The Junk Mail Battle Continues...

"Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID XXXXXXX, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

I am still disappointed that my name has been entered into the RedPlum system. I filed this complaint out of refusal to be listed in their database when I did not request their junk mail in the first place. I find it reprehensible that they "require" me to provide my name to get my address removed (when the mailings, if I may charitably refer to the material they require me to carry out to the recycling bin on a weekly basis) from their system. I have just checked, and their website still requires someone to enter their name to remove their address from the RedPlum mailing list, even when the mailings themselves are addressed to "Resident". I might not hesitate to use a false name, which might also help me track down anyone they sell my name/address to other trash peddlers. However, on the website, it says the user needs to enter their name to act as their legal signiture. This seems simply absurd and over-stepping their bounds. To register for the national Do Not Call registry, for example, it simply requires the phone numbers and a (potentially temporary) e-mail address for verification.

I require that RedPlum removes my name and any reference to my address from their system, except for what references to my address are required to keep it on their "do not mail" list. Once they can provide that specific assurance, I can accept their response to my complaint.

Regards,

Alexander Belton

PS. I would like to take this opportunity to register my opposition to the unsolicited junk-mail business model from an ecological viewpoint. I do not think they consider any of the ramifications on the environment relating to either the energy requirement to process and print the ads themselves (I will be kind and assume the paper is already entirely recycled pulp) as well as the transportation cost of bringing the packet from the printers to the unwilling recipients (including the increased load on the US Postal Service in manpower and fuel costs) and then the cost and inconvenience forced upon the recipients to dispose of the mailings in either the recycling or refuse streams, and then the energy required to transport the waste to either the landfill or to the recycling facility and then sorted and reused. By mailing their junk to everyone regardless of interest, they are forcing these costs upon the planet and society. Both would be better served if Red Plum, and others like them, would adopt an opt-in rather than an obfuscated opt-out system."

In which I do battle with a Junk Mailer

Why'd it take me over two years? Because I think this junk mail has caused me to miss electricity bills (the latest tacking on $16 in late fees) and I'm not really OK with that anymore.

Submitted to the BBB:

Business Information
Business ID: 0141-0071004691
Name: Valassis Sales & Marketing Services, Inc
Address: 20 Summit Park Drive
City: Pittsburgh
State/County: PA
Zip/Postal Code: 15275

Problem
1. Primary Classification:
Advertising Issues
2. Secondary Classification:
Customer Services Issues
3. Problem:
I have been living at this address for approximately 2.5 years. Throughout that time I have received, one or more times per week, a significant pile of unwanted mail, coupons for local businesses etc, that I generally consider to be 'junk' as I have no interest in looking through such a pile for the one or two coupons I might be interested in. Recently, this pile of junk mail has been interfering with me receiving proper mail (bills etc) regularly as the mail that is actually addressed to me (rather than "Resident") will get mixed in amongst the junk mail and I throw it all out without noticing the bill or statement buried amongst the ads. I attempted to unsubscribe via the Redplum.com website which redirected it to the Valassis website with a web form to fill out. This form, however, requires me to input my name to get my address removed from their mailing list. I have never given them my name as a means to request these mailings, and the are addressed to "Resident" at my address, XXXXX Quakertown, PA 18951 Clearly they do not already have my name, and if they do they don't have the courtesy to actually address it to me. I do not wish my name to end up in their database, even in the event that it's used to remove my address from their list. I called a number listed on the Redplum.com website to have my address removed. When the customer servce rep picked up, she asked for my name. I stated that I refuse to provide it and she dumped me into a Valassis phone queue that was not being answered except during regular business hours. I, as are the people with the money to spend on the items advertised in the mailings, have a job and are not available to call and be put on hold during regular business hours. The web recording directs me to the same aforementioned web form, that requires me to input my name 'acting as my signature' to remove my address (which will take 5-6 weeks to take effect).

Complaint Background
1. Product/Service Purchased: None
2. Model Number: N/A

Dates you complained to the company/organization
7. First Date: 12/20/2010
10. Payment Made: No

Desired Outcome
1. Desired Settlement:
Other (requires explanation)
2. Desired Outcome:
I wish my address to be removed from their mailing list and no longer receive their mailings.

Verizon, the Glove is Thrown Down.

Just submitted to the BBB. Thake that, Verizon.

Explanation:
"I do not want to purchase this service from Verizon. However, due to their monopolistic practices, I have no other options for land line service at my apartment. I only purchase this land line service so I can purchase DSL service from a third-party provider (DSL Extreme out of Salt Lake City UT, who have provided nothing but excellent service at good prices). Verizon does not provide the service level and features I want at what I consider to be a reasonable price.

To this end, I purchased what I believe to the the cheapest and lowest possible level of service from Verizon. I do not even care if I am able to place or receive local or long-distance calls. Unfortunately, even this most meager service, which includes per-minute rates for local calls, costs in excess of $24.00 per month.

I find this utterly outrageous. They are providing me with literally just a dial tone. That service alone costs $8.27. Then there are $9.82 of various taxes and fees. I do not dispute these. However, what I find reprehensible, is the 'Verizon Long Distance Shortfall' charge. I did not intend to, nor did I want to, sign up for long-distance service. Especially not for $5 per month when I do not use the service. When I called to dispute this charge, I was informed that there was no way to remove or eliminate this service. What they have done, is advertised a 'free' or 'no monthly charge' long-distance option while it really costs a minimum of $5 per month. On my last bill, this was increased to $6 with no warning or explanation.

Prior to this increase, I had received telemarketing calls (all of which were nearly indecipherable due to poor call quality - which only furthers my disgust for them as a corporation) to ensure I was getting 'the best services at the right value'. When I tried to explain that the 'best service and value' for me would be to remove this feature of my calling plan, I was met with verbal shoulder-shrugging and refusals. I was told that the only way to remove the 'shortfall charge' would be to purchase an 'unlimited' long distance plan, which would increase my monthly expenses (and also their revenues).

If telecom was actually a free market, I'd take my business elsewhere over a year ago. However, I am left with no other option but to file this complaint in an effort to get what I feel that I deserve as a paying customer."

Desired Resolution"
"I want my long distance service removed from my bill and not recur. I do not require the ability to make long distance calls from my land line."

Wherein I Crack Open my Law Books for the Second Time this Summer...

So I've had my land-line phone number since the end of May, 2008. This is, last I checked, at least one year ago. Practically ever since I moved in, I've been getting various phone calls for the people who were, presumably, the last people to have this phone number.

I've informed their bank and various friends and relatives of these people. I've even changed my answering machine greeting to inform people of their error.

However, I have, and continue to receive phone calls regarding "important business issues" AKA collections for the family. Many of which have used some kind of text-to-speech software, occasionally with a British accent that appears incapable of pronouncing the name 'Ralph', but that's beside the point.

Often the call is just instructions to call them back including an absurdly long case number. Sometimes I am given an option to pretend I'm "R a l p h" and speak to a live person. This has happened...at least three times that I've gotten through to an operator and informed them of the situation.

The first time the operator claimed that my number was the one that the family was still reporting as theirs. The second time, the operator got very defensive and claimed I hadn't talked to that particular company before. Clearly I'm supposed to be able to tell the difference between apparently inept collection companies when they never identify themselves.

In both these cases I insist that I speak to a supervisor/manager. The first two operators refused and insist that I explain myself. Then, today, I got another call and pretended to be Ralph. I spoke to an operator and told him repeatedly that I need to speak to the manager. He informed me that I would be dumped into a voicemail box and I'd get a response within 24-48 hours. I explained who I was, stated my phone number, called them ... ahem ... freaking incompetent then dropped the 'H' word. I said I considered it harassment.

I'm not expecting any reply. I'm also not expecting the calls to stop.

The question is, what are my next steps? This website suggests I should get their info next time and report them to the BBB. That sounds like a good plan, but anything more humiliating would be preferred. Mostly what offends me is that someone pays them to provide a collections service, and they're clearly incapable of finding the people they're trying to collect money from.

Really, I just want them to apologize and admit they're clueless and incompetent.

The BBB Gets Stuff Done

They can't do math ($199.99+$17+$31 = $247.99, which is what they refunded), but they did respond more than adequately.

For what it's worth, while I wish I wasn't prompted to do things like contact the BBB or my state senator, I have been remarkably pleased with the promptness and effectiveness of the responses.

"MESSAGE FROM BUSINESS:

To Whom It May Concern,

We would like to apologize for the inconvenience surrounding this product. We want to assure Mr Belton that we never internally ship defective products and do our best to support our customers when there is an issue to be corrected.

Per Mr. Belton’s request, we are issuing an RMA number for the return and refund of the gaming system ($199.99) the original shipping charge ($17.00) and return shipping paid on original RMA (31.00). The total refund to be processed upon receipt of the second defective gaming system will be $230.99. The second RMA number Mr. Belton should use is: G220660.

Again we do apologize for the inconvenience that Mr. Belton encounter. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance

Regards,

Brian S
Customer Service Manager
(760) 726-7700 x1312
Office Hours: M-F 7am-5pm PST
http://www.geeks.com/"

Who doesn't want to file a BBB complaint on a Friday?

"On July 16 I ordered a refurbished Xbox 360 from Geeks.com for $200, roughly half the standard retail price. It arrived roughly a week later and immediately upon set up it was clear the console itself or the power supply was faulty as evidenced by the 'Red Ring of Death' (RROD, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_ring_of_death) a widely recognized failure mode of Xbox 360's.

I contacted customer support to obtain an RMA number. It was promptly provided but I was forced to pay the return shipping, $31 for ground shipping from Pennsylvania to California. The RMA was received and processed and a replacement unit shipped out and was delivered yesterday, 6-Aug-09.

Today, while playing Halo 3, a game not known for it's crashes, the console froze up, twice within half an hour, requiring a hard reset to become responsive. I will be contacting Geeks.com on Monday to take up this issue with them, but from what I can tell, they have deliberately been shipping defective product, scamming customers.

At this point I want a paid shipping label to return the clearly defective system as well as a full refund of my purchase amount, $199"