Consolidated Media Services called my handicapped son's apartment several times a week promising him gold and diamond jewelry and all he had to do was order a couple of magazines. He became so frustrated with there calls, he told them to do what they had to and to stop calling him.
He told me about it and how it confused him as to what was going on. I told him that he was being scammed and the next time they called to tell them you didn't need their jewelry or magazines.
They continued to call and he contiunuously told them he didn't want their services. They persisted telling him it was too late to stop their paperwork. Next thing you know he gets enrolled in this medical services where they were going to bill my son's bank for. My husband called the medical company and they said CMS put the subscription in for our son. We cancelled that directly with the Medical place. Thankfully no money was lost out of the bank account on that one.
Then, CMS took a debit withdrawal out of our son's bank account for $66.00. Then another withdrawal the following month for $66.00. We contacted an attorney who advised us to close out our son's account and put a stop payment on the last withdrawal and any future withdrawals. We were able to stop the second $66.00 payment to complete and all future payments. CMS contacted my son regarding this action and told him he only had one more payment of $66.00, but my son said he didn't want their service and wasn't receiving the magazines anyway!!!
Again, CMS refused to cancel and told our son that the magazine companys would not allow them to cancel. They said he was already receiving the magazines, and he told them he was not. They did not believe him. My husband and I were irrate. I spoke to them myself on one of their calls and they just reiterated the same trash lines to me.
Now the magazines are coming and we have been unsuccessful fighting this company whom is only available to talk to when they call you. Our attorney has made several attempts over the months to contact them via phone and writing but was unsuccessful to make contact. He even left messages for them to return his call and they have not.
Now suddenly, my son receives a bill in the mail from CMS for $999.99!!! We are in Shock!!! Who would pay that kind of money for magazines??? We have no written contract, no paperwork of any kind regarding this so called order. We don't know how many magazines are involved or for how long even. CMS has now sent this to collection which is now hurting my son's credit.
My son is under a acting guardianship and this was taking advantage of the handicapped and all consumers. We want to persue this legally, but looking at all our avenues. CMS continue to call my son 2 to 3 times a day but will not leave a message on the answering machine (caller ID is from GA! But no phone number!)
Today, I spent several hours online trying to cancel with each magazine company directly. I will not know if it was successfull until they respond. It appears that we would still have to go through CMS. One magazine company told me that CMS was fraudulently misrepresenting their ability to cancel. They told me that CMS CAN cancel by simply typing it into their computer. So some magazine companys can stop the shipping of the magazines, but CMS is the one who has to do the actual cancelling and crediting of the account.
I guess our next action would be small claims, or some other class action suit that maybe several people can join in on to cut cost and be more effective in court. Do you know of any at this time we can sign onto???
I am my son's acting guardian and have been overseeing his financial and spending affairs now since 1987 and will continue to do so until he is deemed capable of handling his own financial affairs. Thank you
Michael (Barbara-guardian)
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
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