I, too, have been importuned by these directory publishers.
They hit on me last month; I believe that they managed a year or two ago to persuade our then telecommunications director to pay up. They had her name on reference, but also mine, saying that I had authorized a paid listing of my firm in their directory. I replied that the only paid listings that this firm authorizes are (such and such and so and so) and that we do not put in paid listings in any other directories.
They still claimed that I had authorized the listing (which I do not have the authority to do anyway). I told them that if I were to process any invoice they would send me for payment, they would have to show me where I had signed on the dotted line to authorize any such listing. (We would have been billed both for a copy of the directory and for the listing.) I said that I certainly did not need the directory, so they said, fine: we will just bill you for the listing (already published) which you have authorized. I said, show me where I had authorized a paid listing. (DOes this sound like I was going round and round?) They then said that someone from shipping would have to call me to confirm that we didn't want the directory or listing. Altogether I think I ended up with 4 or 5 phone calls from these people (and always when I was busiest, naturally). The two things which I said that finally stopped them were: "show me where I signed", and "I'm not saying that YOU ar!
e !
!
a scam directory, but I know that there are scams out there, so I have to be very careful and have proper documentation." (They did say that they were recording the conversation, etc.) They never have sent me any documentation.
They have also have managed to hit our Comptroller and our current director of telecommunications with similar importunings. Our comptroller said, 'I'm new here and will have to look this up; give me your number and I'll call you back.' They said that they couldn't accept calls and would have to call us. HM! HM!HM! HM!HM!HM! And yet again, I say HM!
They definitely are persistent puddy tats (Sylvester has NOTHING on them!)
I would suggest that you inform anyone in your library or firm who might be subject to such a call about the distinct possibility that this is a real scam.
And when you get such a phone call, be very firm and show no signs of being in the least wishy-washy about it. As one person on this list pointed out: if they have ANYTHING recorded which shows that you were in the least interested in even LOOKING at then publication, they will take that as an authorization. But! Remember that you are being recorded.......
FRANK DRAKE
Arnstein & Lehr
CHICAGO
P.S.
You might want to take a good look at the new ALR Index Tables volume. I will have something to say about that next week. (Threat and a promise!)
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