Better Business Bureau out with warning about Your Local 411

NEWS RELEASE
BBB OF CENTRAL ONTARIO
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BBB serving Central Ontario is warning local businesses to exercise caution if you receive unsolicited sales calls from Your Local 411.

In June 2018, BBB investigated Your Local 411’s business practices after receiving a large volume of complaints and inquiries. Complainants – many of whom operate businesses in the Central Ontario area – have advised that suspicious calls from the company have resulted in unauthorized verbal agreements in which Your Local 411 expects payment.

Your Local 411 is advertised as an online directory service. They call local businesses asking employees to confirm the contact information for the business and acknowledge they are authorized to approve the listing. Your Local 411 will then invoice the business for $499 + tax, citing a verbal “agreement” made on behalf of the employee who confirmed their contact information. In most reported cases, the employee “approving” the listing is a team member who is not authorized to make purchasing decisions. Many have reported that it was not explained to them that they would be billed.

Companies requesting proof of the “agreement” between their employee and Your Local 411 are sent a taped recording of the conversation. Business owners and employees have alleged that the recordings sound as if they were edited, including additional information and terms or conditions that were not initially disclosed on the call.

After obtaining copies of Your Local 411’s registration with the Ministry of Government Services, BBB has found the company’s listed Director, Amparo Araneta, is also the Director of 1889523 Ontario Inc o/a Specialized Web Media (SMW) and Online Services. This company has a history of consumer complaints with BBB as well. Although Araneta is Your Local 411’s reported director, BBB representatives have only spoken directly with Jason Rowe, Customer Service Manager.

BBB has also discovered that Your Local 411’s listed address is a Canada Post location. As of June 14, 2018, we were unable to confirm where the business was physically located.

BBB has approached Your Local 411 regarding the volume and nature of customer complaints, requesting they work towards correcting the underlying reason for these disputes. We are currently waiting for a response.

Business owners are advised to exercise extreme caution in the event that you are approached by anybody claiming to represent Your Local 411.

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