Happens only in Canada.
Some one (from a lawn care company) calls you and explains about de-weeding, grass fertilization and so on. You discuss and say many things except saying "YES". After several weeks you get a bill of these services (approx. 100 $). You contest (on Phone) but are told to pay the outstanding bill. The order is considered as taken on phone and service done. You ask for any proof of ‘order given’, or ‘service performed’. They have none, but insist that this is the way they work; as most of orders are taken on phone. The pending bill is fattening with interest as time passes. The company spokesman (or woman) reminds you time and again that this can go to collection if not paid.
What you (should) do?
-Ben
First, you're in China and there's this bizarre case of your boss suing you for some accident that was not your fault. And now this, which is equally bizarre.
What services? Did they actually do anything to your lawn? Did you give them any personal info? How are they billing you?
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Are you there?
Location: Canada-Glorious and Free
Posted on: 14-08-07 11:20:02
Quote:
Originally posted by benparsad
Happens only in Canada.
Some one (from a lawn care company) calls you and explains about de-weeding, grass fertilization and so on. You discuss and say many things except saying "YES". After several weeks you get a bill of these services (approx. 100 $). You contest (on Phone) but are told to pay the outstanding bill. The order is considered as taken on phone and service done. You ask for any proof of ‘order given’, or ‘service performed’. They have none, but insist that this is the way they work; as most of orders are taken on phone. The pending bill is fattening with interest as time passes. The company spokesman (or woman) reminds you time and again that this can go to collection if not paid.
What you (should) do?
-Ben
I understand that you did not say YES. And you said lot's of things. The $ 100 question is :
did you say NO!
BV
Is this actually happening to you, or is this a hypothetical situation?
Quote:
Originally posted by benparsad
Happens only in Canada.
Some one (from a lawn care company) calls you and explains about de-weeding, grass fertilization and so on. You discuss and say many things except saying "YES". After several weeks you get a bill of these services (approx. 100 $). You contest (on Phone) but are told to pay the outstanding bill. The order is considered as taken on phone and service done. You ask for any proof of ‘order given’, or ‘service performed’. They have none, but insist that this is the way they work; as most of orders are taken on phone. The pending bill is fattening with interest as time passes. The company spokesman (or woman) reminds you time and again that this can go to collection if not paid.
What you (should) do?
-Ben
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 14-08-07 12:17:17
Hello Ben!
Welcome to Canada and its bizzare ways!
I have no reason to belive that what Ben says is false. OTOH, I belive that it is true.
Let me explain this with 2 happenings that happened to me .
1. In 2002, I found a flyer in my apartment which told me that it was giving me 10 books free if only I signed a card authorising them to send it to me. There was to be no postage, handling fee etc... I signed the card and sent it (postage free). I received nothing. After 3 months, I was sent a bill for $14. I did not pay it. After another one month I got a mail from a collection agency asking me to pay the money. i never paid it nor called the collection company but left the apartment and forgot about it.
2. Just a few days back, I got a call from TD meloche. the caller said if I was interested in finding about how to lower my Insurance. The caller specifically told me that if I was Not interested after hearing their quote, then they WILL NOT send me any quote. I gave them all the personal information that they wanted and at the end the quote was $120 more than what I pay my current insurer TD. The caller said that they were a sister company to TD and hung up. 5 days later I RECEIVED a quote. I tore it up. I will not be surprised if i get a bill for cancelling / not following up their quote.
In General : What I do these days is just hanging up the phone, if it is a solicited call or unsolicted call. this will teach them a lesson that they should not be playing with residents of Canada. I hope that once (this hanging up) network grows, we can ultimately be left in peace. Just the other day, I was informed that I was selected for a $5000 credit card which did not require me to pay for any purchases that i make till end of 2009.
It is a cut throat world these days in Canada and we have to be very very vigilant.
I am also very sure that Sankaracharya can back this up with his abundant knowledge and experience of the Canadian system.
TK A
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
Hello Ben!
Welcome to Canada and its bizzare ways!
Quote:
It is a cut throat world these days in Canada and we have to be very very vigilant.
You bet! Its a relief to know that this kind of stuff does not happen in the rest of the world. Why? Well, because its not a cut-throat world in India or the US or in Thailand. The cut-throat "world" is only in one of the countries in the "world".
Quote:
In General : What I do these days is just hanging up the phone, if it is a solicited call or unsolicted call. this will teach them a lesson that they should not be playing with residents of Canada. I hope that once (this hanging up) network grows, we can ultimately be left in peace. Just the other day, I was informed that I was selected for a $5000 credit card which did not require me to pay for any purchases that i make till end of 2009.
Did you hear that from the handset's microphone as you were hanging up? or did the caller talk really fast? (Was he like a Ninja Telemarketer)
I'm not denying the "happenings that happened" to you. What I happen to be saying is that this kind of stuff happens everywhere. Telemarketing's probably worse in the states.
You have to learn how to deal with calls "when" you get them, don't start handing out personal info. to everyone who calls. And Ben hasn't even told us if this has happened to him or he's preparing for what he would do in case something like this happening happened to happen to him.
Quote:
I am also very sure that Sankaracharya can back this up with his abundant knowledge and experience of the Canadian system.
TK A
uh oh!
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Are you there?
Location: carl sagan's universe
Posted on: 14-08-07 22:00:41
Hi Benprasad
Yeah classic case of the Weedman's operations. Nothing new. Maybe there are other such companies now as well. Write in to The Star - BMW. If Ellen Roseman takes up your case, they will tear up their claim. I am assuming here the case you recount has occurred to you or that you know has come to pass.
I have done it before- works. Done it for Rogers and several other companies who act smart. Doesn't stop them from going on making others suckers as well, but you get your just deal.
Email: "eroseman@torontostar.ca"
Try it- ain't got nothing to lose.
