posted
A few months ago Dun & Bradstreet called me and said they wanted to update my files and info. I know some companies contact them to see if you are legit and doing okY (like pay your bills). I paid them $426 to update the info. Today I get a call and they want to do more updating and monthly send me a printout of what companies have requested my info all for a low price of $600 year. We have been in business 14 years as a mom and pop size business. What are your thoughts or experience with them?
Diane
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1695 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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If I were a million plus a year corporate entity that needed a good looking resume...maybe I would consider it, but at my level? nah... I'd rather use that money to buy airline tickets for a vacation.
I guess I get 10 calls a year from people wanting to "update" their records...my question to them has always been "How can you update records we've never authorized you to keep in the first place".
Amazing how they just fall out of the air...click!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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Hi Dianne. To assess just how valuable and accurate their information might be, think back to the request for update call that you received. If their procedure was similar to what I experienced, I pretty much could have told them anything that would have made me look good. They take telephone information verbatim, and to my knowledge there really isn't all that much follow-up done to confirm if the information that I've supplied is even anywhere near accurate.
If they haven't bone any follow-up with that information you supplied them (call to your bank to confirm balance etc), then what is their information REALLY WORTH ?
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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That's funny, I just got a call from themn today. Amoung the the things they mentioned was a "slow pay" note on $5000 worth of office furniture from some company. I have never bought $5000 of furniture for anywhere. They gave me a number to call to straighten it out. Of course the main reason for the call was to sell me a subscription so I could monitor it myself. I wonder if they have any regulations like the credit reporting agencies do?
posted
Get your money back. In 20 years I never needed them and never paid them a dime. And never did ever hear about any one checking with them about my business. I came to hate teh phone calls for updates and usually hung up on them.
I have several 30 day net accounts and none of them ever wanted a dunn & brad number.
And what really piks me off is they charge you to see your data that you earned and what they are selling to others.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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dunn and bradstreet is a joke. i would never pay them a dime...they do nothing for you, imo. i have NEVER in 14 yrs of business had any corporate company not want to do business with me because d&b didn't have any info. we are small sign businesses...besides joe blow excavation doesn't call d&b before they decide about lettering their trucks...trust me, ya don't need em............
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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They called me all the time! About two years ago the guy was giving me the yearly "sell" over the phone. I interrupted him and said, "I have a question for you." He said "Go ahead. Ask away!" I said, "Tell me the truth. Are you (Dunn & Bradstreet) listed?" He thought a second and said "We don't list ourselves." I hung up!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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Those smucks sent me some snail mail saying I had a major change in my business credit report and to call immediately. I call to find out what the heck is going on and after abotu 20 min the guy says a $50 bill wasn't paid. I asked by who to whom??? He couldn't tell me that. I pried a little bit more and then he said I needed to cough up ~$350-400 for something and I said I don't care about $50, if anyone wants to do business with me they can call me and see what type of person I am. I've paid all my bills, etc. I haven't heard back from them in quite a while now.
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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just a secong thought Who is gooan pay a couple hundred to check on you when they are just goona order a $2,000 dollar sign?
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Dunn&Bradstreet, second biggest joke of the year IMO. Did you know you can call them and give false information on a business and they never verify your info? You can ruin a very good business for some poor hard working person. D&B has to be a major rip-off. I once had a bad experience with them. I wound up telling them to lay off before I took legal action. End of that. Thanks for listening. Don
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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dunn and bradstreet are about as worthless as an ad in the yellow pages and the BBB. actually the yello pages may be worth more. I usually hang up in their face and then report their number to the donotcall list. what a worthless company.
and the BBB is worthless and a waste of time along with the chamber of commerce another waste of time and money.
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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"How can you update records we've never authorized you to keep in the first place." -------------- This all sounds crooked as a barrel of snakes. 20 years ago D&B made overtures to our little signshop out in the sticks. There was absolutely no advantage, so I never thought about it again. But now, see what Brian says!
"I call to find out what the heck is going on and after abotu 20 min the guy says a $50 bill wasn't paid. I asked by who to whom??? He couldn't tell me that. I pried a little bit more and then he said I needed to cough up ~$350-400 for something..."
That's more than I need to know. If your state maintains a Do Not Call list, I'd report these scum every time.
-------------------- Bruce Williams Lexington KY Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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I'm listed, but I don't pay the extra fees for checking my report, adding references, etc. I think it does help with larger credit situations, though.
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Mike, the biggest joke of the year is this illegal immigration issue, and our beloved politicians handling of the situation. But I am not trying to sabotage this thread, so I will leave further comments till l;ater. Don
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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![[Mad]](mad.gif)
I pried a little bit more and then he said I needed to cough up ~$350-400 for something and I said I don't care about $50, if anyone wants to do business with me they can call me and see what type of person I am. I've paid all my bills, etc.![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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