Update: Using my name can be totally uncool

Here’s the transcript of the online chat I had with the company this afternoon:

Chat Transcript

Visitor: Michael Sauers Operator: Ron Company: tutorsonweb Started: 10 Feb 2010 15:55:11 Finished: 10 Feb 2010 16:02:03

Michael Sauers:
    To whom should I speak about your company using my name in an ad without my permission?

Welcome Michael Sauers! Your request has been directed to the Customer Service department. Please wait for our operator to answer your call.

Call accepted by operator Ron. Currently in room: Ron, Michael Sauers.

Ron:
    Hello, How are you doing ?
Michael Sauers:
    Not well as I don’t recall ever granting my permission for my name to be used in an ad for your service.
Ron:
    Let me know the exact issue … I read your statement
Michael Sauers:
http://twitter.com/Onlineducation/statuses/8850195669
Ron:
    Michael, Let me know in detail
Ron:
    let me check
Ron:
    Oh … YOu are true …
Ron:
    I have a question in my mind
Ron:
    Should i ask you now ?
Michael Sauers:
    sure
Ron:
    Are you sure ? You did not give your name to anyone to use it
Michael Sauers:
    I have only ever worked with one advertising agency and that’s for ads placed on my site. I’ve have never previously heard of your service. Also, the tweet reads as if I work for you and I don’t.
Ron:
    Oh
Ron:
    Can you see any number on our website? I Suggest you to call on that number
Michael Sauers:
    will do.
Ron:
    Great, Sounds Good
Ron:
    I will talk our Marketing team and will find that  or exact reason to use your name
Ron:
    Is there anything in which i can help you ?
Michael Sauers:
    Any chance you could send me the results of that conversation via e-mail?
Ron:
    Sure, I will do it
Michael Sauers:
msauers@…com
Ron:
    Let me know your email address, please
Ron:
    Thanks a lot
Michael Sauers:
    Thanks.
Ron:
    Most Welcome

This transcript email message was automatically generated by ProvideSupport.com

I then called the number on the site and got “Hello.” No name of company, no nothin’ else. I asked if this the company in question and the woman on the other end of the line sais “yes”. According to her she is the owner but had no idea about any such tweet. I told her I had chatted with Ron and that he had the information. She told me they’d discuss it at their meeting tomorrow and I confirmed that I wanted to hear back the results of that conversation.

On further glancing at their twitter stream as of today I found a whole bunch of single-word tweets along with that same URL. (OK, that looks like their account got hacked to me.)

But looking back a few days there were a lot of “Site X talks about topic Y” and then a link to their site.

Those tweets don’t look hacky, they’re just very-crappy marketing. Know why I’m sure? All those bit.ly links are all the same and they all point back to the company’s site again.

Can’t wait to hear what their response is. (Assuming I get one.)