A consumer alert to be aware of...
The company is called National Business Advertising Inc.
It makes sports calendars and sells advertising spots to businesses.
A salesperson representing the company called KWQC to buy a tv commercial for its product.
When we looked into it, the company's reputation doesn't add up.
Iowa Better Business Bureau Chief Chris Coleman says, "The risk is that they're paying money for advertising but no advertising is ever really placed."
Coleman says the BBB has logged 33 complaints against NBAI over the last three years. 30 of those complaints have been closed. There's none in Iowa, but Coleman warns, "There seems to always be a rotating company or two that offer opportunities like this and most all of them go bad."
The complaints have common themes. The product doesn't show up on time and employees don't respond in a timely manner. We tried calling NBAI ourselves.
"Thanks for calling NBAI, if you know your party's extension press 1, enter the extension then press pound, for all other calls or to reach the operator press 0," said the phone message.
We had no luck reaching the operator. The answering service just rings for 15 seconds and repeats itself.
We tried using the extension the salesperson gave us.
The phone system said, "The extension number you have dialed does not exist. thanks for calling NBAI."
Coleman recommends potential customers stay away from out of town salespeople in the first place. Instead, go to someone local if possible.
"Businesses that they know who can prove the money they spent on advertising was actually placed and advertised."
Preventing any headaches that an out of town company may cause.
NBAI's business registration with the state of Kentucky was dissolved by state officials last year after it did not file required paperwork.
We tried to call the company president listed on the older forms using a number in the phone book.
That number is disconnected.
