This company is legitimate but uses deceptive means to gain your business. From other reports it seems they have the same deals and approach every time. Offer in the mail: We are trying to reach you regarding your $1,000, 000.00 sweepstakes ID XXXXXXXX. Please call us at the above number. This is a free call. Sincerely Pat Haines. Sales Representative. Entering the sweepstakes is fair enough, but then they'll offer you their magazine subscriptions at discounted rates. Fair enough - BUT from my experience they don't make the deal clear.
As of February here's their deal: 4 magazines of your choice (if you specify) for 4 years. Or as they like to term it 4 easy payments of $67.08 per year' or 4 magazine subscriptions for 4 years at only $1.29 per week'. Too good to be true? Well, they'll also offer you a further 5 magazines for free, along with an electronic organizer and 2 free diamond' watches! WOW!?
As I said, they are legitimate, and do genuinely work with reputable magazine publishers but here's the catch: they DO NOT TELL YOU that your 4 easy payments of $67.08 per year' will be debited from your card in 4 consecutive months.
2 or so days later I found my card debited by NME for $67.08. I decided to cancel and phoned the customer service number on the letter which arrived about a week later. The representative of course tried not to simply accept my cancellation. Tactic 1. He tried to make me simply change the choice of magazines. Tactic 2. He tried to make me pay another month's payment (or year's worth at $67.08) giving me 2 years instead of their intended 4 years of service, technically saving you $134.16c.
He nearly went away to process this without me agreeing, but I stopped him and stumped him by asking for a full refund. At this point he agreed to stop any further charges and effectively cancel my account with them.
(He said he couldn't refund the $67.08 because 3 of the magazines had already been processed and I will be receiving all the magazines as agreed for 1 year) Hm, even their letter states: Orders may be cancelled within 7 days of receipt of this letter by writing or calling Customer Service'. He told me he was aware of what the letter stated!)
Tip: If you have a speaker phone use it - and use a voice recorder. You then have evidence of the call if you need it. To anyone who doesn't mind paying $268.32 in a matter of 4 months this is fairly cheap for all those magazines. I just don't like their tactics for your business.
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