spam asking me to join acrbo

[coastcomputer]

credit card processing spam asking me to join acrbo, I don't see them as a "preferred provider" and if they are, they shouldn't be spamming me...

*body*
Hello Tom,


It’s Patrick with TRU Processing. Payment processing can be a confusing subject and we would like to share with you what processors don’t want you to know and
some tips to protect yourself.

TRU would like to extend to you a Member Benefit of ACRBO (The Association for Computer Repair Business Owners).

We are the preferred provider for ACRBO and guarantee savings for all members. Choose TRU and we will pay your premium ACRBO membership.



RATE CHANGES

Do you know that in order to raise your rate, your processor only needs to give you written notice 30 days prior to that change? And no, that doesn't mean you're going to get a certified letter.

Your one sentence notice will most likely be hidden in a statement message, just under a publicized rate increase, coming directly from V/MC.



Read More Here>>








Warmest Regards,

PATRICK Murphy
consultant

Email: patrick@itstru.com

Website: http://www.itstru.com

Toll Free: 877 - 878- 1777

TRU we negotiate for you




Unsubscribe me from this list

 

[Bryce W]

PM'd cmonova to bring his attention this thread.

 

[cmonova]

TRU contacted me a little over a week ago and said this:

We are starting a campaign next week to computer repair business owners and are looking at different ways to maximize our marketing. We have a large list with emails and high sale volume.

For Example: Since most of the contacts on our list will not be members of ACRBO yet. With every new account TRU could pay for their premium membership, making it more exclusive to ACRBO while expanding your member base.

We are currently recommended by state and national associations in industries like:Fine Jewelry, Optometrist, Vets,Automotive Repair.

............

Then TRU came back and said they would give other incentives to actual Association members that signed up with their product/service which seemed like a very nice deal. No they have not been put on the Association site as of yet but they are not ready to present it to Association members.

I have no control over their 16,000+ owners that they contacted due to they obviously got their list from other sources and didn't and probably don't plan on sharing the list with me.

So are they sending you something on behalf of the Association...no they are not..They are sending something about their product/service that is from what I know within their legal rights and nothing I can do about it.

 

[jb4479]

However the claim that they are a preferred provider could make it seem like an endorsement from the association. Maybe Dan should contact them and ask them to remove that part.

 

[cmonova]

However the claim that they are a preferred provider could make it seem like an endorsement from the association. Maybe Dan should contact them and ask them to remove that part.

That is my post above "Dan"...and I said "No they have not been put on the Association site as of yet but they are not ready to present it to Association members."

 

[rjframe]

Then TRU came back and said they would give other incentives to actual Association members that signed up with their product/service which seemed like a very nice deal. No they have not been put on the Association site as of yet but they are not ready to present it to Association members.

I have no control over their 16,000+ owners that they contacted due to they obviously got their list from other sources and didn't and probably don't plan on sharing the list with me.

So are they sending you something on behalf of the Association...no they are not..They are sending something about their product/service that is from what I know within their legal rights and nothing I can do about it.

I'm sorry but this is confusing me. They are preferred but aren't on the site yet, or they will soon be preferred but it's still pending?

They are using the ACRBO name in their marketing campaign. The preferred vendor list should be black and white -- they're either on it ("We are the preferred provider for ACRBO and guarantee savings for all members") or they shouldn't be able to use the name at all. As it is, it looks like they're using the ACRBO name to advertise to non-ACRBO members without actually supporting ACRBO and/or its current members.

 

[cmonova]

Not sure where the confusion is. Are they preferred vendors yes…Have I put it on the Association as of yet…no

Reason it's not on the site is been a bit busy…On top of that they are going to do a special such as a kindle file, gift certificates etc so I figured i'd wait to put it on there with all the details vice going back and doing it twice.

If an Association member is needing to use their product/service right this minute then I am sure I can get them the special that will be offered otherwise it will have to wait.

No matter what they were going to send out to 16K businesses with our without the Association on board. But, them offering to pay for membership sounded like a good deal so I allowed that part.

 

[coastcomputer]

a spammer is a spammer in my book, unsolicited email in my email box, how they got my private address is questionable, I am not a member of acrbo, I consider anyone associated with a spammer and condoning their activity to be just as bad as them. I have very little tolerance for this type of behavior.

also they are a credit card processor, I get 2-3 unsolicted scam phone calls a day from credit card processor scammers, this is no different in my book..........

did they get my private email address from here?

 

[seedubya]

As I member I see no problem with this in general nor does it appear to be spam under the US definitions. It would have saved confusion if they were on the site with an "Member Offer Pending" notice or some such.

@OP - you may need to lighten up slightly..

 

[Bryce W]

did they get my private email address from here?

They didnt get it from here (Technibble). We take that sort of thing VERY seriously. We dont share your email with any third parties, never have and never will.

Doing a quick Google search of your business name shows that your email address publicly visible in a variety of places. I suspect the TRU may scraped your email from one of those sources.

 

[cmonova]

Well I will echo what Bryce said...Yes your "private" email address is on the net...do a google search and it's right there. As far as how they got your name it came on a list they acquired (which I assume means bought).

As far as "anyone associated with a spammer and condoning their activity to be just as bad as them"...i'll just assume for the sake of peace you don't mean me.

 

[TenYardFight]

Lol, well said Dan! Give him the benefit of the doubt!

 

[callthatgirl]

If you run a business, your information should not be very private. Expect spam and tons of it. And spam calls, I have a good gatekeeping system to stop almost all of them before it gets to me. Some sneak through though, depends on the sales person and how much info they got off my website. Owell, I just hang up.

I know a lot of people get really peevy about spam, but it's just one of those things as you own a business you need to get used to.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[stro]

I know a lot of people get really peevy about spam, but it's just one of those things as you own a business you need to get used to.

Just my 2 cents.

+1

I agree with the calls, I just say not interested and hangup before they get a chance to retort. Probably the most common call I get is for credit card processing.

The challenging ones are the one from local orgs and charities selling ads. I get calls on a weekly basis for sponsoring school sports, sport programs/schedules, yearbooks, church bulletins, county fair trophies, firefighters, Police Fraternities, etc. It could be damaging to your business if you blow these people off. I try to make up excuses like, my advert budget is tapped out, the manager that makes these decisions is on vacation for 2 weeks, sure email me the info and I will look into it, etc.

Fact of the matter is alot of this type of advertising just does not work. If I am gonna advertize with these orgs, it will be because I am feeling charitable, not because I feel like it is gonna help my business in a substantial way.

 

[callthatgirl]

I agree, I have said, "It's not in our budget" or "we have no budget left for this quarter"

Giving an instant, no chance fella!

 

[mkeathley]

I agree its no big deal. Its just a form of advertising. They are a legit company selling a real service.