Let's start by saying do not use Americas Choice Reader Service. It all started in 2004 when i got a call from this campany offering me 5 monthly magazines for the next 7 years for the price of around $600 for the whole thing two free magazines for gifts. The deal also included a welcome package of a mens or womans watch, countless creditcard deals and a bunch of cupons for big buisnesses. So I THOUGHT it was a pretty good deal and I signed up. I was told i would recive a confermation letter and if I did not want to go ahead to call and let them know or send back the paper work. Then I found out a few days later that I was getting laid off from my job. So I mailed back the slip saying I did not want to receive the service, because it would not be right financialy at this time. I received my first bill less than four weeks after signing up. I got ahold of the company and asked to speak to a manager. He told me I was lieing and did not send back the paperwork. Then I was informed that a customer service rep. That I had talked to previously, had been fired and my paperwork was lost so I was locked in because it was past thirty days. Then I started getting magizines about a month or so later. So then I called the company to inform them that I mailed back the paperwork and did not want to do business with them. But then they said it was too late and was locked in.
So I went with it and paid my bill on time for the first few months. And everything was going good except I still hadn't received my welcome package. After I called customer service abouy my welcome package they said it was still coming, and at this point of this service there still was one or two magazines I wasn't getting regularly. I informed them that I hadn't receive these items at this point and told them I would not pay any more because I wasn't getting them and they were part of the deal.
After about three weeks of non payment I started getting calls from customer sevrice once or twice a day. I kept telling them my problems with my account and they said they would send a new welcome package right away. And the magazines would be there shortly. I told them I would current my account after I received my welcome package. After around three months of non payment I started getting calls grom an attourny hired by americas choice readers sayng they would take me to court over a ninety dollar bill. I also received several over due notices from NICK EVANS whom I was informed by Lisa Owens (customer service manager) doesn't even exist, much to my suprise. (Can you even imagine paying someone who doesn't exist!?)
I was told four or five times over three or four months by Lisa Owens that she knew someone in the mail room and would be sure that my welcome package got sent out as soon as our conversation was over. So I came current on my bill so that I did not have to go to Montana to court and the lawyer said I would have to pay all court fees and pay all services off for $510. (this was a milestone with no job and a newborn and a three year old) Keep in mind I only was $90 past due.
After becoming current I was receiving all my magazines, but still no sign of a welcome package. I called the company again about the welcome package and to change my magazines, because I was current. They said no problem and I changed two or three magazines. Just like that half of my magazines quit coming and I now only was receiving the ones that I had asked changed. So I called again said that I wouldn't pay until they fixed the problem. A couple weeks after my bill was due they again started calling twice a day for payment I told them I will pay when they come current on my account. This went on for many months until my bill was $190 late. I was receiving four to five calls a day from lawyers and collection agencies. They told me that when I became current everything would be fixed. So I came current to avoid there threats of court again becuase I had no money for a lawyer. This went on back and fourth for about three years with still no welcome package still no getting all my magazines, and no list to choose from after beein on the phone countless times and countless hours wasted on hold. Then jan. Of 07 most of my magazines sent renewel letters to me (ACRS said they would take care of all renewing all the subscriptions) and then stopped fully becuase they had not been renewed, again the company said they would take care of it when I came currant I owed $90.
August I received all call from another ACRS lawyer, his direct quote was "I'm sorry to be bothering you sir. But I am calling about a past due payment of $90. I know it is absolutly rediculas that this company hired me over $90." He then told me the company ACRS had spent $1100 just on my collection, and If I came current I would aviod court and he would call the company directly and tell them I was current, so I could get everything set up. At this point he told me if I came currant and paid the $90 I would be paid up in full to the tune of $800 I told him the deal was for $600 he said I overpaid and he could not do anthing but collect the $90 So I paid to avoid court once again and to be done with this mess.
Got ahold of ACRS and everything was back on track and I would recive magazines and my wecome package in 4-6 weeks, keep in mind I had not recived anything since Jan. Of 07 and still have not received anything further after being assured I would receive all my back issuues and current magazines for five more years. And the welcome package.
So today Jan. 10 of 08 I googled ACRS to get the costomer service num. Because I still had not recived anything as promised. The first 3 sites that came up wear RIP OFF REPORT... Americas Choice Reader Service so I click on it to find many people have had the same problem as me.
So I called ACRS to see what was going on. I told the rep. And he transferd me to a manager right away. She told me my policy with them was canceled. I said no way I had 5 years left with them when I payed off my bill of $600, thats what the reps and managers told me for the past 4 years. I then told her the ACRS lawyer said I payed $800 somthing. But there was not anything she could do about the over payment. So I told her my story and she said my account was to old to recived the welcome package, but to make things a little better she gave me 3 magazines free for a couple of years. But I'm still not satasfide...
So after paying 800 some dollors I only got about 30 of the magazines I wanted and hours of wasted time on the phone, endless threats and name calling and countless phone calls, they even found my work num. And called there.
So please don't use this companys service, don't fall victom to there scam...
Thanks for reading this...
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