In November early one morning I received a phone call from a company called United Marketing Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. Right away, the young man named Ryan told me that I won a trip to Venice, Italy. I was also entered to win either$25,000, or a BMW. Then he proceeded I had to subscribe 3 magazines to enter every time I hesitated he threw in a couple of other magazines. He also assured me that with in 10 days I would receive a welcome package with a complete listing of magazines should I decide I wanted different ones and I would receive a free designer diamond watch in the mail. It would also be possible to cancel the orders at that time and the watch was my free gift to keep.
After awhile, I got suspicious as the call went on and on and on so I hung up. He called right back began cajoling me and actually making me feel guilty... Gave me the company address and customer service numbers to make me feel more secure United Marketing Association 3914 Seaton Place Las Vegas Nevada 89121 phone 800-643-1164
Before i knew it i was signed up to get 6 magazines at $39.93 for 25 months soon I was on the line with his supervisor. This lady asked me to give her my credit card number., and like a moron I did. After awhile she transferred me to her supervisor I don't remember her name, One of the conditions to which I was asked to agree was that I would not cancel my order, that's the part she recorded then thanked me and hung up I was so doped up on codeine I just fell back to sleep afterwards.
A month went by and I hadn't received the package or watch I used the customer service number he had given of 800-643-1164 which is answered by a recording that never identifies what company its for and suggests calling back at a later time all lines are busy or was just plain busy
January I began receiving magazines, Only 2 were from what I had asked for the rest are all gossip rags like Star, US, and OK! And I get them weekly. So I cancelled my debit card thru my bank and in late January started receiving calls from United Marketing Association's collections department. I explained my dissatisfaction and demanded they cancel that I would not be paying anything further. The man swore they were sending my welcome package and gifts package admonishing me to be patient again giving me the customer service number, and acting surprised when I said no one answers it. I wished him luck and hung up.
In April I began getting aggressive calls from a man named Sonny with a company called CMI, I explained to him that my arrangement had been with a company called United Marketing Assoc. And I had cancelled it CMI continued to call at my at work and at my home. It is illegal in my state to harass someone at work for debt collection. It's a tactic used to humiliate people into paying. I told him that and he stopped. Then, my account was given to a new collector every few weeks I would start all over explaining. Each one, assuring me that they were in no way associated with United Marketing Assoc., I was mistaken that my notes were wrong and I had a contract with CMI aka Century Marketing, Inc. Finally on June 19 I got a call from a Tiffany S. She informed me that she was the end of the line before the account would be turned over to an outside collection agency. I called her on threatening me and she offered me a deal by now it seems my account was 856.00 in arrears with late fees but if I would pay $ 80.00 before the end of June it would be over looked my account is 4 months behind. I again told her about United Marketing and I still hadn't received any watch or welcome package. She told me point blank that many other companies try to steal their accounts and pretend to be part of CMI, which makes no sense since I hadn't heard of CMI prior to April. I told her I would look into it. She gave me her number at CMI and ext 888-854-4701 ext 400 a week later I received a package with a cheap watch not a designer with fake diamonds. The package came from this address 2905 N. Montana Av. #30 Helena Montana 59601
When was back online and finally able to look into them. I looked up their physical address and phone I found a link to a RIP OFF for United Marketing Association, Inc. I then looked up Century Marketing, and found National Magazine and CRC, they are all the same company using a different names, but giving the same customer service number 800-643-1164. All using same technique, with customers reporting that they never received their subscriptions, and/or were overcharged.
Today, I called Century Marketing, to speak with Tiffany. Surprisingly she was not available and I spoke with Terrell he assured me h was a Supervisor and could help me after getting my name he started the same old run down of my account and referred to notes Tiffany had taken. At this point I began again repeating myself about how the order started and the tactics used, the subsequent calls starting in January when I cancelled my credit card and the order. After I informed him that I had / was going to file a complaint with the State Attorney Generals of Nevada, Florida, Montana and Texas, All Three Credit Reporting Services, State and National Consumer Watchdog Groups. He placed me on hold for 5 minutes to find a manager. This was Jeremy who continued to insist that they were not associated with United Marketing and that I had promised Tiffany to make payment a payment of $80.00, I reissued my threat about the letters and emails and hung up He called back within 10 minutes and left a voicemail agreeing to mark my order as cancelled. Finally 8 months later! I have saved the voicemail
National Magazine Club
428 Childers st. Ste 2853
Pencacola, Fl 32534
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