Directory Publishers

Complaints against directory publishing companies generally regard their selling practices. The firms who complain report that their business was billed for a directory listing which was never ordered, or that sales personnel lead them to believe they were renewing advertising in the directory.

To distinguish a reputable directory from those of little value or no value, the Better Business Bureau suggests the following tips:

1. Before agreeing to anything, check with your local library. The public library will stock well-known and useful general directories and can advise you about its knowledge of the volume in question.
2. Also, the reputation of professional and business directories may be checked with relevant trade associations. Ask the solicitor if they belong to any nationally recognized trade association and check them out.
3. Ask questions. A reputable publisher will be willing to tell and prove to you who subscribes to its publication and the number of volumes published in past years.
4. If they indicate distribution to federal or local goverment agencies, ask for references by a contact name, agency address and phone number of any local agencies.
5. If the subscribers to the directory are mainly limited to those whose names appear in it, you can logically infer that it is, in fact, a "vanity publication" for the self-promotion of those listed.

When dealing with publications, insist on verifiable circulation figures, details of publication dates,
name(s) of publishers, number of paid subscribers, and sample copies. If they provide you with a sample copy, call some of the local advertisers in your industry to see if their ads were successful in getting business.

How to Protect Your Business

1. The best protection against phony invoice scams is knowledge and vigilance. Your company's accounting department, or the individuals responsible for paying bills, should be made aware of phone invoice scams, solicitations disguised as invoices and other dubious bills from unfamiliar companies.
2. Never place an order over the telphone, unless there is no doubt that the firm you are dealing with is reputable. Obtain the organization's name, address, and telephone number, as well as its representative's full name and position.
3. Be cautious of invoices being sent from overseas. There have been reports of phony invoices originating in foreign countries.
4. Establish effective internal controls for the payment of invoices.
5. Channel all bills through one department.
6. Insist that employees fill out pre-numbered purchase orders for every order placed.
7. Check all invoices against purchase orders and against goods or services received. Make certain that order numbers correspond with the invoices.
8. Verify all invoices with the person who gave written or verbal authorization.
9. Clear all invoices with the appropriate executives. If the invoicing company claims to have a tape recording of the order, insist on hearing it.

This report is general in nature and not intended as a reliability report on any company, service or product.