About a month ago I was contacted by a telemarketer who told me I could get a free vacation if I took a look at the magazine subscription service they offered. As a thank you for considering their service, they would send me a voucher for air fare as well. I was bored, so I went along with it, fully intending to cancel the subscriptions when the information arrived. After about ten minutes on the phone, which was spent deciding which magazines I'd be interested in, they had me read information back to them to verify that I understood the process. At this time they also recorded the conversation.
Unfortunately, according to Reader's Choice, this constitutes some sort of contract. I knew I was going to be moving soon, but as it happened I ended up moving about three weeks earlier than I expected. During the moving process my "free trial period" ended and Reader's Choice began taking payments from my bank account. I couldn't afford to keep the service after my move, so I called to cancel but was told that I had entered a legal contract with the magazine publishers through Reader's Choice and there is no way I can cancel my subscription. Eventually, after a lot of complaining, I got my payments lowered and I figured that was the best I could do at the time.
Later I noticed another transaction from Reader's Choice on my bank statement, which was completely unauthorized. Other mysterious charges have shown up on my statements as well, when I have not used my debit card for well over three weeks. I called to complain to them that I was charged a second time, and it was not the amount we agreed upon last time I called. Again, I found it necessary to resort to anger and raised my voice, because there is no other way to get these people to do anything but repeat "I'm sorry, you entered a contract with us" or "I'm sorry you feel that way, but we have been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 1999." I was granted a refund of the second transaction amount after much complaining.
Aside from the mysterious charges on my debit card, I have never gotten any magazines from Reader's Choice. It also clearly states on their Web site that customers can cancel at any time with no added pressure.
I did a little research and found more reports here, and decided to take action. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as well, and also cancelled my debit card, reporting it missing or stolen. So far I have not heard from them at all. I'm sure I will soon enough when they realize they can't get money out of my bank account any longer. They rely on false advertising, fast talking and cheap scam tactics to scare people into thinking their in a binding legal contract. I never signed anything with Reader's Choice, so I don't owe them anything.
Julie
Champaign, Illinois
U.S.A.
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