Life Dun and Bradstreet reporting

**Iowanian** · 03-23-2011, 09:36 AM

I'm getting hassled by these people. They're pretty much demanding information and calling me a moron for not "having enough business intelligence to understand the value of their service". Honestly, I haven't appreciated the tone of my interactions with them, or the insinuation of doom for my company should I not use this service.

So, Businesspersons of CP.
What is your knowledge, history and opinion of the value of working with these people, or paying for the ability to correct your information.

Is it bullshit, is it of value and would you recommend using it? I see everything from "must have" to "bullshit scam" online searches.

Thank You for your input.

**DeezNutz** · 03-23-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I'm getting hassled by these people. They're pretty much demanding information and calling me a moron for not "having enough business intelligence to understand the value of their service". Honestly, I haven't appreciated the tone of my interactions with them, or the insinuation of doom for my company should I not use this service.

So, Businesspersons of CP.
What is your knowledge, history and opinion of the value of working with these people, or paying for the ability to correct your information.

Is it bullshit, is it of value and would you recommend using it? I see everything from "must have" to "bullshit scam" online searches.

Thank You for your input.

You've answered your own question.

http://scam.com/showthread.php?p=909429

**Bwana** · 03-23-2011, 09:41 AM

I had the same impression when I talked to them years ago. They seemed like an arrogant bunch and had the attitude that "I was damn lucky they were calling me." In so many words, I told them to kiss my ass and lose my number. A lot of it depends on "what kind" of business you are running, but for the most part, they seem like a Mickey Mouse outfit.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 03-23-2011, 09:54 AM

ignore them.

**Iowanian** · 03-23-2011, 09:55 AM

It came to a head this morning when they called my home and were shitty to my wife for not sharing my business information. Then called me, and acted indignant that I didn't appreciate that treatment of my wife and not to be calling my home for business issues.

I've done a little research and had seen the scam.com items...and I've seen people espouse the importance.

I'm weighing options relating to how much weight that report carries for a potential vendor, loan agent, client or professional liability insurance rate, versus the history of my company and past 3 years P&L statements and taxes.

I'm never comfortable giving information when someone else calls me, and I never like to feel like I'm being bulled around.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-23-2011, 09:57 AM

As a former credit manager I will say that they were a big part of our process in determining credit worthiness, but not the deciding factor.

Omaha · 03-23-2011, 10:07 AM

It depends on your industry. I'm CFO of a commercial contractor & I use them to help screen subcontractors. They aren't always reliable as it's easy to manipulate your score if you pay to use their services so I take the information for what I believe it's worth. It's also very possible to have an inappropriately poor rating & not even know it if you do not pay for their services.

Many retailers (Wal-Mart) & developers use their ratings to pre-qualify contractors & vendors. I've often questioned how they can report information that may or may not be completely accurate legally, but we just bite the bullet & pay for their monitoring service.

**Iowanian** · 03-23-2011, 10:17 AM

The 2 biggest problems I've had is 1. Calling my home and being rude and bitchy to my wife, and then indignant and pushy to myself as the business owner they are trying to do business.

2. To remove yourself from "DS" status, it costs $229.....and then they push the up-sell on all of the other items.

If they're selling outdated data, its' a reflection on their services, not on my company.

I don't like their tactics and I sure as hell don't like the insinuation that their services is a mandatory expense.

**Saulbadguy** · 03-23-2011, 10:18 AM

Pay them.

Wait 3 years.

Sue the shit out of them.

Profit.

Omaha · 03-23-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

It came to a head this morning when they called my home and were shitty to my wife for not sharing my business information. Then called me, and acted indignant that I didn't appreciate that treatment of my wife and not to be calling my home for business issues.

I've done a little research and had seen the scam.com items...and I've seen people espouse the importance.

I'm weighing options relating to how much weight that report carries for a potential vendor, loan agent, client or professional liability insurance rate, versus the history of my company and past 3 years P&L statements and taxes.

I'm never comfortable giving information when someone else calls me, and I never like to feel like I'm being bulled around.

FYI - We do not send them our financial statements. Their report on us dings us for having "incomplete" information, but that has never hurt us to my knowledge. I want to believe that anyone choosing to rely on their information, knows what they're dealing with.

Omaha · 03-23-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

The 2 biggest problems I've had is 1. Calling my home and being rude and bitchy to my wife, and then indignant and pushy to myself as the business owner they are trying to do business.

2. To remove yourself from "DS" status, it costs $229.....and then they push the up-sell on all of the other items.

If they're selling outdated data, its' a reflection on their services, not on my company.

I don't like their tactics and I sure as hell don't like the insinuation that their services is a mandatory expense.

Yeah, I wouldn't deal with the POS calling your house. If you determine that their reporting affects you, call their main # & deal with someone else.

We end up paying them thousands of dollars every year, but we know that customers & some vendors are relying on their info so it's worth the hassle for us.

FAX · 03-23-2011, 10:43 AM

Tell them, if and when you feel it's appropriate, you'll contact them. After you've done that, inform them that, if they attempt to contact you again by telephone, you'll refer the problem to your attorney.

They are dinosaurs, Mr. Iowanian. The likelihood that a D&B report will have any effect on your success, whatsoever, is practically nil.

FAX

**SAUTO** · 03-23-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Tell them, if and when you feel it's appropriate, you'll contact them. After you've done that, inform them that, if they attempt to contact you again by telephone, you'll refer the problem to your attorney.

They are dinosaurs, Mr. Iowanian. The likelihood that a D&B report will have any effect on your success, whatsoever, is practically nil.

FAX

i agree.

they pissed me off a couple of years ago in about the same way they have done you.

i told them to go **** themselves if they wanted to talk to my wife that way and hung up the phone.

i already had bought the business and didnt feel as though they could screw me over too awfully bad. havent noticed any difference.

teedubya · 03-23-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Tell them, if and when you feel it's appropriate, you'll contact them. After you've done that, inform them that, if they attempt to contact you again by telephone, you'll refer the problem to your attorney.

They are dinosaurs, Mr. Iowanian. The likelihood that a D&B report will have any effect on your success, whatsoever, is practically nil.

FAX

I agree, as well.

In my estimation, it is far more important to have accurate information with InfoUSA, Axiom, Google Places, and about 20 other local directories. They effect local seo rankings whereas D&B and Hoovers do not.

Plus, most likely they got your information from Axiom, anyway. But you want to make sure your information is consistent in ALL directories. It helps potential customers find you, and your trust in the eyes of Google Almighty becomes higher.

Here is a very valuable link for any business owner.

http://getlisted.org/resources/local..._ecosystem.pdf

You're welcome.

Simplex3 · 03-23-2011, 01:05 PM

D&B can suck it. Some people still look up people's D&B score, but I think it's out of habit. I can't remember the last time I talked to someone that looked, cared, or otherwise even thought about a D&B score.

The fact that this person is calling you at home makes me think it isn't even someone from D&B. I'd call D&B's main number and see if they've ever heard of this jerkoff at all. Could just be a phishing scam.

03-23-2011, 09:36 AM
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4718454	Dun and Bradstreet reporting I'm getting hassled by these people. They're pretty much demanding information and calling me a moron for not "having enough business intelligence to understand the value of their service". Honestly, I haven't appreciated the tone of my interactions with them, or the insinuation of doom for my company should I not use this service. So, Businesspersons of CP. What is your knowledge, history and opinion of the value of working with these people, or paying for the ability to correct your information. Is it bullshit, is it of value and would you recommend using it? I see everything from "must have" to "bullshit scam" online searches. Thank You for your input.
Posts: 61,540

03-23-2011, 09:41 AM	#3
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139443647	I had the same impression when I talked to them years ago. They seemed like an arrogant bunch and had the attitude that "I was damn lucky they were calling me." In so many words, I told them to kiss my ass and lose my number. A lot of it depends on "what kind" of business you are running, but for the most part, they seem like a Mickey Mouse outfit. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,761

03-23-2011, 09:54 AM	#4
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	ignore them.
Posts: 12,526

03-23-2011, 09:55 AM	#5
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4718454	It came to a head this morning when they called my home and were shitty to my wife for not sharing my business information. Then called me, and acted indignant that I didn't appreciate that treatment of my wife and not to be calling my home for business issues. I've done a little research and had seen the scam.com items...and I've seen people espouse the importance. I'm weighing options relating to how much weight that report carries for a potential vendor, loan agent, client or professional liability insurance rate, versus the history of my company and past 3 years P&L statements and taxes. I'm never comfortable giving information when someone else calls me, and I never like to feel like I'm being bulled around.
Posts: 61,540

03-23-2011, 09:57 AM	#6
Mr. Flopnuts FINALLY! The wait is over. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Future Is Now!!! Casino cash: $19947565	As a former credit manager I will say that they were a big part of our process in determining credit worthiness, but not the deciding factor.
Posts: 56,649

03-23-2011, 10:07 AM	#7
Omaha Badass! Join Date: May 2010 Casino cash: $10016579	It depends on your industry. I'm CFO of a commercial contractor & I use them to help screen subcontractors. They aren't always reliable as it's easy to manipulate your score if you pay to use their services so I take the information for what I believe it's worth. It's also very possible to have an inappropriately poor rating & not even know it if you do not pay for their services. Many retailers (Wal-Mart) & developers use their ratings to pre-qualify contractors & vendors. I've often questioned how they can report information that may or may not be completely accurate legally, but we just bite the bullet & pay for their monitoring service.
Posts: 6,502

03-23-2011, 10:17 AM	#8
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4718454	The 2 biggest problems I've had is 1. Calling my home and being rude and bitchy to my wife, and then indignant and pushy to myself as the business owner they are trying to do business. 2. To remove yourself from "DS" status, it costs $229.....and then they push the up-sell on all of the other items. If they're selling outdated data, its' a reflection on their services, not on my company. I don't like their tactics and I sure as hell don't like the insinuation that their services is a mandatory expense.
Posts: 61,540

03-23-2011, 10:18 AM	#9
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2536966	Pay them. Wait 3 years. Sue the shit out of them. Profit. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 46,968

03-23-2011, 10:43 AM	#12
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Tell them, if and when you feel it's appropriate, you'll contact them. After you've done that, inform them that, if they attempt to contact you again by telephone, you'll refer the problem to your attorney. They are dinosaurs, Mr. Iowanian. The likelihood that a D&B report will have any effect on your success, whatsoever, is practically nil. FAX
Posts: 44,492

03-23-2011, 01:05 PM	#15
Simplex3 MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	D&B can suck it. Some people still look up people's D&B score, but I think it's out of habit. I can't remember the last time I talked to someone that looked, cared, or otherwise even thought about a D&B score. The fact that this person is calling you at home makes me think it isn't even someone from D&B. I'd call D&B's main number and see if they've ever heard of this jerkoff at all. Could just be a phishing scam.
Posts: 28,527