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Verizon review: Free trial scam! 49

J
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12:00 am EDT
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Idearc telemarketing liars are selling very expensive internet or Super Pages listings using phony free trial offer. After you agree to a free trial, they start billing immediately and they refuse to cancel. I can give anyone details of this scam, just send me e-mail if you are a victim of these crooks.

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49 comments
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Very Rude Deliveries
Winchester, US
Oct 04, 2010 3:20 pm EDT

I have no expences in super pages but the people that deliver the phone books are VERY RUDE.The guy did not want to come though my gate so he throws it at my front door and almost broke the front door he throw it so hard.The rude guy did not know I was home so I walked out the door and can I Help you and the guy very rudely says"YEAH YOU GOT A PHONE BOOK AT YOUR DOOR"so i said yeah threw it at my front door that you almost broke.I mean all I wanted was a apologie and the guy continues to argue why I go check my mail.I replied keep it up the comment I will call the police.so he got in the drivers car.

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rexs
Las Vegas, US
Feb 02, 2010 5:42 pm EST

I am sorry that you are not happy with superpages.com. I was looking online a found a website that you can have a FREE ebillboard. Just go to seekshallfind.com. I was talking to my friend Mike he told me that he setup a ebillboard and he is happy with the site. He told me that you can go on and change any thing and with out calling one person to do it for him. He said that he can upload his business logo or other photos or up to a 5 min video.He said on this site and did not cost him a dime to setup. I hope this helps you you? Have a wonderful day.

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Jesse the roofer
, GE
Nov 04, 2009 10:47 pm EST

I am having some trouble posting on this site. When I have tried posting as Jinkinsroofing & Repair I couldn't post and something pops up that says that user name is taken. So I posted as Jesse Jinkins and then I tried to post tonight as Jesse Jinkins and I had the same problem. So I'm going by Jinkins Roofing & Repair, Jesse Jinkins, and Jesse the roofer.

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Jesse the roofer
, GE
Nov 04, 2009 10:43 pm EST

I see from the comment above that Superpages is lurking on this website. I would call Customerservice@idearc.com if I were actually a customer, but after reading the comments on this site I don't want them to assume I am a customer just because I emailed their "customer" service. I have called these people on the telephone though. Charlie Amos who is the salesman who contacted me. I called him at [protected]. I told him I wanted the web sites removed. He said he couldn't do that and gave me another number to call. He said that they could removethe website in real time. That number is [protected] ext. 8627. I left a message for someone to call me back and hear my complaint. Someone did call me back and told me to call Mary Welsh at [protected]. She told to call Jacob Smith at [protected]. Jacob Smith told me to call [protected]. I called that number and theytold me to call [protected] which is a number that I have already called. I see the game and the run around. So, Idearc, since you are lurking around I am making this perfectly clear. I want the fraudulant web sites removed and I want my company listing removed from your website. I don't want to advertise with your company.

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Jesse Jinkins
Locust Grove, US
Nov 03, 2009 7:54 pm EST

My company is Jinkins Roofing & Repair. Superpages put up a website without my permission and has listed my company on Superpages.com without my permission. They are advertising my company in areas that I do not travel to as well as claiming that we do services that we do not offer. They have also put us on Verizon yellow pages. This is also unwanted and misleading advertising affecting our credibilty. I have called several people down at Superpages and they keep giving me the run around by giving me different numbers to call. When I call someone they just give me another number to call and tell me to speak to a different person, if I get to speak to a person at all and not a recording. I tried to use the name Jinkins Roofing & Repair yesterday to make a complaint on this website.

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Art
Colorado Springs, US
Sep 30, 2009 5:28 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Stay far away from Idearc and warn every body that you can!

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Art
Colorado Springs, US
Sep 30, 2009 5:08 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Idearc is definitely a Co. to stay FAR away from!

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Ron Bryant
Palm Coast, US
Sep 24, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

I wish i couldv'e read all these comments before sighning up with them. I signed a contract with them abouth 5 months ago with understanding that would pay according to level of business they generated for me. I was terribly deceived! Shortly afterward, I received my first bill. Not only did they overbilled me, they nevered deivered on their promise.To this day..i received ZERO in jobs or leads but i owe idearc 2, 400.00. Don't get me wrong..I should've been smarter, more skeptical, less confident in their ethics, but I got wrapped up in the potential aspects of it all like everyone else.I was a fool. Anybody looking to do business with IDEARC...just look elsewhere. They are business rapists with no ethics whatsoever, prowling on small businesses desire to succeed.

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MD Caperton
Hereford, US
Sep 07, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

Denise Archie, a "sales person" at Idearc Media went onto my website last night after midnight and sent me nasty email reading, "you're full of ###" using the contact form on my contact page AND used an innocent man's name and HIS phone number she'd gotten off some other website.

I called him very upset isnisting he or someone he knows owes me an apology. He, it turns out, is another hairstylist who offers a service similar but not the same as mine. He said it wasn't him and asked if I found out, would I let him know who it was. I looked at eh bottom of hte message and the IP number was delivered with the nasty message. I did a "Trace Route" ont eh IP number and guess what it came by to? One of Idearc Medias' company computers! Go figure, Denise Archie was drinking and brewing up some hate.

She is completely inept and unqualified. She cost me thousands of dollars and plageurized content from other sites, even saying I use the "Yuko" system! I don't! That is against the law to STEAL Content and she left me wide open for a lawsuit from Yuko.

BEWARE of Idearc Media's Romper Room of Clowns and Jackals.

http://www.capertonhair.com

I've also heard they will hi-jack your domain name from you! Do not trust them.

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Aggutters
juno, US
Aug 26, 2009 8:58 pm EDT

OK thank you all for your information they called my company but after talking to there sales rep it seemed like they were trying to sell me too hard... After reading what all of you wrote I will not be doing business with them

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Tony S
Inglewood, US
Jul 30, 2009 9:13 pm EDT

I just found a plain envelope from a Collection Agency in my mail, on behalf of a bill to Idearc. To my knowledge, I've never done business with them. But they have thousands of dollars of advertising I supposedly signed up for. B.S. I don't do any advertising. I run my own dozen websites--I don't need their lame help. This article is the first one to tie the name Verizon into the picture. Back in the 90's I did put some yellow pages ads into a local Verizon/GTE Yellow Pages. Never got a dime of business from it, paid it off that year and haven't done business with them since. I know they are a dying company, but I didn't think even they would stoop so low as to commit fraud. Those ###.

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Idearc
Middleton, US
Jul 09, 2009 8:59 am EDT

We are never pleased when one of our clients is unhappy. Please give me the opportunity to review your issue. I promise someone will get back to you within 48 hours with an update. Please provide me with the following information and email back to me at: customerservice@Idearc.com

Your Full Name and Title:

Business Name:

Business Telephone Number:

State in which your Business resides:

Your Contact Number:

Best time to call you:

E-mail address:

Brief Complaint Description:

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Essie
, US
Jul 02, 2009 1:00 pm EDT

I have also been screwed by IDEARC. I signed up and the lady who sold me the program indicated that the charges were done by clicks, no monthly charges and that I would be placed in to upper tier of our services. I also indicated to her that I had a minimum allowance of $200 a month. The company that does my website hosting gives me all the statistics of how many clicks are done to my website. According to my website host, there were hardly any clicks on the website on January and February and March of 2009. But according to IDEARC, there are thousands of clicks, they are LIARS. They are sending me a bill of $2600, which is now in collections. I refuse to pay it! I also called to complain and show them their mistakes and they refuse to listen to me. They have ruined my credit and I just don't know what to do. I'm glad their going BANKRUPT; they deserve it after scamming so many stockholders and small business owners. Maybe they are related to Bernie Murdoff. Does anyone have any suggestions? Its hard enough that that small business owners are suffering through this hard Economic turmoil, we just don't need scam artists like IDEARC to hurt us even more.

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Don't sign contract with Superpages
Houston, US
Jun 18, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

I filed a civil claim against Idearc Media LLC/Jennifer L. Swann. The case number is SC11C0013202 It would be nice if you could send a letter to Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1, Judge Dale Gorczynski, 7300 N. Shepherd, room 138, Houston, Texas [protected] and give your experiences with this company and their tactics. I have gone to his court before and know he will read the letters and have an understanding on the complaints.

Thanks, Patrick David Rawls www.patrickhomeassembly.com

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adsucker
Denver, US
Apr 28, 2009 2:03 am EDT

Superpages Idearc sent a letter [protected] they are going chapter 11 bankruptcy.

We sent a letter 3 weeks ago, via signature confirmation, of our ad cancellation. We can't get a response and the web page shows the ad still active. It costs a fortune, almost $500 month. We proved half a year ago they used "click" keywords that had nothing to do with our company. The bills went down for one month then went way up again. We never had any work from all those so called clicks. I hope they crash and burn, lying leeches. Check your keywords, that's where they rip you off. Unless you need a huge write of for taxes with absolutly no return...
NEVER TRUST SUPERPAGES!
NEVER TRUST SUPERPAGES!
NEVER TRUST SUPERPAGES!

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Cherfoto
Harriman, US
Feb 12, 2009 10:23 am EST

As I am reading this board I now understand that I will have to take further steps as suggested to put an end to this Idearc scam problem. I too have tried for the last 4 months to cancel my account with no luck. The last rep I spoke to said that my account was going to be reviewed because the recording during the so-called sale seemed like there was some discrepancies in the what I was being offered - "the free trial period!" I never agreed to advertising and never agreed to any contract arrangements for monthly advertising. As I have read from everyone else, I never received a call back and this month again another bill arrived with late charges added. I have tried every month from the first to cancel them in writing, phone calls and it has been ignored. I will be writing to the Attorney General, the FTC and Consumer Complaints too.

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Jeff
,
Oct 06, 2008 10:39 am EDT

Our company too, has been billed by these Scammer slobs IDEARC MEDIA after numerous attempts to Cancel our Account for bad service well over a year ago. I am going to Write the Texas Attorney General. ALSO, and the FTC anyone interested in there Service BEWARE you will be very disappointed! I am also going to write Verizon for getting into bed with this company.

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Maryam Hoult
,
Oct 03, 2008 11:07 am EDT

I haven't signed a contract with Verizon for many, many years, yet they continue to auto-renew every year without contacting me. It is difficult to keep track of these deadlines on my own, you know? I've wanted out for years. Is it even legal for them to do this? Can I make them produce a copy of my contract before sending it to collections? This is awful! (by the way, I've been on hold waiting for a "representative for 40 minutes)

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Steve
,
Aug 16, 2008 5:38 am EDT

I wish I would have read this board earlier. I've been advertising with superpages for years. I recently was scammed by Idearc. I was told my advertising was changing but I was grandfathered in at $15 a month. My first month bill was $795. I was told my sales rep is the only one who can change and cancel my advertising but she refuses to return calls. I will be canceling my credit card and all my yellow page print advertising. I am just starting the dispute processand will post any helpful info.

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Zack
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Aug 14, 2008 7:48 am EDT

Yeah they scammed me too. Sold me on a pay per phone campaign and turns out they only do pay per click now and did not even inform me of that. WOW! These people have already scammed me out of $500.00 and dropped my website stats from 85% success to 13% success by clicks in a month. And i just got an e-mail from these blood sucking leeches wanting me to increase my budget to $500.00 a month.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE PEOPLE! I will be filing a compaint with BBB as well as participating in a class action law suite. There is much much more to this. I just spent an hour typing it all out and my computer crashed.

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Liz
,
Aug 11, 2008 9:36 pm EDT

With us it was Idearc renewing our "contract" without any notification - even though our phone number was disconnected. Their ONE-SIDED contract basically says you have to notify them in writing of cancellation, but if THEY choose not to renew YOU, than they don't have to say jack [censored] to YOU at all! (section 29) - I am forwarding a copy of this to our Attorney General among other places.

ALSO, if you do a search into Idearc TX HQ on BBB, you'll notice BBB has preemptively pasted the automatic renewal clause on it's Idearc entry. I mentioned this in my letter - about how in the hell BBB felt compelled to proactively post this if they hadn't been SWARMED by people who got bamboozled.

I absolutely agree on their shady practices, and encourage EVERYONE to complain to all the relevant agencies: BBB, FTC, State AG's. The more complaints on file, the better. I typed one letter that will be mailed to all 3 entities with Idearc c/c'd.

As an ex-employee of a CLEC Telecom, I can say Verizon used to screw people right and left with their listings. I think that's why they privatized the listings facet - to avoid further liability and PUC accountability. They are every bit the ### that Idearc is.

DO NOT TRUST EITHER OF THEM!

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nICOLE
,
Aug 06, 2008 1:15 pm EDT

They scammed our business and then tried to bill our company for 2 different names and accounts for the same thing at the same address. Then they never applied bill payments that cleared our bank account from their company. When you call to resolve the issue you can't get through for 30- 60 minutes and when you do noone is willing to help resolve the problem.

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answer
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May 27, 2008 12:25 am EDT

seek justice by filing a complaint with the better business bureau and the state attorney general.

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LindaL
,
May 21, 2008 3:01 pm EDT

I signed up for a small ad in Southern CA yellow pages three years ago. Idearc kept renewing the ad, (based on an automatic renewal clause that I was never informed of) even though I never talked to a rep, and have never seen or signed a contract. A year ago I talked to a person at Idearc and told them I wanted to cancel. I assumed that my request was taken care of. I continued to receive bills. When I called again a few months later, I was told that the book was already out, so would have to pay for the coming year. I refused to pay for the advertising, and am now being pursued by a collection agency. This company uses very deceptive business practices and I don't recommend using their services. Unfortunately, there isn't an alternative if you want your ad in a Verizon book.

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Casey Bahr
,
Apr 30, 2008 6:21 am EDT

The Idearc nightmare continues even when I'm awake! The substance of their auto renewal is section 29 from their old "fine print" contract. I've included the text below. The point is Idearc didn't attempt to contact me. When Verizon handled my account Josiah Pruiksma @ [protected] Ex. 1322, josiah.t.pruiksma@verizon.com, would call me every year to see if we wanted to make any changes in our ad. Then I would receive a proof to sign off.

We changed the name of our business in the spring of 2007. The Idearc crooks took over Verizon during our transition and no contact was ever made, no letter ever sent for renewal. They just ran the old ad with the old name and copy. Our business was refreshed and the old ad didn't represent us at all, it was completely worthless.

Our position is that their lack of compliance to their automatic renewal guidelines render it null and void. Here it is, I hope this helps: SECTION 29: AUTOMATIC RENEWAL: PUBLISHER WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT ME PRIOR TO THE NEXT ISSUE OF EACH DIRECTORY ON THE COVER OF THIS APPLICATION. IF PUBLISHER CANNOT REACH ME, IT WILL SEND A LETTER TO ME ADVISING ME THAT UNLESS I CONTACT PUBLISHER IN WRITING BY THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE LETTER MY ADVERTISING APPLICATION WILL BE RENEWED FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIRECTORIES LISTED IN THE LETTER. I AGREE TO PAY PUBLISHER FOR PUBLISHING MY ADVERTISING AT THE THEN CURRENT RATESS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER, UNLESS I NOTIFY PUBLISHER IN WRITING BY THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE LETTER...

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Steve
,
Apr 29, 2008 6:49 pm EDT

There is no free "trial version"! The contract is 12 month period! This is also verified through a 3rd party to make sure you understand the terms! So... where you listening at all?

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Ron Smith
,
Apr 25, 2008 9:51 pm EDT

Truth:

File online with your state attorney general, the state attorney general of texas, and the better business bureau. they then will cancel your account. keep email to verify.

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Michelle
,
Apr 18, 2008 4:40 pm EDT

I too have been scammed by Superpages.com. They get you to sign up with a low monthly fee, about $30. They charged me for an entire month before they ever even put up my listing. Then the bills started coming in $65, $78, $93 it just got crazy. I called my rep and made a big deal. Ultimately they said "the contract is cancelled" I paid all those bills and now they recently (a year after I closed the account) started having a computerized voice call me at all hours saying that I needed to call Idearc Media. I never heard of Idearc so I ignored the calls for a while. Then it was driving me nuts and using my cell phone minutes so I called back and left a message saying "stop calling me" then a live person called me the next day and can you believe those ### are trying to send me to collection saying I owe them even more money. SCAM SCAM SCAM Don't fall for it.

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Ephraim Rivera
,
Feb 13, 2008 7:03 pm EST

They are a scam and are taking avantage of businesses that are just starting. Of course you want to help boost your business with a company as Verizon, but what they advertise is not what they offer. I believe that your best bet is to start with filing a complaint with the better business bureau just like I did. Then going after them collectively with an attorney. This will capture there attention and seek a refund for you paid and compensation for fraudulant advetisement. I am being harassed by a collections agency and verizon refuses to negotiate. They want money in full for a service they failed to render.

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j shokrian
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Jan 31, 2008 11:09 am EST

another unhappy customer... I get charged almost $700 a month and i get nothing out of it. I cant cancel either for another year. i want to die! these people are total scam artist.

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Bev Kehoe
,
Jan 12, 2008 10:42 am EST

First off i never signed up for anything just ended up with a $566 hold on my checking acct and it now became a charge for $66 which both my debit cards have since been canceled which means i have to wait 7-10 business days to get cards again and the charge went through again... i don't have a webpage or any advertising and am currently unemployed yet my bank says they don't know who it was that charged me and how... how is this possible since they have to be sending the money electronically somehow don't they... and it eventually ends up somewhere... at some merchant

I figure they charge 1000's of people and hope at least half don't notice... nice scam...

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former employee
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Jan 10, 2008 7:11 pm EST

e-mail the President - Kathy Harless (she may or may not use her middle initial , try both )~

kathy.j.harless@idearc.com or kathy.harless@idearc.com

Make sure to include your Idearc account number or business telephone number & how you can be contacted.

Also, send registered letters to local sales office requesting cancellation. All cancellations must be in writing 10 days prior to the directory closing date.

FYI ~ all paid advertising MUST be authorized one of three ways - Customer signature required on all advertising over $400.00 per month. Under $400, either signature or a third party verification w/you the owner on the line. If paid advertisers are unable to be reached & a certified letter was sent to you, Idearc can renew your advertising if you do not respond within the alloted time.

You can demand to speak to management & request proof & validation of your sig, 3rd party verification or the certified letter. All paperwork is required to be doc imaged. Get in touch with the General Sales Manager of your local office or the Exec VP & voice your complaint. They will listen & take care of your issues.

I hope this helps... a former employee

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Tina Berry
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Jan 10, 2008 12:04 pm EST

I am having the same problem. We have tried to cancel this 5 times. Once in Feb 07, and then I called in October 07 and was told to cancel in writing. So I faxed a letter of cancellation of our account twice. Once in October 07 and again in November 07. Then last week I e-mailed them to make sure that it was canceled and told them about the previous steps I took to cancel the account.

Someone from Idearc wrote back and told me that someone was looking into my account and that they would get back to me. I still have not heard anything and don't think I will be hearing anything. Now, I just got off the phone with someone who was very rude to me. She told me she saw the notes where I requested the account to be canceled back in Feb and Oct, but it's still not canceled. There were no notes about the faxing of my cancellation letters. She told me there was nothing she could do. She said that I need to cancel before May 08 before the books come out. I told her that I have tried to cancel. What else could I do? She said she couldn't help me and she would not give me her full name either. In one of my letters I even asked that someone e-mail me to confirm that they did receive my cancellation letters. What kind of a scam is Idearc running? Has anyone been able to cancel their account with success? Can anyone give me advice? I am desperate.

Tina

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NICHOLAS KAKALETZ
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Jan 06, 2008 4:34 am EST

http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm CONTACT GOV FTC

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NICHOLAS KAKALETZ
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Jan 06, 2008 4:10 am EST

HOW ABOUT CONTACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL U.S.A. NOT TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL GOVERNMENT

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NICHOLAS KAKALETZ
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Jan 06, 2008 3:45 am EST

WHY DONT WE ALL GET TOGETHER IN A CLASS ACTION LITIGATION AGAINST VERIZON FOR FOLENIOUS IMPROPER CUSTOMER SERVICES.SUE FOR DAMAGES.DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTACT THEM FOR CANCELLATION "IDEARC"(COMBINED LITIGATION AGAINST VERIZON) .

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thomas chandler
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Dec 20, 2007 8:44 am EST

I too am in the battle with Idearc. The salesman told me that my ad would be up in a few days and on the front page listings but not at the top. The ad didn't show up during the trial period. I called and the operator said they "hadn't built my site yet." I then sent them written (fax, mail, and email) and of course verbally requested them to cancel my contract for non-performance. Their contract stated that they did not have to publish my advertising until they did publish it, which would make the contract unenforceable until publishing. That night, AFTER my e-mail and fax, their company sent an e-mail at 4 a.m. saying the site was now up and running. They keep sending bills with each balance hundreds higher in spite of my attorney sending them a cease and desist letter. Please let's all band together in a class action suit.

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frank
cypress , US
Nov 30, 2007 4:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Very Very unhappy with Idearc Media. How a company can be aloud to take such advantage of people is beyond me.I never ever agreed to any advertising with this company what so ever and continue to be billed every month for something I didn't want.I like to know if there is away for all unhappy customers to get together on the web and go after these scam artists.If there is away to bombard these people with complaints I would more than interested to know.

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S Murphy
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Nov 28, 2007 8:39 am EST

I am the executive director of a non-profit agency and I am having the same problems with Idearc. They have told me that I agreed to advertising with them, they have scammed me by saying that I agreed over the phone to their contract. There is no way that I would ever agree to double my price to advertise in Verizon! I am so upset, they keep charging me interest and calling our phone number constantly berating my staff. I am furious! I plan on filing with the attorney general and consumer protection. I asked them for an address to cancel and they told me that they are unable to give me that information! Give me a break!

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Paul Goodwin
,
Nov 24, 2007 9:57 am EST

Idearc employee who’s job is on the chopping block! Customers are not the only people being screwed by Idearc. Recently over half the graphic artists that Idearc employs in Pennsylvania will be let go in a forced layoff. The lost jobs will now be new jobs to folks in India! Who in India will be buying your products or services advertised in the Verizon Super pages?

Idearc upper management choose to blatantly squander investor dollars on redundant internet startup’s as Idearc investors watch announcements like. InfoSpace, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a special cash distribution of $9.00 per share, or approximately $300 million. This follows the completion of the sale of its online directory business to Idearc Inc. (NYSE:IAR) for $225 million in cash. Idearc stock value has dropped 50% in the last three months, gee I wonder how come?

It’s very clear that Idearc Upper management is out of touch with it customers, investors, and employees, and is using the revenue from the print side of the house to fund an internet venture that is clearly a train wreck, based on lies and deception!

Idearc business practices should be investigated!