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Be wary of anyone who calls claiming to be from your
office supply company and offers you a "last chance" to buy copier
paper, toner or other supplies at the current price before it increases. It
could be a "paper pirate" or "toner phoner" working for a
company that has no connection with your regular supplier. |
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Ask for the person's name, the company name, and a phone number.
Then contact your regular supplier to verify the story. |
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Promises of cheapest prices may not always be true. Shop
around with companies you know and trust for the best deals. |
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Use only good quality supplies. Inferior quality office
supplies can damage your equipment and invalidate your warranties or maintenance
contracts. |
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Even if no one at your business places an order, you might
receive a bogus invoice
for supplies that were sent anyway or that were never delivered at all. |
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Designate specific people in your company to handle office
supply purchases. They should know who your regular suppliers are and control
the ordering process. |
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Before paying invoices, the person who is responsible for your
bills should confirm that the supplies were ordered, who they came from,
that they have been delivered, and that they were the correct brands. |
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If the supplier misrepresented itself or the goods, write the
company a letter explaining why you are disputing the bill. Offer to send
the supplies back if you received them, at the supplier's expense. Keep a copy of
the letter for documentation. |
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Don't be pressured into paying. Fraudulent companies often
use threats of collection or legal action to get payment. |
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Report paper pirates and toner phoners to
law enforcement agencies. The
Business Technology Association
can provide more tips about these scams and welcomes information about fraudulent
suppliers. |