I joined Columbia House a month ago, believing them to be an honest business. Since I joined over the internet, they had access to my credit card information.
A little less than two weeks after my initial joining, I had a charge on my account for $25.94 from "Columbia House Video Club". I called customer service to find out why they had charged my account when I hadn't made any purchases. I was told that the "Director's Selection" had been mailed to me because I never mailed back a post card I was supposedly sent in the mail.
I explained that I never received a post card to mail back, therefore would not and could not have known to notify them that I didn't want the "Director's Selection". I was told that it "wasn't their problem". My only option was to wait until the movie arrived, which could take up to four weeks, and refuse the package.
I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that there was no supervisor available. I had several emails back and forth with the customer service at Columbia House, explaining my situation again and again. After being told time after time that there was nothing they would do, I demanded that they remove my credit card information from my file, which they PROMISED had been done.
Two weeks later, 05.01.07, I logged on to see my balance in my checking/debit account, and saw that I had a bounced check. To make matters worse, that check was my payment to the State of Michigan for my 2006 taxes. I called my bank immediately to find out what had happened. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a charge on there for $25.94 to Columbia House Video Club! Once again, same as last time, I was charged for a "Director's Selection" that I never received a postcard for. Once again, this was not their problem, and it was out of their hands. My only option, as was the case last time, was to wait until my movie arrived in the mail and refuse the package.
DO NOT EVER give your credit card/debit card information to Columbia House. They charge you for things they have not even mailed yet, things that may take up to four weeks to receive. This is NOT stated in the terms and conditions! So far I have received almost $52.00 in unauthorized charges. After talking to several of my close friends, this exact same scenario has also happened to them, and it takes forever to resolve.
I got roped in by the $0.49 per dvd to start my membership. All I can say is, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Kristina
South Boardman, Michigan
U.S.A.
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