[SeanATL]

Guys, just wanted to post real quick. I'm been in a two year long "extortion" case with yellowpages.com.

This is an ongoing lawsuit where they are flat our trying to extort me for money.

I plan on creating a website once I successfully defend myself in the BS case. Long story short, they are claiming I signed an 18 month contract I never singed. Funny thing is, they can't even produce such a document that says I agree to anything. At first they said my contract ran in conjunction with my print ad......except I NEVER had a print ad. The attorney's involved have no idea what really is going on. Their complaint talks completely about my print ad.....I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE a print ad....lol

At this point, it doesn't matter. They just file the suit and harass me with phone calls trying to get me to "settle". They know they have time before a judge will review the case. They hoped I won't even file an answer (which would have given them default judgment) They want a free $2,000+. I'm not giving it to them.

They just file a suit for an amount of money that is obviously not enough for me to hire a lawyer (although I have two attorney's helping me for free), but enough to where I have to fight it. They tell me I'll get killed in court trying to represent myself, yet they can't produce anything supporting their claim.

The lawyers have flat out lied twice on the phone and I have recordings to prove it.....yet they really can't get in trouble for that. First, they said if I didn't settle this over the phone, they would schedule a "Hearing for Damages".....which can't even be done until they win the case. They flat out lied trying to scare me. Then, they conceded I didn't sign a 18 month contract, but to cancel my month to month, I had to do it in writing....lol. Since I didn't have anything in writing, I better settle or "explain it to the judge".....i.e. I have to prove why i don't owe the money vs reality which is the plantiff has to prove why i do owe the money. Again, complete lies trying to extort me.

It is really unfortunate small businesses can be attacked in this manner.

Right now, my choices are to go in front of a judge and make my argument or just cut them a check to leave me alone. Well, they ran into a guy who will go in front of a judge an argue this BS. I'm going to make several pleadings, motion, request for documents, etc. These guys are going to work their ass off, then I'm going to sue them. I won't win a damn thing because these a-holes are so protected, but I will make life miserable. Most people will just cut them a check to leave them alone. That's extortion and I won't stand for it.

They messed with the wrong MF'ing painter.

 

[HomeElements]

These jerks have been calling me about an ad. They call and say they are replying to an inquiry from someone named Raffe???? They have the right company but there is noone here by that name, and this is my direct line with a voicemail saying who I am.... After hearing this glad I have ignored them.

 

[Your Handy Guy]

You don't need to file a motion to make them give you what they have. It's called "Discovery" and there's a time frame already set. Once it gets into court at a pre-trial conference, the judge will set a discovery period. 30 days, 60 days etc. Both sides have to then give EVERYTHING they're going to use in court to the other side. Copies of all documents, contracts, witness lists... everything. If you don't get it during discovery, they can't use it in court. If they bring in something to court that you didn't get a copy of, you say "Objection! I didn't get copied on this during discovery." and the judge will not allow it to be entered into evidence.

I had a problem with the talking phone book once. They came to me a week or so before the deadline to sell me ad space. I had ads already from another publication, so I gave them a copy and told the em to send me the proofs to sign off on. They sent me proofs that were messed up. They had their "artist" change the ad. I sent corrections and called the guy and specifically told him "Don't run the ads if you can't make the changes. Get your people to fix it, get me a set of proofs, and I'll sign off on them. If you get it done before you go to print, you have a sale, but don't run the ads until I sign the proofs!" Well they ran the ads. They never made the changes and I never signed the proofs. I didn't pay and they huffed and puffed and must have had asthma 'cause I never had to go to court.

Good Luck!

 

[MagicPoolSvcs]

YP= " OLD SCHOOL " = 20th Century Advertising.
This is the 21st Century.

 

[Your Handy Guy]

YP= " OLD SCHOOL " = 20th Century Advertising.
This is the 21st Century.

Where I'm only 36, I have to agree. YP does = old school.
Being an intelligent 36 year old however, I'd have to say... what about the millions of people that don't have internet access? How are THEY finding their contractors? There are roughly 307 Million people in the US. There are about 228 Million internet users. That's roughly 79 MILLION possible customers that you miss by not using 20th century advertising. :whistling

 

[Your Handy Guy]

And for the record, I don't advertise in the yellow pages anymore either.

 

[dsweet]

Yellowpages

Your Handy Guy-

Good luck with this. Be sure to document everything. Time log yourself, your conversations, the emails, etc. Have it orderly and detailed- do not leave it out there for 'he said/she said' emtions. I'm not a lawyer, but I do have close friends/family who are. Detailed docs on your end are a key to helping you win this.

YP for some businesses, in some areas is actually still good... but you really need to know your target market. Personally, I hate the "He who has the biggest ad wins game" they use. Now you hear " we'll bundle you up with an offline and online ad and get you to the top of the search engines."

I've had to help many clients 'undo' their contract with the YP and similar books- and I've seen how they do their online tactics. It's wide and broad there too- just like their print format.

If you are in a business that does still need the old school print books, it is best to have YOU write the ads and submit them- or have the ad worked by a company that knows how to make the phone ring with people who are not just 'tire kickers' or price shoppers.

There are still some good companies and reps to work with who do care and are willing to work for you to do what is best for you.

 

[be the builder]

I'm having a similar issue with yellowpages.com. I got conned into agreeing to use AT&T, which owns yellowpages.com, to do my online marketing. I agreed to do the whole bundle (new website, online listing, video, banner, and impressions and clicks). The only reason I signed was because they said they would do things in stages and I wouldn't be charged for anything until I agreed upon the proofs they sent me. It is two months in and I've had 2 solid phone calls because of the online listing which is terrible. I've been working on redoing my website and using my old one in the mean time.

They called me one day and said my website was done and had gone live. That is impossible because I never approved any wepages and have not yet sent any photos. I told them to take the new website down because one its not the way I want it and two the pictures aren't even of my own work. Its pictures of someones elses or from the web.

They agreed to take it down till I meet with my rep to go over things. Turns out they never put my old webpage up so now it reads like its under construction which looks terrible and to top it off I've stopped recieving phone calls.

They have even charged me for a website that I don't even have yet. this is rediculous. I want out of all of this and need some advice on how to do it. who do I send letters to?

I've emailed my reps and their boss stating I want to cancel because i'm unsatisfied with the service provided. If it has started out like this I can only imagine it will get worse and its turning into a waste of my valuable money. And not enough return on my investment.

 

[be the builder]

yeah I realize websites are vital now a days and I do have one. yellowpages.com was going to do a new one and help me to drive more traffic to it.

The website I have now just isn't working the way I imagined it would. I registered with all the free listing I can and have added the metatags to help it be recognized by google searches. Its benoitbuildersllc dot com (they wouldn't let me post a hyperlink for some reason)

I need to get out of my contract with yellowpages thats the issue. If they keep billing me and I'm not getting any response from the work they are doing there has to be a way out of it. Never mind they don't do what they say they are going to do and just push everything through just to get the monthly bill up.

David Benoit
Benoit Builders LLC

 

[tinner666]

be the builder
You need to change your keywords. They are so general that they are meaningless. You need to target your local searchers, not world wide searchers.

 

[tinner666]

Give me a call if you want. I can't write it as good as I can tell it according to other members here.

 

[BKFranks]

These people (Yellow Pages, Service Magic, BBB, etc) call me all the time and I hang up right in their face. I don't need em and don't want em. If I wanted to do business with them, I would call them. I don't like these a-holes cold calling me all the time. Once you say yes to anything you open yourself up for this kind of garbage. My recommendation...Don't even open the door. Their goal is to get through me to my wallet. This may come off making me sound like a prick, but hey...my money is still in my wallet.

I hope you win in court and it ends up costing them thousands to pursue this BS case. Good luck!

 

[tyler durden]

Post your ad on rippoff report or consumerist. Let the word out!

 

[MattCoops]

Back in 2005 I ran two ads in two different counties' phone books with these people and all I paid was the down payment. I still get letters from collection agencies. I wrote back stating if I ever get one call from either of those two ads I put out years ago I will make a payment.

 

[cbchris]

Yellow Pages is losing more and more of the advertising market share. I highly suggest anyone using them switch their advertising budget to Google's PPC campaign, you will increase your ROI significantly. That is, if you can get out of your contract!

 

[Mrmac204]

wow I was thinking of doing an ad with them this spring! not now though, thanks guys!



Laurie

http://www.lauriescustomfinishing.ca

 

[be the builder]

Turns out there already are some complaints on the rip off report.com. there is even one man who is trying to get a class action lawsuit against them. I'm thinking about getting in contact with him.

David Benoit
Benoit Builders LLC
508-934-6490

 

[PressureWashE]

They tried the same thing with me as well, I got a call one morning from one of thier sales reps, and he offerd me a free trial for 2 months, and if I like it I would have to sign a 2 year contract, I said I would try it, after the 2 months period I got no calls, nothing, and I couldnt even find my self online, so when they called asking I said no thank you, and thank you for the trial. Next thing I know I get a bill for 2300. I called them and told them to stick it up their ass.

So far no collections calls have come, but Im sure that is next, What pieces of ****.

 

[Flatrooferstl]

Im staying away from yellowpages.com. period. :thumbup:

 

[The Coastal Craftsman]

Seems like the Yellow pages here are just like the Yellow pages in the UK. 8 years ago they tried to do me out of money also. Never sent me the proofs but still put it in the book! But i had also even cancelled the listing because of not being sent proof's. They tried the same scare tatics but told them where they could stick it. Never heard from them again. The crazy thing was i didnt get one job from that dam advert either :blink: