Q: I need help warning others not to do what I did. These young people came to my door selling magazines. They said they worked for Face to Face Technology. Profits from the two year subscriptions were supposed to be split between a Diabetes group and the kids who were saving to go on a trip. I bought the magazines and later learned I've been scammed.

Danielle of Penn Hills

A: It's hard to say at this point if this group will or will not deliver your magazines. There are so many traveling groups of young people selling magazines. Some deliver, some don't.

It's hard to say no when you are "face to face" with attractive clean cut young people at the door. They are obviously out working for something rather than just goofing off during the summer. That's the pitch that can cost you money for magazines that never arrive.

"Face to Face Technologies, inc." is a Colorado based company with a post office box for an address. That's a bad sign.

Check with the Better Business Bureau and things get worse. The BBB gives this company a D-, that's a D minus. Why? In the last eight months, the BBB has had fifty five complaints about this company concerning from billing, collection and delivery problems. However, it does appear that the company tries to resolve some complaints, so if you have a problem, call 1-888-888-9025 and at least give it a shot.

That call will take you to a company called American Cash Awards, who claims to represent or do business with several similar companies. Check the BBB on this company and it's a little better, a D plus.

What doe these scores mean? According to the BBB, it "assigns grades from A to F with pluses and minuses. A+ is the highest grade and F is the lowest. The grade represents BBB's degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns."

If calling the company doesn't work, file a complaint with the BBB.

Another way to check out a company (maybe even while those kids are at your door) is to go to your computer, go to google and type in "FACE TO FACE TECHNOLOGIES RIP OFF".

You'll read complaints from many consumers who complain about this being a scam as well as my favorite, a response supposedly (remember this is the internet, it may or may not be true) from an employee who seem exasperated that we just don't seem to get it.

"Bob,Evergreen, Colorado,U.S.A.

SIGH

I'm sorry, but I just have to say: It's not a scam, it's a lie. There's a difference. If it were a scam, we would take your money, and never give you your magazine. A scam could go so far as stealing your account information. GLC nor F2F do that! All they do is lie about it. It's called a sales pitch. If you ever buy something from somebody, you'll get one of those, and chances are, there'll be a lie hidden in it. A good sales pitch is not a scam!"

That's kind of scary, isn't it. Maybe more sad than scary. The lesson I would take from all of this is don't buy from kids at your door unless they are local. If you recognize the kids, if they have identification from a local organization and in many areas, the necessary permission from the police to be going door to door, then it may be okay.

You could just politely say "Sorry, I've been burned before by kids at the door." If that's not true, no problem. As that magazine salesperson taught us, that may be a lie,but maybe that's okay when responding to a sale pitch full of them.