Hello, everyone,

Magazines are driving me nuts. First, American Handyman tells me I am a Club Member. I tell them No, and in the next mail comes a book and charge for $10.

Gourmet send me a "third notice" for a gift subscription I give to a friend. I paid it months ago.

Is this because their computer systems don't work right, or is this a common practice to get people to pay several times for one subscription? It's more trouble than it's worth.

seaturtle:

Is this because their computer systems don't work right, or is this a common practice to get people to pay several times for one subscription? It's more trouble than it's worth.

I have had the same trouble with a quilting magazine subscription that I know I paid for. They send me a bill almost every month! I have a copy of the canceled check, and have spoke to several people, but keep getting bills. No more subcriptions for me.

seaturtle:

Is this because their computer systems don't work right, or is this a common practice to get people to pay several times for one subscription?

I do wonder. I got a notice for a magazine we subscribed to. I ordered online and paid up front. Why would I have sent in a card that asked them to bill me later as they claimed?? I don't think I could have sent that card through the net.

It's not just magazines though. We are fighting charges on three different accounts now. One is from a cell phone service changing our plan when they merged with another company. They didn't bother to inform us and we discovered it when we got the shockingly high bill for calls that were then out of plan. They said they thought the plan fit my husband's use and he would be pleased. Err, did they look at his useage?? Another is for being charged for telephone and internet after we discontined service and moved. They don't seem to understand that there is no way I was using the internet without electricity there and from another state at that! Then there is the service we canceled here for TV, phone and net for lack of good and reliable service. Why should I pay for services they were not actually providing and why were we charged for the month after cancellation??

I'd like to know if it's real greed. Well, if we famboozle this many people into paying a little more, we get more. Or if it's sloppy data entry. I am suspecting a little of both at play.

 The greed question was what was wondering about too, Brandy. I would think these practices would be illegal - does anyone know?

Update on the mags. that have been double and tripple-billing me. I called the customer service number today, and they corrected it. I hate to think of all the people who just go ahead and pay two or three times because they don't remember or don't keep records. This must effect the elderly population especially. (Elderly? - maybe I already qualify at 62!)

I have had the same experiences as you with other companies. I get to the point where I write or contact a supervisor and tell them I will not deal with them any more. Surprisingly, this doesn't seem to effect them in the slightest.

It would be indeed interesting to find out just what goes on. I could understand one or two mistakes in their systems, but this practice is so consistent that I must think it is simply a way to make more money.

Sigh. Just this morning, my landlord advised me not to put my mail out the night before. Apparently, mail is being stolen now from mailboxes on this street.

???

I always pay for magazine subscriptions by check, so that I have a record. When I get the "2nd notice" or "3rd notice" I put the pay stub back in the pre-paid envelope they send e, write in big letter "2nd notice -you've been paid (with a copy of my check) and send it back on their dime (orisit closer to 50 cents now??.Works like a charm!

I recieve several Magazines .. some for years so far I lucky no double billing or any problems guess it dumb luck .

 i was getting multiple renewal notices/bills for a gift subscription for my mother.  i pay it by check as soon as i get the first one.  their constant onslaught of junk mail ticked me off so much, i ripped it up, stuck it back in their handy envelope with a post-it saying they could stop sending all this junk or i'd never order again.  the end of junk mail!

I had been subscribing to several magazines.  I always took advantage or special prices, with gifts included.  One of these was Time Magazine.  To me, the subscription seemed to be going on forever:  I thought I had ordered it for one year.  I called and was told that unless I'd called to stop receiving the magazine, they would automatically renew the subscription, at the regualar price. 

I never knew that! 

I think there are a lot of greedy companies out there right now.  Even talking to managers or supervisors doesn't seem to help.  Even threatening to change companies or providers does not affect most of them.  They just don't seem to care.  "The customer is always right" does not seem to apply anymore. 

It's too late to join you. I subscribed to All You's 67-cent per issue offer (2 years).