| GROWING COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLISH | | | | what seem to be never ending complaints against |
| AMERICA LLP | | | | Publish America. We have to wonder WHY they |
| Please be sure to read the F (Failure) Rating | | | | are not being investigated and made to conform |
| Report from the Better Business Bureau | | | | to the same standards of everyone else? |
| Concerning Publish America LLP (Maryland, USA). | | | | BBB Accreditation |
| I've Also Included the Lengthy Customer | | | | BBB Rating |
| Complaints Concerning Publish America's Shady | | | | Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating |
| (Unethical And Probably Illegal) Business Practices. | | | | of F on a scale from A+ to F. |
| I list the websites of the never ending complaints | | | | Reasons for this rating include: |
| against Publish America at the end of this article. | | | | - Failure to honor commitment to arbitrate or |
| Publish America LLP is an online publishing | | | | mediate disputes. |
| company which promised to publish manuscripts | | | | - 185 complaints filed against business |
| of seeking writers. I was published in 2005. From | | | | - 11 complaints filed against business that were |
| then on fellow authors kept contacting me | | | | not resolved. |
| explaining how Publish America had "ripped them | | | | According to the company, "Publish America |
| off" or "hurt" them in some way. I stayed neutral | | | | authors are not consumers." Publish America's |
| and performed my own investigation. Yes! There | | | | statement of the relationship between publisher |
| are massive complaints against Publish America. | | | | and author is that authors "transfer their book |
| I'm bewildered why Consumer Protection agencies | | | | rights to Publish America in exchange for the |
| and Bureaus have not fully addressed these | | | | payment of royalties for any sales of that book |
| unethical (and properly illegal) actions of Publish | | | | made by Publish America." Authors are involved in |
| America LLP. | | | | a "commercial transaction" for profit from the |
| I have contacted the Better Business Bureau | | | | sale of their work. According to the company, |
| and Consumer Affairs (concerning "foul" business | | | | "Authors are expected to assist with the |
| practices) for over 30 years. No one has ever | | | | promotion of their books." |
| accused me of being deceptive or not obeying | | | | The contractual commitment is lengthy, so |
| the rules. I am proud to have helped protect the | | | | authors who have questions about their ability to |
| elderly. One Attorney General's office actually | | | | cancel the contract or to pursue any dispute that |
| sent me back the money I spent (after the | | | | may arise from the agreement, should contact |
| Investigation and the criminals were convicted). I | | | | the company directly concerning that information |
| am very thank-ful for Consumer Protection | | | | before signing the contract. |
| Agencies and Better Business Bureaus which | | | | Authors considering signing a contract with Publish |
| protect us consumers. | | | | America should read the FAQ's at before doing |
| I want to print the lying, mean, and unprofessional | | | | so. |
| "rebuttal" Publish America gave to the BBB. You | | | | The company states that the main terms of the |
| will notice lying, deception, callousness, and no fear | | | | contract are: |
| of being corrected. This is why I have labeled | | | | 1. They will pay authors "climbing royalties" starting |
| Publish America "Teflon don". They sit in their spot | | | | at 8%. |
| and feel safe. Well I'm a Man Of God. And The | | | | 2. The author retains the copyright to the work |
| Reverend Has A Word For Publish America. The | | | | as well as movie and audio rights. |
| Bible's Babylon Had The Same Arrogance, And | | | | 3. "A symbolic $1 advance underlines that all |
| You See What God Did To Her. I'm not sure if | | | | financial risk is carried by the Publisher...." |
| Publish America still advertises for manuscripts. | | | | The company states that the books they publish |
| That company is experiencing so many fast | | | | are "available" to bookstores everywhere, which |
| changes. The ripples of judgment are slowing | | | | generally means Publish America books can be |
| increasing. Praise God. | | | | "ordered" through various booksellers, but the |
| So here's the letter that Publish America sent to | | | | company readily admits "bookstores cannot |
| the Better Business Bureau about me (Mr. Gary | | | | possibly stock all new books." According to the |
| Colin-Pen Name). I can assure you that THE | | | | company, "Publish America does not guarantee |
| LETTER IS ENTIRELY FALSE. THE BETTER | | | | placement of its titles on bookstore shelves." |
| BUSINESS BUREAU HAS EVERYTHING THAT | | | | Authors should be aware that some bookstores |
| PUBLISH AMERICA ORIGINALLY SENT TO ME | | | | may not agree to carry "print on demand" books |
| REGARDING THIS OFFER. Publish America is now | | | | from Publish America because not all unsold books |
| attempting to retrack and cover up the facts. If | | | | can be returned to Publish America. |
| you or I did those things, we'd be arrested. The | | | | According to information provided to BBB by |
| iconicity! | | | | Publish America, every six months they provide |
| Here's Publish America's "rebuttal" to my BBB | | | | each author a statement which reflects the |
| complaint: | | | | number of books for which they have received |
| As it turns out, Mr. Colin did not buy a paperback | | | | payment and also pays the author "a percentage |
| pursuant to PA's special. PA only sold its | | | | of those proceeds based on the contract terms." |
| Paperback" pursuant to the special. Since Mr. Colin | | | | According to the company, authors who believe |
| did not use the coupon code for the paperback | | | | the statement does not properly reflect all the |
| special, PA did not send him a paperback. | | | | sales of their book, or believe they have not |
| Furthermore, Mr. Colin did not comply with the | | | | received the correct royalty payment, should |
| paperback special rules. Those rules required a | | | | provide documentation to Publish America that |
| purchase of at least TWO (2) copies. Mr. Colin | | | | support any such claims. |
| only purchased one copy. Since Mr. Colin did not | | | | Business Contact and Profile |
| act in a reasonable manner in any way, shape or | | | | Name: Publish America, LLP Phone: (301) 695-1707 |
| form, he is going to have to live with the copy of | | | | Fax: (301) 631-9073 Address: 4510 Metropolitan |
| the book that was sent to him. PA cannot be | | | | Court |
| expected to reimburse Mr. Colin for a mistake | | | | Frederick, MD 21701 Website: Original Business |
| that was caused solely by Mr. Colin's own | | | | Start Date: September 1999 Principal: Publish |
| unreasonable actions. | | | | America, Inc., General Partner Customer Contact: |
| Readers and people who know me know that I | | | | Ms. Miranda Prather, Exec. Director - (301) |
| don't play games. I don't hide my emotions. I am | | | | 695-1707 or |
| a true LEO. Publish America's statement is an | | | | Entity: Partnership Incorporated: MD Employees: |
| outright LIE! They also lied when they told the | | | | 60 Type of Business: Publishers-Book BBB |
| authorities that they paid me royalties for a check | | | | Accreditation: This company is not a BBB |
| I never received. IF YOU NOTICE, PUBLISH | | | | Accredited business. |
| AMERICA NEVER HAS TO PROVE WHAT THEY | | | | |
| SAY. YET, THE VICTIM, THE CUSTOMER DOES. | | | | Products and Services |
| This is very strange and very "ironic". "Teflon | | | | This company publishes books "on demand". The |
| Don". | | | | company uses digital printing technology, allowing it |
| Well I'm Done. God will deal with Publish America | | | | to print copies of the book as customers order |
| and those who strengthen the seal. | | | | them. |
| Here's just some of the many complaints against | | | | Additional Locations and Phone Numbers |
| Publish America.complaintsboard.com/complaints | | | | Additional Addresses 111 E Church St |
| publish-america-c150696.htmlbbb.org/... | | | | Frederick, MD 21701-5403 |
| publish-america-llp-in-frederick-md-32010985 | | | | PO Box 151 |
| Happily Godless: Reflections on getting published | | | | Frederick, MD 21705-0151 |
| by Publish ... | | | | Additional Email Addresses [removed]// |
| Perhaps Publish America really was bad, and did | | | | Additional Information |
| some cleaning up of it's act over the past 3 | | | | If a business refers you to another company or |
| years. But personally speaking, a lot of the | | | | uses sub-contractors, BBB recommends that you |
| complaints against Publish | | | | research that company including reviewing their |
| ...iamhappilygodless.blogspot.com/2008/07 | | | | BBB reliability report. |
| reflections-on... | | | | BBB Copyright and Reporting Policy |
| ALERTS FOR WRITERS After PublishAmerica | | | | As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any |
| posted a venomous screed against science fiction | | | | product, service or business. |
| and fantasy writers at ... Writer Beware has | | | | BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to |
| received scores of complaints about | | | | assist you in exercising your own best judgment. |
| PublishAmerica, and ... - Cached Frederick | | | | Information in this BBB Reliability Report is |
| News-Post PublishAmerica article PublishAmerica is | | | | believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to |
| ... have raised complaints against his company are | | | | accuracy. |
| a "vocal minority" and that most of the 10,000 or | | | | BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a |
| more authors contracted with PublishAmerica ... | | | | three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports |
| lisamaliga.com/fredericknewspost.htm - Cached | | | | are subject to change at any time. |
| Condensed: | | | | If you choose to do business with this business, |
| Here are The Reasons We Don't Recommend | | | | please let the business know that you contacted |
| PublishAmerica ... The terms for Publish America | | | | BBB for a BBB Reliability Report. |
| titles are not ... practice of treating questions as | | | | ID: 32010985 |
| complaints ... again the main reason I recommend | | | | Report as of September 14, 2010 09:39 |
| against signing with PublishAmerica. | | | | Copyright© 2010 Better Business Bureau |
| absolutewrite.com/forums | | | | This article can be freely utilized as long as credit |
| showthread.php?t=10211 These are just some of | | | | is given to its author (Gary Colin). |