Today my wife received a call from someone claiming that we had been entered in a sweepstakes or something. Anyway, they ended up telling her we could get some great deal on a magazine. They called her and then had someone else call back and ask for a credit card number. Unfortunately she gave it to them and agreed to 70 bucks or so that was supposed to last 4 years. I love my wife to death but this is probably the dumbest thing she’s ever done and I’ve told her about 100 times to NEVER give our card number out over the phone.
She knew she’d screwed up right after she hung up the phone, so she went ahead and called the credit card company and cancelled our card. They said we could file a complaint later.
I told her to call back and cancel the subscription and the guy on the phone gave some stupid story about them already pre-ordering the magazine and couldn’t give her a refund. When I called to talk to them he said that she agreed to $70.00/month and we really owed them over $800 for the year she agreed to. They said they had the recording to prove it. I told them I had cancelled my credit card and that I would fight the charge. They tried to threaten me by saying I couldn’t win because they had a recording (he mentioned something about the laws in Florida???) and that I would end up having to pay the whole $800. I told them I was calling the better business bureau and would fight it with my lawyers if I had to. He then tried to make me some deal for only $99.00 for the whole thing. He wouldn’t let me off the phone and I had to hang up on him. He called back like 3 times trying to intimidate me by playing my wifes phone conversation, saying that the credit card company couldn’t win because he had her verbal agreement. My wife says she never ever heard them say anything about $70/month. And who’s ever heard of a magazine subscription that you couldn’t cancel and had to commit to for a year?
I have already cancelled the card, alerted the Credit Card Company, and will be calling the BBB in the morning.
1. Do they have any legal way to scam me out of the $800? We haven’t received any magazines and I have told them I was cancelling the subscription (probably never would have seen them anyway)
2. What other steps do I need to do to protect myself?
Thanks,
You’ve been the victim of Magazine Fraud. Go to this site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/magzn.shtm
from the FTC:
Be careful what you say on the phone to the seller. In some states, your verbal agreement to buy obligates you to pay. Frequently, the salesperson tape records the conversation, perhaps claiming it’s for your protection. Later, the company may use the tape to "prove" you agreed to buy the magazines, selected a payment method, and understood the terms of the agreement.
If you don’t want a subscription, and you don’t want to be called again, tell the caller to put you on the company’s "do not call list." If the company calls again, hang up. It’s breaking the law. Report it to your state Attorney General and the FTC.
If you think you’ve been involved in a magazine subscription scam, contact your state Attorney General or local consumer protection office. They’re listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.
You can register your phone number at www.DoNotCall.gov, or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the number you wish to register. If you register online, you must click on the confirmation email you receive to complete your free registration.
Your registration will not expire. Your number is on the list until you take it off, or your number is disconnected and re-assigned to someone else.
Report a Scam
Fight telephone fraud. Report telephone scam artists to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General. The Telemarketing Sales Rule gives these local law enforcement officers the power to prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines.
To learn more about how to recognize and report phone fraud, go to
www.ftc.gov/phonefraud.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
I wish you all the best
ps found similar situation but in CA.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/264/RipOff0264165.htm
Government Runs with Lawyers and Marketeers,
Government Runs with Lawyers and Marketeers,
Government Runs with Lawyers and Marketeers,
Government Runs with Lawyers and Marketeers,
Government Runs with Lawyers and Marketeers,
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