The book club is an institution in this country. My mother belonged to one for many years and enjoyed the books she got and gave and even when I was grown and gone I happily received shipments of children's books for my son-now 34. I have cherished them all and passed them down. So I had no fear when I signed up for Doubleday's "special".
The books I ordered arrived fairly promptly. There was a complicated "free shipping" arangement which amounted to signing up with another company and being stuck paying their fees if you didn't cancel on time. I did manage that hurdle.
Then the bank statement came saying I had incurred a charge of $46.39. No. Surely not. E-mails to my bank and customer service said I had ordered books labeled "choice of the month." No. Surely not. I had not received any envelope, e-mail, statement, nothing. But I was told they were shipped on the 5th or 6th of June.
I wrote back stating they would be shipped "return to sender." I had not requested them. I didn't see an order blank, etc., etc., Silence. I was furious. But no books arrived. June passed. Then July. I was careful now to watch for paper and e-notices. "Decline"- that's what I checked every time. But I saw that the $46.39 was still on my paperless statement as an amount that I owed.
Wrong! I wrote another e-mail." Dear Anne (if that's you're real name-or Kevin?) I didn't ask for these books. I have filed a claim with my bank against you. I haven't gotten any books but I Will send them back." Ignored.
Then this week, on the very same day, a letter came from my bank saying the final decision was in my favour. This was fraud. It listed a case number, a contact number, even Jamie's extension number and office hours in Nebraska. I forwarded these once again to Anne? Kevin? With the expectation that finally the erroneous amount would be removed from my account.
Two days later, I got a "gentle reminder." Grrr. I reminded them they owed me a response - and as it was Sept.-I doubted I would ever get the unwanted books. Aha-surely this would wake them up and bring them shame!
And today;today i finally got their response. They've sent my account to a collection agency. I now owe them $102.49? Nice work if you can get it. Too bad I'm literate. And very, very angry. I am writing my State Attorney General. Doubleday has become Doublecross.
0 comments