously it has not.
Victim Location 58103
Type of a scam Debt Collections
They contacted the business for which I work asking if they could provide samples of their publication. A few months thereafter, they mailed an invoice for $480 and then promptly submitted it to collections.
I disputed the debt and provided the response below:
Hi Chris,
I want you to know that I am reporting, for fraud, the organizations you represent including Progressive Business Publications, Selling Advantage and International Credit Recovery. I have been in contact with the ScamPulse.com and the North Dakota Office of Attorney General on this matter.
I dispute this invoice. Unless you can provide to me an agreement in writing, such as a signed contract, under the FDCPA this debt is not valid. Furthermore, I don’t believe you are a licensed collections agency, as I see no license number reflected in your previous email.
In the event you do not receive this email, I will also mail it via certified mail Friday, December 16, 2016.
Regards,
Alicia Waldoch
Thereafter they issued the following statement:
Please be advised that PBP (Progressive Business Publications) will contact ICR (International Credit Recovery) to cease collections on account A582736501 under the name of Alicia Waldoch with Boys and Girls Club.
PBP has no further dispute in this matter.
If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately.
Victim Location 08034
Type of a scam Other
The company continues to send invoices stating we have ordered various subscriptions and demanding we pay immediately. We have confirmed this is NOT something we have authorized and continue to request whatever this is, we be immediately removed
Victim Location 33132
Type of a scam Debt Collections
The sales calls come from a fraudulent company called “Progressive Business Publications” and they
try to sell you subscriptions to publications. After several months, they call you back under the name of
“International Credit Recovery” stating that they are a collection agency for “Progressive Business
Publications” and that you had agreed to a publication subscription.
When you indicate that you did not purchase a subscription, they tell you that you confirmed by giving
them your date of birth (Month and Day only). If you still refuse to pay, they threaten you that your
personal information will be submitted to the credit bureaus.
The telephone numbers for “International Credit Recovery” is 607-748-4686
Victim Location 80010
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
Telemarketer contacted nonprofit to offer a FREE TRIAL of two newsletters after which there would be an opportunity to subscribe to the publication. Nonprofit DID NOT subscribe and then received an invoice for $249.00. Invoice was threatening and had personal employee information.
Victim Location 60446
Total money lost $500
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
The company called my business, Medorizon INC., and spoke with employees that unknowingly signed up for The Selling Advantage. No publication was delivered and months later I was sent to collections. The calls have been harassing to deal with and I just found out this company got us for two subscriptions.
Victim Location 33908
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
I received a call from someone from a company called, The Selling Advantage in spring summer of 2015. They offered a free trial of a sales publication. They call you and want you to test out their publication as a "free trial". I don’t even remember saying yes to this but apparently they sent it and sent an invoice asking for $295 some months later. I never received a voice recorded confirmation that I even said yes to them and they are harassing my company for payment of the bill.
Victim Location 20670
Type of a scam Debt Collections
Sent me a bill for a magazine subscription/service. They provide no phone numbers; their website is block by my government network. They are threatening to send me to collections and I don’t have the authority to obligate this money for government and they sold this a a free service due to my positon in the govt.
Victim Location 94575
Type of a scam Debt Collections
I received a call from Kathy from the International Credit Recovery company. She called in from a different number than she gave me to call back; when I called the number that the incoming call was from, it says the line is busy and to try again later. Kathy said I was sent to collections by the Compliance Safety Alert newsletter, which is owned by the Progressive Business Publications. She said the paper newsletter is mailed monthly to an address in Utah (I work in California). I said I never agreed to this and I would like to see proof that I made the purchase. She asked me, well what is your birthday? I told her the month and day (which I now regret). And she said, oh well there is no written proof, it is only verbal. It was a phone call and I told them my birthday at the end of the call and this is their verification security protocol. And they have listed that month/date is my birthday (the one I had just told her- she tricked me!). I told Kathy that my birthday can be found on the internet as it is publicly listed on social media so that is not an appropriate proof of consent.
She then asked me who she could contact in our Utah branch to talk about the debt. I said she should not be contacting anybody in my Utah office if the debt is tied to my name. Then, she said it’s not tied to my name, it’s tied to the company’s name (this contradicted what she told me earlier). I told her this and she said she will be contacting her legal council in Utah to see what to do. I said I would contact my legal council as well.
After hanging up, I researched International Credit Recover, Safety Compliance Alert, Progressive Business Publications and the phone numbers from the conversation I just had. All of them result in numerous articles about how this is a scam.
Victim Location 28114
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
A caller will call a company and ask for the Safety or Environmental person’s name. Then they will send a safety or environmental newsletter for free continuously. Later, they will turn the account over to a fake collections agency to collect the debt stating that you never cancelled. The supposely collections agent will constantly call you everyday 3-4 times a day harassing you. This company has been listed for numerous complaints and scams!!! BE WEARY —DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY–IT IS A SCAM.
Victim Location 77627
Total money lost $299
Type of a scam Debt Collections
Progressive Business Publications located in Malvern, PA, as well as the other 12 locations listed on their website claim that businesses sign up for a so called 12 month subscription when in fact signing up is not what has happened. They simply say its a free subscription which is a lie. Instead, they ask for a date of birth which is good enough for them for a subscription to begin. Although the material they say that will be mailed to you is complimentary, it is not but the start of the subscription that wasn’t asked for by the persons being scammed. 5 months later, after nothing is received, I get an invoice for the entire subscription of $299.00. If it is not paid in full they place it on the companies credit account. This company needs to be removed and the principals involved need to be fined and put in prison.