Area Circulation
Ruined my credit

My name is Edgar and I recieved the call from Area circulation on Sep 20. I was to pay $56.50 per month for an assortment of magazines and Free 3 night hotel stay at the the hotel of my choice. The rep also said that if at any time my financial staus changed or if I simply wanted to end service, I could call 1-800-324-9452 to cancel my membership.

It all sounded like a really good deal so I agreed and my Visa was charged for the initial $56.50. He also said I was to recieve documentation in the mail within 1 week regarding my membership and of course the 3 night Hotel stay which I was entitled to with the magazine promotion. It all sounded great so I was transferred to another department to confirm the shipping adress and then the call ended. Well 4 weeks past and I noticed that my credit card had been charged again for a fee of $56.50 but I was yet to recieve any documentation whatsoever regarding my hotel stay or membership. It was at this time that I called the fraud department of my Credit card to dipute the charges due to fraud. They told me the that they had terminated the automatic monthy charge of $56.50 and credited my account. Within minutes I was on the phone with a man named Steve and he told me that I could not cancel the account but simply lower the payments. I was outraged since I had been wrongfully informed and was promptly hung-up on.
I repeatedly called back and was put on hold and never got any Rep on the line even when waiting for 45 minutes. Later that same week I began recieving calls from a collection agancy associated with Area Circulation which demanded I pay the full $350 immediatelly! When I asked the caller for Her name or Id number she Hung-up on me! I called back and after explaining the situation to a rep actually got my account cancelled. I asked if everything with my Information on it was cancelled, he said yes and apologized for the entire mishap.

It is now Dec 14 and I have recieved calls from Area Circulation stated that my account is past due 3 months and that my information is getting sent to a collection agency the next day unless i pay the full $350!!! I called and cancelled 3 months ago! How can this BE? Her name is Kerry or Kendra and she was extremely rude and would not let me talk but threatened me that If I did not pay, the collection agency would ruin my credit. When I refused and demanded the chance to explain the situatioin she told me there was no record of me Cancelling the account and that she will now transfer my information to the collection agency and promptly ended the call. What kind of company is this? I have contacted the Better Business Bureau, The local Media, Capital One, and I demand an explanation. I will not pay for a product I cancelled 3 months ago. I just began to recieve many magazines in the mail even though I cancelled. What Kind of Company is This? They are FRAUD!!!

Company: Area Circulation
Country: USA
State: Virginia
City: Virginia Beach
Address: 5656 Shell Rd

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