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Business Solutions Online Attempts to Trick Companies into Paying for Services Not Authorized

9/22/2011

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Fast Facts:

  • Business Solutions Online sends companies bills for services they haven’t authorized
  • BBB has received 69 complaints from businesses nationwide on this F rated company
  • Businesses allege that the company alters recordings to create “proof” of purchase in this business directory scam

September 22, 2011, Memphis, TN – The BBB is warning area businesses about an online advertising company targeting businesses across the nation, including some in the Memphis area. Businesses nationwide have reported receiving invoices from Business Solutions Online demanding payment for services that they have not authorized. 

Business Solutions Online has an F rating with the BBB. The BBB has processed 69 complaints against the company. Based on BBB files, Business Solutions Online has a pattern of complaints concerning their sales and billing practices. 

According to complainants, Business Solutions Online contacts companies via phone to confirm their business name and contact information for inclusion in online business directory listings. The victim is often passed from person to person during a high-pressure sales and verification process and the conversation is recorded. That recording, along with the name of the person answering the call, are later used by Business Solutions Online as proof of purchase.

One Memphis business owner told the BBB that the recorded conversations are designed to produce a taped verification of your acceptance of the company’s services. “The apparent purpose of this recording was entrapment,” said Dexter Varnell, a registered professional engineer. “The quality assurance department attempted to make it sound like I had agreed to the company’s services. I did not. I only responded ‘Yes” when asked to verify the name of my business.”

Business Solutions Online has invoiced Varnell for $889, a charge he doesn’t intend to pay. He has asked the company to rescind the charges and remove his company name from their online listing.

Complaints from other businesses nationwide confirm Varnell’s suspicions.

A receptionist at a Mandeville LA company told the BBB, “They recorded my initial conversation with them without my knowledge and are using this recording to ‘claim as proof’ that I authorized the charges. I have no authorization to approve any costs and did not authorize this cost.”

A Seattle WA company complained, “They have a recording of me verifying the address; however it appears to have been edited to confirm an order for advertising which was not my intention.”

An Oklahoma City OK man says his company has received countless invoices and collection calls from Business Solutions Online seeking payment for listings in various online business directories. “We never authorized nor consented to such listings. Rather, the collection activity is aimed at misleading us into paying for unordered and unwanted directory listings.”

An Akron OH woman was blunt in her assessment of the company, “I never ordered anything from them and I never received any services or products from them. They are a fraudulent business directory company. THEY ARE A SCAM!”

“It’s a common scam against businesses," said Randy Hutchinson, BBB president. “Scammers contact a business by phone and attempt to verify the name of someone in the company. They record that person saying “yes” when asked the name of the company and then use that recording, along with the name of the person they spoke to, as proof their services were authorized.”

The BBB of the Mid-South advises businesses to take precautions to avoid being victimized in these kinds of scams.

• Check out the company and its publication. Ask for a copy of a previous directory edition or the website url. Is it a website that consumers will use to search for companies in your industry?

• Contact other advertisers in the directory to ask if their listing has been a good buy.

• Ask the publisher for written information about when, where, how & how often it is distributed & distribution figures.

• Check with BBB & your local and state consumer protection agencies for complaints.

• Train your staff so they are aware of the red flags for potential scams.

• Assign designated buyers within your company and document your purchases. Get everything in writing.

• Check all documentation before paying bills. Institute strict accounting controls.

• Report fraud to your local BBB and the office for consumer affairs in your state.

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