Tied into a contract without authorization and charging my credit card with out my consent.

ComplaintsScamsCapital Magazine Service

Complaint

0
Brenda
Country: United States
I had no way of contacting this company who was charging my credit card 1 or 2 times a month for $17 or more. I contacted my card services and rep was able to finally reach someone. My credit card rep was witness to Capital Magazine Service rep yelling and cursing at me that I was under contract and if I didn't like it they would take me to court. All I wanted to know was who they were and why they were charging my card! I have only received 2 magazines from them and they are Mens journal and ESPN. I am a country woman! There was no discussing possibly getting some female magazines, cause all the Mag rep did was yell at me that I'd get what I get and I would pay for it! At the end of our conversation, to my surprise, my credit card rep was still on the line and heard the whole conversation. Unfortunately all she could do was cancel the payments from my card from then on (but they are still billing me), but she was apologizing over and over and could not believe this Capital Magazine Service rep would talk to a person let alone a supposed customer that way, and suggested contacting the BBB.  I have tried repeatedly to contact Capital and when the phone is actually answered, it is then hung up with no contact. Someone please help!

Comments

  • 0
    They have a history..
    | 2 replies
    of consumer telemarketing fraud, with many complaints of making up "contracts" and using abuse and intimidation to keep charging money.
  • 0
    Treat it as what it is:
    A fraudulent shakedown racket engaged in "cramming".  Using magazines you don't even want, combined with abuse, indicates that what they are really after is a "settlement" to "cancel the contract", typically $300 to $400 to just go away, on a "multiyear contract" they will claim is for over a thousand.  There are actually several "magazine marketers" who run this type of scam, including a knock-off in Mumbai, India.
  • 0
    If you pay them..
    they will label you as a "sucker", and keep harassing you with made up "subscriptions" and threats to damage your credit if you don't keep paying them.
  • 0
    The charges are unauthorized..
    and fraudulent.  That's the business they're in, so if you don't want more theft, and more harassment, dispute the charges through your bank as fraudulent, and block your card number immediately to prevent further fraud and theft.  Your bank can reverse charges back 2 to 3 months if you dispute promptly, under FCBA.
  • 0
    Then start establishing..
    your complaint trail.  File fraud complaints with FTC, and your state Attorney General.  And since they are using the US Mail as part of a fraudulent scheme, while also illegally sending bills by mail for unordered merchandise, file a mail fraud complaint with the US Postal Inspector.
  • 0
    Save all letters, log all calls..
    as evidence.  Screen your calls.  There is really no reason to talk to them, unless you want to record it as evidence.  In fact, if you want them to stop calling, tell them you've filed fraud complaints, and you are recording.
  • 0
    They will probably try to intimidate you
    with threatening letters from some sleazy "collection agency".  That may be their own creation, or one sleazy enough to do business with them.  File fraud complaints against them as well. Usually these scams know enough to not actually damage credit, since that is likely to get them sued.  They're playing a game of "chicken", and if you don't play, they make more money from moving on to some other "sucker".
  • 0
    As for why they decided..
    to target you, and even had your card number to do it, they probably bought it all from some other company selling "customer lists" complete with card data (which is illegal).  These "sucker lists" may originate with sleazy marketers of "seen on TV" garbage, which labels the customers as probable "suckers". Don't be a sucker.
  • 0
    What phone number..
    showed on your credit card statement?

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