So I couple of months agoa I was contacted by my local Yellow Book representative about advertising with them. I seriously thought about it and then declined. The book didn't even have a roof cleaning section in it. He said he would add one for me. I still declined. Last week the books came out and to my surprise there is now a roof cleaning section and Toledo Roof Cleaning is the only company listed. Now the bad part the phone number is my competitors phone number. How much is this going to cost me. This guy has a roof cleaning franchise, I think it's roof revivor. We have spent alot of money getting our name out there and now this. Don't know what to do. Same way on their website. I called them and they said they would change the website but couldn't do anything about the book because it's already out. It's also a two year book.
So I couple of months agoa I was contacted by my local Yellow Book representative about advertising with them. I seriously thought about it and then declined. The book didn't even have a roof cleaning section in it. He said he would add one for me. I still declined. Last week the books came out and to my surprise there is now a roof cleaning section and Toledo Roof Cleaning is the only company listed. Now the bad part the phone number is my competitors phone number. How much is this going to cost me. This guy has a roof cleaning franchise, I think it's roof revivor. We have spent alot of money getting our name out there and now this. Don't know what to do. Same way on their website. I called them and they said they would change the website but couldn't do anything about the book because it's already out. It's also a two year book.
UUUUMMMMM.....Somebody is gonna owe you some Money then my Friend. If your Company name is registered in your State, and thats how you listed your LLC. The Yeller Book has screwed up BIG TIME. Time To Lawyer Up Cowboy!!!
I'm not one for litagation, but when it comes to protecting my Business and it's name........IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!!!!
__________________
Pressure Kleen Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service 910-876-1594 Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina Power Washing Fayetteville NC Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake, Wilmington NC.
Our name is registered with the state of Ohio as an LLC. I just think this guy is going to get alot of business that is meant for us. Our name is well known. People lose business cards and the first thing their going to do is look on the web or phone book. I'm almost sure my competitor isn't going to turn away calls that are meant for us.
-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Toledo Ohio (419) 265-3306 on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 12:53:40 AM
I can understand your concern and your point is well made. I cannot speak for your area but here the yellow pages holds no weight for search. I investigated placing an ad in the yellow pages and called a number of businesses about the effects of their ad on there business and the majority said it has been a waste of money and they would not be using such in the future. They indicated the majority of there leads come from the internet.
Bruce I agree with you, that's why we opted to not advertise in the book. They said they put me in as a courtesy listing. What a great courtesy!! I was just thinking of the people who go out and ask their neighbors or friends " who cleaned your roof?" and they tell them Toledo Roof Cleaning and they happen to look it up in the book. I'm screwed then. Oh well not much I can do now. Ticks me off that I called them on the 19th and they still haven't removed it from the online directory.
So I couple of months agoa I was contacted by my local Yellow Book representative about advertising with them. I seriously thought about it and then declined. The book didn't even have a roof cleaning section in it. He said he would add one for me. I still declined. Last week the books came out and to my surprise there is now a roof cleaning section and Toledo Roof Cleaning is the only company listed. Now the bad part the phone number is my competitors phone number. How much is this going to cost me. This guy has a roof cleaning franchise, I think it's roof revivor. We have spent alot of money getting our name out there and now this. Don't know what to do. Same way on their website. I called them and they said they would change the website but couldn't do anything about the book because it's already out. It's also a two year book.
UUUUMMMMM.....Somebody is gonna owe you some Money then my Friend. If your Company name is registered in your State, and thats how you listed your LLC. The Yeller Book has screwed up BIG TIME. Time To Lawyer Up Cowboy!!!
I'm not one for litagation, but when it comes to protecting my Business and it's name........IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!!!!
Take Pressure Kleen's advice and consult with a lawyer. Yellow Book has screwed up and must take responsibility. You will lose business as a result of their mistake.
Bruce I agree with you, that's why we opted to not advertise in the book. They said they put me in as a courtesy listing. What a great courtesy!! I was just thinking of the people who go out and ask their neighbors or friends " who cleaned your roof?" and they tell them Toledo Roof Cleaning and they happen to look it up in the book. I'm screwed then. Oh well not much I can do now. Ticks me off that I called them on the 19th and they still haven't removed it from the online directory.
Talked to my daughter who is a attorney. She said they shouldn't have even added it as a courtesy without your permission. She said there shouldn't be a problem finding a attorney, if the facts are as you stated, to represent your business.
Our name is registered with the state of Ohio as an LLC. I just think this guy is going to get alot of business that is meant for us. Our name is well known. People lose business cards and the first thing their going to do is look on the web or phone book. I'm almost sure my competitor isn't going to turn away calls that are meant for us.
-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Toledo Ohio (419) 265-3306 on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 12:53:40 AM
And this exactly why your Company has a right to Compensation. Of course your Competitor won't turn away Business, or the repeat Business, or the word of mouth Business that will be generated from this GROSSLY NEGLAGENT MISTAKE!!!
Take the settlement and Grow The Crap Out Of Your Business!!!
__________________
Pressure Kleen Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service 910-876-1594 Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina Power Washing Fayetteville NC Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake, Wilmington NC.
So I couple of months agoa I was contacted by my local Yellow Book representative about advertising with them. I seriously thought about it and then declined. The book didn't even have a roof cleaning section in it. He said he would add one for me. I still declined. Last week the books came out and to my surprise there is now a roof cleaning section and Toledo Roof Cleaning is the only company listed. Now the bad part the phone number is my competitors phone number. How much is this going to cost me. This guy has a roof cleaning franchise, I think it's roof revivor. We have spent alot of money getting our name out there and now this. Don't know what to do. Same way on their website. I called them and they said they would change the website but couldn't do anything about the book because it's already out. It's also a two year book.
UUUUMMMMM.....Somebody is gonna owe you some Money then my Friend. If your Company name is registered in your State, and thats how you listed your LLC. The Yeller Book has screwed up BIG TIME. Time To Lawyer Up Cowboy!!!
I'm not one for litagation, but when it comes to protecting my Business and it's name........IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!!!!
Totally, time to sue. This will cause unknown damage to your company.
This is a good test of your business sense. (not meant to offend, this is how I would look at it if it happened to us)
Laying down on this is bad business, you were wronged by a very large corporate entity that has damaged your business. Based on their own claims that their advertising works you could be looking at a settlement without going to court. While I am not a sue happy person, this is exactly why courts exist.
These people have damaged your company and taken it on their own without your permission to submit your ad.
If I were to consider letting this go if it happened to Accuwash, I would also consider closing my company for my inability to properly addressee the matter.
Once again this is how I think about myself and my business sense. I am hard on myself many times, and it helps me make better decisions.
This is a matter that requires setting aside personal opinion and emotion, this is a bottom line issue.
Once again, I hope this post makes you judge your decision without anger towards me. This is how my thought process would approach it, and this an attempt to share that thought process to hopefully help you in this situation. If you already know better and I seem offensive, than please disregard this post and accept my apology.
Bill, i understand what your saying but i am not a lawyer and don't know if they are liable for this. It sure seems to me that they are. It was not just a freek thing that this happened. My thought is that the local sales rep was talking to me and my competitor and somehow got are numbers mixed up and decided to list my number under roof cleaners and got the numbers mixed up. I will see if a lawyer wants to handle this. You know how big companies are though. They will drag this out for years. So the lawyer would have to take it on contention of receiving a settlement. We don't have deep pockets.
Bill, i understand what your saying but i am not a lawyer and don't know if they are liable for this. It sure seems to me that they are. It was not just a freek thing that this happened. My thought is that the local sales rep was talking to me and my competitor and somehow got are numbers mixed up and decided to list my number under roof cleaners and got the numbers mixed up. I will see if a lawyer wants to handle this. You know how big companies are though. They will drag this out for years. So the lawyer would have to take it on contention of receiving a settlement. We don't have deep pockets.
Brother Do what you feel you must, but you're looking at this in "Weird Way". The Yeller Books mistake is gonna cause "Harm To Your Business". You don't need "Deep Pockets" and a Good Lawyer knows this. Yeller book will be paying him, not you!! This is a Slam Dunk!!!! They can't take the Book back, so everyday "You Lose Money!!!!" Everyday that book is out it's causing "Harm To Your Business"
They will want to "Settle" quickly. They know if this drags out the Lawyer Fees get Larger. Make sure in the "Settlement" that there is a "Clause" indecating that "They Are Responsable for ALL Lawyer Fees seperate from Your Settlement.
Protect Your Business, Or Sell It. The Choice Is Yours.
__________________
Pressure Kleen Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service 910-876-1594 Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina Power Washing Fayetteville NC Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake, Wilmington NC.
Man it almost looks shady. Like the sales rep would be sitting there laughing, saying... I tried to sell him a add but he wouldn't buy it so I will put him in a courtesy listing with a competitors number!!! They don't just put you in a courtesy listing for the fun of it because you didn't opt to buy an add!!!
I don't know, but yea I think I would be checking into that!!
Guy I am going to call a lawyer, why do you say sell it?
I meant no disrespect, but it looked like you were having doubts about going after the phone book. I am Bias about this subject, phone book tryed to screw me out of $3500.00 for an ad that I didn't even agree to.
Thing Is You Protect Your Business Like You Protect Your Family.
If You Can't Shoot Them Between The Eyes, Take Them To Court!!!
__________________
Pressure Kleen Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service 910-876-1594 Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina Power Washing Fayetteville NC Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake, Wilmington NC.
OK. lets look at this realistically. It will cost you about 10k to get a retainer with an attorney to even look at this. Then it will cost about 15k more to get to the point of depositions to see what laws were broken or what damages you actually incurred.
If you can prove damages it will cost an additional 10k to get it to a court date. At witch the yellow book co will come up with some lame excuse to ask for an extension. Now your out another 3 to 6 months. At the next court date someone will get sick etc etc etc, another extension and you will need to force them to court....another 5k.
Once you get in front of the judge the soft a** will want to divide the baby and will point out all the holes in both parties cases encouraging you to settle. Now your into this thing 40k and you will be desperate to pay your legal bill.
In the interest of settlement you will ask for your attorneys bills to be covered and you will walk away OR you will cowboy up on your principals and go for the gold spending another 20k to win (WIN) and get a judgement.
Then you will have to exercise the judgement. another 5k to have a company search the corporate assets of yellow book and set p what you will go after or play the collection game.
If yellow book decides to play they will again come to the table and offer you 50 cents on the dollar to settle. If you get that you will probably walk away with no money for your self and a remaining attorney's bill, you ave to pay. The only ones who will make money on this will be the attorneys.
Oh by the way we are now 2.5 years down the road and you didn't really even win. You just wasted a bunch of time suing a company that had a staff attorney that made you spend allot of money and not focus on your business.
Oh and since you didn't spend time focusing on your business....your out of business.
Let it die, move on and find other dragons to slay.