Magazine Scam??

[amastewa93]

So, about a year ago I signed up to get like 6 months of a few magazines I liked for $5 at a local bookstore (Rolling Stone, Nat Geo, TIME, and Fast Company). Anyway, I was told by the cashier at the bookstore I'd just pay the $5 and then if I wanted to continue to receive the magazine after the 6 months was up that I would be able to fill out the postcard and send it back to the publisher to continue receiving magazines.

I've been charged $20 TWICE now with no real way to cancel this service. Also, how on earth did they get my card info from a purchase at the bookstore??

Has anyone else had anything like this happen or the same experience? I'm not really sure what to do about this.

[scfr]

It sounds like the cashier gave you incorrect information, and maybe it was due to lack of knowledge and not because of an intent to deceive.
Magazines and Newspapers are usually SUBSCRIPTIONS, meaning you automatically get charged for them when the teaser trial runs out.
I've participated in some Black Friday type promo magazine subscriptions, and yes, it can sometimes take some work to get out of them ... but it shouldn't be too hard.

What I suggest is this: Create an on-line account with the magazines. They will probably ask for a number off of the mailing label(s). Based on your description, all of the magazines may be from the same publisher, in which case you you might only have to create one log in. Once you are logged in, there should be some sort of "manage your subsciptions" or "manage your account" option. Hopefully you can cancel your subscriptions there. Whether or not you can cancel may depend on the renewal dates; any that aren't currently up for renewal, you may have to calendar for followup at a later date.

As far as how they got your card info, maybe ask the book store the next time you visit?

Good job catching and paying attention to this. These are the sorts of "small money bleeds" that many people who don't pay careful to their finances miss, or decide it's not worth the hassle of dealing with. But it all adds up.

[kork13]

I'd be one to just call them & insist that they turn off the subscription, or offer you a heavy discount (95% chance they'll immediately offer a discount when you ask to cancel anyway).

[disneysteve]

Clearly the cashier was either misinformed or intentionally lying. Those promo subscriptions always automatically renew unless you cancel in time. Go to the website or look in the front of the magazine for the email address for subscriber services and contact them to cancel.

As for how the bookstore got your card info, you said you made a purchase and paid $5 for the magazines. I'm assuming you did that with the card they are billing.

[amastewa93]

Clearly the cashier was either misinformed or intentionally lying. Those promo subscriptions always automatically renew unless you cancel in time. Go to the website or look in the front of the magazine for the email address for subscriber services and contact them to cancel.

As for how the bookstore got your card info, you said you made a purchase and paid $5 for the magazines. I'm assuming you did that with the card they are billing.

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I went ahead and called the number I thought would help me and am awaiting a confirmation email to verify everything has been canceled. If I don't have one by tomorrow morning I'll be on the phone again.

Steve - you are right about that! I am not sure if the cashier was intentionally lying or not but I'll definitely know not to sign up in the future. It was a bit unsettling that, somehow, the subscription company (that I'd never dealt with) had all my card info after swiping it at the bookstore.

[Smallsteps]

I find that many of the promotions offered like this often are not completely understood by those pushing it like the cashier.
I now refuse to sign up for anything that requires a call/ email or what ever to cancel.
The people doing this know the harder they make it to cancel or change the more people will give up trying.

[disneysteve]

I now refuse to sign up for anything that requires a call/ email or what ever to cancel.

Same here. I used to do those "free trials" where you had to cancel before the period ended to avoid being charged. I've got too many more important things to keep track of.

[amastewa93]

The people doing this know the harder they make it to cancel or change the more people will give up trying.

That is SO true! My friend recently said something like "I am just going to cancel the card they have and get a new one!" That seemed like the harder of the two ways to deal with it but whatever works I guess.