Last February, Jeff L'Heureux, the office manager of Roots and Wings Montessori School in Surrey, B.C., got a telemarketing call asking to confirm his school's address and contact information.

"About a week later I received an e-mail from 411 Web Connect saying 'thank you for placing your order with us,'" he said.

The Quebec business directory company, 411 Web Connect, sent the school a hefty bill -- $389 for a one-year listing. L'Heureux says he thought someone else at the school may have authorized it so he printed it out but says he never made an order.

"We only do local advertising. I had no reason to contact a company out of Quebec."

But the company told L'Heureux he authorized it when he responded to the e-mail. The e-mail uses the term 'your order' three times but there is no option to explicitly decline the purchase.

Chris Olsen called the company and spoke to the vice-president, Richard Benchimol.

"The offer to purchase at that point went on pretense of 'this is the order you spoke to our representative about,'" he said in a telephone interview.

'Once he selects a link, a pop up appears on your screen which reads 'thank you for your purchase your invoice will be arriving shortly.'"

411 Web Connect has sent the bill to a collection agency because the school refuses to pay for a service they say they didn't order.

Meanwhile, L'heureux has complained to the Competition Bureau, which investigates deceptive marketing practices.

In a letter, the agency said they have looked over his complaint.

"We have reviewed your information and determined that the matter you have raised requires further examination under the laws we enforce. We have not yet determined what action, if any, would be appropriate."

Victor Hammill, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Bureau, has advice for small businesses.

"Do not agree to confirm purchases on the phone -- get it in writing," he said.

"And advise those telemarketers that are calling you that your business' policy is you don't confirm purchases on the phone. Secondly, limit the number of people in your organization that can actually make purchases."

Make sure to check every invoice closely. If you receive one you're unsure about check into it right away. The sooner you take action the better.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen