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Important information

• Additional Info:

  On February 20, 2018, BBB has verified that the company is not registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State as required by Pennsylvania law.  Also, mail was returned from address used by the company at 5750 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

  Although anyone can be a target, businesses who have advertised in similar publications may be targeted.
  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, cautions businesses that unscrupulous promoters are soliciting advertising for online, alternative, or nonexistent business listings promoted in school publications. Although the advertising appears to be legitimate, they are not distributed to the public, posted on the Web, or promoted as promised. As a result, the directories — if they exist at all — offer no benefits to businesses that pay to advertise in them.

  The solicitation to buy directory ad space or membership may look like an invoice but it is just a solicitation although fraudulent promoters are able to lead businesses to believe they have agreed prior to this advertising invoice.

  Of course, not all solicitations you receive in the mail look like bills, invoices, or account statements. Your business may receive a check that looks like a refund or rebate check. Read the front and back carefully. By cashing the check, you may be agreeing to be billed monthly for something you don’t want or need, such as Internet access or membership in an online directory. Be skeptical when you receive offers from strangers. Some solicitations could violate the law if they misrepresent information.
  The U.S. Postal Service requires solicitations that look like invoices, bills, or account statements to carry one of the following notices:
  “THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER,” or
  “THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR AN ORDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES, OR BOTH, AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.”
  
  Before you buy directory advertising space, membership through a mail solicitation, or pay an “invoice,” take the following steps:
  
  ·          Check out the company and its publication.
  ·          Ask for a copy of a previous directory edition.
  ·          Ask for the online directory’s Web address and call advertisers in the directory to ask if their listing has been a good buy.
  ·          Ask the publisher for written information about where the directory is distributed, how it is distributed, how often it is published, and distribution or circulation figures.
  ·          Check with your local BBB and state consumer protection agencies to determine if any complaints have been filed about the publisher.

  For more advice you can trust from your local BBB on avoiding scams and fraud, go to www.bbb.org.