607-748-4686

I was contacted about two weeks ago by someone claiming to be with a law firm in New York representing International Credit Recovery. I was informed that a lien was going to be placed on our company for non payment on a publication I supposedly ordered called "Keep Up to Date on Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement ". I questioned the female that was calling about the order. She spoke very quickly, spitting out we know you ordered it because we have your name and birthday. I pressured her regarding the name and phone number of the company she was with, she refused to answer. I asked her to fax me a copy of the order, she said company information would be on the order. I have waited two weeks and still no invoice. The company calls and bullies my staff repeatedly.

Today (4/6/10), I spoke with Laurie Appleton @ ICR, she said that she was attempting to collect a debt that I had incurred by ordering a newsletter called "Keep Up to Date on Primary Care Coding & Reimbursement ".  I explained to her that I did not order any such thing and would not have ever ordered a news letter that is built into our Electronic Medical Record system (EMR).  Laurie claimed I entered into an agreement by giving my date of birth.  I told her that was ridiculous and I would have not given my DOB to anyone.  Laurie tries to be very slick and has an answer for everything, she told me that we actually owe them $198.00 for five (5) newsletters, but that she could cut that cost down to $106.00 if I took care of the bill today. I explained that I would have never ordered these newsletters, nor had I received any of these said newsletters. I responded that I have filed an official written complaint with New York Attorney General Office.

I cannot imagine how many office managers panic when they hear that IRC will have a lien placed on the company they work for and pay these dirt bags.  We will not pay one nickle and will add this to the list of similar business scams.

Caller ID: 607-748-4686
Caller: International Credit Recovery

Got a call from a "Lori Appleton" of ICR and said that she's representing Progressive Business Publications on a debt collection of a publication that I authorized. I told her that I did not authorize such publication and on top of all that, I've never received anything from PBP to begin with, invoices or collection notices so all in all sounds like a scam to me thus I just left it alone since Lori was not willing to give me the name of the publication or their contact #. What really ticked me off was she called my firm's acct dept a few days later to report and collect the debt. So I went to the source and called PBP 800-220-5000 and explained to the rep of my situation. She was very courteous and was able to find my information in her system with the publication in question. She was very understanding and stressed that if I didn't in fact received any publications to begin with, PBP is not going to force someone to pay for something that wasn't provided. So I would urge victims to call the source to resolve the problem since there is incentive for ICR to collect the debt regardless of the success rate.

I also recieved several calls on my message machine from an "Amber Gates" saying I was "past due" on a payment for a free business publication. They said they would take action if I would not contact them promptly. I figured this was a scam...Has anyone received an invoice notice by mail concerning this? What do I need to do to report them?!?!?!

Thanks in advance for all of your testimonies!!

Just received a voicemail from Katie at Intl. Credit Recovery indicating that we had an outstanding invoice. Seeing these posts, I am reminded that we were bombarded with offers from Progressive Business Publications which we never accepted.

Is there any way to confirm this scam?  Is law enforcement involved?

Does anybody know of ICR actually placing a derogatory remark on their credit report or is this all bark and no bite?

Same here, we are located in Florida. Valerie Oliver has called saying we owe $299.00 for something we haven't asked for or received. Referred her to our legal department. She did not get the response she was looking for so she called back and asked for accounting. Reported her to NY State Attorney Office.

Just confirming all the above.  We have been dodging them for 3 weeks and I have heard it all.  They tried the birthdate trick as well as reducing the payment if we pay immediately.  We have also never received the newsletters that they claim we are in contract to buy.  Actually, to be accurate, we have received 5 copies; but they are all identical.  It is very frustrating that companies like this can continue to operate.  I am actually considering paying the reduced fee they offered.  Then have our attorney file suit against them for theft.  This might work considering I am not the one in our organization that Progressive claims ordered the subscription.  I will take the advice of our attorney.

Just recieved all call from Amber Yates, thanks for posting. I will ask her to send over the contract with her contact information and send to our attorney for review.

I reported them to FBI one year ago ,was promised that it would be taken care  and so far nothing was done.Joe

Lori Appleton is calling  me trying to collect hundreds of dollars for some newsletter that was never ordered. Her threats of reporting our company is commical. These dirt bags should be put out of business.

607-748-4686

We just Got a call from6077484686 with the same story From International Credit Recovery and we are a dr. office her name was Amanda Sprague she clamed we owed her for some subscription to Progressive Business Plubications for 12months we never sign on to. We had never before heard of it. She even faxed us over an invoice... Then she called back and we let her know we never ordered those before ,, She was then acting really rude and urged us to give her our credit card number or over night check. Ofcoarse we did not give it to her and saw this on the website which we are glad.

Similar story to those below.. Birthday provided confirmation for 'progressive business sales training program' in which our company would be required to pay 256.xx for a multiple listing publication.  Amber Yates was the caller from 607-748-4686 claiming to be a collection agency.  Never could provide a tape of the proof.

Just gat a call from Katie saying I had a past due bill, called one of my companies that does sales only, buys nothing.  Told me I owed $94.66 then left me on hold.

When do they get shut down?

GOT A CALL TODAY ON MY CELL PHONE.  SOMEONE BY THE NAME OF AMBER TOLD ME THAT I HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO A NEWS LETTER AND I NEED TO PAY THE DELINQUENCY. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT I RECEIVED THIS NEW LETTER IN MY MAIL WITHOUT TALKING TO ANYONE OR SUBSCRIBING IT, SHE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY ANYWAY AND MENTIONED MY DATE OF BIRTH (WITHOUT THE YEAR!) AS PROOF OF SUBSCRIPTION!! I TOLD HER THAT I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING. SHE HUNG UP. SHE ALSO KNEW THAT MY CELL PHONE NUMBER WAS IN DO NOT CALL LIST REGISTRY.

THIS A SCAM. MUST BE REPORTED TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ASAP. THEY MUST GET PROSECUTED AND ELIMINATED.

yea this woman named Kathy called again this morning saying she was from Progressive Business Publications, she has left messages and talked to me several times saying she was from (International Credit Recovery).  Today she said she has never talked to me.  I have saved her messages.  Today she wanted to clear up this tiny little bill for $94.56.  I told her our company was not going to pay it.  I have been around here for twenty + years and we know scams and protect ourselves.  She then threatened me personally and said they are going to go after me personally and that she didn't want me to have any suprises.  I told here to do what ever she has to do.  She hung up.        

I have told her before that PBB did call offer a free puplications and I have in the past explained to her that we never received the magazine.  I believe this is a bogus company.  They are trying to charge money for a product that they do not supply. I too recommend not paying any money to this company.

Katie from ICR kept calling our office as well, stating we ordered a publication, and have not paid for it. (one by the way that we did not recieve)  I explained to her that we are not in the business of NOT paying our bills.  She advised me that she had recorded telephone converstations with our president, and that he gave his date of birth has verification that he ordered, however she had the wrong birthdate. After several conversations with her, my boss finally spoke with her, demanding some sort of certified letter or something proving that he ordered this $240 publication, we have not heard from her since.  DO NOT PAY, IT IS A SCAM!!

Spoke with Amber and also Lindsey Bezek.  They called me yesterday and thought they were going to make easy money.  They offered me all kinds of things to get me to pay.  Even said they would add extra copies to my subscription.  Amanda actually apoligized for "all the trouble".  Lindsey followed up this morning thinking she was going in for the kill.  NOT.  Never pay a bill over the phone and always pay from an original invoice for a product you know you purchased!

I just got a similar call from a gal named "Sam" at InternationalCredit Recovery -- about a fictitious invoice that she said our company apporved and was due.   No such invoice exists and no such service or publication was ever apporved by our company.

These are bad people -- strictly a scam.

International Credit Recovery and Progressive Business Publications - SCAM ARTISTS!

Email Progressive Business Publications to tell them how crappy they are: customer_service@pbp.com

Both of these companies are totally ridiculous.  I never ordered a newsletter from anyone even though they say I did.  Who pays $250 a year for a newsletter? no one and I never got one but did get the outrageous bills which i filed right in the trash can.  Then we started getting calls from a collection agency named International Credit Recovery.  I didn't even recognize it because we as a company pay our bills and obligations!

Progressive Business Publications evidently calls you up to try their newsletter and by talking to you they consider it your approval that you want their $250 per year newsletter.  I don't even remember talking to anyone. Then send numerous bills that I just threw away because I never ordered their publications. Then instead of calling you when you haven't paid for it - they send it to a rabid dog collection agency in New York.  Lori Appleton from International Credit Recovery called my boss  and left a message about how I was delinquent in paying my company obligation.

Amanda Sprague called me today.  She claims I failed to cancel a subscription within 30 days.  Actually I did cancel it within 30 days and I never received any newsletters after the first.  She refused to send me a bill and hung up on me.  She's quite the feisty little manipulator, lots of threats - although the debit it to your company it is listed under your name, I want to talk to your boss, this is a final attempt before it affects your credit, etc.  I called back to talk to the manager/president/owner of International Credit Recovery and she said it was her.  Funny thing, she knew an awful lot about Progressive Business Publications.  I've never talked to a debt collector that sooo familiar with the ins and outs of newsletter publication.  Very interesting.  Report these people someone needs to stop them.