I previously blogged about the UH Alumni Foundation emailing me trying to update their directory information.
Today I received the following email:
We are currently in the final stages of preparing University of Hawai’i Alumni Today, the first publication ever to feature directory listings along with photos and essays submitted by alumni. We need your help! A brief telephone call will ensure your listing is completely accurate and up-to-date.
Please, give us a call at your convenience this week so that we may verify your information with you.
CALL TODAY – TOLL FREE 1-866-874-7468 (Pacific Time)
Mon. – Fri. 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sat. 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. International Residents: You may also call at:
USA Country Code (1) 757.965.8092
Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. UTC/GMT-8Thank you in advance for your cooperation in making this publication a success. If you have already called, thank you for your quick response and your help. Please do not send updates in response to this message.
Mitchell Ka`aiali`i, BA ’92, MBA ’97 President 2008-10 University of Hawai’i Alumni Association
Janet Yoshida Bullard, BFA ’82 Executive Director University of Hawai’i Alumni Association
P.S. Harris Connect, LLC, a trusted partner of University of Hawai’i Alumni Association, has been chosen to produce our publication. Harris Connect’s commitment to protecting the privacy and ensuring the integrity of the information collected for the book is reflected in their privacy policy online at www.harrisconnect.com/privacy.html
I don’t know why UH is even dealing with Harris Connect in general.
Let me glean some quotes from the internet about this company:
Harris (should really be spelt HARASS) Connect is a sleazy would-be “publisher” of “alumni directories.” What they do is collect your private information from whatever schools you might have been affiliated with at some time in your life, then they pay “vendors” (a/k/a data-mining snoops) to harvest your current information. Then they call and write you and hound you to death, to “update” and “verify” your private data, so they can expand the NETWORK OF HARASSMENT. If you do not respond to their hounding calls and mailings, they will go ahead and PUBLISH YOUR PRIVATE DATA without your permission. Then they sell it to people who can in turn call or write or show up on your doorstep to harass you. They not only “publish” your information in soft and hardbound copies, but also CDs!
If you are tired of having your private data violated this way, call the School District office and tell them to STOP selling/sharing your information; and instruct Harris to get you out of their system.
Good luck.
PS Harris has many different contact phone numbers, including 800-877-6554, 877-625-4244, 757-965-8075, 800-927-8189. They need to learn how it feels to be harassed at all hours with nuisance calls and unwanted junk mailings, delving into their own private lives.
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I received five (5) calls over the past week from this number. On two occasions, the callers said they were calling from “Harris Connect” and held for nearly three minutes. Like Susan, I think they are collecting data for my Alma Mater’s alumni directory as I have also been receiving postal mail urging me to “help them update” my directory entry for a publication which will sell for $1,000!!! I just registered my work number in the National Do-Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov and intend to file a complaint if they keep calling.
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When you get a postcard in the mail that appears to be from your high school or college wanting your “current biographical information”, take a closer look.
Chances are good it’s not from your alumni association, but from an outfit in Virginia called “Harris Connect”.
Apparently some schools are stupid enough to release their alumni information to this company, which then gives them a kickback on any sales of their high-priced “directories”.
And if you enter the name of your high school followed by alumni, do you get to your high school website, or to a page run by some unknown company, that phishes for information?
Be careful. Just because some of your classmates are stupid doesn’t mean you have to follow.
Have your significant other give them a call and explain that you died of dengue fever while on a Habitat for Humanity mission with Jimmy Carter in Central America.
“Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn.”
— Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1755
So needless to say… you anyone can do a quick search on Harrisconnect and scam/fraud as the keywords.
You can read my previous posts here:
Is UH Really Updating their Alumni Information
Update on the UH Alumni Directory Project
Filed under: Announcements, Education, Kids, Rumors, UH Tagged: | Alumni Directory, Harris Connect, UH Alumni Directory Project
They send me a post card (high school alumni) asking to call (1-800-927-6299–no longer vaild) and update information for upcoming directory, but after updating they suckered me into purchasing (7/20/11) a book (alumni directory) & as a thank you offered me a complementary 3 mos. subscription to people magazine. I called them back the very next day to cancel order because of the price, the lady very generously gave the books for half price ($43.43)…4 mos later another company (magazine service center) withdrew funds from my bank account ($117.00- 11/18/11). Immediately called them 1-800-607-9869 to refund my money. They told me I authorized this back on 7/21 for a 15 mos subscription. To make a long story short after they tried to cut me a “deal”…the money is supposed to be refunded within 72 hours.
If there are such a fine, upstanding company, why is it when you look up their address in Google Earth 1511 Route 22, Brewster, NY10509 it is a service station?
A
I am a former Harris Connect employee. Before I applied for the position I did my research. As far as legitimacy is concerned, the company is legit. Please, do not take my word for it. Do your own research.
Harris Connect is a 3rd party company who is contracted by your High Schools, Colleges, Universities, Organizations, etc. because they do not have funding nor resources for contacting alumni to update their information. They do over 90% of directories in the U.S. They also do fund raising for schools as well.
However, the company is misleading to a certain point. They send post cards to alumni asking to call and update information for upcoming directory, but they are not told they are going to be sold a book. The reps job is to glorify the directory so when they ask the customer their support, it makes it harder for the customer to refuse. There have been numerous complaints in regards to this. That’s good ol’ America… Love to buy things, but hate to be sold.
They do get prior consent from customers to print information in the publication. If customer does not respond then they print as is. The information is all public so it is legal.
From my experience, the main reason why people do not buy directories is Facebook. Why buy a directory when I can find the same information on Facebook. The directories are mainly used as a keepsake and for professionals to network. I have been told buy several managers, Facebook is the reason why the company is folding.
There are times when we are trying to locate a customer, we receive a bad lead and call an individual with the same or similar name so some individuals perceive the company as a scam.
There have been several former employees who lied to customers and quoted different prices. Some used credit card information for personal use, but they were all terminated.
As far as employment, the company is a terrible place to work for. I tried getting a schedule to work around my school schedule. They refused. They stated you do not need an education if you work for Harris Connect. Why go to school when you can make more money working for us. So I did not enroll because I needed a job.
The 1st 6 months were great. They treated me with respect and the money was great. After the 6 month, I would notice a lot of verbal abuse toward employees. My desk was near the director Thomas Weir’s office. I noticed he would base his actions on emotion. If he was in a bad mood and your not making your sales rate, YOUR FIRED!!! I felt like I was walking on pins and needles the whole time.
He would yell at the supervisors if the team wasn’t making their sales rate. When they returned from their meeting our supervisors would yell at us.
They fired so many employees, the site was under staffed so they mandated over time for 3 months in a roll and still continuing. I do not mind doing over time, but when it conflicts with my family its a problem. I bent over backwards for the company and they did nothing to work with me.
If your having a bad day and not meeting your sales quota, they would send you to a meeting called ” Collaboration “. They would have several managers and sales reps listening to your calls. They would look for negative things to say about your calls and verbally abuse you. No positive re-enforcement what so ever. One time, they literally made a grown man cry.
Hopefully this will clear up any confusion this forum may have about Harris Connect. Peace & Love….
this is all true, I worked their too. Seeing that you where near Thomas Weir’s office, we might have had the same cubicle. He fired me and to this day I refer to him as Thomas Qweir lol
Harris Connect has fraudulently taken funds from my checking account on four different occasions. I did not order a directory, did not attend the school they said I attended. How they got my checking account info, I have no idea. Put a stop payment on their withdrawals. Stop pay expired after six months. Here I go again, stop pay has expired and they have again (twice) stolen money from my account. Somehow, they go under the wire and avoid a Stop Pay?????? Even the Attorney General’s Office can’t stop these people. BEWARE!!!
Harris Connect is WELL KNOWN to be scam artists, and those claiming otherwise in the replies here are liars. The e-mails I get from them involve colleges I didn’t even attend. CLEARLY those colleges didn’t ask them to find out information about me, given that I’m not an alumnus. They also repeatedly harass. I’ve gotten no less than a dozen calls this week, and each time, I’ve asked not to be called anymore. I’ve explained each time that they have the wrong person, that I never attended the colleges they’re calling about, and that I’m on the NYS and Federal Do Not Call List. That has had no effect. They’re still bothering me on a daily basis. SCREW YOU, HARRIS CONNECT, YOU @#$%-ing SCAM-ARTIST SPAMMERS.
I did a google search on Harris Connect to see what people are saying. I have been working there for 8 months now. I am also a full time early childhood dev major at UT Austin, as well as part time director at a licensed childcare center. My mother is on the board of directors for TX Higher Edu Coor Board, needless to say education and community involovement is very important in my family!
I feel this part time position is an extension of being in the field of education. I would not be working here if I felt it was a scam or if I didn’t support it. I truly believe that alumnus or members of an organization should support their institutions. Who else will? I enjoy speaking to different people of all ages, listening to their stories/career goals or learning some history of the different schools or organizations.
At Harris Connect, we are professional, we engage with people so you know we are real and we offer you the opportunity to reserve a copy of the books, they aren’t offered anywhere else and not mass produced for your privacy.
Reps do get commission from the sale of the book, and recognized much like any other call center environment from any company.
The only difficult part of the position is explaining who the company is while someone has a very ugly attitude, which is not my job. Do your research on the company, contact the school.Ii would if I felt uneasy about the project.
My job is to simply update your information for the directory and reserve you a copy. If you don’t want to-no biggie.
Tons of people hold on the line to obtain a copy, these books are very historical for many people, especially those who had relatives that went to the same school or if they are the first to go to college in their family.
I speak to people who use the books for tracking family, alumni coordinators use them for updated information for reunions and functions. The updated info does go right back to the school/org. as well. There are many reasons to have one, because you don’t have a reason, doesn’t mean the company is a scam.
People call and thank us because they appreciate what we do and then there are people who woke up upside down in their bed-or better yet, they got a post card in mail, call in and pass their bad attitude to the next person.
Simply call us and ask to be omitted from the directory so we can take your name off the alumni listing if you do not want to be contacted or listed in the alumni book. No problem!
Whatever you want to do just listen to the rep-so they can help you. When you hang up, another call comes in, so it is very hard to omit someone if I don’t have access to your account because someone else’s account is up….
So let the rep help you to the best of their ability!
Otherwise pray about it if really bothers you that much. I didnt write this message to be ugly, I do represent Harris Connect because I am an employee. I thank those who tried to explain what the company is.
Have a happy holiday everyone-where ever you are!! God bless ;)
You’re a liar and an obvious plant. You’re not fooling anyone here.
“Who else will?” …What about Facebook? Linkedin? … among other social networking WEBSITES.. a printed hardcover of ever changing contact information seems a bit obsolete.. no? You seem a bit judgmental and negative yourself, I would adjust your attitude before saying that you officially represent a company… especially one currently under a lot of fire for justified concerns. I´d say.. just another reason to avoid Harris Connect at all costs.
Facebook is the main reason why Harris Connect is going under. Why buy a directory when you can find the same information on FB. The directories are more of a keepsake. Mostly for the older generation who do not use the internet. Also used for companies to solicit.
Facebook was around before Harris started trying to scam me.
I’m not a Harris advocate by any means, but Facebook was established in 04. Harris has been in business for over 45 years. If it was designed to be a scam, don’t you think they would of been caught by now? They do directories for over 90% of schools in the US. Most likely that directory you purchased was not the 1st one they did for your school.
I wasn’t suckered into purchasing one. :roll:
[...] I kept getting irritated by these emails I was getting and so I investigated a bit further about Harris Connect the company in question and in October I found out that this company isn’t as great as they make themselves out to be. (UH Alumni Foundation and Harris Connect What is Really Going On) [...]
I called Harris Connect because I was interested in their offer, but I balked when they refused to show me an example of the product I was buying. They said they were making a book containing lists of Alums with their pictures and writings, but when I asked to see what I would be buying they refused.
Some people here are saying Harris Connect is not a skam, but any company that won’t show you a past version of the product and expects you to pay upfront is suspicious. They supposedly offer a money back gurantee, but really! How many other fraudulent companies out there offer the same thing and then just don’t refund your money? LOTS!
I would NOT recommend giving your credit card info to these guys, but I suppose there’s no harm in updating your info since your address and phone number are easily obtained through online white pages anyway.
Harris only calls to update your information, if you’d just simply listen you would know. the first call is the last call, but if you don’t call they will assume your busy or have simply forgot. so they will call you. geesh, no one can read minds. The calls aren’t to harass anyone NOR is it to give out personal information. All publications are for members/alumni only!! To be listed is free and you can request to be omitted every 5 to 7 years. They are just trying to bring the affinity back into the bonds of organizations/schools. get over yourselves, you’re not that important.. they don’t ask for your SS# lol.
Dude, you’re clearly a plant. Stop lying–you’re fooling no one.
Seriously people do some outside research. If you went to a school they taught you how to research a subject…so use your brains.
Harris Connect is a third party acting on behalf of your school to help retain alumni information for the schools records. That is it. The work Harris Connect does is done a no charge to the institution so they provide an item for purchase to fund the project so your school can continue to have their records updated for free. If your institution could keep their records up to date they would. This is usually by fault of the individual alumni not helping the school update records.
If you do not want to be contacted there are laws in place to help you with that. If you are unaware of these laws (most people are unaware) DO SOME RESEARCH!!! It all goes back to doing what your school taught you to do…Apparently your degree IS just a piece of paper.
Also noted, if your school is asking for money it is because a lot of schools funding comes from donations. Wouldn’t you like to support the institution that taught you how to do what you do?
You’re not only a liar and an obvious Harris plant, you’re also rude and abusive. No wonder everyone hates your company.
He’s right. Do some research Landru. You were obviously one who purchased a directory and is very bitter about your experience with the Harris.
A lot of the information in this post is misrepresented.
In order for Harris to call you, your alma mater has contracted with them to help compile alumni data for a directory. It is always done with the consent and permission of your alumni office/alumni organization. Your school shares information, and Harris goes about confirming alumni contact information.
The contracting school does not receive any kick-backs from Harris, although Harris DOES attempt to sell copies of the directory/CD-Rom (alumni are under no obligation to buy, and it allows your alumni office to collect mailing address/life updates on its alumni from Harris free of charge for all the labor Harris provides. Harris profits through sales of the directory or CD, but alumni can usually access similar information for free on the school’s web site).
Many alumni enjoy having a directory, but few alumni offices have the resources to do the legwork on their own for tens of thousands of individuals. So, they contract out to Harris.
You always have the right to refuse to have information published, although copies are only sold to other alumni and the CD is programmed to prevent individuals from being able to create spreadsheets or produce any mass email or address lists. Both Harris and your alumni association value your private information, and DO NOT sell it to outside vendors. (Check out the Harris privacy policy on their web site.) The CD directories are encrypted to prevent mass emails or mailing. Instead, a fellow alumnus is able to look up address one at a time.
The reason schools contract with Harris is NOT to have them harass alumni or steal your identity. Rather, it is a way to provide a service to alumni that allows them to network/keep in touch with fellow classmates. Occasionally we receive reports that alumni felt pressured by the selling tactics of the Harris employees, but those reports are a very small percentage of the total alumni served. And you can always say “no thanks” to the sale or publishing of your contact info. Those who do share their information–and most alumni do–DO NOT have their information misused or sold to others, regardless of whether they purchase the directory.
…Those who do share their information–and most alumni do–DO NOT have their information misused or sold to others…
And so what about the percentage of alumni that do have their information sold to others?
You folks from Harris aren’t fooling anyone. Everyone here knows of your company’s reputation as scammers.
All I know is that I was told that the fee for the book of directory (soft cover) $ 20.00 and instead I was billed two payments of $47.97 and I have not recieved any book, but I was refunded $30.00 by check because I didn’t trust them with my credit card info. I don’t know if this company is legitimate but I don’t feel comfortable with my expirenced, and the return check bank is from JP Morgan Chase Bank from New York. I’m afraid to deposit it because of the bank info including bank account # when you try cashing or depositing the check.
BEWARE—-CAUTION !!!
What a bunch of rude negative people. If you have any clue what an alumni directory is for you would have a light bulb go off! Its to help reconnect and network. Most older alumni do not go online to “catch up” and this is the only way of doing so. Harri s connect has been in business for over 45 years and would not still be in the same business is there was a “scam” going on. Yes, Im a proud “At home” worker and can say that this company has honored and respected all employees and customers.
The $20.00 fee was actually a rebuttal used by sales the reps. Once the customer refuses the initial offer they go into the 2nd offer which is the soft cover for $20 LESS. Most customers do not actively listen until they go into the recap at the end of the call. Some sales reps will be try to talk fast at the end so you don’t realize what you have purchased until you get your bank statement. There is a 30 day money back guarantee once you receive your directory. You can get a refund back on the product purchase price, not the S&H.
Hi, Damon — my Alpha Female (a UH grad) has been getting these cards and phone calls for a few weeks recently. I got them last year, purporting to be from my old Midwestern high-school, trying to get info from myself and my older sister. I did some of the same research and can confirm that your info is correct.
And I never responded to them either. If you get the calls, don’t answer (thank you, Caller ID); if you get the cards, shred ‘em.