Proguard

When solicited by telemarketers offering business supplies, we urge extreme caution. Complaints against this type of company generally allege the telemarketers misrepresented products offered, that orders were shipped which were not authorized, that prices were exorbitant, and that customers were led to believe that the company was their regular supplier.

If you receive a solicitation call insist the caller send a catalog or brochure containing the items in question along with a price sheet.Businesses should designate a person or team of employees to handle supply orders and payments. Employees should be trained not to provide information regarding their office equipment or supplies to unsolicited callers. Instead they should gather the caller's information and inform them that a message will be relayed to the appropriate individual that handles the orders for the office. Never provide the name of this person because the scammer can use this to claim that person authorized the order.

If you receive unordered products, refuse the delivery. Even if an employee mistakenly agrees to accept the delivery, a business is not required to pay for unordered supplies. They are considered a gift and do not have to be returned. Under federal law you are entitled to regard unordered merchandise sent through the U.S. mail as a free gift. The same law makes it illegal to mail bills for such unordered merchandise. If you do not wish to pay for unsolicited merchandise, you have three options. In each case, by law, you have no obligation to the sender. If you have not opened the package you may mark it "Return to Sender" and the Postal Service will return it with no additional postage charged to you. If you open the package and don't like what you find you may throw it away; or, if you like what you find you may keep it for free. In this instance "finders-keepers" applies unconditionally. If unordered merchandise arrives by private delivery, do not accept the shipment. If you have already accepted the shipment, send the shipper a certified letter with return receipt requested demanding proof of your order. If there is no valid proof, inform the sender that unless the merchandise is picked up within 30 days you will dispose of it. By giving the sender an opportunity to recover the merchandise, you invalidate any claim that you accepted an offer of sale merely by keeping the shipment. If an invoice for the unordered merchandise arrives, withhold payment and do not use the merchandise. If the firm fails to respond to your letter or if the sender threatens you with legal action, contact an attorney and your state attorney general's office.