Scam Artists

[liptonrm_backup]

Those f-ing wankers. Has someone ever made you feel like a complete and utter idiot? I'm a reasonably intelligent adult and I still got taken in by their fucking scam. You know, it's a good thing that I'm so low on the totem pole or I might have lost my job.

It all begins a month ago when I ordered some toner. We needed it and it's my job to do the ordering. There's a certain process one has to go through and what I didn't know at the time (which I am now aware of) is that the reason we have to order toner seperately from other supplies is that we have a contract with our copier repair people so that we get all the toner through them for free. Anyway, I went through the hoops, ordered the toner and sat back and waited for it to come.

It didn't come, and frankly, I kind of forgot about it. (There are lots of moments in this where I look back and think if I had only done this or that then everything would be different, and this is one of those points. If only I had followed up when the toner hadn't come...) Anyway, a few weeks later I got a call from someone apologizing for not sending the toner out, saying there was a kerfluffle because prices had changed and they needed my signature to authorize shipment of the toner. (Once again, if I had only known, if only I had directed them to the appropriate person in the company, if only I had read the small print on the fax, if only...) So, like the trusting doofus I am, I signed the form and then we got the toner and I didn't think about it again.

Today our billing department calls me, wondering about this bill we got for toner. They were surprised, I was confused and then I was angry, at both myself and the people who contacted me. See, I know I would have never fallen for their game if (another if;-) I hadn't ordered toner in the first place and if we had actually received that toner in a timely manner. I called our normal supplier to find out what had happened with my initial order and they say it got lost in the mail. My personal theory is that someone in their company gave our name, number and order to these scam artists, but I have no way of proving that. It's also a good thing that my name and signature are in no way legally binding for the company as a whole. I tried calling the scam artists and just got a machine that told me to leave a message. Yeah, I'll message them all right.

Anyway, long story short, we're sending them back the toner (even though we actually had to use one of the cartridges) and not paying the bill. What are they going to do, sue us? Believe you me, my only legal knowledge may come through watching copious amounts of Law & Order but I am fairly certain that they have no law on which to stand regarding this issue. They're the scam artists and they should be grateful that we're not suing them. Bastards.

That feels better. I just needed to get that out of my system. I just feel like such an idiot, but I'm sure I'll be laughing about this whole situation in a couple days.

I should just sit back and enjoy the weather we're having. It's sunny and warm and I wish it would never get cold again. It's so lovely it nearly breaks my heart for the joy of it. Spring is almost here!

Comments

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!

[hlgraban.livejournal.com]

The EXACT same thing happened to me! I kid you not. We have a certain process to follow as far as ordering toner goes, and I was new to my job. I know I was supposed to order supplies, so I figured when they called, and asked for Jennifer, the lady I replaced, that they were a former supplier. They faxed over the order, I signed it and faxed it back (but kept a copy), and then eventually the toner came. Fortunately, we also get it free from Xerox, and we had tons of it still, so we never ended up using it. Accounts Payable called me, and asked me what this was all about, saying that they think it's a scam. That company was charging an extraordinary amount for their toners! Well, I gave them the faxed copy of the order, and said that we hadn't used the toner, it was still in its box. So, we just taped it up and marked it Return to Sender, and never paid the bill either. Phew! I felt exactly the same as you though- extraordinarily stupid and just plain dirty. It's the same way you feel if you get robbed (which has also happened to me). You just want to kick yourself in the ass and scream at what a moron you were to have done something so stupid. Anyway... don't worry about it too much... water under the bridge. But you have my empathy, because I have most certainly been there! Now I always pass on calls for "the person responsible for ordering your printer supplies" to the acting director of IT, who's only there about half the time, and probably has caller ID anyway. Yup, I never take telemarketing calls, even if it's for ordering supplies, because although I do order them, I have absolutely no authority as far as chosing where to get them, and I AM NOT getting scammed again!

Someone should warn all new receptionists about these scammers!

Re: YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

I thought I remembered something similar happening to you. Right after I heard about the contract we have with the copier people I knew that I had been scammed. Well, fool me once, shame on you and all that, they won't find such an easy mark next time.

Toner Scams

[europanya.livejournal.com]

Old as the hills. The toner scam has been around as long as toner has been around. They usually call and ask for somebody who used to work there, and then they ask you to sign something or give them the copier serial number--that way the order looks legit and then they deliver crappy-ass overpriced toner and hope somebody in accounting will miss it and just pay up. My hubsnad used to work in a mailroom and the toner scammers would call at least twice a month. There's gazillions of them out there. He'd mess with them. Spend their phone dollars by pretending to be too stupid to send the fax or find the serial number on the machine. "It's under the "start" button? Where's that? I can't read!"

Re: Toner Scams

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Have I told you lately how much your husband rocks? Because he does, he is definitely teh cool. I hope he gave some of those people aneurisms from his supposed stupidity. It's funny to imagine their faces turning red as their heads swelled to the exploding point;-).

Hmmm, must see about starting a task force to take out all of the toner scammers. So much more evil then the drug addicts...

[drunken-buzzard.livejournal.com]

Sorry you got screwed like that, but thanks for the heads up. We are in a similar deal getting free toner, I'll make sure the person that orders toner knows about this.

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Please, do share with your toner orderer. It's like these scams are the business world's dirty little secret and hence people don't really hear about them until it's too late. Vive le Resistance!