Thibodaux Chamber issues a warning

The Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce has been joined by a marketing corporation in issuing a consumer warning. Both the Chamber and Arlington, Texas-based Universal AdCom claim unknown callers have been soliciting advertising in Lafourche Parish while claiming to represent both entities.

“[This] happens on occasion,” Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce board Chairman Ben Harang said after his organization issued an alert naming Universal AdCom as the business identified by a solicitor. Harang said he understood from inquiries that the caller claimed to be selling refrigerator magnets with business advertising displayed. “They are probably trying to give themselves credibility.”

Universal AdCom Corporate Manager Lola Willingham confirmed in a telephone interview that this corporation and its six subsidiary companies, with more than 500 employees, do sell promotional community guide products – including refrigerator magnets, t-shirts and beverage containers that have local advertising displayed with community service telephone numbers, local sports schedules and other public information. The company often works in conjunction with local police, fire departments, schools and even chambers of commerce working on fundraising projects.

Willingham said although Universal AdCom was working on a project in the Lockport area during February, it has not been making sales calls in Lafourche Parish since then and is not scheduled to do so again until February 2013.

“Nobody [from Universal AdCom] is calling that area at all,” Willingham said. “If you have somebody calling in your area right now, it is not us. One of our competitors probably.”

The marketing representative said her firm is currently involved in litigation with former employees that use the corporation’s name, but could not reveal details of those cases.

Willingham said legitimate marketing companies will first establish distribution and be in direct contact with organizations they have contracted before making advertising solicitations. She added that products are generally paid for by advertisers and not the general public.

Universal AdCom conducts business in 48 states, and for approximately 40 years has developed a diverse range of clients from multi-national banks to local mom-and-pop businesses.

Universal AdCom is not without its own business blemishes, including an “F” rating from the Ft. Worth, Texas Better Business Bureau. Sales issues constitute 54 percent of the complaints listed by that office during the past three years. The corporation has also had claims against it filed in other states. Louisiana Attorney General James D. “Buddy” Caldwell’s office said it had one complaint on record against Universal AdCom in 2008, which has since then been resolved.

“[The Better Business Bureau] rated us as a medium business and we are a large corporation,” Willingham said in explanation of the “F” grade and how reports are calculated. “We actually sat down with the BBB and our attorneys and talked to them about getting that changed. If they change us to a large business we would have less than 1 percent complaints. If they had us as a large corporation we would have a “B” not an “F”. We are trying to change that.”

Regardless, of the marketing company’s explanations, Harang said local businesses and organizations need to be aware of fraudulent solicitations from anyone.

“When the Chamber has advertising opportunities it announces it to members well in advance so there is no question,” Harang said. “If anybody has any question they are welcome to call the Chamber of Commerce and ask to see if an opportunity is legitimate.”

Harang said if businesses or consumers have questions about a solicitor ask for the salesperson’s name, a supervisor’s telephone number and street address where verification can be made. “If they are legitimate they are going to give it to you,” he said. “If not they won’t.”

Caldwell’s office advised to always check unfamiliar companies with the local Better Business Bureau, state attorney general or the National Fraud Information Center. Never give out personal information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or even birthdates. Never send up-front money or pay for a “free gift.”

“Always take your time making a decision,” Caldwell said in an email statement. “Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly [and] if you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.”

“I’m not saying this case is illegitimate,” Harang said of the alert his organization released, “but it is not representing or in conjunction with the Chamber.”