ComplaintsforMunicipal Publishing

• Initial Complaint

  11/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  The email below was sent to School District Publishing, *****************************************, on September 22nd. I have not heard anything from this company, seen any of the distribution information nor the advertisement that they are billing me for. When certain large schools were called to verify their information, they had no knowledge of them providing any advertising for them. School District Publishing is now trying to contact me via email to collect $695 for a 1/16th of a page ad that I still havent seen nor approved. I had spoken with them about an ad but when the price was given, I told them I had to speak with my financial advisor first. I believe this company is fraudulently taking advantage of me and others and intimidating people into paying for something that really isnt there. Most of our conversaton was by phone.It has been brought to my attention that several things that were represented to me by your sales team are at best inaccurate at worst blatant lies.Your sales team advised me that your magazine represents the local school district. I have been told that is not so. Furthermore, I find no information that details your distribution rate, where distribution occurs, or your readership which they represented to be substantial. Reviewing the quality of your final product has left me disappointed. Considering these issues, I believe your company has acted in bad faith. At this time, I am choosing not pay the balance, should you feel the funds are owed please feel free to forward any documents to support your claim that I owe this money. Lastly you stated that my information would be part of a major social media campaign which is also false. Respectfully, ***************************** Photography

  Business response

  11/30/2023

  November 30, 2023
  
  ***************************** Photography
  Attn: *****************************
  211 *********************
  **********, ** 78628
  **************************
  
  ******************,
  
  Contrary to the assertions contained in the complaint, School District Publishing does not assert in any manner that is associated with, contracted by, supported by, endorsed by, or working on behalf of any local school district.
  
  In fact, quite to the contrary, School District Publishing makes a number of efforts to distinguish itself from the District. For instance, at the bottom of each solicitation letter and invoice is contained the following disclaimer: ****** High Schools Football Yearbook is published by School District Publishing, an independent publisher. School District Publishing is not affiliated with any school, school district, association, or public or private department/agency. Further, in each football yearbook publication we produce, including the ****** High Schools Basketball Yearbook, there is contained another disclaimer in the table of contents as follows: School District Publishing, LLC is a private business entity not affiliated with any public or private institution, school, school district, or association. Thus, we believe we have expressly made very clear that there is no connection between our company and any school district. Any assertion to the contrary is the result of either a misunderstanding or the failure to carefully read our materials.
  
  We have been in business for many years and sell thousands of ads each year nationwide in support of our various publications.  Many, if not most, of our advertisers are pleased enough to repeat with us year after year.  We regret any misunderstanding; in the interest of customer goodwill, ****************** will cease all collection efforts.
  
  ***********************
  Publisher

  Customer response

  11/30/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  03/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This company has been harassing our firm for 5 years. They call multiple times every week and present themselves as an EMPLOYEE of one of our previous clients, but they are just selling advertising. I've tried multiple times to get off of their phone list to no avail. I've blocked incoming numbers, but they just call from other numbers. Now when I answer, they hang up and call after hours so they can leave messages for one of the principals, who then forward me the messages to call and request the stop calling AGAIN.The only resolution that is acceptable to our firm is that they stop contacting our firm.

  Business response

  03/04/2022

  Municipal Publishing has removed the firm from its call list. Our Sales Manager spoke with ****************** last week and it is our understanding this was resolved through their telephone conversation.

   

  ***********************, Publisher

  Customer response

  03/23/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

  I did not see the message from the business.  I wish you could include a comment that says, Yes they did finally take me off the call list, but I have been requesting that for 5 years. This is a very disreputable firm to have multiple employees that misrepresent themselves claiming to be one of our clients, but will never leave a forwarding number.  They also call from thousands of numbers so when you block one, they just call from another. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩