I can't believe this. Like Molly from LA, I too was contacted by a telemarketer who identified herself as a representative of a magazine distributor I had previously used, Publisher's Warehouse. She asked me how I liked my current subscription to TV Guide. I told her I had no subscription and she proceeded to read off my account information for my bank.
I became agitated and asked how she got that information and she replied that it was in her records for the order of the TV Guide. I explained to her, in no uncertain terms, I had not purchased nor received TV Guide through a magazine distributor for over 3 years, nor did I want to renew.
Like most of you, I became very frustrated that firstly, somehow someone was ordering magazines under my name, but more so that this person was persistent in her tactics to further confuse me by stating she had to make a recording of me confirming a cancellation of the so called order.
I am a very skeptical person and during the first attempts to record the transaction I answered "NO" to her questions. She told me she would have to re-start the recording so that I could say "YES" I was canceling the transaction. Again, I was sensible enough to say "NO" and told the lady that her fast talking was nothing more than a confirmation of me completing the order for the magazines. As practical as I think I am, after the 3rd time I had answered "NO" she stated, and I quote, "If you won't confirm the cancellation of this order, than once you start receiving the magazines and the bills and later on the collection notices for not paying, wouldn't you rather avoid all that trouble now and just confirm the cancellation of this order now?"
I finally broke down, and confirmed my account information, that she had mind you. I did not divulge that info to her in anyway, other than to confirm the correct numbers of my bank's routing number and yes my account number. She already had that info. The sad thing, was I was coerced by a professional to saying "YES" even though I knew it was wrong.
To make a long story short, and also repeating what many of you have posted already, I was reviewing my bank statement on line and noticed a transaction for $39.95 paid out to "HONEYBEE MEDIA IBT." I immediately contacted my bank and inquired about the transaction and they gave me the following number: 1-800-745-8035 ext-379. They told me it was the number given to them by "KEYBANK" of Ohio.
I decided to do an Internet search for HONEYBEE MEDIA and guess what popped up? You got it, the wonderful reports we are all reading regarding telemarketing fraud and the many headaches most of you have experienced. I was shocked to say the least and immediately called the 1888# to find out what was going on.
The person who answered identified herself as a customer service rep for Global Living and after explaining my case to her she immediately played back the recording of me saying "YES" and stated that I had authorized the transaction based on the tape. I was more than pissed off but I kept my cool and asked the woman to start the process of canceling any further transactions. She assured me she would do this, but that I would need to submit in writing everything I had told her in order to "CANCEL" the transaction!
I ended my call letting her know I didn't appreciate the way I was fraud-ed and she could expect my letter soon. After talking to my bank and letting them know what was happening they suggested I come in and file a letter of dispute and to change my account. Being more than a little upset at how I was "played" by this company, I called back and talked to another customer service rep named Rico. I asked Rico for his full name but he refused to give it to me. I explained my situation again to him and this time I told him I wanted to speak to the manager or director of the company. I even asked for names of the president or CEO, yet Rico refused to comply and insisted that he would put a "stop hold" on my account and that no further billing would occur from my bank.
I informed Rico I was filling a letter of dispute with my bank, that I would ensure personally no future charges would be made because I was changing my account, and lastly that the conversation we had, had been recorded. He became agitated and stated that it was against the LAW for me to record the conversation without his consent. I then laughed and told Rico, "NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO GET PLAYED!"
My next call was to the 1800# provided by KEYBANK and I spoke with a girl named "Debbie" who assured me that the order for the magazines would be canceled and that she would be sending me a check for the amount of the $39.95 within the week. Yeah, right! I won't hold my breath. I will however send a certified letter to these swindlers expressing exactly how I was fraud-ed by their use of telemarketing. I just wish I had stumbled across RIP OFF sooner and believe me, if I thought I was skeptical before, I will only be downright obnoxiously RUDE in the future to all telemarketers calling my home!
Thanks for all the great advice posted in these reports, it will save me considerable research and time in getting my letters off to the company in question and I have already taken advantage of the "INFORM FRIENDS" option on this website. Hope everything works out for you Molly and the rest of you who have lived thru this inconvenience!
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