Immoral Marketing Scam? simple.net and yp.com
I keep getting checks sent to me from simple.net and yp.com, typically for about $2 or $3, that contain "fine print" on the back. Today's check from yp.com states "by depositing this check into my account I agree to pay $27.50 per month . . ." They further state that they can tack the fees to my phone bill or automatically withdraw them from my bank account. EXCUSE ME - NO YOU ^^@&^@#^ CANNOT!!
I think this is an immoral marketing scam, and should probably be illegal. Maybe it is! Who do these scumbags think they are?? I'm sure many businesses see a check, and automatically deposit it.
What do you think? Feel free to call yp.com at 1-800-300-3209 and let them know!
To: customercare@yp.com
From: Ted Demopoulos
Subject: Remove me from your mailing list
To Whom it may concern,
Remove 20 Tall Pines Road, Durham NH 03824 from your mailing list immediately.
I consider your mailing to be immoral and disgusting,
Ted
I think this is an immoral marketing scam, and should probably be illegal. Maybe it is! Who do these scumbags think they are?? I'm sure many businesses see a check, and automatically deposit it.
What do you think? Feel free to call yp.com at 1-800-300-3209 and let them know!
To: customercare@yp.com
From: Ted Demopoulos
Subject: Remove me from your mailing list
To Whom it may concern,
Remove 20 Tall Pines Road, Durham NH 03824 from your mailing list immediately.
I consider your mailing to be immoral and disgusting,
Ted
posted by Ted Demopoulos at 8:01 PM
Comments on "Immoral Marketing Scam? simple.net and yp.com"
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Ted Demopoulos said ... (Thursday, December 01, 2005 2:14:00 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Saturday, December 10, 2005 9:00:00 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Tuesday, January 03, 2006 1:52:00 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Tuesday, January 03, 2006 5:38:00 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Tuesday, January 17, 2006 12:44:00 AM) :
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Ken said ... (Thursday, January 19, 2006 4:03:00 PM) :
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Ted Demopoulos said ... (Friday, January 20, 2006 8:07:00 PM) :
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Ken Wirkula said ... (Saturday, March 04, 2006 6:11:00 PM) :
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Ted Demopoulos said ... (Monday, March 06, 2006 9:24:00 AM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Wednesday, September 20, 2006 6:51:00 PM) :
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Ted Demopoulos said ... (Wednesday, September 20, 2006 7:23:00 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (Thursday, May 31, 2007 5:39:00 PM) :
post a commentPostscript:
They did reply to my email very quickly and politely, and are taking my address off their mailing list.
I've seen those checks from yp.com, but not simple.net. The ones I have seen have a pamphlet of information about the service with them and give you a 120 day refund period. I don't think there is any malintent.
I set up a listing on yp.com for a tax prep business. I have actually seen some pretty good results with them - What they don't tell you on the checks though, is that you can actually call in and get it cheaper if you just set it up over the phone and pay a few months in advance.
Today I receive a letter stating I had cashed a promotional check....No I did not!!! This company has been harassing me on the phone for a few weeks now. I am even on the do not call list. We have to them several times we are not interested in their services, no this...I tried to call, but 1/2 hour was to long to wait on hold....give me a break. It's a shame that you have to get business by tricking others into contracts others aren't even aware they are getting into. My business does just fine without em
HI I HAVE RECIEBED A BILL FROM YP.COM AND I NEVER ASKED TO ACTIVATE IT INTYO MY COMPUTER
SAPPHIRE HOMES MANAGEMENT INC
605 NE 123RD ST
NORTH MIAMI
PLEASE REMOVE MY ADDRESS OFF THE MAILING LIST THANK YOU
i have yet to see those checks from simple.net or yp.com but i went ahead and called them to setup an account, they started me at 27.50 a month but offered me a cheaper rate if i payed in advanced just like you said. first thing i asked them was if there was a contract and the girl assured me there was no contracts. put a listing on there site at yp for computer repair just to see if it has a return. i did not state anywhare else that i do computer repair but i do actully get about 6 calls a month *shrugs* i dont know how much of that is word of mouth but they do tell you how many people have looked at your listing if you give them a call
i have seen checks like the ones you have mentioned and i really think thats lame. i would say it deturs more buisness then it gets and really hurts the company image.
I had recived a check from yp.com on 1-18-06 for 3.25 knew it was a scam so it got tossed in the cicular file.
About 2 hours latter I recived a call from yp inter net yellow pages (same as yp.com)wanting to update my free listing with them.Then they tried to talk me into a free 10 day trial of there mini webpages.(if you don't cancel within 10 days you start getting billed 39.95)I declined there offer.
So i went to there website under customer service found this (Since our Outbound customer service representatives only call existing or new Advertisers we are not affected by the "National Do Not Call" list recently enacted by the United States Congress)
Called them and found out i'm not a customer of thiers.They got the information because it is in public records.they said they were taking me off thier mailing list and phone list. this could take up to 90 days.then informed them i'm on the national do not call list.I have roported them to the do not call registory.
Is there any thing else I can do?
Thanks
Ken Wirkula
Hi Ken,
Sounds like you've done everything you can. They *have* stopped pestering me after I requested, and were quite polite on the phone.
I was polite too - I'm sure it wasn't the poor telephone answering woman's decision to mail me bogus checks!
Hi Its Ken Wirkula Again.Thought the yp stuff stoped after my calls to them that I wrote about.Today 2-4-06 I recived a letter stating that I cashed one of there promotional checks and there going to start billing me 29.95 monthly via my phone bill, direct invoice, or ACH direct deposit I'm the only person to check this mail box and the only person doing the deposits so I know that there was no check cashed.Guess I'll try to get it straight monday.
Has anyone thought about a class action law suite
Thanks
Ken Wirkula
Hi Ken,
I got taken off their list after I called. Now, a few weeks later, these scumbags are sending me more of their bogus checks.
I might start taping their prepayed envelopes to small but heavy item and mailing them a their expense.
I work here and the checks arent bogus, everyone has there own opinion about yp.com. The way we look at it is we give you money to sign up for our service and give you 120 days to cancel and get all your money back so heaven forbid you get 4 months of free advertising and come out with more money then you started with. Theres information enclosed on what the check is for so open your eyes and dont just try to take the money, read what is enclosed and on the back its not that hard. The service is a very good service and gains people alot of business. You should give it a try
Greeting Anon and thanks for your comments.
People would be more likely to trust them if you used your real name!
To Ken:
I used to work at Simple.net, and you'd really be surprised how many people would call and tell me exactly what you're saying: "I'm the only one who checks my mail, and deposits checks! I did NOT deposit one of your checks." 9 times out of 10, people who were SURE they didn't, actually did. Simple.net and YP.net keep ALL of the cashed checks on file, front and back. I'm sure if you called, they were happy to fax you a copy of the check YOU endorsed, and deposited.
The reason why this "business tactic" works, is because people DON'T PAY ATTENTION. They're on auto-pilot. I agree, it exploits this human error, but I think you'll find, they're quick to oblige any request you might have to undo what YOU may have done.
On a side note, they both DO actually operate real businesses, and some people DO use their service. Their advertising methods are questionable though, indeed.