I own a successful bead business. I advertise in the YP (the legit one) i kept getting these calls demanding i owed YP money, they were going to stop running my ads and it was a "courtesy call before it is sent to collection" they claimed i owed $1725 but becuase i had been a long time customer and wanted to keep my business they would settle for $450 (this is a very important bit of information) I had a bank draft made over the phone, and was given a promise that i was not going to get any more calls.

I then got a call from my REAL YP rep, saying "hey what's up its not like you to not pay, where is our money" i explained i was angry and didn't want to pursue anymore advertising in YP because of how rudely i was treated and how i was harassed by their accounts department. The YP rep said she never got a payment for $450 so i looked up the check in my register online, and found it had been made to LOCALOYB.com

I WAS SCAMMED!! I AM INTELLIGENT, EDUCATED, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER.... HOW MANY OTHERS ARE BEING SCAMMED TOO?

I filed a police report with the local police and it is currently under investigation... HOWEVER, HAD THEY SETTLED FOR THE $1725 THAT THEY SAID I ORIGINALLY OWED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GRAND LARCENY NOT MISDEMEANOR PETTY THEFT. If its over $500 then the FBI would have been alerted and a real investigation started.

THE PHONE NUMBERS THEY HAVE USED FOR ME ARE THE ONE ABOVE AND 866-579-2031 X 261

Hi all,

I'll preface this by saying that I was a broke student/filmmaker at the time and took this job out of desperation... apologies. Here is some restitution, I hope.

LocalOYB has offices in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I lived there and did some programming for them. Basically, I wrote a program that would spoof geographically-correct IP addresses into the log files of clients so that when they signed on they would see these fake IP addresses leading them to believe that potential clients are making use of the localoyb site and thus ensuring that they continue service for another year.

The guy I worked for was really shady and was a lousy client.

Anyway, it took me a while to figure out what my code was going to be used for... but that's what it was. More lies for those who have been lied to already.

Good luck taking these guys down!

I too had this scam attempted upon my business. They only FAX you their bill because they cannot mail it to you because it would be wire fraud, a federal offense. Don't pay anything and have them MAIL the bill and warn them about fraud and magically the account should be settled. Regardless of that send a form to the bbb and NJ Attorney General.

FML...  I paid these losers last year, now they're back at it again.  I really want to block their calls somehow.

Yes, they have turned my company over to a collections agency.  They call about every day about the bill and now it is collecting interest.  I am going to be filing a complaint with the AG today

We were victims of this Local Online Yellow Book company as well. We are a church and received a call that we cancelled our listing and we still had a bill due of $549.95. I asked what for they said for past service. Then the bills started coming, we figured it was a scam so ignored the bills. Then we got a letter from A.C.A. Recovery, Inc. stating that our acct has been sent to them to collect! Now we were worried! Our church accountant called this ACA company and asked about this letter, they said they were just a collection agency, but they said the company had a recording of us accepting to these charges. So we asked to hear it. They said they would order it and let us know in a few days. It has been over a week and we haven't heard back yet. I took the advice from other victims and sent a complaint to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, with copies of all our bills and letters. I hope and pray that these people get stopped!

PLEASE SEND ME A COMPLAINT FORM AT SASAKINURSERY@YAHOO.COM
THANK YOU SO MUCH

I had another call from them today and i had told them i had filed a complaint witht the Federal Trade Commision. He told me they had an A+ Rating from the Better Bussiness Bureau. I went to their website and they have a D- rating!!! with several complaints!

At the most, all they will do is threaten you with their BS. They have no legal authority to take any type of action against you and the last place they want to be is in a court in front of a judge. If they keep calling you, tell them to do whatever they are going to do and you will see them in court, but in the meantime you are not going to pay them a dime and are going to do your best to expose them for the scam they are.

We have also been scammed by LOCALOYB!!! Same story as everyone above. Recording just happens not to have how I explained that I could only accept the 30 day free trial offer and anything more than that would have to be approved through the school board. I was assured that I would not be billed. That I would get a welcome letter with a password, and a phone call from them with-in the 30 days telling us how many hits we had and at this time whether we were interested in these services or not. I never got the welcome letter and password, or the phone call. I did get a bill for $549.95! I called immediately and said I did not authorize this. They played the recording that was electronically altered as well. I was so upset and told them so. I also said they would not see a dime from us. this was back in 6/2011. They have called several times harassing myself and my staff. Yesterday I got a letter from A.C.A. Recovery, Inc a so called collection company. LOCALOYB has now added interest to the bill and it's up to $674.95. I wrote a letter disputing this debt. Mailed it today Certified registered return receipt. I also plan to call the NJ AG @ (800)-242-5846.I also found a lot on this, from the Federal Trade Commission web site http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/07/yellowpage.shtm Case will be decided by the court. I called them and filed a formal complaint @ 1-877-382-4357. Please everyone do the same. Let stop these frauds. DON"T PAY THEM ANYTHING!!!

Has any one had this company call them after local online contacted you about owing them money? It is a.c.a. recovery, inc. in ridgewood ,nj, 07450 1-800-356-3713 only 2 of the same people answer the phones there,we all need to help one another im willing to my # is 985 641 0747, names cary thank you

I received a phone call from Local Online Yellowbook. The first call I got from this company they said they were the Yellowpages not Local oyb, but of course that call was not recorded. The second time they called me they told me who they really were and I listened to what they said and at the end of the call i said that I was not interested. Then a month or so later I got a bill in the mail for $500. I called them and they said that I had agreed to sign up for their services. So I asked to listen to my phone call since they are recorded and at the end right before I said that I was not interested and did not want to sign up you can hear me being cut off. They said they cannot alter they recordings but you can hear where my words were cut off. Since then I have been getting phone calls from Gerald Hughes EVERY DAY saying I am going to have to pay this bill. And now I am getting emails from Cliff Griffin. Today I got a letter in the mail from a "collection agency" called A.C.A. Recovery trying to collect the money for Local oyb. I called the collection agency and the lady that I talked to there treated me the same as Gerald Hughes. It would not surprise me if these companies were one in the same. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Does anyone know how far this company will go to get their money? I don't want my credit to be hurt but I don't want to pay these people eather. I am all about getting this company shut down. If anyone has any advise for me or questions please call me at 985-641-0747.

They sure put some fear in me, had me convinced there was going to be big trouble if I did not pay. But then  I found this post and realized they were just a bunch of scammers. If they contact you again, tell them you will not pay them and to kindly leave you alone.

I was contacted by them almost three months ago, and have not heard so much as a peep out of them or anyone else about collections once they determined that I was not going to pay them.

Also, be sure to report them to the New Jersey AG office.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

And if you want to take it a step further, send them an email or call them and tell them you are going to do this.

They think they are smart, but eventually the long arm of the law will show them something different.

Frank---you did not pay them...correct??? did you have a problem with them actually putting it on your credit report?? Just curious
They have been calling us...and they are driving me crazy.

I have also been called by these people...and did not agree to the things they are saying!! They say they will turn me into a collection agency...did any of you in these posts who did not give them money have any problems with them really turning you into a collection agency???

Have also been threated with the 3rd party collection. I was going to "settle" with them today but after reading this I've changed my mind. I have filed with the njbbb and I will file with the ag now too. Hopefully this will all help the next person.

Glad to see that my company is  not the only one called by Localoyb, inc.
They called one of my employees who agreed to their "free" 30 day listing.  The promised information which included pass codes and the phone number to call to cancel their service never appeared.  The first hint  we had was a past due invoice.  Now they are threatening us with collection action.  I've already filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  Thanks for the suggestion on the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.  That's my next step.  BTW I did a New Jersey Secretary of State search for Localoyb, Inc. - No luck.  Nor is there a record we could find where the company paid taxes.  I wonder what their real name is.

Thank you for this link.  This is an online form, and it is very easy to fill out.  As some have mentioned, in addition to the NJ Attorney General (Consumer Affairs) office, I am also going to file a complaint with my own state's (MN) AG, since somehow they have been calling from phone numbers with a local area code.

I don't really have much to add, other than I got a call this morning from Local OYB's "collection" person, Maria Torres, who plowed through her script, and I finally had to yell for her to listen to me.  She offered to reduce the "past-due" account from $656.67 to $499.99 - otherwise, she would have no other recourse than to pass this matter on to a third-party collection agency - which would result in $1,000+ in fees plus 7 years of a bad credit rating for my business.  I told her I had just completed filling out the form for the Better Business Bureau and would be sending in the complaint for NJ consumer affairs later today.  This did not seem to phase her.  Interestingly, the last two times they have called, the calls appeared to come from a local area code, so somehow, they are obviously trying to disguise their phone number on caller ID.

Try this:  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

FTC complaint form.  That way more goverment entities have access and maybe somebody will shut these jerks down.

one more thing I copied from the donotcall.gov website that most of you should find helpful (Negative option means that they are offering a free trial and will charge you unless you respond):

"Under the TSR, any seller or telemarketer whose offer of a product or service involves a negative option feature must truthfully, clearly, and conspicuously disclose three pieces of information:
the fact that the customer?s account will be charged unless he or she takes an affirmative action ? such as canceling ? to avoid the charge.
the date(s) on which the charge(s) will be submitted for payment.
the specific steps the customer must take to avoid the charges.
While the best practice is to provide an actual date on which payment will be submitted, it is acceptable to disclose an approximate date if you don?t ? or can?t ? know the actual date, provided the approximate date gives the consumer reasonable notice of when to expect the debit or charge.

As for disclosing how the consumer can avoid charges, it is not sufficient under the Rule to disclose that a consumer would have to call a toll-free number to cancel without disclosing the number.

The Rule prohibits sellers and telemarketers from misrepresenting any material aspect of a negative option feature of an offer, including: the fact that the consumer?s account will be charged unless the consumer takes an affirmative action to avoid the charges, the dates the charges will be submitted for payment, and the specific steps the customer must take to avoid the charges.

For example, the Rule prohibits you from representing that to avoid being charged, the consumer need only call a tollfree number to cancel if, in fact, the number is never answered. In this case, you would be misrepresenting the specific steps the customer must take to avoid the charge, because the steps described wouldn?t achieve that purpose."

Still going round and round with them (they're calling 8 times a day now - I blocked the number), and NJ BBB.  So, I went onto the donotcall website and looked up telemarketing rules - and they don't have a leg to stand on.  here's what I saw regarding oral agreements and recording:

Oral Authorization

Any audio recording of an oral authorization 3 for payment must clearly demonstrate that the consumer has received each of seven specific pieces of information about the transaction and that the consumer has authorized that funds be taken from (or charged to) his or her account based on the required disclosures by the seller or telemarketer. A general question like, ?Do you understand all the terms of the sale?? followed by a consumer?s ?uh-huh? or ?yeah? is not enough to demonstrate authorization. The tape recording must show that the consumer received each piece of information below and that, based on this information, the consumer understood and acknowledged each term of the transaction and authorized the transaction.

A consumer must be told and must acknowledge:
?the number of debits, charges, or payments (if more than one).
?the date the debits, charges, or payments will be submitted for payment.
?the amount of the debits, charges, or payments.
?the customer or donor?s name.
?the customer or donor?s billing information, identified in specific enough terms that the consumer understands which account will be used to collect payment for the transaction.
?a telephone number that is answered during normal business hours by someone who can answer the consumer?s questions.
?the date of the consumer?s oral authorization.

The Rule also requires that audiorecorded oral authorization be made available upon request to the customer or donor, as well as to the customer or donor?s bank or other billing entity.


I'm having trouble reaching the NJ Atty General's office - the wait time is awful.

AJ

Try this number, it goes right into the Consumer Complaint Division
973-504-6200

Merry Christmas!

Gerald Hughes has been calling me for months...and doing exactly what others have been stating...Chopping my recordings etc. When I confronted them about hacking up my recording they changed the subject...I've continually told them that they can send me proof that my company approved their services in writing etc...which they insist they've done. I'm so happy I decided to do a search on their number and stumble across this page...I was beginning to question whether or not we actually owed them money. I too will file a complaint...Unfortunately the 800 number for the AG doesn't work from my state..FYI I'm in Washington State..

Skip,
That's the way they operate. Complete arrogance and intimidation. If you want to really get on their tail, go here
http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/complaint/ocp.pdf
download this form, fill it out and mail it to the NJ attorney generals office. It takes 5-10 minutes max.Then call the jerk up, tell him what you did and see what he has to say. That ought to cool his jets a bit.

Merry Christmas!

The story is the same here in Florida. They have called me several times. Each time I tell them I am not interested. The last time they said it was free, so I agreed. When I got the invoive for over $500.00, I called and said I was not going to pay. Now I keep getting called from "Cliff" whatever. I told him I was not going to pay and lo and behold the price dropped to $200.00. I told him not to call me again to which he threatened legal action. I got another call from him today. I will be let my state AG know the practices they have.

I also have had the same problem with this so called yellow book.
They played a recording back for me also that was chopped and edited some how to make it sound like we agreed to there advertising! I will file a complaint also . Thanks for the info. We do need to have them shut down,

Thank you Frank.  As expected, Jonathan called today.  He was informed that we are WELL aware of the many complaints against their company, that they are frauds, and that we ALSO will be filing with the NJ Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Burea, and ANYONE ELSE who will listen to us!

Merry Christmas, too you as well!

Hey Jonathan, good go mate! Don't forget to take the ball to his court!
Be sure to call the New Jersey Attorney General at 800-242-5846 and talk to one of the AG lawyers. Also, go here,
http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/complaint/ocp.pdf
and download this form and file an AG consumer complaint.
Merry Christmas!

Thanks for posting. It's time we let these low life know we are not going to participate in their con, and, just the opposite, we are going to KICK THEIR BUTT.
Be sure to call the New Jersey Attorney General at 800-242-5846 and talk to one of the AG lawyers. Also, go here,
http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/complaint/ocp.pdf
and download this form and file an AG consumer complaint.
Merry Christmas!