On the afternoon of January 15th as I was at home from work with my sick child I got a knock on the door. Thinking it was my neighbor, I opened it only to find a young man named Billy Smith telling me how I could help him out today. He was very upbeat and asking for high fives all the time, and all around charming. I right away read that he was selling magazine, as I had been previously approached, and told him I wasn't interested. Right as I was going to dimiss him, he asked to use the bathroom. I told him I felt unsafe allowing that, then he showed me his Army, military ID confirming he wasn't a bad person.
I felt bad for him, and let him in to use the restroom. Right when he came out, he immediately made himself at home at my dining table to review his offer and competition to win scholarship money and a free trip to Europe. Again I said I was familiar with the whole deal and how they overprice the magazines and wasn't interested. He told me that I could cancel at any time within the next week.in fact, that I would receive a call from a "Heather" or supervisor to confirm the subscription to give me time to cancel. He said he would get the points as long as he turned the paperwork in, but again, that I could cancel the following week.
4 days went by when I finally thought better of it and pulled out the receipt and read the cancellation policy. Like the other complaints I had to cancel within three days of the purchase. I immediately called the number of the back to see if I told them my story if they would refund me anyway. The lady on the phone was sympathetic and took the time to write a complaint on my behalf and since the check had not been cashed, offered to see if she could stop the transaction. She still advised me to wait for my cashed check, and send in a copy with a written complaint letter to see if then I could receive a refund without actually promising I would.
I feel completely scammed, and know I should have followed my initial instincts to not buy into the whole. I called to try to put a stop on the check, but the bank charges $30 for that, and then the "processing center" charges $20 for cancelled checks. My check amount was for $71, so I'd still be out $50. I will never, ever buy anything that is unsolicited, and I feel discouraged that companies teach these people how to con the "nice" person.
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