Calblog

Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies I have ever experienced in my 27 years of working in the business world. They contact companies and ask to verify name, company & address. They tape you answering "yes" to questions and before you know it---you've been scammed. An unsuspecting company in the shipping/receiving dept. will soon receive a large 3 1/2" business directory (which they did not order) followed by an invoice. Now as most companies get large orders via UPS, they get a signature that you received their directory. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau and see their credit report. Go to www.UpstateNYbbb.org. Search under Infotel Publications with the Montreal, Quebec address. You are not alone in this nightmare. Ours has only begun!

Same thing is happening to us. They've created a recording of a conversation we are sure never took place. I'm going to ask them to play the recording again and tape it. I'll post it online. I'm confident that we can make them go away, but hopefully puting the recording up will help others.

mi

I happened to be searching for Infotel Publication's website (www.mediacorp.com)when I came across this thread.

I subscribe regularly to Infotel's Directory of Toll Free 1-800 #s and have had no problems.

Monitored calls are nothing new, you get that all the time these days "This call may be monitored for quality purposes" really it's for Legal Purposes.

They just called me and said it was regarding a brochure they did for my company. Well since I own the company and never asked for that I wanted to research it and asked for their number and her name. Her name was Benita and she would not give out their number so I could call back at a convenient time for me. After asking 3 times for it she hung up on me. 1) I never ordered anything from this organization 2) They have the rudest personnel 3) I am on the DO Not Call list nationally 4) They had better not even consider sending me an invoice or I will sue them for all they are worth (which can't be much)! A terribly run company that does not know how to run a business and their HR department should be ashamed for hiring such bad employees!

Same thing happened to me: "let me confirm your information, recorded me sent me a $365.00 bill. Then I received threatening phone calls from their collections department until I finally paid. I filed a complaint just today with the Better Business Bureau.

My Boss was arguing last week with a Becky from this same Infotel Company. He was on the phone for quite a while. When he got off he was a nervous wreck. He said he had never communicated with a woman so rude and obnoxious. He paid with his credit card right out of his pocket and mentioned later, “I just had to get rid of her”. I found this site and told him. He’s writing a complaint to the Attorney General’s office.

I'm fighting with Becky now. I don't remember signing up for anything. After reading these comments I'm tearing up the check I wrote last night and calling the better business burearu for advice.

I don't know who that person was but we have a Business Directory that my secretary had authorized. The company is that Infotel Company. They played me a tape recorded phone call today. I'm glad I found this site. I was about to cut a check for over $300.00.

They will get zero from me now.

I'll alert Greg Abbott, the attorney general for Texas.

Other Texans can go here:

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/agga_bio.shtml

Our RadioShack stores have had similar experiences. It is a scam. They call and get an employee's name and the store's address and then send a directory or just an invoice. We dispute the invoices and cc: the attorney general's office.

So a Scam is what this is!

I'm glad I got to this web page in time before I was about to dish out over $350.00.

Wow i found out something about this. in 2001 i for this phonecall saying yes this is your 2 year listing, confirm your information. then later a shipping department called, i asked again and say i didn't know anything about this. They then played me saying ok, ok ok...(i make it a point to never say yes) after months of bickering we finally paid to have it done with. never heard a thing in 2002. then just now same thing, this is the 2nd installment of your 2year contract. and now i got it in ups, and now i get another bill. wow what a scam.

http://search.buffalo.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0041000021000776

BBB listing on this company

i have had exactly the same claims that i ordered this directory i have no authority to spend money like that at work so no way would i say yes.... ..it is driving me mad with the constent phone calls and abuse i get from the very very rude people..i did /do not want the directory...the company i work for will not pay for something we have not ordered/signed for.....i am getting to be a nervous wreck everytime the phone rings...

AMERI CORP aka INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS aka CBSI

Hey I worked there in Sales; this is what it is……

Categorized as a Legal Counterfeit Company because the products are real, however it is still a Telemarketing Scam because of the way the products are sold and there is no way of knowing how many are distributed.

Products: (as seen at www.mediacorp.com )

DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS

INFOTEL TOLL FREE DIRECTORY

BRITISH BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ANNUAIRE NATIONAL DES ENTERPRISE FRANCAIS
Or
FRENCH BUSINESS DIRECTORY (FRANCE)

CANADIAN BUSINESS DIRECTORY

AT & T NATIONAL BUSINESS BUYER’S GUIDE

PAPER ROLLS*

These are National Business to Business Directories and because they are National (ex. all the U.S. in one book) they are totally useless and worthless, nevertheless, they are what they are and they are sold as that and no more.

The only illegal premise is the falsifying of the fact that the company was previously listed. This is fraud and the BBB knows it.

The *Paper Rolls are for Credit Card machines etc. This nickel & dime Scam starts with the sales pitch “You are running out of paper etc.” the paper is sold by weight. Again the products do exist. This time around the small fry is caught thinking it’s his supplier calling. Nothing illegal here, just gullible employees.

Part 1 (Directories)

The Scam starts with the Sales Pitch directed at the unknowing small fry at a company:

U.S. Example:

Would you like to continue your listing in the 2xxx Directory of American Business, it's the National Business to Business Directory, Yellow and White pages.

The Yellow and White pages draw them in. It’s a Phone Book to the small fry. They were previously listed? (This is the Scam, they were not)

The Scam continues with a Shipping Department call.

"This is so and so from the Shipping Department of Infotel Publications", I am calling to confirm the details... The Scam here is to get the small fry to admit he/she is authorized to make the purchase. This call is taped.

If yes, the Scam is set in motion, if no, then it is returned to the sales where it may be pitched again to the same company.

With the Scam set in motion, the company is listed in the directory and on the website www.mediacorp.com. The directory is sent by UPS to the company.

Part 2 (Directories)

The collection department (known in telemarketing as the BOILER room) handles the non paid invoices which make up a large % of the take. The monitored call, the proof of purchase, the authorized small fry, all contributes to the success of the Scam.

The BOILER room rotates the unpaid invoices trying to keep the calls to companies at the US legal dept collecting limit avoiding BBB & Attorney General Complaints. The goal is to get to the Owner, President, or V.P. etc. This is the turn point of the Scam. The Owner, President, V.P. etc. will pay the Full Invoice price, Partial or a Lower Fee or Nothing.

REMEMBER: YOUR INVOICE SAYS 2 YR LISTING, IF YOU PAY, THAT WILL BE FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND ANOTHER INVOICE WILL FOLLOW NEXT YEAR!!!

FAQ

Who do they target?

Any and all Businesses including Non-Profit Organizations even Churches (But no Synagogues)

Do I have to pay?

No

How do I stop the Calls?

Call the Better Business Bureau

But Better…..

Alert the Attorney General

Who are these guys?

Canadian Telemarketers aimed at the US and Europe

The Owners

Gordon Frank, Ted Frank, Sean Frank
[anti-semitic remarks deleted]
Locations:

Montreal, Toronto

A Jewish Prayer for the Franks
And God saw everything that He had made, and found it very good. And He said: This is beautiful world that I have given you. Take good care of it, do not ruin it. It is said: Before the world was created, the Holy One kept creating worlds and destroying them. Finally He created this one, and was satisfied. He said to Adam: This is the last world I
shall make. I place it in your hands: hold it in trust.

More info......

http://www.ripoffreport.com/report42956.htm

http://archive.mail-list.com/ukpmln/msg04014.html

http://www.state.vt.us/atg/press03212002.htm

http://www.atg.state.vt.us/display.php?pubsec=4&curdoc=171

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/07/ambus.htm

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/11/handson.htm

http://news.spamcop.net/pipermail/spamcop-list/2002-September/017322.html

http://www.consumersgroup.com/crimewatch/yellowpages.htm

http://www.nclnet.org/top10telemarketingscams.html

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/telecommunications/scams.html

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-tmark.htm

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/telemarketing/

http://www.courttv.com/archive/legalcafe/lifestyle/telemarket/telemarket_links.html

http://www.newstepsolutions.com/telemarketing.htm

http://www.fraud.org/tips/telemarketing/general.htm

My god, this is ridiculus. Our company has the same thing going on. Thanks to you, mr/ms former employee. Monday, I'm going to deal with these people and get in touch with the bbb. I still can't beleive it, it's insane.

EXACTLY THE SAME STORY FOR OUR BUSINESS, THEY HAD A RECORDING OF THE OFFICE MANAGER'S VOICE.

HE SAID THE MUST HAVE GOT HIM SAYING YES A NUMBER OF TIMES AND SPLICED IT INTO A RECORDING.

WE ARE CONTACTING THE ATTORNY GENERAL

Yes, this same thing happend to me. They sent me a bill But i didn't know what for. THen they replayed a recording of my phone answering guy telling them they need to talk to me and then there high pressure sales person getting them to agree. The fradulantly stated that we had an ad running from last year to get him to agree to it. I disputed the charge and they keep calling me back. A class action lawsuit sound like a good plan?

Hello,

I just got off the phone with these NUTS. I was told our Radio Shack store would get bad credit because my unpaid invoice would be sent to Collections.

These guys are really a pain. They never stop calling and tie up our staff & phones. Our head office told us to dispute all invoices and said something was in the works but I'll have to draft up a couple of letters to stop the calls, it disrupts our business.

Earl

We just got the directory followed by a $400 invoice. My 18yr old staffer's name is on the invoice. Obviously she doesn't have the authority and more importantly has enough sense never to accept the deal.
Is it a case of the law suit costs more than the invoice?

This company got a hold of my wife and told her I always order it.

They had a tape and kept calling until I had our Tel# changed.

The must have called us 3 times a week to get money.

If your stuck with them GOOD LUCK.

I don't think the BBB can do anything, they can just write them a letter. Telemarketing has to be made illegal.

At Topps Supermarket we get solicitated all the time by these Con Artists. It's the same story as previous posts. A directory of american business, for a grocery store???

You Franks will get yours!

BEWARE!! Like the previous poster who said they were a former employee, so was I, for ten nerve wracking months. I worked in collections for these people. Don`t ever pay a bill.....EVER! This is a total scam. It is true that they have your voice on tape. This is done when the so called shipping department calls back to confirm the order. It`s not the shipping dept. It`s a verifier who calls back within a couple of days to verify the sales order. Sometimes people are made to believe that the purchase was authorized by another person etc. And you ain`t seen nothing. There is a group of people doing what is called in the industry " Loads ". Don`t even go there. If you get caught in this scam, call up and ask for the head of the collection department. His name is ALDO, pure and simple. If they tell you there is no Aldo, they lie. Just keep insisting. He`s a slimeball to the Nth degree. The woman in charge of collecting for the loads is a big fat pig named Patty Anne, a real loser, trust me. If there is more interest in this topic, let me know. Do I have stories.

HERE AT SEVEN ELEVEN WE HAVE A MEMO ON THESE ASSHOLES.
MANY STORES HAVE GOTTEN RIPPED OFF ALREADY. THANK GOD THIS SITE OF THREADS IS POSTED!

SCREW YOU ALDO!

The Franks are the biggest scam artists out of Montreal, Quebec and Aldo is their lackey manager. Do not pay their bills- they can do nothing.

Our small Computer Store just got a 2003 Directory of American Business and an Invoice near $400.00. Bobby, a handicap employee in a wheelchair is printed on the invoice as the purchaser’s name, he doesn’t speak much English.

When my wife called the Infotel Company yesterday and told them we were returning the book, a woman said we cannot because Bobby took a 2 year Ad in it. My wife told them we won't pay the invoice and the woman said we were committing Fraud.

The Address on the bill is Merrimack, NH and Montreal Canada.

The book looks like a phonebook but has state by state listings.

I'm writing the Attorney General a letter tonight.

Justin

What a Find! I happened on this page because that Infotel Publications was in my mind just from last week. I work for the Coca-Cola Company and we have been auguring with a Gerry Lake fellow about a directory that a secretary supposedly had ordered. Can you imagine, the Coca -Cola company solitated for this trash? I went ahead and took the site down to show to Coca-Cola, I'm sure that they would be inerested.

Hey Kent,
Next time you speak to Jerry Lake, his real name is Jack. Go ahead.....ask him and see how he hems and haws. I sent this Blog link to the boys at Infotel, so they could see what`s going on and maybe sh-t their pants a little bit. Remember, don`t go blaming the little guys that call you up and try to extort money from you. They are just trying to do their jobs and make a living. Blame the real scam artists, the big bosses. If I told you how much money these boys are raking in each year with all their operations, you guys and gals wouldn`t believe me. Suffice it to say that the head honcho Gordon Frank, drives a porsche, late model of course, and owns a Harley Davidson. Anyone interested in more stories??

A Former Employee,

I had my wife look at this and saw your post, I'll mention his real name, Tomorrow.

"If I told you how much money these boys are raking in each year with all their operations, you guys and gals wouldn`t believe me. "

What do they do other than this trash...ENLIGHTEN ME?

Hey Kent,
They are also into the debit roll business that is run under the name of CDS. They have their greedy little fingers into many other pies. JUST REMEMBER ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING!
This is all smoke and mirrors. A company like this runs under the premise that if you sell something to a thousand companies, and only ....say.....forty percent pay, who cares about the rest. Do the math......forty thousand or more directories a year( could be on the low side....I`m not 100% sure ) at $400 U.S. a pop...= big $
These people DO NOT USE collection companies or anything else like that. They just wear you down with call after call after call.....you get the idea.You would be surprised how many companies pay off the bat. This is one LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.

NEVER PAY AND THEY WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE UP. THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO YOU OR YOUR COMPANY. THEY CANNOT AFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING OR ANYTHING ELSE. DON`T LOSE HOPE. JUST WAIT THEM OUT OR TELL THEM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS WHERE THEY CAN SHOVE IT!

i got myself the job of calling these people today. i received an invoice. i never seen this directory book. my company has 3 workers and the name on the invoice was a tempory worker gary. to the former worker of this ifrotel company, you should report them. it would be nice to see your email so people can contact you.

thank you

craig

THANKS, TO ALL, YOU HAVE SAVED US A LOT OF $$$.

Karen & Glen

HELLO AND GOOD DAY TO ALL FROM ENGLAND.

OUR FIRM HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THESE CANADIANS PIRATES OVER A BRITISH BUSINESS DIRECTORY WHICH WE DID NOT ORDER. THERE HAS BEEN WRITEUPS IN THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND THE SAME ON THE BBC ABOUT THIS.
THE STORY IS IDENTICAL FOR US AS YOU YANKS. THEY CALL OUR FIRM MANY TIMES LOOKING FOR A YES TO THEIR SALES PITCH. THEN A THICK PHONE BOOK ARRIVES.

DON'T ACCEPT THE BOOK. AND DON'T PAY
.

Here's a hint: Tell the 'collections dept' person Patti Anne that you know a former employee of Infotel aka Metropolitain Media.who is willing to certify to the RCMP that the company violates Canadian law by doing reloads, if they don't leave you alone. My friend says that they scam the employees just as much as the 'clients'

They are no longer on Decarie Blvd in Montreal but instead on Buchan in the Positron building

For the former employees that are writing this about the boys are just bitter because you were let go. If you quit then shouldn't like a child. You are probably just jealous that you can't be successful like them. They have worked hard to become this successful and nobody has the right to make false comments. These boys have big hearts and are just doing there jobs. If there company was such a scam then they wouldn't have been open for this long. They have been in business along time and what they are doing is not a scam. I am a former employee and for the time that i worked there i was treated fine and was always helped with whatever i needed. You people should just take care of your own business or your own lives and stay out of others.

Listen Katie,

You don`t know diddly squat about what you talk. Your so called " boys " treat whoever they like.... well. God forbid they don`t like you or even know who you are.......you get treated like shit. Why do you think there`s such a big turnover at Infotel?? Maybe because most people are treated like crap??
Bottom line........make money for the bosses.....get treated like royalty. You think it`s any different at any other telemarketing company? WAKE UP KATIE!!! This is SCAM pure and simple. It`s time that companies know what`s going on with Infotel, and if every single one refused to pay their phony bills, they would be out of business.
One little HINT......if enough people in a given state complain to the Attorney General, they will be shut out of that state, or at least be forced to post a bond to operate within. Why do you think they moved from Plattsburgh to Michigan and now to New Hampshire. They have to keep one step ahead of the complaints. At least they were forced to put their Montreal address on all of their invoices

IMPORTANT

DISREGARD THE POOR ATTEMPT ABOVE FROM A KATIE SMITH??? TO JUSTIFY THIS TELEMARKETING SCAM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT KATIE SMITH IS A CURRENT INFOTEL EMPLOYEE OR ONE OF THE OWNERS LIKE “DUMB” TED FRANK.

I AM THE ORIGIONAL “FORMER EMPLOYEE” POSTER THAT Posted by FORMER EMPLOYEE at October 31, 2003 04:46 PM

HEY TED, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO POST YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, LIKE THE NAMES OF YOUR DAUGHTER AND TWO SONS OR YOUR HOME ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, ETC? OF COURSE I HAVE IT ALL SO TELL YOUR EMPLOYEES NOT TO POST LIES HERE.

OF COURSE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT TOLD IT’S A SCAM, IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO SEE WHAT THE COMPANY IS TRULY UP TO.

IN SALES, THERE IS A QUOTA LIKE ANY OTHER CO. WITH COLLECTIONS, IT THE DOUBLE DIGITS THAT THEY WANT. (IN PAYMENTS)

SALES PERSONS OR COLLECTIONS PEOPLE ARE LET GO WHEN THEY DON’T BRING IN THE $$$. IN THE CASE OF COLLECTIONS IT’S ALSO WHEN ALDO ZEPPILLI SCREWS YOU, HE HAS HIS FAVORITES.

INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS IS ORGANIZED CRIME > AND THE EVIDENCE POSTED HERE IS SOUND.

ALDO ZEPPILLI IS THE HEAD OF THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT; HIS GIRLFRIEND’S NAME IS DARLENE. SHE IS A RECEPTIONIST SO ASK FOR HER OR HIM BY NAME.

NOW FOR THE INFORMATION

WRITE THOSE BBB AND *ATTORRNEY GENERAL LETTERS (*THAT GETS THE STATE CLOSED FOR THESE SCAM ARTISTS) THEY ALREADY LOST TWO STATES.

THE COMPANY IS TOTALLY CANADIAN SO THROW THE DIRECTORY IN THE GARBAGE AND NEVER PAY, IF YOU PAY ONCE YOU WILL GET RELOADED* (*A SECOND DIRECTORY SENT NEXT YEAR, REMEMBER THAT TWO YEAR LISTING?)

TRY CALLING A FEW PEOPLE IN THAT DIRECTORY, MANY DON’T EXIST ANYMORE! THERE IS NO CIRCULATION. THOSE WHO GET SCAMED GET ONE; SOMETIMES IT’S A RETURNED BOOK “WITHOUT” YOUR NAME.

TO STOP THE CALLS TELL THEM YOU ARE THE OWNER OR PRESIDENT AND YOU WON’T PAY A CENT AND WON’T RETURN THE DIRECTORY. TELL THEM YOU ARE WRITING TO THE BBB AND ATTORNY GENERAL AND HANG UP.

IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH PATTI ANN YOU ARE A LOAD. A LOAD IS WHEN YOU PAID FOR AN INVOICE. YOU ARE “LOADED” FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THIS RELOADING CAN BE DONE SEVERAL TIMES. MOST COMPANIES JUST PAY WITHOUT THINKING. PROTECT YOURSELF.

IF YOU PASSED A CREDIT CARD RECENTLY WITH INFOTEL CALL UP YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND TELL THEM IT WAS A SCAM. THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WILL BLOCK TRANACTIONS WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS.

QUEBECOR MEDIA AT http://www.quebecor.com/ PRINTS THE DIRECTORIES. CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM YOUR STORY.

QUEBEC IS THE WORST TELEMARKETING PROVENCE IN CANADA. CONTACT PHONE BUSTERS AT http://www.phonebusters.com/ THEY ARE A DIVISION OF THE RCMP (ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE) HEY, THEY HAVE VISITED THE INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS/METROMEDIA OFFICES.

I think you are one very vengeful person to write what you did. I also think your concept of anti-semetics is wrong. One can not be anti-semetic when leaving out a group of people. Normally when jews are picked on, those doing the picking are the anti-semetic one. If you are a former employee who is not a happy camper, get a life. What these people do with selling those books is very legal. As for your friend who thinks tapes were spliced together. ARE YOU INSANE? Every owner of a business wants to do something that stupid and illegal. One more thing, former employee,. you had no problem posting the names of the owners and their mothers..WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF??
I am not leaving mine since I don't work for the company, nor do I know these people personally.... I just know the laws and all about anti-semitism

Hello All,

My business has been hounded by Infotel Publications for payment since the beginning of this year. We received a Final Notice invoice with interest. They got my cell phone # and called me up, I couldn’t believe it! I was in my car on Fresno's Freeway 41. The woman said I was defrauding them? We have 15 employees, why would we need a Directory of American Business? We don’t even take out a large ad in the Yellow Pages just our Tel #. This is truly a Big Time Scam…..Really
To the former poster, I don’t see any anti-semetic info purposely posted? If the owners are Hebrews then their actions could cause anti-semetic feelings as one post indicated. It doesn’t matter what ethnic group is responsible when fraud is involved. Stop crying fowl if the perpetrators are Hebrew. All ethnic groups can be bad, but when you are caught you are caught….Get Real

P.S. Also, it is very hard to believe that “to a former employee” just happened upon this site. You are surely someone from the Infotel Company trying to turn these posts into something else.

Keep up these posts and stop the Fraud!

Sincerely

Donald

Donald,

So you are getting pestered by Infotel. I’m not anti-semetic but I know the Franks well. They have been living high off of this scam and have been at it for more than 10 years “successfully”.

Aldo is Italian. Most other employees are of all ethnic backgrounds including Jewish workers that work hard for their money. I’m just putting the truth out because I want Infotel to close and the Franks arrested.

They will fight this site.

Every employee at Infotel hates their job. In Quebec you need to be bilingual French & English so people who don’t speak good French get caught for this job offering. By the time they find out what it is they either perform or they’re out.

When Infotel does it’s Ads in our local newspaper or online it’s for English people to do general office work and the pay is good. The people just get caught up in the job. Hey, we all have debts, families etc.

I WILL POST THEIR PERSONAL INFO IF I SEE THIS THREAD TAMPERED WITH. THEY HAVE BIG LAWYERS SO THE INTERNET IS SOMETHING THEY CAN’T MANIPULATE.

FOR EMPLOYEES OF INFOTEL “GET A REAL JOB”!!!

If you people have time to come to a site and bash others you obviously don't like your job or you don't have one. I do not work for the Franks any longer, but for personal reasons. I do speak french and i am not of any ethnic background. I did my job and was treated with respect. You can have your opinion about this company but to get upclose and personal about the owners is pushing to far. [personal attack deleted] HAVE A NICE DAY.

hey former employee......[personal attack deleted]

OKAY CHILD..JUST BECAUSE U LOST YOUR JOB DOESNT MEAN U HAVE TO GO ON SOME CYBERWORLD RAMPAGE. MOVE ALONG, GET OVER IT.....[personal attack deleted]

Hey Former Employee,
Didn`t mean to step on your toes by posting with the same byline. From now on, I`ll post under a modified name. I don`t think it`s a great idea to post info on the boys personal life. Nobody needs to know they live in [info deleted]. Silly me. It`s funny though, how of all the posts here, there`s really only one that`s defending the Franks. You gotta wonder why. But I for one, am all for disseminating the real names of the people who work there in positions of influence. [info deleted]

You people are PATHETIC, you have no lives and you don't know the law. If what you post here is what you think will shout them down think again. Maybe some people will read and think about it but the law will laugh and say that you are all just bitter because you got fired. Or if you are a customer, your angry because you know you bought something and you didn't want it. [personal attack deleted]

many of our outlets have been caught with this directory of american business telemarketing sale or scam as it now seems. we have sent out memos because our corporate office is getting these ivoices faxed to us. now all vendors must be on our corporate List. Any invoices that are not within these guidelines are rejected. it's a shame that our government allows these telephone scams to exist that disrupt our lines of communication. interesting posts.

gerry

I am also a former employ of Infotel, I totally understand how people could have negative feelings and opinions towards Infotel and its owners. But for the former employee who told the Infotel employees to get a really job, you maybe right about some of them not being to speak French or being of an ethnic back ground, but not everyone is, that would be stereotyping. It is unfortunate to say but from many people it is probably the best paying job they could ever get, pays more that working in some fast food joint. Not everyone is blessed with brains, or the means to further their education, a lot people there are also students, paying their way through school, as I did. So please don't pick on the employees for some people it as good as it going to get.

As for the tactics of the company, I can agree that not all are right and come very close to being illegal. But it is all still legal, they talk fast and confuse the people they are calling. Not ever sale ends up in customer service, believe it or not a lot of people actually pay for the directories no questions asked, some even call back and re-order. The verification tapes are real, but have notlegal standing, so if you do not want it call the BBB or the Attorney General of you state.

As for the employee the was threatening Ted with listing his personal information, and the names of his children you have sunk far lower than Infotel ever could, watch yourself cause you playing with fire. Personnel attacks and getting their children involved is beyond low and could get you in over your head.

The poster of this comment asked that the original comment be removed and this put in its place:

Now I'm in a partnership growing my own business and recently I get a
call
from this Infotel Company. At first I thought it would be a good way to
advertise since the locals always asked me to sign up to advertise on
their
calendars. But, something sounded fishy when they said that I was being
recorded for quality purposes. Who calls ya to record your voice unless
they
are trying to back up something they are attempting to do or catch you
off
guard with? Only after the call I realized what I had gotten myself
into and
when I got the confirmation call the next day, I refused to pay.

Art: Hate the jerks at Infotel all you like, but hate them for being jerks, not for being Jewish. Keep ethnicity out of it.

To all those former employees who are losers and have not been able to do their jobs and were for any number of reasons let go you should be such low and discusting human beings to personally attack those who have given you an opportunity to be able to pay your bills and feed your family or pay your school tuition even for a short period of time. If you were so against the type of job given to you - hey no one held a gun over your head to keep the job for so long.. therefore leave the Franks alone and find what you're looking for - Try being as successful as they are and if you can, GREAT -but watch out if you do become successful one of your former employees might come out and reveal all your personal information out of .......
ANGER AND JEALOUSY WILL ONLY HURT YOU AT THE END.
JUST A SHORT NOTE: -
Look around and open your eyes.
you'll wake up and find yourself one day unable to find a job and come begging the Franks to give you another chance.

If you really are an ex employee you would know the truth about the Franks and how calling them anti-semetic is the biggest laugh in the world. Reading your posts only goes to prove as others have said that YOU were the one that did something wrong which is why you are "former employee". We all agree telemarketing can be a major nuisance, but it is definitely legal. As someone said, it they were really a scam causing all this trouble, they wouldn't be around no would they. So the original former employee should learn to keep his or her mouth shut because all you are doing is giving cause for a legal case of slander. Know that what means? You have done everything including using their names, where they are, their personal lives, etc. I would watch it if I was you, because people like you usually get theirs in the end!

Hey Art, how dare you come on a site like this to talk about a company and then condem ALL jewish people. You have a lot of nerve to do something like that. That is like saying all Irish drink, all Coloured People steal... It is people like yourself that further anti-semitism. So I think you should REVOKE all your comments about jews before it causes YOUR company harm. You see there are enough ethnics in the world to boycott companies when they create lies just to make themselves feel better.

TTFE: I don't know if Infotel is running an illegal scam or not, but to assume that any company can't be running an illegal scam simply because they exist strikes me as naive in the extreme.

I must apologise to all the posters who are really here because they have encountered Infotel in their business lives. I only meant to make you aware of the kind of company you are dealing with, not to stir up so much trouble. This page is only meant to be a sounding board, not a personal attack venue. I made the mistake of sending the link of this page to some people at Infotel, and now we seem to be in a war between company employees and business victims. There are many legal and non personal ways to deal with parasitic companies like these.........use them.
Again I apologise.

I TOO AM AMAZED AT THOSE WHO SUPPORT INFOTEL AND ASK:

TO FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LEFT POSTS ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS SCAM:

REFRAIN FROM POSTS - WE BUILT IT - THEY WILL COME.

LET THE POSTS GROW FROM BUSINESSES WHO HAVE THEIR STORIES.

OUR JOB IS DONE.

TO BUSINESSES, TRY NOT TO FOCUS ON THE ETHNIC ISSUE AS THAT IS NOT I REPEAT NOT THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE IS YOU GETTING RIPPED OFF!

BACK TO THE THE FACTS

Infotel Publications is a Montreal based Telemarketing Company that sells business directories to U.S.A., United Kingdom, France & Germany.

The Infotel Publications sales department will sell to anyone and any business or organization (including non-profit).

The Infotel Publications sales department tells all companies or organizations that they were previously listed offering renewals of listings in what seems to be the local White/Yellow Pages, when in fact it offers primarily new listings in a non-local directory of limited circulation.

Overstates the circulation of the directories. Bills customers using a conformation taped call to get their authorization.

Fails to provide customers with their legally-required three-day right to cancel. Any callbacks are ignored. Returned directories are reshipped.

Overcharges customers for a directory that is of limited value to most businesses, “NATIONAL” for a corner store, a church, a funeral home?

Sends invoices indicating 2 YR listing and does not indicate “One of Two Years”. Re-invoices businesses, tell businesses the payment on the invoice closes the file.

FORMER EMPLOYEE From October 31, 2003 04:46 PM

GOODBYE

TO ALL THE FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY "GET A LIFE"

Just a short note to all "former employees"...

if you felt as if the company was involved in such a HUGE scam, then SHAME ON YOU for staying so long ( and in some cases - leaving to start another job, only to come back begging for work a few months later ) and cashing cheques created by such ill gotten gains. SHAME ON YOU !!!

It's one thing to comment on a company's or industries alleged poor business practices, but it's another to use a forumn such as this to bash, harass or intimidate current employee's/owners of said enterprise. Business is business and personal is personal - and should never be mixed.

Shame on you - for only saying how supposedly "unfair" things were only AFTER you left, not before - how inspirational, quite the risk-taker !! Leave and then whine- must be a proud moment for you !

Current Employee

I was hired to work in collections at Infotel. I worked there just under three months. I never knew it was a scam until another employee told me.Everyone talks down about people not paying their bills. No employees say it's a scam. It's like the employees are scammed or brainwashed into the job. At Infotel you had to be on the phones all the time. If you stood up or talked to another a person in another cubical, you were told off. They pay $11.50 an hour with a dollar bonus if you bring in 15 payments in a week. If you get less you have to be instructed by a person named Patti Ann. She is really an arrogant person. After I realized that all the customers I was calling complained and the complaints were legitimate. I looked for a new job. It was Info hell for me also. I really can’t understand how they can legally operate?
There should be a law where you can get them for false employment because you are collecting money on a scam.

Hello,

This is a re-post that I posted on another website. I copied and pasted it below. I work for Holiday Inn.

Our chain has been hit by these Infotel people. A corporate memo was sent to all Hotels and Motels. They must get our info from the Yellow Pages and call our managers to sign up.

The directories are worthless to us, you can book directly online, so why are we solicited and listed on www.mediacorp.com?

Beware, this is definitely a Scam.

what a neat company infosmell is. i need to find a GROCERY STORE in new york so luckly for me infosmell's website at www.mediacorp i found one at:

Company Details
Company name : Grocery On 1st Avenue Inc

Business Field : GROCERS RETAIL
Address : 1198 1St Ave
City : New York
State : NY
ZIP code : 10021-7105
Phone : 212-988-3300
Map:
D&B Credit Report:

its a good thing their is one GROCERY STORE in new york listed on the internet otherwise HOW woud I get my groceries done?

I also fell prey to the infotel scam in march of 03. I was working for a chiropractic office which had just made a location change. One afternoon I got a phone call from a man wanting to verify our address. Believing this was a insurance company who had gotten my letter about the move I quickly verified the address and went about helping patients. A couple of months past and in the mail we got the infotel phone directory. We contacted then with no response then tried to return it. About June of this year we began to get invoices in the mail with interested added to them for this item we did not want. Finally, we then got to talk with a women. We explained our situation and how we did not want this item. She then proceed to verify my phone call that had me recorded as saying I was verifing my address for delivery. Conviently, she did not have the orginal ordering conversation recorded. Only the address verification. Nor do I ever remember an orginal order only the phone call for the address verification. We neogitated this for several more weeks. Trying to talk with higher up indiviuals with no success. After some strong arming tactics, we paid three hundred dollars for a directory we never wanted or understood were getting. Do to this phone directory my boss forced me to pay the 300.00 dollars for this phone book.

I work for the Dept. of Corrections as a Network Technical Analyst. Part of my responsibilities involve managing the telephone systems as well, so when we received an invoice for a Business Directory, the Superintendents' Secretary asked me to follow up on it saying she had never ordered one despite Infotels' claims to the contrary.

I returned the call to Infotel (or whatevwer name they were using at the time) and spoke with a very rude woman who insisted that we pay for the directory or face dealing with a collection agency, or worse. I explained in a firm but calm and unrelenting tone that the DOC has absolutely no use or need for such a directory and therefore we would never have ordered one and therefore we would not be paying for their publication (which we never received anyway).

At one point in our phone conversation I explained to the Infotel woman that we (employees of the DOC) are very well trained to recognize scammers and manipulators, as we deal with criminal thinking on a daily basis and we would never be so easily fooled into ordering something for which we would have absolutely no use whatsoever. Nor would we be subjected to such obviously questionable and unethical business practices as they were employing.

I guess maybe because we are a part of the Justice Dept., they were "scared off" because after just the one return call to them they have never tried to hose us down since then and we never sent them a penny.

Cretins. As sad as this whole mess is, it does have a positive side. It's criminal thinking just like this that keeps people who work for the prison systems employed.

They are still trying to collect on me since I returned from surgury. I heard the taped call and told them I will pay. I'm owner of a sewing shop with three employees including myself. I will never pay let them go to court.

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. I ALMOST PAID OUT NEAR $400.00. I HAVE MORE FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS NOW. : )

I`m REALLY glad to see the negative posts about Infotel on Justene`s blog. ( Thanx Justene! ). Please just keep in mind, NEVER PAY!!! Don`t give up hope. You can fight these people, they have no teeth. Personally Justene, I don`t think you`ll ever see the inside of any courtroom with these people.
Just remember, if you get a collection call from anyone at Infotel, tell them Patty Anne or Aldo will cover the bill for you!. By the way, they are running quite a few ads now in the local paper looking for people to sell this garbage book. I know for a fact, that if you are good at selling, you can make a great deal of money at this. You gotta see the amount of lead sheets that Kenny keeps putting out. ( Sorry Kenny ). Heres hoping that some of the people I used to work with there can somehow find a way to escape Infohell. Believe it or not, most of the people working there are just trying to earn a living and put food on their tables. Hey Robert!! Don`t fuck up the pays!!!!!

A former different employee

infosmell helped me out again with their BUSINESS DIRECTORY AND ONLINE BUSINESS SEARCH. i needed to run through a few rosaries, luckly i found a CHURCH in New Jersey at infosmell's website at www.mediacorp

Company Details
Company name : Church Of God In Christ

Business Field : CHURCHES
Address : 405 Communipaw Ave
City : Jersey City
State : NJ
ZIP code : 07304-3601
Phone : 201-434-8265
Map:
D&B Credit Report:

thank you infosmell, hey anyone know how to get ti new jouresy?

infosmell helped me out again with their BUSINESS DIRECTORY AND ONLINE BUSINESS SEARCH. i needed to run through a few rosaries, luckly i found a CHURCH in New Jersey at infosmell's website at www.mediacorp

Company Details
Company name : Church Of God In Christ

Business Field : CHURCHES
Address : 405 Communipaw Ave
City : Jersey City
State : NJ
ZIP code : 07304-3601
Phone : 201-434-8265
Map:
D&B Credit Report:

thank you infosmell, hey anyone know how to get ti new jouresy?

uh huh!!.........Infohell is exactly that if they don't like you. I does not matter if u get the sales, if they don't like you you'll be canned. They don't respect their employees. They actually expect every employee to chip in $10 for a christmas gift For S. Frank. I mean what are they thinking, asking employees to give their money to that man. You might not work there in a day or two. But people are afraid not to pay cause you'll get in the bad books and then FIRED.

I almost got caught in this scam. What a surprise. I came to the office early and did a little surfing. The early bird DID cach the worm. THANKS ALL for the Information. I have a call to do today and I'm going to let Infotel have it.

Good one, Billy Bob...... f**k you Infotel, f**k you Shawn Frank! Infotel's nothin but a scam company anyway. I';m not spendin my hard earned money on that dirty bastard. Good job speakin your mind.

Joe

HEADS UP!

I am a business that got scammed...

I think that personal attacks to the Franks are not needed here. Hurting their scam is! What is better is the inside workings of the Infotel Publications. It's better to post what a Lead is than post just Lead. What is a Lead anyway?

Here is an interesting post I saw on another site that gave me more information.

INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS
BY FORMER EMPLOYEE NOW CALLED INFOLIE (My e-mail works)

(Special thanks to that somewhat special who translates my verbal conversation)
SALES: Located in Montreal at two locations and in Toronto. Sales have a huge turnover, because your sale has to pass the VER.
The sales script calls say “Would you like to be “Re-listed “in the Directory of American Business”, “Your Company always orders it”. “It’s the Yellow / White Pages, the National Directory”; “You were previously listed” etc, etc. This call is not taped.

DO-NOT-CALL-LIST: This does not exist and requests are ignored unless a BBB or AG letter has surfaced.

VER: The follow-up taped call is made one day or more with, “This is so and so calling from the shipping department of Infotel Publications. (Not shipping department, just another telemarketer) You had spoken to so and so regarding the Directory of American Business, I’m calling to confirm the details of the order and give the approximate shipping date. This call is quickly made rambling off the name, address, telephone number etc. to get to the crucial moment when the person is asked the correct spelling of their last name and “Does your company require a purchase order for this or the directory and invoice sent to your attention. It also does indicate here your are authorized to make the purchase”. This sets up the unauthorized person for the “authorized purchase.” The tape calls are done on standard Radio Shack cassette recorders. All tapes are numbered. VER people are also credited on their ability to get the ok from the customer. Recently the words “This call may be monitored for quality purposes” have been added according to a colleague of mine. If you fail too much you are not a good enough VER-ER.

FILES & COLLECTIONS: Files containing the invoice and call-up VER sheet with tape #’s are kept until a customer call is received or kept sleeping until it is distributed to collectors after the file grows old enough. The collector then calls about the invoice which is now past due. Standard rebuttals are shown to the newbie but each collector is on trial for three months after which double digits (10+ files or payments) are required or you’re out the door. Call dates & notes are written in the file folder. When Infotel moved from Decarie Blvd to Bucan Street in Montreal computers were added, however, the transition is still not complete so collectors use file folders.

INVOICES: The first invoice arrives after the Directory is shipped by UPS. Follow-up invoices with interest are sent as required helping out the collector. Collectors can “Settle” the invoice with waived interest and shipping, a one year listing, or setup fees. The company is called and re-called about the unpaid invoice until the Owner, President etc pays the invoice in full, one year or the setup fees. If this doesn’t happen the file is dead.

CC and PAP: Infotel started accepting Credit Cards and Pre Authorized Payments. These forms of payment are most important in the collection room which holds daily or weekly contests.

MASS FAXING: When working a file the collector always try’s to get to speak to key people in the decision making process. All these people are faxed the invoice with a cover sheet with “Past Due” and/or other comments written. The fax machines run around the clock and I’ve seen many worn out machines thrown out.

COMPLAINTS: Complaints from customers claiming they did not order as in letters (called fan letters) are added to the file but don’t close the file. Not even lawyer’s letters stop the collector, the lawyer is even called.

DEAD FILES: Dead files are reworked for $50.00 - $89.95

PAID FILES: Paid files are setup for LOADS.

LOADS: A load is a Re-Invoice for the second year which was written on the original invoice (2-yr listing Ad) this is where you have to convince the owner that the original invoice was only for one year. The word Load (a telemarketing slur) is never used in the collection room it is more appropriately referred to as an “Established Account”

LISTINGS: Only two year listings are sold so the “Established Account” is really for the newbies.

DIRECTORIES: Directories are shipped out “with” or “without” you’re Ad (returns are reused). Many returned directories are also reshipped back to the customer. Directories sold are unknown but if 10,000 were sold at $400.00 we can understand the power this pirate business can generate.

POD: Proof of delivery by UPS is also a tool used when the customer has not seen the directory.

BBB and AG: When a customer complains he/she will contact the BBB, the file is handled with care, if a threat of Attorney General is heard, the file is DEADED.

When I worked at the new location on Bucan, tapes were just on a number of desks. I have learned from a colleague that they are now in a room like the old place, however for a long time I took one here and there. I also took invoices and VER sheets in case I was ever harassed, which eventually happened. (HELLO TED)

How they do it so good?

http://www.ksi.edu/people/students/charliechen/charthesis/char01.html

How do you fight it?

http://www.junkbusters.com/script.html
http://www.scn.org/~bk269/polite.html

5101 Buchan suite 250, Montreal, QC H4P 2R9 (CURRENT LOCATION)

5250 Decarie Blvd suite 150, Montreal, QE H3X 2H9 (CLOSED)

33 Elm Street, Merrimack, NY 03054-6400 (CURRENT LOCATION)

5 Cotton Lane, Champlain, NY 12919 (CLOSED)

94 Main Mill Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (CURRENT LOCATION)

Pretoria Road Chertsay, Surrey, UK KT189LW. (CURRENT LOCATION)

152 Water Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (CURRENT LOCATION)

Leads: a lead sheet is a list of 8 businesses in alpha order. You are aloud 2 leads at a time at cretin times a day. You keep these lead sheets until you wear them out. This is where you make your sales. I personally know that infotel is not a scam. You are buying a product. If you go buy a car you have to go by the agreement. You have to pay the car off rite well you also have to pay for your directory! People say that it is useless. I strongly disagree. You can gain from this directory, its national. You can find exactly what you need nationwide. As for all the "FORMER EMPLOYEES" it’s ok to feel let down but it’s a dog eat dog world. If you could sell you would still have a GREAT Paying job. Its simple! The more ppl you call the more sales you make, the more sales you make the more money at the end of the week. I think it’s absolutely outrageous that ppl feel they have the right to attack the staff at infotel giving personal information about the owners! Come on guys really! I guess its ok to feel jealous I mean the franks are not hurting for anything. Maybe if you were Bright enough to come up with they’re business plan. You wouldn’t be so whiney Good work guys keep it up!

This present employee must think businesses are uneducated....Hello, a National Directory - phonebook size? Isn't this small for National. A National Directory is "Impossible" and cannot exist, it would be too big. All directories are monitored by Libraries. Is this National Directory in any Library? Also Why are you listed bad with the BBB?

http://search.buffalo.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0041000021000776

What the BBB says:

Educational/General Comments

The following is Better Business Bureau general advice:

The Better Business Bureau has received many complaints from businesses against companies that sell business directories (in
book, CD-ROM or online versions) regarding their selling practices. The firms who complain report that their business was billed for a directory listing which was never
ordered, or that sales personnel lead them to believe they were renewing advertising in the directory.

To distinguish a reputable directory from those of little value or no value, the Better Business Bureau suggests the following
tips:
* Before agreeing to anything, check with your local library. The public library will stock well-known and useful general directories and can advise you about its knowledge of the volume in question.
* Also, the reputation of professional and business directories may be checked with relevant trade associations. Ask the solicitor if they belong to any nationally recognized trade association and check them out.
* Ask questions. A reputable company will be willing to tell and prove to you who subscribes to its publication and the
number of volumes published in past years.
* If they indicate distribution to federal or local government agencies, ask for references by a contact name, agency, address and phone number of any local agencies.
* If the subscribers to the directory are mainly limited to those whose names appear in it, you can logically infer that it is, in fact, a vanity publication for the self-aggrandizement
of those listed.
* Contact your Better Business Bureau for a reliability report on the company.

When considering advertising in a business directory, insist on verifiable circulation figures, details of publication dates,
name(s) of publishers, number of paid subscribers, and sample copies. If they provide you with a sample copy, call some of the local advertisers in your industry to see if their ads were successful in getting business.

How to Protect Your Business

* The best protection is knowledge and vigilance. Your company's accounting department, or the individuals responsible for paying bills, should carefully review all invoices, particularly those from unfamiliar companies.
* Never place an order over the telephone, unless there is no doubt that the firm you are dealing with is reputable. Obtain the
organization's name, address, and telephone number, as well as its representative's full name and position. Then check on the company's reliability with your local Better Business Bureau.
* Establish effective internal controls for the payment of invoices.
* Channel all bills through one department.
* Insist that employees fill out pre-numbered purchase orders for every order placed.
* Check all invoices against purchase orders and against goods or services received. Make certain that order numbers correspond
with the invoices.
* Verify all invoices with the person who gave written or verbal authorization.
* Clear all invoices with the appropriate executives.
* If the invoicing company claims to have tape recordings of the order and verification calls, insist on hearing them.

Consumers who wish to file a complaint can contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357 and Phonebusters for
Canadian companies, by calling 888-495-8501. (Phonebusters is the national deceptive telemarketing call center operated by the Ontario, Canada, Provincial Police.)

The Better Business Bureau provides this general information; along with over 100 other alerts that help consumers make better buying decisions. Check them out for free on our web site at www.upstateny.bbb.org

Report as of: 12/3/2003

Copyright: 2003 Better Business Bureau, Inc.

i'm a previous employee who scammed with the best of them taking people for 2 books at a time at 1 point. I sincerely appologize for that and say the franks are f@#$ing idiots and cheap. one week i sold a whole lot of books, conveiniently enough they decided i couldnt get paid for them....... hmmm, could they not afford it? i guess he would have had to re-mortgage his house in the mountains to afford it? I really don't know why i was fired in the first place, probably cause i wouldn't do anything with the boss. hint,hint he is a little feminine. Sorry madam h. SORRY to all the people i ripped!

I got that phonebook from Infotel. I heard a taped call with Gail saying yes to a fast talking woman. Gail is 12 yrs.old. Infotel said I'm responsible for my daughter answering the phone. They called me for two years with threats. I had no choice but to have my telephone numbers and fax changed. It cost me a bit for business cards etc. but I rid myself of the vermin.

WOW I found this Great. I got this Directory of American Business today. I called and left a message to Infotel. I'll give them a good argument. How can I contact the real owners?

Leads.........................................hmmmmmmm there is something peculier about them......why do they say previously or currently listed next to them? I.m pretty sure there is something fishy about that. Do you think that all businesses were currently or previously listed?? Look into it.

Hello,
Interesting Information for our company. Yep, we have the exact problem with Infotel. A secretary was called and told it was the Yellow Pages. They had a tape of her from the shipping department. I'm the owner. Monday, I will get in touch with Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/1999/jun/jun07a_99.html

I think calling a few people in that book and giving them this information would also interesting if they exist. Thank You

Hello,
Interesting Information for our company. Yep, we have the exact problem with Infotel. A secretary was called and told it was the Yellow Pages. They had a tape of her from the shipping department. I'm the owner. Monday, I will get in touch with Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/1999/jun/jun07a_99.html

I think calling a few people in that book and giving them this information would also interesting if they exist. Thank You

Thank you to the webmaster of this site. We have the directory and just received an invoice with Net 10 days. The pattern is the same for us. We will never pay them. When they call us we will record them. Let's see what happens when the shoe is on the other foot!

That`s the way to do it folks! Keep up the good fight. I`m glad to see more and more people learning about this company. The only way to fight these guys is through knowledge, not ignorance. Once you know their mechanisms, game end! If you want or need any more stories, just ask here and when I see the posts, I`ll answer them.

To Infolie: Go get em!!!

That`s the way to do it folks! Keep up the good fight. I`m glad to see more and more people learning about this company. The only way to fight these guys is through knowledge, not ignorance. Once you know their mechanisms, game end! If you want or need any more stories, just ask here and when I see the posts, I`ll answer them.

To Infolie: Go get em!!!

That`s the way to do it folks! Keep up the good fight. I`m glad to see more and more people learning about this company. The only way to fight these guys is through knowledge, not ignorance. Once you know their mechanisms, game end! If you want or need any more stories, just ask here and when I see the posts, I`ll answer them.

To Infolie: Go get em!!!

That`s the way to do it folks! Keep up the good fight. I`m glad to see more and more people learning about this company. The only way to fight these guys is through knowledge, not ignorance. Once you know their mechanisms, game end! If you want or need any more stories, just ask here and when I see the posts, I`ll answer them.

To Infolie: Go get em!!!

That`s the way to do it folks! Keep up the good fight. I`m glad to see more and more people learning about this company. The only way to fight these guys is through knowledge, not ignorance. Once you know their mechanisms, game end! If you want or need any more stories, just ask here and when I see the posts, I`ll answer them.

To Infolie: Go get em!!!

Hi Everybody,

My name is Mary and I have this problem. My name is on the bill but I was told the Directory was Free. Do they tell you it's free?
If they have my voice taped, how did they remove the part that said it was Free because the invoice says $394?

Hi Mary,
They are not supposed to tell you that it`s free, but there a lot of sales people there that will say just that. They do this so they can make the sale and have it verified the next day. When the verifiers call up the following day, they are supposed to tell you the price again, but a lot of people miss this because they`re thinking of the previous conversation and they don`t pick up on it. You only find out when you receive the invoice. Also, the initial sales calls are not taped, only the followup calls from the so called "shipping department". The reason you will be told that the sales calls are not taped is that " not all the calls result in sales, only the verification calls, because you wouldn`t of received a call unless you had agreed to purchase the book the day before.". They will tell you that due to the volume of sales calls, it would be impossible to tape them all. Good gimmick huh? Just remember, they only tape the second call, not the first. So if you were told it was free, that`s the first call. The one that`s taped is the second call where you are asked if you are authorized to purchase. This one they quote you the price for sure. Bet on it!
Anyways, don`t pay. Call them up and ask for ALDO. He`s the manager of collections. Tell him you are not going to pay and that you`re going to put in a complaint to the Attorney General of your state. This should shut them down pretty quickly. If you have any more questions, just post them here and I`ll try to help.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi Mary,
They are not supposed to tell you that it`s free, but there a lot of sales people there that will say just that. They do this so they can make the sale and have it verified the next day. When the verifiers call up the following day, they are supposed to tell you the price again, but a lot of people miss this because they`re thinking of the previous conversation and they don`t pick up on it. You only find out when you receive the invoice. Also, the initial sales calls are not taped, only the followup calls from the so called "shipping department". The reason you will be told that the sales calls are not taped is that " not all the calls result in sales, only the verification calls, because you wouldn`t of received a call unless you had agreed to purchase the book the day before.". They will tell you that due to the volume of sales calls, it would be impossible to tape them all. Good gimmick huh? Just remember, they only tape the second call, not the first. So if you were told it was free, that`s the first call. The one that`s taped is the second call where you are asked if you are authorized to purchase. This one they quote you the price for sure. Bet on it!
Anyways, don`t pay. Call them up and ask for ALDO. He`s the manager of collections. Tell him you are not going to pay and that you`re going to put in a complaint to the Attorney General of your state. This should shut them down pretty quickly. If you have any more questions, just post them here and I`ll try to help.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi Mary,
They are not supposed to tell you that it`s free, but there a lot of sales people there that will say just that. They do this so they can make the sale and have it verified the next day. When the verifiers call up the following day, they are supposed to tell you the price again, but a lot of people miss this because they`re thinking of the previous conversation and they don`t pick up on it. You only find out when you receive the invoice. Also, the initial sales calls are not taped, only the followup calls from the so called "shipping department". The reason you will be told that the sales calls are not taped is that " not all the calls result in sales, only the verification calls, because you wouldn`t of received a call unless you had agreed to purchase the book the day before.". They will tell you that due to the volume of sales calls, it would be impossible to tape them all. Good gimmick huh? Just remember, they only tape the second call, not the first. So if you were told it was free, that`s the first call. The one that`s taped is the second call where you are asked if you are authorized to purchase. This one they quote you the price for sure. Bet on it!
Anyways, don`t pay. Call them up and ask for ALDO. He`s the manager of collections. Tell him you are not going to pay and that you`re going to put in a complaint to the Attorney General of your state. This should shut them down pretty quickly. If you have any more questions, just post them here and I`ll try to help.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi Mary,
They are not supposed to tell you that it`s free, but there a lot of sales people there that will say just that. They do this so they can make the sale and have it verified the next day. When the verifiers call up the following day, they are supposed to tell you the price again, but a lot of people miss this because they`re thinking of the previous conversation and they don`t pick up on it. You only find out when you receive the invoice. Also, the initial sales calls are not taped, only the followup calls from the so called "shipping department". The reason you will be told that the sales calls are not taped is that " not all the calls result in sales, only the verification calls, because you wouldn`t of received a call unless you had agreed to purchase the book the day before.". They will tell you that due to the volume of sales calls, it would be impossible to tape them all. Good gimmick huh? Just remember, they only tape the second call, not the first. So if you were told it was free, that`s the first call. The one that`s taped is the second call where you are asked if you are authorized to purchase. This one they quote you the price for sure. Bet on it!
Anyways, don`t pay. Call them up and ask for ALDO. He`s the manager of collections. Tell him you are not going to pay and that you`re going to put in a complaint to the Attorney General of your state. This should shut them down pretty quickly. If you have any more questions, just post them here and I`ll try to help.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi Mary,
They are not supposed to tell you that it`s free, but there a lot of sales people there that will say just that. They do this so they can make the sale and have it verified the next day. When the verifiers call up the following day, they are supposed to tell you the price again, but a lot of people miss this because they`re thinking of the previous conversation and they don`t pick up on it. You only find out when you receive the invoice. Also, the initial sales calls are not taped, only the followup calls from the so called "shipping department". The reason you will be told that the sales calls are not taped is that " not all the calls result in sales, only the verification calls, because you wouldn`t of received a call unless you had agreed to purchase the book the day before.". They will tell you that due to the volume of sales calls, it would be impossible to tape them all. Good gimmick huh? Just remember, they only tape the second call, not the first. So if you were told it was free, that`s the first call. The one that`s taped is the second call where you are asked if you are authorized to purchase. This one they quote you the price for sure. Bet on it!
Anyways, don`t pay. Call them up and ask for ALDO. He`s the manager of collections. Tell him you are not going to pay and that you`re going to put in a complaint to the Attorney General of your state. This should shut them down pretty quickly. If you have any more questions, just post them here and I`ll try to help.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Sorry about the multiple posts everyone.
Proxy problems.

:-)

Cool Posts........................

Sales will say anything on the first call because I was in sales and I did it. When you know the territory you know how to score. The score is if it passes the VER as mentioned several times above. Only when the VER is passed does the sales person get the sale.

I told them, You were Previously Listed, You Always Get It, Your Boss Orders It, It's Free, You Have to Take It, etc. As soon as a customer asks is this the "Yellow Pages", Bingo, I reply YES it's The National Yellow and White Pages. That is a Score for Sure. They don't think when you say National.

It's a Scam, plain and simple.

A 2004 Directory just has a cover change!

I still eat lunch with my old friends, they want to get out but have families and stuff.

I too still know people there. Once you are making decent money it`s hard to get out. Face it, if you`re good at selling this piece of garbage of a directory, you can make EXCELLENT money. They also pay a minimum of eleven dollars an hour to start.
What more could a person ask?

hello, i was in sales shortly for infotel, i didn't know it was a scam until i overheard other older sales people mention it. i was let go because i did not sell many books.
i'm sorry to those who did get caught by me. i heard many sales people around me lie all the time. my sales went down because i just couldn't do it like them.
i'm working for a good company now and i have a friend still there who wants to get out. it's like a concentration camp at infotel, you are on the phone all day with lead sheets. you're watched like you are in gradeschool. sean frank is the big boss.

infotel = scammers

Our company is out of Florida and North Carolina.

We have these Directories. American Business and US Toll Free. They have scammed us, big time. We don’t want their stupid Directories and I’m contacting Charlie Crist about this and my colleague up in NC will contact Roy Cooper.

Thank You for the e-mail

Charlie

Got this site in an e-mail, my name is Harry and I’ve handled these invoices for a while from Infotel Publications. I never questioned them until now. The payment to these jerks stops here.

Good Afternoon,
Our business has been solicited by these people and we don’t want these publications but they keep showing up with invoices. I called the BBB and they are getting numerous calls about these people. Thank you for e-mailing this website. Brent

You`ll never see ALDO walk the plank. He owes the boys too much money. Gotta keep going to the casino, you know. It should be interesting however, to see if anything comes of all this stirred up stuff. Personally, I wouldn`t shed one tear. :-)

I received a Directory last week and the purchaser was not authorized. I spoke with Infotel and got the same story everone is writing about. The ad even has the wrong name. They offered one year free but I'm not paying for it.
Infotrash not infotel.

Hello and thank you for e-mailing me.

Our company has been dealing with this Infotel Company and can’t seem to rid ourselves of them. I will contact the BBB and AG about this Blog. They have taken us for quite a bit of money and we have never seen any benefit from it. Also, many companies listed say they never purchased an ad in them directories. The Directory is a haphazard list of businesses state by state. The ads are tiny ads like the back pages of a magazine. So it looks like a definite Canadian Telemarketing scam aimed at American businesses. What’s (Hello Ted) mean?

Regards - Ben

I got myself an e-mail with a link to this website. Those people at Infotel are givin us plenty of trouble and sending us directories we do not want. We never authorise them but we get stuck to pay. We dont use the dam books. If they call us back again I told my employees to hang up on them. A letter to our AG Bill Pryor looks like the best recourse.

The Blogoshere's 1.2 Million websites put Calblog at #1 beating Infotel's own website on all search engines.

To Blog or not to Blog that is the question.

I like that Infolie! ( Hello Ted ). I wouldn`t be surprised if that`s really the case. I still know a bunch of people there, and I`m going to try to confirm it. Real cute :-). On that note; ( Hello Khan, Hello Frank, Hello Kenny, Hello Izkra(sorry for the spelling?), Hello Robert, Hello Jack, Hello Ros, Hello Aldo and Darlene.....still together? Hello Tub of Lard, Hello to everyone else I used to work with. Hey Infolie!!!! Ya think the walls may be crumbling a bit???

I like that Infolie! ( Hello Ted ). I wouldn`t be surprised if that`s really the case. I still know a bunch of people there, and I`m going to try to confirm it. Real cute :-). On that note; ( Hello Khan, Hello Frank, Hello Kenny, Hello Izkra(sorry for the spelling?), Hello Robert, Hello Jack, Hello Ros, Hello Aldo and Darlene.....still together? Hello Tub of Lard, Hello to everyone else I used to work with. Hey Infolie!!!! Ya think the walls may be crumbling a bit???

Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies Infotel Publications is one of the largest scam companies

Ah, the infamous Infotel Publications. Yes, we got a directory and an invoice. I've been playing with these guys for this last year. They probably think they will collect. Most of the time the office gathers around the speaker phone, it's quite funny.

I received a national directory that I did not order. From what I've read here I know what to do. I left three messages with Infotel but no one has returned my call. Today a guy from Infotel told me because I'm in California and they are eastern there is a delay. I guess they are going to play with the Net 10 days written on the invoice. An Attorney Gen. letter looks fine to me.

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

Infotel Publications = Telemarketing Scam

our business received a directory and an invoice too. the name on the invoice is our president. i heard a taped call and it was her answering yes spliced in with a person from their shipping department. they didn’t have the sales call. its indeed some sort of scam where the sales dept. gets people to say yes and makes up a purchase. our president doesn’t purchase anything by phone. we sent the directory back but they called back claiming we owe for a two year ad.

Why waste the money? Better to post here and f--k `em up this way. Make sure that everyone in the continental U.S. knows about them. HIT them where it really hurts. Their pocketbooks.

listen im sorry im so late replying... infotel is a scam company but it pays the bills... you out there buying directories - keep buyin 'em just dont pay... the sales ppl get paid and it dont cost u a thing... i know it's a scam but a very well paying scam (4 the sales ppl) ...get the place shut down - at least we can all get workers comp.. ("T".... write something plz)

Infotel Publications is one dam big scam, the worst I've seen in business in years. You get called up verifying your information and you are sent a national business directotry that you don't need and would never use.
The BBB will get them off my back but not shut them down so it's just a hush up for now.

I am leaving soon
Yes it is a Telemarketing Scam

The lead sheets provide us with your information We call and call till we find a manager who agrees on the pitch
The pitch is whatever the salesperson wants because no sale would be refused
I heard the books are under $10 so It's good money for salespersons and in the millions for the Frank family
They live a rich lifestyle on your payments The Franks are extremly cheap People and employees who work there know that
Sales are probably down because of this site

I happened to research this Infotel Publication company and I’m shocked by these posts.

I was taking over the lunch break for our receptionist when this Infotel woman called. I was told our company was in this publication before. The next day I was called with our company information. It sounded legitimate so I agreed to it. We received a National US Business Directory and a bill for $394. My boss won't pay it. I called the company several times. I received a call from a Tiffany who says I have committed fraud? What is this here?

Thank You

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Infotel Publications Bogus US Business Directory www.mediacorp.com

Hi Debra S,
Wanna have some fun?? Tifanny`s real name is Arda. If you get another phone call from her, say "Hello Arda! How`s things?". Tell your boss not to worry. Tell Arda to get Aldo to pay for the directory since I`m sure he`ll cover the cost for every business that is taken in by these guys. Whatever you do Debra........Don`t Pay .....and Don`t Worry. Infotels` bark is definitely much worse than their bite `cause they have NO TEETH!
:-))))

Hi Debra S,
Wanna have some fun?? Tifanny`s real name is Arda. If you get another phone call from her, say "Hello Arda! How`s things?". Tell your boss not to worry. Tell Arda to get Aldo to pay for the directory since I`m sure he`ll cover the cost for every business that is taken in by these guys. Whatever you do Debra........Don`t Pay .....and Don`t Worry. Infotels` bark is definitely much worse than their bite `cause they have NO TEETH!
:-))))

Good morning. The same deal is happening with our office. I called last week and I was told there is a monitored call of our secretary authorizing it after I told them it was not ordered or purchased. This week I expect another call to hear the recording. Thanks to all here who post what this infotel is all about.

OUR BUSINESS HAS RECEIVED A DIRECTORY & INVOICE FROM INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS.

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION POSTED HERE. YOU SCUMBAGS WON'T GET A CENT FROM US.

SID

Ok my store has directory of american business yellow pages but no order it. I read it here and thank you very very much.

thank you

I have to give a big thanks to justine for asking about Infotel, and everyone above for thier candid comments. I knew something was up with these guys, since I've heard of similar "sales" tactics from toner and inc suppliers. Hopefully, any new victims of this scam will find this info and close the book on Infotel by not paying for a missrepresented service.

BTW: The posts by former employees are stinking hilarious. I almost want Mr. Morrow from collections to call back...

We got SCAMMED by this company !!!!!!

However we will NOT PAY !

and thanks to this site, we know we are not alone!!!!!!

Thank you everyone for all your advice!

My letters to the BBB and AG are currently being written!!!!!

Wow - the same thing happened to us with a Clover. I cannot believe how nasty they are! I will write my AG in IL and the BBB.

THANK YOU to everyone here. Best of luck to those in NY siccing your bad-ass AG on them. He's one of the last people to piss off!!

Juli

I think we have found a another scam the same people are running now. The reason I think it is the same company is because I have researched the addresses and company names and they go back to the same exact street addresses in Champlain, NY & Plattsburgh, NY that the Infotel-directory scam was out of. For about a year now we have been having almost the same exact scam only it deals with paper product supplies instead of directory listings. They call and tell you you have an order ready for shipment, someone at our company ordered it, they verify address, etc then send you 3 boxes of 24 rolls of printer paper. They charge $95 a box plus s/h! No one authorized it, only verified our address. They stated we had a contract with them, which we don't. The first time we let it slide as we did have a paper company and we thought they had just change their name. Last time this happened, 6 months ago, we called them told them not to send anything and specifically told them not to send us paper ever again and not to call us again. funny, they have no recording of us telling them not to contact us again! hmmm! Now we were told "you have a contract with us that your employee agreed on for us to send you 3 cases of paper every 6 months. They did record the conversation (isn't that illegal? we were not notified they were taping!) We told them we wanted to hear the tape. They called back and played the tape. On the tape our employee said it was her understanding that we had already recived our last shipment and we were using a new paper company. They asked to verify the address. Our employee said "yes" to confirm it was the correct address. The guy on the other end is trying to tell us that THAT, her saying yes to the address was authorization to ship the paper. Does anyone know anything about this? The company names I've come up with so far are:
Commercial Debit Supplies owned by:

Global Paper Products owned by:

Global International Thanks

WOW! I started reading these postings that everyone has been putting up and I just find this hilarious. I am a current employee at Infotel Publications and after receiving a Master's Degree in Business Ethics I realized that Infotel is quite an ethical company compared to the norm in north america and the Western World. You want to talk unethical....talk about the tobacco companies that distribute cancer sticks on a global scale. Why don't we talk about fast food restaurants that pretend to sell to you one hundred percent pure beef. Why dont we talk about weapons manufacturers (merchants of death) whose crafts are slaughtering people all over the world. Why don't we talk about investment bankers who have wet dreams over investing their dirty money into these aforementioned companies. You want to talk about scam artists.....read the financial post....flip your televesion station to CNN or tune into George W. Bush's weekly radio address. Ive read over many of these attacks by former employees and all I sense is bitterness because of the fact that they we not good at the jobs they had. I work in the sales department and we never lie to our clients....we tell them the truth about our product and it is not our fault that the management for these companies we sell to have no clue what theyre buying. When i go buy a product at a store....the store keeper will not tell me what the disadvantages are for buying that specific product, he/she will only tell me the adavantages.....the salesperson would be pretty stupid for just outlining the disadvantages in buying these products. All this b.s about the better business bureau (group therapy for suckers who can't admit to themselves they made a mistake and should only blame themselves) , is hilarious. Man, if you spent that energy on writing to your congressmen, you would all be living in a better place and you wouldn't be seeking for outlets to let out your frustration on how miserable your lives are. Don't get me wrong, I feel your pain. Depression is an epedemic in North America but letting out your frustrations on the good people of infotel is just morally wrong. Infotel has created many, many, many jobs and have always treated their employees with the most civil respect. Our owners often go out of their way to help their employees out in their personal lives. How many ceo's, and businessmen do that for their employees. I wont call the people who post up these sites jealous, because you probably are not. You are only misguided and misled by a few sorry folks who are too proud to admit that they made a mistake. I always buy things i dont like and i wish i never purchased. That doesnt meean I have the right not to pay. I can't get a subsrciption to a newspaper, determine after two years that I don't like it and then decide never to pay my distributor because i didnt enjoy reading my paper. This is consumer culture. We over consume. Every person in the Western world buy's more than what he or she needs. This is why we have credit cards. This is capitalism, and infotel publications is a participant in our capitalist society. Im not a communist, im not an anarchist, im not an imperialist....i'm just a capitalist. I beleive that capitalism is the best system that humanity has discovered to date. It may not be perfect. But it's the best system we have. So before you go on bashing a perfectly ethical company for its conduct and practices, first examine your own life, your own job, your own consuming habits and then I hope you have the intelligence to realize the hypocrisy in attacking infotel publications. And on a last note....if you people are concerned about corporate ethics you may want to consider examining companies like GM, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Mc Donalds, Halliburton, Imperial Tobacco, Goldman Sachs, Chenoys, UNOCAL, Chevron, Shell, Exxon, GAP, Club MOnaco, TIme/Warner. Leave Infotel alone. You should be glad that companies like infotel exists. It proves that there still is hope for grassroots capitalism. If you want to start censoring companies and banning people from using the freaking telephone to do business you may as well call yourself a traitor to your country. America stands for freedom and opportunity. Once we begin to discriminate on who deserves this freedom and who doesn't then our society will slowly fall apart. Look at the larger picture and realize that the survival of the industry that infotel is involved in is critical for the survival of all of capitalism.

On a further note. All you former employees who are vengefully citing your former employers' and colleagues' names, I believe you are cowards. Say who you are. You obviously have strong emotions for the company. If you felt so strongly about your position you would have had the confidence to say who you were. Instead, it seems like you are hiding your identity because you're afraid that the truth to why you left would really come out. If I were to bet my life on it I'd say you left because of pure incompetence. Contrary to the libel which has been posted, this company will give you all the chances in the world to succeed despite your colour, ethnicity, religion, age, sex and sexual orientation. You only bicker about the wealth that our employers accumulated and you are upset about the wages you earned. Considering the industry, you should not complain and if you want to discuss real labour issues....look at how companies like the gap treat their sweatshop employees. We have no problems buying nice shirts that were produced in sweatshops where labour costed pennies a day. You want to talk about exploited labour, talk about the Export Processing Zones that were created by the 'role model' corporations that we unconsciously support on a daily basis. But when you're earning 30 something grand a year and you have full benefits and almost a full year government support if you lose your job....cry me a freaking river if you feel youre not making enough money compared to what your employers are making. We live in North America, so if you think you have the brains to be earning so much money yourself, take out a loan and start your own business, don't try to bring someone else down because he/she had the balls to achieve something you could not possibly dream of. And oh ya....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah. I forgot this part. WHoever said we are forced to pitch in money for our employers to buy them a christmas present you must be on crack spiked with angel dust. What the heckare you t