607-748-4686

Called and said that I owed for publication that I did not order. They called my business line.

Tried the same racket on me. Called my business line and said that because they knew my birthdate it was 'proof' I had subscribed.

Acted very indignant when we had hung up on them twice already today, telling them they were a scam outfit. Said they would keep calling until they spoke to someone. I was told there would be a lein placed against my company due to an unpaid invoice from April. I told her I had seen no such invoice so I could not vouch for the validity of the debt. She kept harping on how my employee was rude for calling her a scam artist, and not speaking to her.
I asked for proof of the invoice, and her answer was that several had been mailed to my company already. I responded that I would do nothing about the debt until I seen an invoice, and I would then look into it. Again she harped on how rude my employee was for intimating that she was a con artist.
I gave no indication that I would pay the bill.
When I checked with my employee, I found out that no publications had been ordered, and none were being received from "Progressive Business Publications" for "The Marketing Report" - the item detailed on the invoice she faxed to me.
We are going to call her and tell her if we receive any more phone calls we are referring the matter to the State's Attorney.

A woman from Internatioal Credit Recovery called regarding a past due debt.  "Jamie" informed me that we owed Progressive Publishing $306.72.  The nasty little [***] argued with me for about ten minutes until I exploded on her.  She claims I authorized the delivery of the so called publications because I gave them the date of my birth. "Jamie" also informed me that since I did not cancell my subscrition within 30 days, I am now responsible for the debt. Any moron can find your birthdate on the net!  I told her not to call back or send anything to me by mail.  Immediately after talking to her, I called the PA Attorney Generals office in Harrisburg, PA.  I also contacted my local District Attorney in Clarion, PA and filed a formal complaint. I don't know about you but I can assure you that I don't put up with this kind of crap!

Tried the same racket on me. Called my business line and said that because they knew my birth date it was 'proof' I had subscribed. I asked to have the invoice fax to me and nothing yet, said the invoice need to be paid today etc..

Same exact thing happened to us today, they used the birthday line and insisted a check be cut today or a credit card number be given immediately....The lady I spoke to was named Laurie Appleton who claimed to be the president....VERY pushy and rough....I have to be honest, we were thinking about paying the bill but once we googled the number and found this site and a few others we obviously found out it was a scam....We actually received a fax from them but it contained inconsistencies from the phone conversation....We are a small non-profit agency and it a shame people would try to scam us or anyone for that matter...

Got a similar call from ICR of New York that my AP accounting assistant had order a one year subscription to an accounting publication for $299!  I've done business with Progressive Business Pubs in the past and some of their stuff is excellent.  My AP clerk is out today so I have to discuss it with her tomorrow.

I got a similar call today from a "Kelly Fountain" from International Credit Recovery, claiming the same scam and demanding payment of an unsolicited subscription to a newsletter from Progressive Business Publications. After I set her straight, she asked to be given the phone number of our Accounts Payable department to which I declined. She also tried to pull the "we know your birth date and we will sue your company" non-sense to intimidate me. Don't fall for this scam. After reading all these notes, I'm glad didn't either.

The same thing happened to our Non-profit organization. We were told that we ordered a subscription in April, and that because they had a birthdate, it was legally binding. We have since consulted with an attorney who says that is in no way true. As soon as I  mentioned to "Amanda" that we had spoken to an attorney about the matter, she panicked and immediately wanted out of the conversation. Do not be fooled by this scam, it is so disheartening that some souless person would try to take advantage of a non-profit! UGH!

Received voice mail message call from "Tiffany Jones" on my business line from this same ICR company. Return call number was 607-748-4686. Number on my caller ID was 607-748-6016. Returned call since voice mail message sounded legitimate. Identical tactics to those listed in other posts here. Claimed unpaid invoice for $94 had to be paid or her company would tarnish my credit rating. I told her I would take my chances.

Received the same allegations as detailed in the other posts regarding ICR (had my birthdate as evidence that I confirmed the subscription, for example.) They were highly rude, interrupted often, would not disclose anything about the vendor who has supposedly been sending us invoices all along, and claimed that the vendor had fulfilled their obligation by sending the invoices to the correct address. I stated that I have not received the publication, nor the invoice, and would have cancelled any such subscription. We keep meticulous records of offer cancellations (because of the scams), and there was nothing in my file, to which she retorted that "how could I have cancelled if I had nothing in my file?" How's that for turning on you?!?!? I am attempting to get enough info to turn the company in to the Attny. General.

Got a message today saying that they were a collection agency and that my company owed $94.00 and they were going to give me a chance to pay before action was taken.  

I returned their call, but received a message.  I then googled them, found this information and called them again letting them know that I will not pay any debt over the phone.

A woman called by the name of Cathy, she said she was the manger of a company called International Credit Recovery (ICR). She claimed that our Company was delinquent on a payment from a company called Progressive Business Publications. She informed me that my name was on the invoice and if we did not pay, our company would be put into collections.  I explained that Progressive Business Publications did contact me about a free trial that they were running, and I did agree to a free trial. I further explained that we never received the magazine and then began receiving invoices. After receiving the first invoice, I personally called Progressive Business Publications and explained to them that we did receive anything and we did not agree to the terms and conditions of their invoice. I asked Cathy for her address so I could have my attorney send them a letter and she failed to supply me with ICR’s address. I believe this is a bogus company that works directly for Progressive Business Publications. They are trying to charge money for a product that they do not supply. I recommend not paying any money to this company.

I received a call from Lori Appleton today saying that our business was just hours away from being put into collections.  She said that a co-worker of mine had ordered  the Supervisor's Legal Update and had neglected to pay.  She said that they figured it was a mistake and that before they add any additional fees to our bill, she was going to give us a chance to pay off the $255.60 that we owed.  I googled the telephone number and came up with this site!  We have tried calling back and haven't heard back from them.  I also looked up the Supervisor's Legal Update, and the web site says that the cost for one year's subscription is $97.  So, since July we have been charged over double the price!  Anyway, keep your eyes and ears open for these kind of scams.

We also got a call from Tiffany Jones saying we were late on paying for a subscription to Progressive Business Publications Accounts Payable publication (for $299.00). First, Progressive had been badgering us and we've refused to buy anything from them several times. They sent us an invoice for a publication we didn't subscribe to - and who would pay $13 per issue for a magazine anyhow!!?? Now, we're getting these call from ICR - which I'm glad I've ignored since I knew we hadn't owed and since I've found out its a scam.

ICR called us today feb 28, 2008, saying that by boss had authorizee them to speak with our accounts payable dept.  I responded by saying show me the signed document with my boss authorization for progressive business magazine, then the female caller replied saying that this was done in 2007 and they had no paperwork. I thought everything sounded suspicious and I warned by boss and our Accounts Payable Dept about the caller.  I hope everyone is smart like  us to go on the net and google the number that shows  up when they call.

Laura Applegate (?) a Amanda have been hassling me saying I agreed to pay $249 for a newsletter and that they have my birthday as proof of my agreement. I would never agree to pay $250 for a newsletter particularly bc I am new on the job. When I would not comply w them, they called my boss. We will not pay their bill although the incident was embarrassing to me professionally. Quite frankly, I wonder what would happen to the person who did pay bc then these people would have a copy of someone's check and could use it for more dishonesty activity.

Got a call from an Amanda Sprague with International Credit Recovery on a $299 subscription to Progressive Business Publications.  When I told her that I wasn't going to pay, she wanted the phone number of our corporate CFO. That's when I hung up and let her talk to BUZZ... These people will do or say anything to get you to pay for something that you don't owe. I guess they think if they are a big enough nuisance that you will pay just to get rid of them.

We got a call from "Jamie" from "ICR" who told one of my employees that we had litigation pending against us for failure to pay a bill. I called her back, and she claimed that my firm owed 299 dollars to Progressive Business Publications for a safety newsletter subscription that I had authorized.  I asked her where this publication had been sent (because I never saw it) and she gave the street address, not the P.O. Box, of one of our smaller branch offices. I asked her what proof they had of my authorization, and she said they had my birthdate.  I told her that was ridiculous and that my birthdate, among other places, is listed on the local Methodist Church birthday calendar..I asked her if they had a recording of the authorization, and she said no.  I told her to fax me a copy of one of the alleged ignored invoices, and she did.  It had no other relevant info.
I called my attorney, and he said it was a scam, and to get him all the data we had so he could help us file a legal complaint, then I had my office manager call "Jamie" and tell her not to call us again.
What I'm curious about is why, since all of us have been targeted by this scam over a considerable period of time, the addresses and phone numbers are known, and numerous complaints have been registered  with the proper authorities, our government hasn't stopped this from happening.  Man, if I tried to deduct the cost of a ballpoint pen I brought home by mistake, the Feds would come down on me like a ton of goddam bricks!!

Got a call from Jamie and said our firm owed 230.00 for a publication on "keeping up on Payroll" from Progressive Business Publications and that we have not paid for the publication and that our "free trial" was over and in July (which by th way I was on maternity leave) I agreed to subscribe to this publication.  She also said that my birthday was proof that I had subscribed.  Apparently we were sent this publication since July along with invoices.  I am the only employee and if I can't manage to pay myself on "payday" something is WRONG!!!  Not to mention we don't order publications/magazines etc.  Jamie would not fax me any information as to what she had on file, no recording authorization.  I told her that I would not be paying this bill and that she could do whatever she felt that she needed to do and she hung the phone up.