Directory Threatens Business with Sketchy Invoice

BBB recommends caution when doing business with Blue Yellow Book.

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(LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.) - Your Better Business Bureau phone staff have received complaints from businesses who say a company called Blue Yellow Book or blueyellowbook.com is contacting them with a dishonest request.

“I was in tears,” said Sallie Norman, a business owner in Sterling, Alaska, after being contacted in an aggressive manner by Blue Yellow Book. “They scare the daylights out of you.”

Blue Yellow Book, at 20533 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 635 in Miami, has an “F” rating with your BBB. This is BBB’s lowest rating, meaning that we strongly question the company’s reliability. BBB has received 20 complaints in the past 36 months concerning Blue Yellow Book; 19 are closed unanswered.

The BBB of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean reports, “Our file contains a pattern of complaints from consumers.”

In this pattern, a caller from Blue Yellow Book tells the business, in an aggressive manner, it owes money for an ad or listing it placed in the local directory. In reality, Blue Yellow Book is charging for a listing on their internet directory. Consumers say they are misled and are charged for services not ordered – many do not remember doing business with Blue Yellow Book. The directory requests payment by credit card immediately to avoid collections, or sends an invoice and requests payment by check with the account number written on the check.

To file a complaint with your BBB, against Blue Yellow Book, visit bbb.org.

Your BBB advises businesses to do the following when contacted by a directory:

Get a BBB Reliability Report on the business.

Be cautious of telephone solicitors. Never place an order over the telephone. Before agreeing to anything, be sure you have a written contract that includes all verbal agreements.

Confirm that the directory exists. Local public libraries will stock well-known and useful general directories. Also, ask the solicitor if they belong to any nationally recognized trade associations and verify validity through those sources.

Ask questions. A reputable company will be willing to tell and prove who subscribes or received the publication and the number of volumes published in past years. Be aware that some directories are only published online.

Beware of vanity publications. If the subscribers to the directory are mainly limited to businesses that appear in it, it can be concluded that it is a “vanity publication,” for the self-aggrandizement of those listed.

Educate employees. Employees who answer the phone should be trained to not encourage, agree or disagree to purchase any product or service unless they have explicit permission to do so. All marketing or advertising materials should be sent in writing to the appropriate department for approval.