I received a phone call one afternoon in November and was asked to answer a quick survey. For completing the survey I was going to receive up to 5 magazines free for the next year and two other people could receive a magazine as a gift along with the TV Guide. I could change my choice of magazines anytime I wanted. I only had to pay for shipping, which was going to be about $15.00 per month and just deducted from my credit card. The woman who helped me stated she was new, and if I could put a good word in for her with her supervisor when she verified my information. I wish I could take back that day...
I did start to receive a couple of the magazines and everything seemed fine. Then I started to get several phone calls per day. One day I counted 8 total. They all claimed to be the company that sent out my magazines. Sometimes they called themselves "The Publisher's, The Reader's, CRC of Montana, the calls were coming from Iowa, South Florida, Michigan, California, Colorado, New Jersey. The reason they were calling was to tell me they were getting many complaints from their customers claiming someone was calling them trying to get them to subscribe again.
Even though I told them I never had anyone call, they still apolozied and wanted to give me a better offer on my magazines for my trouble, they would quote me a price (always differant) and they just needed to update my billing information. I just needed to give them my credit card number again. And by some amazing coincidence they were all new employees and could I put a good word for them with their supervisor? If I would question too much, they would hang up on me. Sometimes they called because I had outstanding credit and wanted to give me a better deal. One man told me my total cost for magazines would be set up so it would be like a car payment, he said total cost was $750.00. I asked him who would want to invest that much in magazines? I told him never to call me again and I canceled my credit card.
Even after I canceled my card, I still received magazines, way too many, some I had never heard of or had any use for. The two people who were supposed to receive a magazine (1) were being bombarded with them. My 21 year old son was getting Golf tips for women and Parents. I was getting Fortune. I just started throwing them away. The calls continued saying I had outstanding credit and asked if I was being pressured into buying magazines? I told them the only people that are bothering me is you. I have asked each caller to not call my home again. I told them I canceled my order, I have swore, hung up on them, yet they continue to call. From 2 to 8 phone calls per day, including Saturday, as early as 8:30 am up until 9:00 pm. Their numbers are unknown or appear as 999-999-9999.
What bothers me is what would happen if I had gave them my credit card number? How many places claiming to be the "real" company would be charging to my account? One man called me and stated I owed over $5,000.00!! I told him I was not paying for anything. He was extremely rude and said it would still cost me $4,000.00 roughly to cancel. He said YOU WILL PAY this. We will just take it out of your credit card! This scam could bankrupt someone!
CRC of Raritan Valley called me the other day because they couldn't get the money out of my account. I told them I don't want anymore magazines and how much stress this has caused me and I am not even receiving the magazines I wanted. She was very friendly and stated we had set up a password in our first conversation in case this happened and next time ask the caller what my password is. I told her I was upset how all these places knew what magazines I was receiving and CRC and these other compaines have the same "script" when they call. She told me I cannot cancel my order. How can that be? Nothing was put in writing, I feel like I sold my soul to the devil in the form of magazines.
I told her I would only pay through the mail. Nothing deducted from my account. I did receive an invoice in the mail (I am two months behind and owe about $32.00) I was thinking of paying until I received a call today from CRC in Montana, calling me about my outstanding credit, that just put me over the edge. I also tried asking them what my password is. One man actually laughed at me, they just keep calling. I think about 300 plus phone calls so far since the first call in November. I have never been so frustrated in my life. This is completely ridiculous, not to mention what they could do to someone financially. And for what? Magazines? They talk extremely fast so you never really hear exactly what you are getting into. I am probably going to have to change my telephone number and make it unlisted and wait for the nasty letters I am sure to get about sending me to collections for non payment.
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