White Oak Press reviews and complaints

I had purchased in the past poetry books through another complany, which lead me to believe that White Oak Press was ligitimate. Since May 2008, I had paid for the book "Expressions", and still haven't recieved it. The bank check was cashed June 2008. I tried calling the contact given name Sheryl Howell, Senior Editor numerous times & no one answered during business hours. Twice I got to leave a voice message, but never did I get a return call. Today 1/21/09 I tried calling again only to find the phone number has been disconnected. I also, sent letters & will send another one today. I need to know if this address still exists as well.
This book was purchased with my niece's peom which I had planned to surprise her with as a gift. Being she lives on a very remote island & has scholard herself into a good college. This was so very disappointing.
I would like a reimbursement, so I can purchase it through the previous publisher I had used. Times are very hard & taking people's trust for granted just doesn't sit right with me. If anyone hears of what else can be done, please let me know. Thank you.

Fool me once-shame on you-fool me twice-shame on me. This company has lied lied lied from the beginning of our transaction. They are nothing but low lifes who take advantage of poor souls who want to see their work in print. In July I wrote a poem entitled "Joel". In August I got an e-mail from then saying they wanted to print it and offered to sell me a book at a price and extra books for less. Since the poem was for my pastor and wife...I thought it would be nice to give them a book with the poem in it. In September I moved from AR (where I was when tranasaction took place) to FL. In October I still hadn't received my books and couldn't find a link to them on web. I immediately thought they were a fraudulent company. However, my son found a link with the phone number, so I called them. The claimed they had mailed the books but had sent them to a wrong zip code(first lie), but they would get them too me right away. In the October I also wrote another poem entitled "Afterlife". I received another e mail from same company telling me the same old stuff. I copied that email, but never contacted them about it. I did not get the books they promised and so I called them again Nov 11. They told me they were on the truck to go out, but would not go out till the next day as P.O. was closed for holiday. At the end of that week, I got 6 books, but when I opened them the poem "Afterlife" was printed in it, NOT the poem "Joel" which I had originally purchased. I had put a complaint on line earlier when I was sure they were a fraudulent company. When I called them about the poem they told me they had lost it, but promised to refund my money if I took my complaint off line, as they were losing a lot of business. I told them I would do that( and I did it that afternoon. That was on the 17th of Nov. and THEY DID NOT SEND MY MONEY BACK, They did send me two more books with the poem "Afterlife" printed, which they did not have permission to print. I took off my original complaint, but they did not send money back and when I tried to call I just got an answer machine.
PLEASE DO NOT DO ANY BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY. THEY ARE NOT HONEST OR PROFESSIONAL.

I was taking an english class in school and one of the assignments was to write a poem. I did and read it to the class. the teacher and students were stunned. I was surprised. I figured, hey, if they liked it wouldn't someone else? I submitted it to white oak press, poetry.com, and famous poets. I got a letter from white oak press that said my poem was so great and blah blah blah. It said i would be published in an anthology so i was pretty excited. I was on the internet today and saw them in a list of poetry scams and i deflated like a balloon. All i can say is not to be sucked in. I had enough time to get the payment stopped on the credit card but i was lucky. Don't let these ### ruin your dreams. research before you submit.

My poem "My Heart" was supposed to be featured, in a book titled something other "Expressions" which was the title of book sent to me, it created erroneous information on my webpage which, gives a bio and other special info about my accomplishments. To help further my soon to be released book in Nov. 2008. My poem was butchered with typo's. Unable to get anyone to answer phone at any given time, to voice my complaint. Can not get thru via (411) as well.

My daughter wrote a poem and submitted it. We didn't hear anything for a long while, than she received an e-mail stating that her's was picked to be published into a book. We printed off the form they sent us and mailed in a check, for the required 24.95 way back in January. Never heard a thing from them since the check was cashed. No book no nothing. I also did the phone call before I sent them the check and I was so assured all was on the up and up. I feel like a fool. Now all I get is the run around or no answer when I try and phone them. Why can't anyone do anything to stop them? I still see there site up and my daughter got yet another e-mail last week, asking her to submit another poem for review. I'm like you have to be kidding? I can't imagine the amount of dollars this company has gotten from parents, excited to have something their child wrote be published in a book. I'm truly wondering, why if this has been going on years and years, that Consumer Fraud, isn't shutting them down.

I ordered an anthology from Poetry America and never received it. Just received cynical slick excuses. This organization is committing internet fraud and they had the gall to come up with a new website design. I suppose a way to track them down would be through the postal inspector and through the bank that cashed the check you send them. The bank could be told to reveal the identity of the payee that endorsed the check or it could be held liable for complicity with mail fraud. Also, if the signature of the payee is not legible on the check the bank could be held liable for cashing a check without properly identifying the payee. When the faceless vermin behind Poetry America are identified, then charges must be brought with the prosecuting attorney's office with jurisdiction.

I received a letter from White Oak Press saying that they want to publish my poem in an anthology and if I want to buy the collection to send them a check. I did and ...Nothing. This is their address:

Address: WHITE OAK PRESS

2833 SMITH AVE STE 151

BALTIMORE MD [protected]

Those who have been scammed and want to open an investigation please reply. Also if you have any suggestions on this investigation and how to go about it please answer back!

I heard that they are part of Poetry America or something like that.

Money doesn't grow on trees. Unfortunately crooks are everywhere including in arts.