fraudulent business tactics

ComplaintsScamsreaders club home office

Complaint

+1
x19330
Country: United States
This is one of the worst companies I've dealt with. After subscribing to a different magazine company, RCHO contacted me. I was misled to believe represented the original company. Only after finding new charges on my bank statement did I realize they were not the same! By then, I was told that it was too late to cancel. What a scam!

Comments

  • -1
    surviver
    | 3 replies
    Getting calls from these people saying I owe them somewhere around 60 dollars a month for 20 months for a subscription I never authorized. They said I authorized it online, that they were looking at it in front of their computer.  I asked the person on the phone to please email the documents they had to me, he stated he could not do that.  He then said he could down grade my subscription.  I explained I had never authorized anything, and that they were not going to get paid.  He said he would just leave it as is then.  I told him that unless he could show me something with my signature on it authorizing the subscription, that they should just cancel it.  They will not answer their phones.  They are very secretive about any information they have, will not share it with you in a dispute.  They also told me I had authorized a 60 month renewal to the subscriptions.  I told him I had not authorized that and they had better remove that.  I don't believe they have done that either.  
    Bottom line, they never verified a credit card number, only my name, age, address and what type of work I do.
    • +1
      Judy replies to surviver
      | 2 replies
      They are up to something.  They called me yesterday - trying to tell me I subscribed a year ago and my credit card was being charged a high rate that they wanted to help me get it down.  I told them I had never subscribed and was not receiving any magazines.  Then they asked my age which unfortunately I gave - but I started asking more questions about the subscription and credit card (I don't have one).  Then they just hung up.
      Today they called again - with the same story.  This time I asked the girls name - I doubt it is real.  When I told her I don't have a credit card - she told me they were taking from a debit card.  I would never have given out my debit card a year ago as I didn't use it.  I asked to speak with a manager - she insisted she needed to get some demographics first - wanting again my age, whether I owed or rented - but when I gave an answer of N/A she said she was transferring me - and of course hung up.  They would not answer a return call.
      What bothers me is that they are clearly trying to get information about my age, etc.
      I think to somehow use this to get into my accounts??
      What authority can we contact to have this group investigated?
      • +1
        Lrslaughter replies to Judy
        | 1 reply
        I have the same problem, but now they have a collection agency sending me letters.
        • +1
          Fraudulent "subscription" shakedown.. replies to Lrslaughter
          File fraud complaints with FTC, then contact your state Attorney General for assistance.

          Fabricating fake "magazine subscription accounts" is a common way to extort money from consumers.  FTC and AGs are familiar with this scam, which depends on conning victims without getting caught.  Let them know you've filed an AG complaint, and they generally back off.  Pay them, and they generally come back for more, just like sharks and chum.
  • +1
    Have Morals Will Travel... a better job!
    They are trying to MAKE people renew a subscription they never even wanted in the first place?!?!?!  And not even really "renew" since they never had a subscription with Reader's Club in the first place. These companies get a calling list with partial information on it. They call pretending to be the original company that has your subscription and offer you a "payment credit" to your account. Be aware and DO NOT give out your credit card info. They pretend to already have it, want to re-enter it into their system to discount your current subscription, but then renew you for a whole new one. They record the last part of your conversation saying what you will pay them and for how many payments starting that day. Pay attention to what these people are saying to you! If you received this so called "discount" or "credit to your account" call the 1-866-374-7895 within 3 days or they will try to lock you into a verbal contract. Trust me, I used to work there and know how these people scam you out of money... even people on disability get scammed into this. It's sooo sick!

    Reader's Club Home Office, Inc
    1185 Concord St N
    Ste 228
    South St Paul, Mn

    report these people to The Better Business Bureau at:

    http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews ... ile-a-complaint  

    also contact your general attorney's office... even mentioning them might cause them to let you cancel ;)
  • +1
    Tiara
    when they called first they said need to update information of credit card then they said there is a one time payment i said i dnt want any magazines they told me they had pre ordered i didnt want any issues so gave them the credit card number the  biggest blunder in committed they told me it was a one time payment , they said they will record and i dnt know what they recorded now they are charging my card evry month for $59.80 and when i stopped the card they are threatening to send it for recovery and sent me a bill of $1076.40 when my husband tried to talk to them they said  if he pays 750$ they willclose the issue . But i have not received any magazines nor i have agreed to pay monthly they said one time payment and recorded something else . They are alling from different numbers - 9526793158 and then 7819168144  thier address as on invoice

    P O Box 201433
    Bloomingtin MN 55420
    1 888 803 0953

    Please help these people are threatening and harassing .
  • +1
    Ray connell
    | 2 replies
    We had the same thing happen to us. Someone called about subscription.  I kept saying in a nice way no, then they wanted to pick the magazines for me.  I cancelled my credit card after I found out they were charging it every month.  I got a bill and ask them to cancel subscription.  Then I got a bill for $538.20.  I ask again to cancel and go bully someone else. Now guess what. They are sending a collecting agency after me.  Yes it is a scam!  Can't they be stopped!!
    • +1
      They are running.. replies to Ray connell
      | 1 reply
      a fraudulent shakedown.  As you found, they will just make up a "subscription", and act like you "owe" it.  File fraud complaints with FTC and your state Attorney General.  If they send you any of these magazines, or send a bill through the US Mail, file a mail fraud complaint with the US Postal Inspector.

      Did they get your card number out of you through some teaser offer that sounded too good to be true, or did they just start charging it following calls without you having provided it?
      In other words, are they illegally trafficking in credit card numbers to use in making fraudulent charges?
      • +1
        RC replies to They are running..
        I was conned all the way.  Conned out of my card number me telling them I did not want magazines and did not choose any, them saying we will pick for you. Also said it will be only one charge of 20 something dollars.  After the one charge on my card, I cancelled the card and ask to cancel the subscription or  whatever it is.  They don't tell me anything.  They just send bills.  The last one was 500 something.  As for magazines, I've seen 2 or 3 that I don't recognize subscribing for.  I've contacted AG and FTC.  Thanks
  • +1
    Ringo
    Yes I will call FTC and my AG.   Thanks for info.  I want pay them anything.
  • +1
    Watch out
    It is a scam.
  • +1
    Bullies
    Yes, I call them bullies.  Thats the only kind of job those people can get.
  • 0
    papa44papa
    All I have read above  is mostly true for me.  I'm just trying to not pay them any more than I have.
  • 0
    Tracy Nickels
    I have received two letters from them asking for payment, They charge on my debit card, constantly, the contact no. is a non working no. I've had to change my debit card. 1-888-803-0953?

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