Same Scam

I got a few calls, kept telling them not interested, they kept sweetening the deal and promises and I fell for every LIE they told. Gov't agencies would knock down my door with business for me and if I wasn't satified they would give me the next year free. They said they'd set my abusinees up on their gov't web page for the gov't agencies to find me and business would be great! I got the web page and it was an exact copy of the one I already had set up, they just cut and pasted the same crap. I made calls to report them and it seems its useless they can get away with using the word "gov't" as long as they want. I have also tried to contact they and no one ever answers or returns the calls. The one time I did get someone she gave me the run around and basicaally said "to bad sucker." But I,m not giving up yet on stopping these.....!!!!

jr with lee,s trees service i need someone to call me please

Mike, really, you need not reply to me with the same message you've been replying to everybody else.  Here's my encounter:
Glad I Googled this company!  Nice to hear all of your comments.  I am a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and had one of my companies call yesterday to discuss this company.  This Alpha Publishing company knew my name, said they had a relationship with me, etc. and I've never heard of Alpha Publishing, but knew from the conversation that it must be a scam.  I will certainly get this information out to our nationwide network, APTAC, our network in other states, and warn all of my clients.  The PTAC program is funded by DLA and other funding sources, we are housed within non-profit organizations or colleges/universities, and are a free (most of us are) resource to businesses wishing to sell their products/services to the federal government.  We are funded with taxpayer dollars.  I have no problem with somebody being an entrepreneur and making a living, but not at the expense of others.  Honest business is good business!
Hopefully other small businesses will not lose their hard-earned dollars to Alpha Publishing!

O.K. People who have been scammed and my husband included what in the hell can we do about this. They never call back and your right rude and kept calling my husband after he had already signed up. I have contacted a lawyer about this. I am pissed as pissed can get. Being a small business, its hard enough to make  it. So to the Kelli who works at ext. 290 at setaside  and Rick who talked him into signing up for this nonsense I hope you feel better taking peoples money and trust me someday you will be sorry that you ever worked for such a scam !

This Company Has called my place of business repeatedly.... They are rude and harrassing.  I have turned them into authorities and started calling them back repeatedly.

I signed up for their BS directory. It is NOT a government website and you will NOT get any work from this at all. I have contacted several people in the directory by using the user name and password issued to me. Go in and see for yourselves. WWW.SETASIDE.COM, online directory, USER NAME: capitol PASSWORD: hill. Call as many businesses as you want and you will see that not one of them has gotten any work at all. I wish I had this information before blowing $800 on their scam. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!

I signed up for their BS directory. It is NOT a government website and you will NOT get any work from this at all. I have contacted several people in the directory by using the user name and password issued to me. Go in and see for yourselves. WWW.SETASIDE.COM USER NAME: capitol PASSWORD: hill. Call as many businesses as you want and you will see that not one of them has gotten any work at all. I wish I had this information before blowing $800 on their scam. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!

ALPA Publishing (API) is not an internet advertising company.  Their website offerings are not optimized and cannot be found in the searches online.  Even their own site,..SETASIDE.com is not optimized.  Thei BBB
report spells out DANGER  C+  rated.  Goo luck if you spend $$$$ with them, you'll get nothing for your investment.  Hopefully a person who is considering it will se my post and put their wallet away.

got a call from some lady named "angela" heard her out but after reading everyone's comments i won't be doing any business with them. i figuered it was a scam as soon as she mentioned $499.00 for ad space i have enough ads and don't need anymore! our company is busy enough all year long don't have enough hands

Susan, it would appear you work with Mike, the copy and paste artist who tagged every single comment here, even though his drive-by style is a bit different from yours.  My advice to you, him, Mark at ext 271 (who called our company) and all the rest to get a real job.  If you're any good at sales you should be able to sell something real.  Have a nice day.  Or not, your choice.

Thanks telescammer for letting us know this site works. If it didn't you wouldn't have to come on here to run your FILTHY SCAM.

I'd say nice try, but there's nothing nice about running a scam.

If you have a question about the validity of these calls as to the ability to be listed for government work:

1) Go to Google or Yahoo, or any search engine of your choice and look up "Federal Setaside Program" and you will see that it is in fact a legitimate program designed, as quoted by the marketers you are complaining about, to aid small businesses in acquiring work through this program..

then
2) Go to www.setaside .com (Alpha Publishing Website)
Take the tour.
Click on the video.
For added measure click on the BBB link. You will see that they are active members in good standing.
Every company has a complaint or two, but notice the satisfaction rate.
All concerns or complaints have been satisfactorily resolved.

This should put to rest and allay your fears of this being a scam.
I hope you find this information helpful.

wow .....not the nicest comments, but I am wondering if you are all bitter because you got a phone call, or were you actually burned by this company. I am a business owner myself, and I think that what you guys are doing is slander, ESPECIALLY if all they did was make a phone call. I looked on this site because it makes business sense to do your research, but come to find out , this is just a website for grouchy smurfs, who probably arent having much luck with their business, and are just bored. Hopefully you guys have a grade A on your BBB reports, and have had no complaints from customers. I would love to look up your businesses, but I have a life and a thriving business.Not much time for slander and gossip

Same story..Allison calling.  Only wanted to speak to owner.  Glad I found this site!!

scamming maggots and their children are maggots

I get calls from this # every day , i work for myself and dont have time for sales calls some company out of florida called API wish somebody would stop them

Kelly from API called today. She said that the federal government is looking for small businesses to perform small projects in our industry.  She also said there would be no bidding necessary just that easy, we would be handed the work.  I asked what the price would be and she would not answer and spoke over my questions. I then hung up the phone and she immediately called back and said that she would continue to call our firm everyday until she spoke with another owner because I was incompetent!

SAME SCAM AS THE OTHER POSTS BUT THE LADY WANTED $500.00 A/YR

I got a call from this # also but she was very nice but the bbb has them listed as a c rated company with 33 complaints. Dont think I would like to get involved with them.  They wanted 499.00 plus a 50.00 fee for print set up and was also offered pages up to 2499.00. She said it was tax deductable not thanks

I've had these calls for a month or two and finally after getting a big pressure push today, decided to look them up.  Glad I did.  The guy I hear from is 'mark' at extension 271.  Today he gave me what appears to be his cell:  727 484 0885    They started asking for something like $600 for the 'ad' and today it's $1100 and $1200.  HUH? He also told me I'd been in a waiting line for many years since we 'requested' this with them.  Again HUH?  I've never requested and I know that a local government entity we do business with asked some minority and disability questions a year ago, but I'm sure it had nothing to do with this.  I suggest we all just ignore them.  If it's in such demand, why are they hounding me after two months or more?  

OH and also, today I was told about the 12 month guarantee.  Hmm....can't see them being around long enough for that to happen.

Thanks EVERYONE for your advice.
This "Jerk" (Richard Charlston) called, and after doing some research about his company, I found out that they're a SCAM.
Not only he was pushy, but also insulting.
When I said I was not interested in doing business, his comment to me was: "What a fool" and hangs up.
What kind of business etiquette is this ?

I took a phone number to have the owner return the call, Tanya you could try the number she gave me. Her name is Beverly Ayers, 800-803-6885, ext. 302.
Thanks everyone for writing - the message is going in the trash!!

well at least everyone else is getting to talk to someone when they answer phone....i answer and all I hear is beeps, and when i try to call back its the same thing. I get at least 20 calls a day and there is NEVER anyone on the line. I've looked through everyones posts and only found 1 number that will actually go to agi, then its someones voicemail, I left a very NICE message and wanted that person to call me back...we'll see if they do. anyone been able to get a real number for their office? i want to give someone a piece of my mind.

GOT A CALL SAYING THEY REPRESENTED THE FEDERAL GOVT AND WANTED TO BUY FROM US BUT THEN WANTED 699.00 TO BE ADDED AS THE VENDOR

Got a call from a lady (voice sounded like she should be on a dirty chat line) asking for the owner (by his name). I stated he is not in, she then proceeded to say "Does he do residential or commerical work" I stated, commercial and she said good, We have some government contracting work and which usually pays withina few days. I then told her let me get your information and I will have him give you a call back. Well because I wasn't sure I looked her up on google and then blocked the calls from this number on our phone system.

These guys called a bunch of times, the guy I spoke w/ "Richard" was a much better salesperson than the previous caller, he should really be selling something tangible, instead of these phoney gov. ads, guess there is more  money in ripping people off.

API called today offering a taste of the "obama money" (he didn;t actually say that). I heard him out and verified some info w/ him (that I am owner, years in biz, fax number, ect.)  He said something about "recording" and asked if I understood a fee was involved. I told him  I wasn't ready to decide, since then hes been trying to fax.

Should  I be worried,? Tey can;t suddenly bill me right? Never signed anythingt, he has no creditcard info or anything else...  

Am not answering the calls now...

Thanks for the info. A guy by the name of Jerried called the first time and was very good. Maybe the best salesman I have encountered. I was interested in what he said. I always like to give people a chance to give their speach. Who knows maybe I might learn something. On the other hand I have learned to really do my research before signing up with anyone. My biggest question is even if they do send a directory on CD to all the federal agencies, how many people would actually use it? I'm glad I found this. A procurement specialist is calling me back today and I will ask him for references and a guarantee in writing and see what he says just for kicks. With the info here I don't feel comfortable signing up. Thanks.

I've been getting calls from this number for several weeks, multiple calls a day.  As I didn't recognize the number on my caller ID, and felt certain it was a solicitation call, I repeatedly ignored the call.  Finally, today I decided to answer it.  Just like the rest of you, I was greeted by a young lady asking to speak to the owner.  I stated that I was the owner, and asked her to identify her business.  She would not, but proceeded to ask questions about my business.  I explained that I was not interested in giving company information to someone unfamiliar to me.  She responded in a rather sassy manner that "it was too bad, because she had a job for me."  I hung up.  She then repeatedly called back at least 6 times.  Each time, I simply picked up the phone and hung up.  She eventually got tired of the hang ups and stopped. I hope that puts an end to it.  I will report them to my phone company.