I don't even know why I answered this call. (phone #: 1- (770)-297-7923) A very nice sounding girl was on the other line and started her schpill:
I was told as a perk for major credit card holders, (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, etc) there would be a drawing on January 15 for a free vacation for two and I was randomly chosen to be entered in that drawing.
As another "perk" I was offered 3 free subscriptions and all I had to do was pay for a "discounted" subscription of one of three other magazines for "a minimum of 3.99/week" for 60 months.
Once I agreed, I was given an order number and told that we would disconnect and soon after, I would receive a phone call from her "supervisor" to confirm and finalize the order. The girl also requested that I let her supervisor know that she was very helpful in explaining most of the details, etc. We hung up and not a minute later, I got that call. (phone #: 1- (770)-532-0176) We went over some details as I took notes and asked questions.
I thought this couldn't be that bad, that comes out to about $16 a month... Here's the catch... They combine the 60 months total and divide it by 16 months. So, after 16 months, the remainder of the 60 is already paid for, so it came out to a total of about $64.83/month. Yikes, no, not for me.
She seemed very understanding, being as i "sounded young, so therefore, must be a student." Lucky me... They apparently have a "Student Program"
where I will still be entered into the drawing, but instead of a 60 month term, its a 36 month, which will make the payments lower. It came to $38.89/month for 16 months. Okay, I guess that'll work.
I was told the "automatic deductions from my account will be consecutive and taken at the same time each month" and "first payment won't hit my bank for 3-5 business days and I can expect my first shipment in 6-8 weeks"
Before we got off the phone, we had to do a recorded confirmation type thing. (Glad I took notes!) I agreed to the $38.89 a month for 16 months and made sure I was very specific in all my answers (with the idea that I would have proof if any problems arose) The "supervisor" then gave me my tracking number and the phone number for customer service 1-800-553-7633.
About 3 hours later, I received a text from my bank (an alert system they use so you can be notified almost immediately of a low balance, irregular activity, etc). I knew that couldn't be right so I called to find out what the charge was... $64.83!
By this time I'm pretty frustrated. I immediately called the customer service number and talked to a rude teenage girl who informed me that she had no record of my order and would not receive it until 2 days after. I asked her how in the hell they can take money from someone who's not even in their system. Her attitude was not making my anger anything but worse. Then, in the middle of my explaining to her that the amount wasn't even correct, she stopped me and said very rudely:
" Excuse me. Did you call me or did I call you?! Yeah, thats right, thats what I thought..."
OH, how easy it must be to disrespect someone (a supposed customer... Victim is more like it) when you are on the telephone and 5 states away! I shouted an angry few words telling her what her and her company could do with their F*$#ing magazines and hung up. Then, I tried to call both the employee and supervisor's numbers and got no answer.
The next day, I tried calling the employee
and "supervisor" again and was told that no supervisors were "in" at the moment. She would take my name and number and have someone call me. Um, no! I argued with her about how I didn't think it was very ligitimate for there to be a workplace full of workers with no one to supervise them and make sure they were ScAMMING people correctly. She hung up. So, I tried the other number... It sounded like the same girl and this time she answered with the (department title, i guess) of, "Service.." when the first time I had called, I got "Active Periodicals, this is Kristi speaking.." I answered with "Um, is this the 'Supervisor'?" And she hung up.
I got up and decided to google Active Periodicals, kicking myself for not doing it as soon as I got the first call, being I was already on the computer and it would have saved me all this bullshit. I found a post from someone who was just like me and trying to cancel their subscription within a couple days of the initial phone call. His post stated how customer service was rude and hung up, so he gave the number that he was told to call to get his money back: (954) 570-7700
It took a little b*hing to get the "receptionist" to connect me to whatever or whoever was in charge of refunds and the like. Finally, I explained the dilemma and told her that I didn't trust that company now because of my experience with customer service and the salesperson/supervisor and the fact that they had already started a pending transaction for twice the agreed amount onto my bank account. She tried to say that just because it was pending for the $64.83 doesn't mean it wasn't going to clear for $38.89. I didn't care, I'm done and I want the shit cancelled and my money back. I was promised a refund within 24-48 hours, so now all thats left to do is wait.
0 comments