THIS BUSINESS IS NOT BBB ACCREDITED

Publishers Billing Exchange, Inc.

(866) 732-9581 453 Manzanita Ave, Sierra Madre, CA 91024

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Description

This company's business is providing magazine subscriptions.

BBB Accreditation

This business is not BBB Accredited.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered this business's rating include:

Length of time business has been operating63 complaint(s) filed against businessFailure to respond to 33 complaint(s) filed against business3 complaint(s) filed against business that were not resolvedAdvertising issue(s) found by BBB

Customer Complaints Summary Read complaint details

63 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 4 closed in last 12 months
Complaint Type Total Closed Complaints
Advertising / Sales Issues 25
Billing / Collection Issues 19
Problems with Product / Service 10
Delivery Issues 9
Guarantee / Warranty Issues 0
Total Closed Complaints 63

Additional Complaint Information

Complainants allege deceptive or misleading advertising, and failure to send magazines as agreed. Customers complain they receive subscription renewal notices for various magazines the company claims to represent. Customers complain in some cases they pay the invoice amount, but fail to receive their monthly magazine delivery. In other cases consumers report they do not hold any magazine subscription, and that the renewal is actually a solicitation for a new service. Several complainants report after contacting the publisher after not receiving their subscription, they learn that PBE is not authorized to bill customers, send renewal notices, or collect any money on their behalf. The company responds to some complaints by agreeing to cancel the subscription and issue a refund or credit. In other cases the company claims the customer may have confused them with another company, or, they contend that their mailed “Renewal/Solicitation" notice is designed to be used for solicitation or renewal purposes depending on the situation, and contend that the notice displays required disclosures.

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  • Government Actions

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  • Advertising Review

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Additional Information

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100038438
BBB file opened: 8/25/2006 Business started: 4/28/2006
Contact Information
Richard Schork - President
Business Category

Magazines Retail By Mail

Alternate Business Names
Publishers Billing Exchange, Inc.Lakeshore Publishing Service Publishers Billing Agency, IncPBEPublisher's Billing Exchange
Alternate Web Sites
Industry Tips
It is against U.S. Postal Service regulations to mail a bill or invoice that is actually a solicitation, unless it bears a clear disclaimer that such unsolicited invoice is for information only and not a request to pay. The best protection against phony invoices is knowledge and vigilance. Businesses should alert their bill-payers to be on the lookout for disguised solicitations; carefully review invoices from companies with which they do not normally do business; establish effective internal controls for the payment of invoices, and verify all invoices with the person who gave authorization. Some solicitations could violate the law if they misrepresent information. The U.S. Postal Service requires solicitations that look like invoices, bills, or account statements to carry one of the following notices:

THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, or

THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR AN ORDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES, OR BOTH, AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.

This disclaimer must be in very large (at least 30-point) type and must be in boldface capital letters in a color that contrasts prominently with the background against which it appears. The disclaimer must not be modified, qualified, or explained, such as with the phrase "Legal notice required by law." It must be the one prescribed in the statute, or alternatively, the following notice prescribed by the U.S. Postal Service: THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.