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Universal Adcom review: Scam 19

J
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8:29 am EDT
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Just after the new year I was called by their salesman with a proposed advertising agreement. I was told that each county I sign up for, a magnet with our ad would be sent to every home in those counties. I was told this is a magnet which is sent out only every five years and had potential of advertisement for those five years. I was also told I had to decide that day as it was crunch time and they were going out on Jan 19 & 20. So later that day, I called him back and approved McHenry county and was then told I could call by tomorrow to agree to Lake County. So the next day, I called and agreed to the other county as well. Sounded like a sweet deal!
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!

Well, by end of January I called to follow-up that our magnets had indeed gone out and find out when I would receive the 50 complimentary magnets which came with each county. I was told by a customer service rep that when an order is placed it could then take up to 12 weeks. I explained to her, that is not at all what we were told, but she insisted. So, confused and not happy with those answers, like a dummy, I waited. Well, a few days after my phone call I suddenly received the complimentary magnets for Lake County, strange... So, I waited a week or so longer for the other county and never receiving it, I called customer service again.

Well, this time the rep took the time to explain their actual procedures and this is when I found out everything the salesman told me was a LIE! They only print UP TO (key words) 1000 magnets for that select county, 50 go to each advertised business and the remaining go to the distributing company, which is who actually ordered the magnets for distribution. Universal Adcom has no idea how these companies distribute these magnets, Universal Adcom does not mail anything but to the distributing company. The whole 5 years story and every household was all BS. When I explained to her what I was told and asked for a manager I was told I could only leave a name and contact number.

Well, a week later and I have yet to hear back! As for the magnets for McHenry, doubt they ever even printed them. I have yet to receive. The tracking number through UPS which they provided and would not track for me, said the package was lost a month ago and Universal Adcom was notified.

Well, I have disputed these charges on my credit card and have won as they didn't even fight it! THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DID! AND THEY BACK THEIR LYING, CHEATING SALESMAN WHO PROBABLY EARN COMMISSION!

I saw that this company also DBA MANY other company names and you should beware of any of them for now!

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

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19 comments
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ApNs
, US
Nov 01, 2018 12:43 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Has anybody checked to see if they actually make the products and send them to the schools or libraries they promised? I did and those places didn't know what I was talking about. Funny how I'm getting invoices for and now collection notices. I blocked their number a long time ago and now I have an attorney involved and filing for fraud. I'm all for marketing and helping my local communities but DELIVER WHAT YOU PROMISE.

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fayeraye
, US
Nov 30, 2015 4:30 pm EST

On my July bank statement there are charges for the amount of $380.00. The date of the charges were on July 21, 2015. I have tried to contact the company by phone at [protected], which I continue to get a busy signal.

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Amber Apostolo
, US
Nov 10, 2015 3:13 pm EST

i just received a collections letter in the mail saying I owe them $399.50 from back in 2013 and its now almost 2016 kinda funny how they do this lol and they couldn't even spell my last name right so idk how its going to go on my credit

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megp
moundsville, US
Oct 14, 2015 1:51 pm EDT

Same as other people have reported. We regularly do a map with other local businesses and Chamber of Commerce. I received a call about our reorder of maps. I had spoken a week or so earlier to the representative from the company we have done the maps with for years so when they called and told me they were confirming the ad copy I assumed at first it was the correct company. Took me awhile to pinpoint that these were not the company I had dealt with. I received an invoice from AdCom, but business name and my name are misspelled. Knowing for sure this was not the company I had dealt with in past years I called told them not interested for many reasons and they told me I had agreed already on recorded line. They have not been able to produce recording. My conversation on the recorded call was mostly asking them questions and they kept saying they were the printer for the company we deal with. I couldn't get a company name. They said they would email me a proof. I received it and it is an exact copy of our business card that we distribute on a one-on-one basis. I'd love to know where or from whom they received it. I am refusing to pay them as I did not order it. Truly scammers.

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Reviewer85936
,
Sep 08, 2015 2:25 pm EDT

My company did advertising on a local map. Now I'm getting invoices for magnets and calendars that I never ordered. They call like they are long lost friends and confuse you about orders.

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KatWilk
Lake City, US
Sep 21, 2014 10:14 am EDT

Our company has had a slightly different problem with this company after reading the complaints posted here I can assure you all of one thing that is they will do WHATEVER it takes to make a sale. I was actually online looking for a way to block them from calling us. Or for an agency that can and will file charges against them. What they are doing to us could really be considered harassment. We fell for the pitch the first time and ordered the "magnets". This was for one set of magnets one time order right!? No within 6 months they were on the phone claiming it was a sale and payment for the "first" six months. As far as I know calendars come out one time a year the only difference in calendars would be a school calendar that runs concurrent with the school year. That we agreed to pay for the second and final "installment" and that they were never to call us again. The owner requested to be placed and a "do not call" list. At that time the owner was trying to be polite. We have been in business for over 37 years and have ordered calendars every year. Never have we ever run into a situation like this. Now we get calls several times a week. I have spoken to them and the owner has also told them to stop calling we will never buy anything from them. Now they are claiming we owe them a third payment for the order that there are three time a year for the single calendar. There are only two people that can place orders so it is impossible that they will get someone else that does not know better to place an order. As a matter of fact everyone that works for us and answers the phone have heard the owner yell and curse them and tell them never to call again. Hey people ever heard of called ID all our employees see the name and refuse to answer or speak to them. Now the new ply is to claim we "owe" them money from our last order. Yeah right! Like this will work, There has not been any other orders! PERIOD!

I guess the difference between me and some of the other people posting here is that I am very litigious and will file charges and enjoy driving them crazy and spending their money. Making them defend themselves. Not my first time at the rodeo guys! No one has the right to continue calling you when you have documented all calls and asked repeatedly for a company to stop harassing you. And all the people that write on here putting people down are certainly working for Universal Ad Com. That won't work either. Keep writing people on as many sites as you can. When enough is out there about their tactics they will either be forced to change their ways or go out of business. Or as so many companies do reinvent themselves and change their names and reopen and continue these practices. Oh and BTW the idiot that said you should have recorded the conversation. It is illegal to record a conversation unless you notify the person you are recording the evidence acquired that way would not be allowable as evidence. So if you do decide to record conversations be sure to let them know as soon as you begin recording. If you do they will surely hang up on you. This is why insurance companies or properly run companies that make sales by phone will tell you are being recorded. That keeps everyone honest. Ask them for the recording of you sale if they cannot produce it they can't do a single thing to you either! You may have figured out by know that they burned our owner once but they never will again. Forewarned is forearmed. I am sure most of you that own businesses have a lawyer that is either a friend or have had to hire for something in the past ask them! I did!

One little footnote these "magnets" will cause rust on stainless steel appliances. Do you really want your customers to remember you for the rust on their appliances? Take the information and do as you want I am already pursuing my options good luck.

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oldvet
Irving, US
Aug 19, 2014 10:54 am EDT

this company is a joke the whole company first you got an ex con running the sales floor and im all for second chances i am a product of a successful ex con but this sone still finds ways to show true spirit the manager of the sales uses spiff money to buy groceries lets his girl work from home while sleeping with a few of the sales floor reps..ha but they fire brenda who somewhat had dicipline and correction on point but someone who abuses power to just get rid of all the veteran reps...then what all this a rip off working there and buying from their company

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PROUD EMPLOYEE STANDING STRONG
Fort Worth, US
Nov 30, 2011 7:52 am EST

WELL WHAT AN EYE OPENER. I AM EMPLOYEE OF UAC AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE HOWEVER MY STRONGEST AGREEMENT IS THAT IT ALL LYES IN EACH INDIVIDUAL SALES REP. BEING THAT IVE SEEN IT AND HEARD IT ALL THE COMPANY HAS TAKEN CARE OF ME BY PROVIDING MY FAMILY WITH DENTAL AND VISION BENEFITS. AS WELL AS FLEXABLITY TO TAKE CARE OF PERSONAL BUSINESS. I HAVE YET TO LIE IN ORDER TO MAKE A SALE AND IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY MISCOMMUNICATION I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO GET TO THE BEST UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS SECURE THE ETHICS OF THIS COMPANY. NO IM NOT RICH FROM MAKING SALES BUT I DO WELL AND AM DEPENDED ON GREATLY FOR MY INTEGRITY. I DO BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES FOR PEOPLE AS I SEE SO DOES THE COMPANY UNLIKE OTHER COMPANIES IN OUR SOCIETY WHO JUST SHUT PEOPLE OUT. ANY BUSINESS THAT HAS MADE IT PASSED 35+ YEARS IS BOUND TO MAKE MISTAKES AS WE ARE ALL HUMANS, ITS WHAT MAKES US BETTER EACH YEAR.

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Jessicawestern
Las Vegas, US
Oct 23, 2011 9:29 pm EDT

I don't know what one of the posters on here is talking about, but these people are not rolling in money. The carpet is ripped and dirty and it smells like chemicals inside. The walls are horrible orange and bright blue colors with grease stains and/or dirt all over them. The sales reps do not even have COMPUTERS to work on. Their tools consist of papers, a telephone and the ability to lie a lot for measly paycheck. In every way, Those who enjoy lying and have zero ethics, i.e.I'm a project manager "with" the fire dept., ect., probably can keep themselves employed. Just about everything they say is a lie, including, "The Chamber of Commerce recommended your business." Absolute B.S. No other organizations are involved in any of this.

The reason they don't send out magnets is they have a printing area that looks like something a small office might use. One little manual roll machine. It's very primitive. There is no way they could keep up with what they are selling, even if they wanted to.

The sales managers are probably making some money off of the backs of the salespeople. Those doing the selling start at 7.25 an hour (minimum wage) and have to sell $500 worth of ads every day (1-2 ads) or a minimum of $2, 000 a week. For all of that, they get a $50 commission on top of minimum wage. Anyone who works there and pays these shysters $500 a day in return for a minimum wage job is nuts. The salary goes up over time, but so do the quotas. They have no health benefits, with a one-week vacation after two years !?

I can't understand how they stay in business. The owner obviously has some sort of clout in high places to get away with this.I worked there for two days and resigned. I'm not a slave and I am not going to misrepresent myself and tarnish my name by lying to small business owners all over the country. They have more than 400 complaints with the Better Business Bureau in Texas alone. Some of the complaints involve billing people's accounts for magnets they didn't order.

If you haven't researched this company online and you get taken for a ride, then shame on YOU.

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Clovebaby
North Richland Hills, US
Jul 01, 2011 2:40 am EDT

i worked for universal adcom for almost 3 years as a typesetter, I actually set up and put together the ads. I can say that most of the people in to production side of the company are really good people but are the lowest on the totem pole. In the 3 years i worked there i never got a raise, there were others there that had gone 8 years without a raise. there are no benefits for their employees at all. A typesetter started out at $10 an hour. Upper management and Sales floor is a different story. Sales floor is about half druggies, convicts, and born scammers, the other half are really good people, they all make big time bucks. Management is a joke! Roy the Production manager was a huge joke, the man was an idiot, he actually came out of his office and asked how to open an excel file, he couldn't type at all, and barely knew how to turn on a computer. He was best known for his harem of Latin girls that worked in the back printing shop, he was caught multiple times having sex with one of them in a dark room or corner of the warehouse, he could get away with it because the girls didn't speak any English. Then there was the CEO who was found passed out in his car in the middle of the road with his young daughter in the back seat with a box in the passenger seat with lines of coke ready to go, that was all over the local news, and he is the son of the owner of the company. The CEO's sister is also in upper management but i never knew what her title was but she is also a coke head not to mention a meth head. there was only 2 people in upper management that were worth a dam and that were actually any good.

as for the people that are saying this is a scam, its not, the sales people at this company are no different from car salesmen. they will say and do what ever they have to to get the sale. Yest they actually print out the magnets that you order, depending on how many adds there are depends on how quickly it gets printed. It usually took about a month before a small magnet got ready to come to production and about another week before it went to print. They sell adds all over the US and there was only 7 typesetters for the entire company and only 3 graphics people doing any logo artwork.

if you want to know the best product for your company to buy ad space on it would be the school T-shirts

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nonprofit
, US
Jun 10, 2011 2:47 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Universal Ad Com's specialty is pitting employees against each other. Today I spoke with Rebecca Thomas. They ask the receptionist the names of several employees and then use those later to say, "Oh, well Sally ordered this". They have done this several times, saying that my boss ordered magnets (through the Chamber- Chamber's never heard of them) when my boss was not here that day. When I explained to Rebecca that I was in charge of advertising and my boss didn't order them, she said they'd already been printed and all they could do now was reduce my cost from $700 to $399. I said that she was wrong.

First, I said, he didn't order them. Second, they aren't distributing them around the county, which they say they do. Third, last time they roped us into this, we saw magnets somewhere else in town and instead of our name and logo on them, it was that business's. Our name is not getting sent out at all, and they're being shady. Fourth, I knew they hadn't been printed because she just called two days ago to ask for changes, and then they try to switch and send my boss to a verifier, and he wouldn't do it. At this point she stops me and says, "I never said they were printed" BULL.

I told her that if they hadn't been printed, then she couldn't bill me- and to take me off her list.

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hggyy
city, US
Mar 23, 2011 2:56 am EDT

pretty sure ur all just a bunch of [censor]ing idiots...i work for the company and have HUNDREDS of repeat customers i deal with EVERY year who are happy..maybe should talk to the right people before u [censor]

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Keepin it real # 2
, US
Mar 11, 2011 8:44 pm EST

BE CAREFUL! They will do whatever it takes to get their money. GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY. Starting with the owners all the way down to veteran rep.'s New people are oblivious to the fact and they get fired before they even get a chance to actually start lying. This place is so ridiculous. DON"T DO BUSINESS with them. Each "distributor" gets 100 magnets and then each "endorser" gets 200 magnets. Most County publications have one maybe two distributors. And of course each advertiser that goes on the magnet gets anywhere from 15 to 25. So thats where they get the "up to" 1000 magnets but sometimes they do not print ANY magnets. And the distributor never actually hands them out. The management is pretty ridiculous too. They all know whats going on and don't do anything about it. They just want the numbers because most of them are felons and will not be able to find a better job. As for the employees...most of them are good people trying to survive. Others...crackheads. I hope one day all the businesses that have been scammed by them get justice.

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The New Age of Light
Moline, US
Dec 14, 2010 5:51 am EST

TO ALL WHOM ENTER this is the reality of the Universal Adcom world. As someone who knows the interstructure and organization of this company, I can tell you that the secret to their success is not through integrity. Another one of there saying from the National Vice President himself is, "Do not comprise your integrity for just one deal." If this is in compliance with the management of this so called viable company then how come former employees agree that the motto of "BUYERS ARE LYERS" is in the thoughts and ideas of management? Also reflecting upon their own moral character. Don't we learn from youth, that we set an example for your children? When I tell you that the floor has many young minds, that have been deceived I mean it with strength and sincerity. Others employees don't have a choice they are just providing there service to the world. So then we start to look at ourselves as people and who we are to become in the future of our own reputation. A corporation that establishes there entity providing fundraising items to support the educational system is a Fraud. Why hasn't there been regulation and legislation about this type of business commerce and its association with our nation's school systems. Can I live with the fact that I am accrediting a business under my name that has a rating with the Better Business Bureau of an F? F for Failure. Most small business owners or newly establish entrepreneurs I urge you to look for other forms of advertising and allow ourselves to be free from people how have proven there worth to society. They target your type first; they see you as the weakest.

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KEEPIN' IT REAL
Fort Worth, US
Nov 06, 2010 9:04 pm EDT

NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR UNIVERSAL ADCOM ARE SCAMMERS, NOT ALL HAVE INTEGRITY EITHER.. THE EMPLOYEES WILL ONLY BE AS HONORABLE AS THE SUPERIORS THAT MONITOR THEM. REALLY, IT'S SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER, IT'S BUYER BEWARE. THE FACILITY DIRECTOR'S MOTTO IS "BUYERS ARE LIARS". SOME PEOPLE DO INTENTIONALLY MISREP, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT WORK HARD TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING. I WORK FOR THE COMPANY AND JUST THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT HE KEEPS ME HONEST. I CAN'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS DO, I AM ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MYSELF. AS A RULE, I NEVER GIVE PAYMENT OVER THE PHONE FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T INITIATE. (IF I DIDN'T CALL YOU, I AIN'T PAYING YOU). I AGREE THERE ARE PRECAUTIONS WE MUST TAKE AS A BUSINESS OWNER, USE COMMON SENSE. DON'T EVER ALLOW YOUR HEART TO DICTATE YOUR BUSINESS OR ALLOW ANYONE TO MAKE YOU FEEL "GUILTY" OR THAT IT'S YOUR DUTY AS A CITIZEN, WHETHER FOR SCHOOLS OR FOR MAGNETS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS, I HAVE ANOTHER RULE I FOLLOW "IF IN DOUBT, DON'T" PERIOD. AND, IF YOU FEEL YOU'VE BEEN MISLED OR SCAMMED, THERE IS PROBABLY SOME TRUTH TO IT. AFTER ALL, NO LIE IS 100% A LIE AND NO TRUTH IS 100% THE TRUTH.

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b_rett
, US
Oct 13, 2010 10:46 am EDT

They called me and said that we had run this ad before and that they wanted to know if we would renew and double check the info was correct. I didnt recall running such an ad but listened to thier shtick anyway. I had them send me a copy of the ad. It was obviously cut and pasted right from our website! They called me in October about this saying that they would be printing in Novemeber. So my brain started turning...

If they are printing in November then that means if we ran this ad last year it would have been around the same time. As I mentioned, the ad copy they sent had images and text copied right from our website. The problem is that info and images WERE NOT on the website until only a couple months ago! The rep obviously jumped online, cut and pasted (and i mean cut with scissors and pasted with elmers) "our ad" together and sent me it. TOTAL SCAM! BS!

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Really People Come On
Peoria, US
Sep 24, 2010 10:00 pm EDT

It's really funny how some people exaggerate things to sound worse than it really is. If you were a smart business person you would know to get everything in writing or recorded. You have to protect yourself and stop blaming other people. Maybe instead of being pissed that some salespeople make a decent living think about the fact is they have to support their families too and maybe they do the best they can. Not everything is a scam and if people would be professional about things like this and not throw hissy fits you would get some answers. I have never worked for this company but I have worked in the customer service industry and can tell you from experience that every business has people who want to complain and whine when they misheard the person or misunderstood and were "tricked" into something. You weren't tricked you just assumed something and didn't really pay attention. Also come on people these are salespeople we are talking about. It is there job to sell you things! It's the same thing as a car salesman or contractor trying to get your business or your insurance company selling you that great new policy you just have to have. Realize that you need to take some responsibility that you didn't pay attention and you didn't get anything in writing. Just something to think about!

Also former employee you are a former employee for a reason sounds like you are a little bitter.

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A FORMER EMPLOYEE
Fort Worth, US
Aug 14, 2010 4:45 pm EDT

THEY ARE INDEED A SCAM THEIR LOCATED AT 3401 ALTAMESA BLVD SCOREBOARD SPORTS MARKETING THAT'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR MANY OTHER NAMES. THEY GET AWESOME COMISSION SOME MAKE 1000 A WEEK THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THEY WALK AROUND WITH ABOUT 1000 A DAY GIVING IT OUT FOR SALES IT THEIR "SPIFF" MONEY. THEY GIVE CASH MONEY ON A DAILY BASIS THEY HAVE DRAWINGS FOR MONEY DAILY THEY HAVE BINGO POTS THEY'VE GOT MONEY TO BURN!

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Eric Rasmussen
Deltona, US
May 27, 2010 11:05 am EDT

Same thing happened to me. The salemen told me that it would be 6-8 weeks. After 9 weeks I called andd they said that they were in production and should get them in a couple of weeks. A couple of weeks later I called and they said that they went to print yesterday and that I should receive them in about 2-3 weeks. I did talk to a supervisor and they insisted I was told 12-16 weeks. I filed the dispute today with my credit card company and I assume that they will not fight it.
I can only assume that they only print magnets and distribute them the the company that paid for them. How do we know how mny are actually distributed. I was supposed to get 100 for myself and 2500 would be distributed. If I only get my magnets, that would mean that I paid over $3 per magnet.
Stay away from this company!