FYI: Time Magazine Subscription Selling Practice
Vladimir Veytsel
of West Florida today. I'm posting the essence of it here, so that you can be
better informed and might avoid the need to file a similar complaint yourself.
Tell us about your problem:
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During year 2000 I had a subscription for the Time magazine, which expired
12/2000. I didn't want to renew my subscription, so upon receiving a renewal
invoice I've written on it "Cancel" and sent it back to Time. As my
subscription has expired I stopped receiving Time in mail starting year 2001
and considered that this is closed.
That's a normal practice: subscriber is charged in ADVANCE (as I was charged
by Time) and when he stops paying (which is an indication that he doesn't want
to renew subscription), publisher stops sending the periodical and that's it.
Not with Time, though. During last several months I've received several
"Service Invoices" from Time (for the services never ordered and never
received). Each letter was composed in the most arrogant form with a clear
intended to intimidate the reader. It states the fictive order date (I didn't
order anything from them at that time) and demands $53.46 claiming that I "owe"
it on my "Time subscription". It contains direct threat of "future credit"
suspension and advises that " the best and easiest course is" "to simply send
payment for $53.46 today". The letter is signed by David Lewis, Credit Manager.
No phone number was provided. I've returned one of this "invoices" to Time
with my note, that I didn't order subscription renewal, didn't receive it and
consequently didn't owe Time anything. This was ignored by Time and "invoices"
kept coming. The one that came today is 6-th (they indicate in their letter
that they've sent 5 already).
My formal complaint is for Time's "improper selling practices" and
"misrepresentation". I have to add to this, that their selling practice have
a more precise name - money extortion attempt in the form of methodical
harassment through the mail.
Needless to say that after all that has happened, I would never subscribe to
Time magazine or buy it again, and will do my best to aware the maximum
possible amount of people about Time's predatory practices.
What is your desired outcome:
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I would like these letters to stop, but this is not my main point. I won't
open another letter from Time anyway and will send it directly to garbage where
it belongs.
It would be good if you'll be able to communicate this message to Time's
management - I have no reason to believe that I'm the only one who got such
treatment.
My main point is to describe the case for others, who might be wise enough to
consult the BBB before ordering a subscription or other service, so that this
will help them to make an informed decision.
I believe that disclosed information is a much more powerful tool to stop the
"improper selling practices", than any sort of legislative regulation.
--
Best regards.
Vladimir Veytsel
http://www.davar.net
Will Bell
>
> I had no other choice, but to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau
> of West Florida today. I'm posting the essence of it here, so that you can be
> better informed and might avoid the need to file a similar complaint yourself.
You do know, don't you, that there is an 800 number for TIME written
in every magazine, and also it is on time.com, and they probably could
have cleared this up for you in about 30 seconds? Rather than all
this time, energy, pain and suffering?