Phone: Customer service representatives are available Monday & Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm, Wednesday & Thursday 9:00am - 5:30pm, and Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm EST to register you for an audio conference, take your CD order and answer your questions. Call us toll-free at 1-800-925-1878.
Fax: Send us a fax 24 hours a day at 800-759-7179.
Email: Send your queries to us at Email Me!. All questions are addressed within 24 hours of receipt. Please note that for your security, we actively discourage placing an order with us via e-mail—shop online instead through our secure server.
Technical Difficulties: If you are experiencing technical difficulties accessing thompsoninteractive.com, please contact our Customer Service at Email Me!.
An audio conference is like a large conference call, but in a more controlled, program-like environment. The entire "conference" is conducted via the telephone, and a speakerphone is the only equipment needed to participate in the conference as a listener.
An organization interested in participating in a specific conference needs to register for it using one of our 4 easy ordering methods. Registration includes:
- access to a 90-minute interactive call for as many people as can fit in a room with a speakerphone
- downloadable presentation handouts-which are made available 48 hours prior to the call
- an opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session following the presentation
Each Thompson Interactive audio conference runs for approximately 90 minutes. The expert speaker usually uses the first 60 minutes to share "how-to" tips and real world insights on a particular topic. During this speaker presentation portion of the conference, registrants are in a "listen-only" mode. After the presentation portion is concluded, the phones are "opened up" for a live interactive Q&A session, with conference attendees queuing up to ask questions of the presenters. This part of the conference usually lasts for 20-30 minutes.
Is it possible to obtain a complete listing of the upcoming audio conferences being offered by Thompson Interactive?
If you're interested in information specific to a certain topic area, please visit us at thompsoninteractive.com and click on the appropriate area listed on the left hand menu bar.
How do I register for an audio conference?
There are four easy ways to register. You can order online at
thompsoninteractive.com. You can download the registration form and fax it to
us at 800-759-7179. You can call us toll-free at 800-925-1878, or you can mail in
your completed registration to Thompson Publishing Group Customer
Service Center P.O. Box 26185 Tampa, FL 33623-6185.
How long does an audio conference usually run?
Thompson Interactive audio conferences typically run for 90 minutes: 60 minutes for the "presentation" of how-to tips and real world insights by our expert speaker and 30 minutes a live interactive question and answer session that conference attendees participate in. Most audio conferences are scheduled for 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
What do I do if I've registered for an audio conference but cannot find the document that includes the call-in instructions?
At any time before the audio conference begins, you can call 1-800-925-1878 and our Customer Service team will assist you in joining the call.
What is Thompson Interactive's cancellation, substitution and refund policy?
If you are not able to attend for any reason, please notify us as soon as possible. Conference cancellations received 24 hours prior to the start time of the audio conference are fully refundable. After that, cancellations are subject to a $25 processing fee. If you prefer, you may substitute an upcoming audio conference for the one you originally registered for and avoid the $25 processing fee. All refunds resulting from conference cancellations will be issued within 72 hours.
When will the transcript that I ordered be available?
Transcript products will be completed and shipped approximately 3 weeks after the training has occurred.
Can I submit an idea for a future audio conference?
Yes, we would love to hear from you. If you have suggestions for audio conferences please call 1-202-739-9791 and let us know your audio conference topic suggestion.
I'm interested in becoming one of your expert speakers, or I would like to recommend a speaker for an upcoming audio conference. Who should I contact?
Please feel free to contact our Producer at 1-202-739-9791 about making recommendations for new speakers or becoming part of our expert speaker network.
What are cookies and how does Thompson Interactive use them?
A cookie is a piece of text generated by our server that asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once there, it allows for our web applications to respond to you in a customized way. If you agree to allow for cookies to be placed on your hard drive, your browser will add the text in a small file.
The purpose of a cookie is to help Thompson Interactive analyze our web traffic overall and to identify when you visit a particular section of our site. By gathering and remembering information about your preferences, we can tailor our website to better meet your needs, likes and dislikes in the future.
In most cases, not only does the storage of personal information into a cookie go unnoticed, so does access to it. Web servers automatically gain access to relevant cookies whenever the user establishes a connection to them, usually in the form of Web requests.
Accepting a cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any personal information about you, other than the data you chose to share. We strictly monitor and enforce this practice.
Additionally, you may set your web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) to notify you of cookie placement requests or decline cookies completely. You can delete the files that contain cookies. They files are stored as part of your internet browser.
Additional Terms and Conditions.
Audio conferences are sponsored by Thompson Interactive, a Division of Thompson Publishing Group, 805 15th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Thompson Interactive reserves the right to substitute speakers and reschedule or cancel audio conferences due to unforeseen circumstances. Thompson Interactive is not responsible for any problems stemming from registrants' organization's hardware or telecommunications services. Recording of audio conferences is prohibited.
Why should I purchase an On-Demand audio conference?
The main advantage is for those registrants unable to attend the live audio conference but who still want the presented information. It is also for those customers who want instant playback of audio conferences without having to wait for a CD to be produced and shipped.
Do I need anything special to play On-Demand audio conferences?
No, the only thing you need is a common touchtone phone and the ability to dial a toll free number (toll free numbers are not accessible in all foreign countries-Canada, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have access to standard 1-800 toll free numbers).
How soon after the audio conference is the On-Demand audio available?
Usually within 48 hours after an audio conference has taken place, the On-Demand audio is available; however, Thompson Interactive does not guarantee a set time for On-Demand audio to be available after an audio conference takes place. We will make every effort to have the audio conference available 48 hours after the audio conference has taken place, but there is no unwritten or written guarantee of that availability.
What happens when I listen to an On-Demand audio file?
As soon as you dial into the On-Demand audio, you'll be prompted for a PIN number, once that is entered the audio conference starts to play. Depending upon the vendor that was used to record the audio conference you'll have command of fast forward and rewind functionality if available.
Can I listen multiple times to an On-Demand audio conference I have purchased?
Yes. On Demand products will be available for playback as many times as you wish within 3 month time period (please reference Length of Time limits FAQ).
Can I listen to an On-Demand audio conference at any time?
Once the On-Demand audio file is available, in most cases it can be listened to at any time, 24 hours per day (unless unforeseen events such as system maintenance occur).
For what length of time is a particular On-Demand audio conference available?
In most cases, the On-Demand audio file of a particular audio conference is available for APPROXIMATELY 3 months (90 calendar days). However, Thompson Interactive makes no promise or guarantee written or unwritten of a On-Demand audio's availability beyond 3 months. Furthermore, there is no guarantee written or unwritten to the quality of the file. As a good rule of thumb, if you are unavailable to listen to the On-Demand audio within the first two months after the audio conference occurs, it is highly suggested that you purchase the CD product instead. Due to the highly technical nature of this product, Thompson Interactive will do its best to keep On-Demand audio files on our server for the length of time as outlined above, but cannot guarantee availability for ANY length of time.
Does Thompson Interactive offer continuing education credits as part of its audio conference program?
Recognizing the importance of continuing education, we are currently working with the appropriate accrediting bodies to obtain permission to offer this important service to our conference participants. For additional details on the status of our HRCI, CLE and CPE applications, please visit our continuing education center.
How can I obtain an official document confirming that I have attended an audio conference in my field of expertise?
In order to obtain an official document confirming that you have attended an audio conference/webinar, you must complete the Thompson Interactive survey. After the audio conference/webinar, you will receive an email from the registrar with a link to the survey. Upon completing the entire survey, you can download a "Certificate of Completion". This certificate can be used for HRCI Credits and proof of attendance. Please note, HRCI Credit will only be given towards Human-Resource Related Audio Conferences/Webinars.
How can I obtain the handouts associated with my upcoming audio conference?
The handouts for each audio conference are typically available for downloading from our website 48 hours prior to the actual event. When the handouts become available, you will receive an e-mail from the registrar that includes a REGISTRATION CODE specific to your audio conference. To access your handouts, simply go to thompsoninteractive.com. Once there, key your registration code in the box located right under the "Get Your Handouts" title located in the upper right corner of the page. After downloading your handouts, you may make as many photocopies as necessary for all of the listeners at your registered site(s).
What is a registration code?
A registration code is a unique five-digit number that registered participants will be sent via e-mail approximately 48 hours prior to their audio conference. This five-digit number allows registered participants to gain access to the handouts to be used during their upcoming event.
By participating by the webinar portion, will I receive different handout materials than if I participated in the audio conference only?
Participating by webinar or audio conference will provide the same handout materials. The webinar allows participants to view the materials as the slides are advanced by the speaker as well as ask questions via the "chat" functionality. All participants can ask questions verbally during the Question and Answer session at the conclusion of the speaker's presentation. Additionally, all participants may wish to download the materials in advance to utilize for note taking.
Do I need to download any java-based plug-in to set up my computer for webinars?
No, you do not need to download any plug-in software to set up your computer for a Thompson Interactive webinar.
When will I receive the Webinar information?
The conference registrar will email you the information you need 48 hours prior to the start of the conference. The email will contain dial-in information for the audio component of the conference as well as the URL address and Conference ID number for connecting to the webinar portion.
Approved for CPE and HRCI credits!
