7051620 Canada Inc.
Also known as: National Business Advertising, Nationwide Marketing Bureau Inc., National Biz Ads, Yellow Business Ads.
The FTC and the State of Florida alleged that 7051620 Canada Inc. used unsolicited calls, bogus invoices, and collection tactics to obtain payments for business directory listings and advertising services that organizations had not ordered or received.
Resolved. Refunded, settled, ceased operating, or the claim did not hold up. Kept for the record.
Identity
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- Registrations
- FTC v. 7051620 Canada Inc. (FTC case 142-3046, 2014)
- Locations
- Montreal, Canada
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal) · Florida
Settlement required consumer reimbursement for unordered directory services
The FTC and the State of Florida alleged that 7051620 Canada Inc., based in Montreal and doing business under several names, represented that small businesses and nonprofits owed money for directory listings and advertising services they had never ordered and, in many cases, never received. The named business identities included National Business Advertising, Nationwide Marketing Bureau Inc., National Biz Ads, and Yellow Business Ads.
According to the complaint, the operation used unsolicited telemarketing calls and invoices bearing the walking fingers image associated with local yellow page directories. The defendants also allegedly posed as debt collection companies. The release said some organizations paid amounts ranging from $200 to more than $1,500 after promises that contact would stop and accounts would be closed, but billing continued. The FTC and Florida filed the complaint in June 2014, after which a federal court halted the operation and froze its assets while the case was pending.
A December 2014 release announced a settlement banning the defendants from telemarketing and from the business directory business. It said they would pay $1.7 million to reimburse consumers who lost money. The proposed order also prohibited the alleged types of misrepresentation, profiting from customers’ personal information, failing to dispose of that information properly, and collecting money from customers. The proposed stipulated order was filed in federal court on December 12, 2014.
What is not established: The supplied releases describe a stipulated settlement but do not report an admission of wrongdoing.
Sources
Every claim above rests on one of these. Open them and check.
- Enforcement action July 17, 2014
- Enforcement action December 22, 2014
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First recorded July 17, 2014 · Last updated December 22, 2014