A consumer contacted the BBB recently to inform us she had been scammed by a company selling magazines. The company charged her $39.95 on two different occasions in the same month for magazines she said she did not order. Another magazine company also charged her $25.00 without her consent.
The BBB receives thousands of complaints each year from consumers who have unknowingly purchased multiyear magazine subscriptions. Unscrupulous telemarketers and sometime door-to-door solicitors trick consumers into paying hundreds of dollars for multiyear subscriptions to magazines they don't want or can't afford. Oftentimes, the presentations are so slick consumers aren't aware they have bought several magazine subscriptions until they receive the bill.
If you're contacted to purchase magazine subscriptions take command of the conversation by asking the questions. If you're not interested, say good-bye and hang up. If you are interested, do some comparison shopping before you part with your credit card information or write a check. Ask for the name, address and telephone number of the company. Contact BBB for their business review. Ask for the total yearly cost of each magazine and of the whole package. Compare those costs to regular magazine subscription rates. You can do this simply by picking up a magazine next time you’re in the store. You may be surprised to find how low the subscription rates are directly from the publisher. Also, ask to receive a written copy of the sales terms offered.
Don't give your credit card number or bank account number (this includes numbers at the bottom of your check) unless you're sure you want to buy and you have checked the company’s business review and rating. Otherwise, your account numbers could be used to make unauthorized purchases.
Watch out for salespeople who avoid giving you their name or the company's name. These callers may not even say they are selling magazine subscriptions; they may imply they represent a major credit card company or magazine publisher.
If and when you agree to buy, some sellers may want to tape your telephone conversation to prove you understand all the terms of the agreement. In some states, your verbal agreement to buy may become an immediate legal contract. If you wish to cancel your subscriptions, you must do so in writing. Under the Federal Trade Commission's Mail Order Rule, you may cancel your order within three days of the receipt of the agreement. The company must provide you with cancellation forms and instructions.