Collection for magazine subscription I didn't order

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesSunrise Credit Services, Inc.

Complaint

0
smlongiotti
Country: United States
Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. sent me a collection notice for $22 for Veranda magazine, a subscription I have not even ordered and WILL NEVER order because of this notice.  I sent the info to the Consumer Complaints Division of the NC Secretary of State Office to see if they could help.

Comments

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  • 0
    Geno
    I also recently received a collection notice from Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. It was for the amount of $15.96 and the creditor was Playboy. I did have a Playboy subscription which expired @6 months ago and I did not renew. I have one question. Say I send in one of those "bill me later" renewel postcards. When the bill arrives I change my mind on the renewel and ignore it. Can Playboy then send the renewel amount to collections even though no magazines have been received? (Playboy does not start mailing their magazines until they receive payment.) This did not happen to me but I was just wondering if it is legal.
  • 0
    tj
    That slim sliver of "authorization" appears to be all that Playboy (and apparently other publishers as well) hang sending these "accounts" to collections on.  Legally, you could say that there was an offer, and acceptance, yet they don't rely on that acceptance to start mailing without payment.  That shows how much faith they place in those cards.

    They don't appear to protest much if you call and deny sending the card, but basically they are trying to make it easy for people to subscribe, yet they have no way to prove the order is actually submitted by the alleged customer.

    From time to time such anonymous subscription cards are used by people harassing others, or in the case of Playboy, probably for pranks.  The publishers know this order channel has this problem.

    They seem to be playing as close to the line as they can to avoid cancellations.

    The letters from either Playboy or Sunrise appear to imply that the account is owed and going to collection, but if you don't want the subscription opened or renewed, contact them and tell them you didn't order or renew, and they are generally reported to cancel.  

    If you have any problem, threaten to file a fraud complaint with your state Attorney General, and they will likely back off.

    These players engage in a level of deceptive micro-fraud, but cave easily since the publishers aren't going to mess up their reputations as legitimate businesses.  There are other "magazine subscription services" that play much higher stakes cons ($400 to $1300 attempted fraud), based on fraudulent telemarketing, but Sunrise doesn't appear to be playing that game.

    You chose not to renew, 6 months ago, and they haven't been sending you anything, so your position is that they have acknowledged your non-renewal.  It's a stretch to now claim somehow you have some account you owe, and they know it.
  • 0
    tj
    Numerous similar complaints of unrequested orders or renewals for Playboy or other magazines, with "collection" attempts by Sunrise.

    https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/mg-jepamZwAXggjJfBfDwA
  • 0
    tj
    Playboy appears to be savvy enough to know that it wouldn't be wise to send their magazine to anyone who doesn't want it or agree to receive it.  Last thing they need is some DA running for office making an issue of it.
  • 0
    tj
    The other basis for cancelling orders made by mailing the cards is that the order clearly isn't "firm", since they do not proceed to ship based only on receiving it, nor have all terms been disclosed (including cancellation terms, or possibly noncancellation terms).

    A legitimate publisher trying to hold you to terms they never disclosed up front bumps into deceptive advertising laws, including postal regulations and the FTC Act.  (Publishers are entirely dependent on the Postal Service.)

    With Playboy, there is the additional issue of whether they can legally mail their product to minors.  By receiving payment first, either by credit card or check, they can at least say they routinely take steps to restrict sales to adults.

    Many legitimate publishers (as compared to the scam "subscription services") allow cancellation at any time with refund for unsent magazines.  If they haven't sent anything, under those terms, no amount is owed.

    Failure to disclose up front that a subscription is non-cancellable is on its face deceptive, as that is a material factor that would affect a consumer's decision on whether to accept an offer.  Attempting to enforce such a "no cancellation" policy that was not disclosed up front is fraud.
  • 0
    Dan-in-PA
    Nothing has gone to collection at this time, however, in the space of 2 days, we have received 11 subscription invoices in my wife's name sent to an incorrect (close, but not correct) street address. The address was close enough that it was delivered to our mail box.

    Now, we ordered NONE of these magazines, not one. All of the invoices are in my wife's name.

    Sports Illustrated
    Sci-Fi
    Fly Fisherman
    National Geographic
    InStyle
    Car and Driver
    Consumer Reports
    Details
    Runners
    Unnamed (unnamed on the outside envelope)

    I sent an email to the PA Attorney General's office in hopes of opening an investigation. I suspect some collections agent bought some old debt and is playing this scam to try to verify an address or maybe just hates not getting their way.

    Either way, we can't sit on these invoices, these WILL go to collections because they're NOT going to get paid and they WILL affect our credit rating. So I intend to pester the Attorney General's office every other day until I have some firm information to follow up on and a guaranteed method of cancellation.
  • 0
    tj
    Still showing "Accredited
    with "No Rating".
  • 0
    tj
    Although the "subscriptions" might be the result of a fraudulent telemarketer, those usually result in a single invoice from the telemarketing company, not individual invoices from each publisher.


    Sports Illustrated - Time Warner
    Sci-Fi - Syfy, A Division of NBC Universal
    Fly Fisherman - InterMedia Outdoors
    National Geographic - National Geographic Society
    InStyle - Time Warner
    Car and Driver - Hachette Filipacchi Media
    Consumer Reports - Consumers Union
    Details
    Runners

    The range of magazines doesn't even come from a single publisher, nor are they only "low-brow consumer" mags most commonly used in "magazine subscription" cramming scams.  They and their subscription cards are probably, however, easily obtained at nearby retailers.

    Most likely some kid or "passive agressive" neighbor is attempting to harass you or your wife by sending in magazine cards.  Anyone complaining about where you park your car, or where your dog goes, lately?

    As they are invoices for products you never ordered, file complaints with the U.S. Postal Inspector, and probably with your local police, to create a record.  You may want to get a copy of the police report in case the harassment continues.

    Then contact each publisher to notify them you did not subscribe, and that the "subscriptions" are fraudulent.  Demand they send you a cancellation letter, so you can efficiently cut short any "account" that accidentally goes to a debt collector.  A responsible publisher will do this.

    Publishers run into this from time to time.  If you have problems, a copy of your police report documents that the accounts are fraudulent, useful for blocking credit reporting by a debt collector.

    Postal regulations regarding non-mailable matter:
    http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode ... 01----000-.html

    Postal regulations regarding unordered merchandise.
    http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode ... 09----000-.html
  • 0
    rosa ana robles
    I am sending this message to let you know that i never ordered this magazine. I was once in that website and that page opened and all of a sudden they send me an e mail and said thank you for the order i tried to send a email but i never could get it to them. I've never gotten a magazine.
    thank you
  • 0
    rosa ana robles
    I am sending this message to let you know that i never ordered this magazine. I was once in that website and that page opened and all of a sudden they send me an e mail and said thank you for the order i tried to send a email but i never could get it to them. I've never gotten a magazine.
    thank you
  • 0
    tj
    There are a number of complaints of websites with deceptive pop-ups, in connection with "sweepstakes" offers, that result in fraudulent "subscriptions" and bills to people who enter their information.

    Send a letter, certified, to the publisher, notifying them that you did NOT agree to a subscription.  Send a similar notice to any debt collector they pass these questionable accounts off to.  Most reports indicate that they already know there is a problem with such subscriptions, since anyone can enter anyone's else's information.  They have no security, so they send these "reminder/collection letters" before actually sending anything.  They will probably back off, but CYA with written disputes sent certified.

    File complaints for deceptive marketing and internet related fraud with FTC, your state Attorney General, and www.ic3.gov
  • 0
    Nicky
    I just received a "friendly" letter from Sunrise Credit Services.  "Don't get angry....Your account came to us from someone who values your business."  I chose not to renew my Country Living Magazine subscription and this is how I am treated. Why on earth would I ever consider subscribing now?
  • 0
    tj
    Then notify both Sunrise and Country Living that you specifically did NOT renew, and that they should consider your subscription terminated.  Notify CL via their website, to do it immediately, then notify both by certified letter, referencing your earlier on-line notification of CL.

    If you have any further problems, file a complaint with BBB against both.
  • 0
    no longer reader of any Hearst Magazine
    wow

    what a waste of a morning

    I called Hearst cust service on
    1-800-223-3081
    a number I found someone had posted on ripoffreport dot com

    turns out supervisor says that Sunrise Credit Services is an "internal credit collection" arm of their company (then why did the first agent make me read her the address of the collection firm as if it was a 3rd party)
    and they therefore "do not damage your credit"
    as they say only your credit "with us" is "at risk"

    wonder if managment at the magazine has any clue about customer loyalty
    and how to build a long term business through relationship

    this farcical $10 "debt collection" tactic by Hearst Magazine
    will now cost them far more than that into the future

    as I no longer intend to buy or subscribe to ANY
    Hearst magazine which appears to be the following many that I have subscribed to in the past for years:
    Cosmopolitan >>
    Country Living >>
    Esquire >>
    Food Network Magazine >>
    Good Housekeeping >>
    House Beautiful >>
    Harper's Bazaar >>
    Marie Claire >>
    O, The Oprah Magazine >>
    Popular Mechanics >>
    Redbook >>
    Seventeen >>
    Town&Country >>
    Veranda >>

    ridiculous how damaging some business manager's decisions are

    my advice to Hearst: dump the "collection" farce tactic

    signed sincerely
    no longer reader of any Hearst Magazine
  • 0
    tj
    Your report is consistent with other reports documented above.
  • 0
    Jennifer Boudreaux
    I received an invoice from Good Housekeeping for a magazine I did not order.  I wrote cancel on invoice I received and returned in enclosed envelope.  I never received a magazine from Good Housekeeping.  I DO NOT OWE ANY MONEY TO GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. I DO NOT NEED SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES HARRASSING ME FOR AN UNPAID BILL FOR A MAGAZINE I DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO.
  • 0
    tj
    File a BBB complaint against them, to document the problem, and that you disputed their "erroneous" bill.

    They both maintain pristine "A+" ratings.

    Correction:  Sunrise is now showing "no rating".  They used to show "A+".
  • 0
    tj
    Still showing "No Rating".

    Complaints in the last year are 2.5 times those in the prior year.

    http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city/business-rev ... gdale-ny-21233/

    "...
    This business has no rating at this time.

    ...

    Customer Complaint History
    When considering complaint information, please take into account the business's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

    BBB processed a total of 97 complaint(s) about this business in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total 97 complaint(s) closed in the last 36 months, 53 were closed in the last 12 months.

    These complaints concerned:

    1    regarding Advertising Issues
    83   regarding Billing or Collection Issues
    4    regarding Customer Services Issues
    1    regarding Product Issues
    2    regarding Refund Or Exchange Issues
    6    regarding Selling Practices


    These complaints were closed as:

    3   Administratively Closed
    3      Administratively Judged Resolved  

    94  Resolved
    45     Assumed Resolved  
    49     Resolved  
    ..."
  • 0
    tj
    BBB is still showing "no rating".
    Why does a supposedly BBB accredited business continue to have no rating?
  • 0
    FDCA VIOLATORS
    Teager et al v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: February 17, 2011 as 1:2011cv01111 Updated: February 18, 2011 00:06:55
    Plaintiffs: Carrie Teager  and Mary Teager
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Harry D. Leinenweber
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Seventh Circuit > Illinois > Northern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Gonnelly v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. et al
    Filed: February 11, 2011 as 1:2011cv00716 Updated: February 14, 2011 21:37:12
    Plaintiff: Diana Gonnelly
    Defendants: Does 1-10 and Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Dora Lizette Irizarry
    Referring Judge: Viktor V. Pohorelsky
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    SUGGETT v. SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Filed: February 7, 2011 as 1:2011cv00186 Updated: February 8, 2011 22:18:45
    Plaintiff: TERESA SUGGETT
    Defendant: SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Presiding Judge: Jane Magnus-Stinson
    Referring Judge: Mark J. Dinsmore
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Seventh Circuit > Indiana > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Espinoza v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: January 13, 2011 as 1:2011cv20130 Updated: January 14, 2011 00:32:10
    Plaintiff: Manuel Espinoza
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: James Lawrence King
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Eleventh Circuit > Florida > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    WILLIAMSON et al v. SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Filed: January 7, 2011 as 1:2011cv00033 Updated: January 10, 2011 20:11:02
    Plaintiffs: DAWN WILLIAMSON and TERRY WILLIAMSON
    Defendant: SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Presiding Judge: Larry J. McKinney
    Referring Judge: Debra McVicker Lynch
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Seventh Circuit > Indiana > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Flowers v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. et al
    Filed: December 21, 2010 as 1:2010cv09503 Updated: December 23, 2010 02:08:14
    Plaintiff: Justin F. Flowers
    Defendants: Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, John Doe 1, John Doe 2 and Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Paul G. Gardephe
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Orrick v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. Has Decisions
    Filed: October 29, 2010 as 1:2010cv02639 Updated: November 10, 2010 16:51:24
    Last Document Filed: October 29, 2010
    Plaintiff: Linda Orrick
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Philip A. Brimmer
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Tenth Circuit > Colorado > District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    TERRANOVA v. SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Filed: October 7, 2010 as 3:2010cv00150 Updated: October 8, 2010 01:05:13
    Plaintiff: PATRICIA A. TERRANOVA
    Defendant: SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Presiding Judge: Richard L. Young
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Seventh Circuit > Indiana > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Other Statutory Actions

    Giancola v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: August 25, 2010 as 0:2010cv61567 Updated: August 26, 2010 03:49:53
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Eleventh Circuit > Florida > Southern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Halama v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: August 11, 2010 as 1:2010cv05044 Updated: August 12, 2010 02:33:09
    Plaintiff: Lynda Halama
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: John F. Grady
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Seventh Circuit > Illinois > Northern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Other Statutory Actions

    Meloskie v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. et al
    Filed: August 5, 2010 as 2:2010cv03598 Updated: August 12, 2010 06:03:26
    Plaintiff: Elizabeth J. Meloskie
    Defendants: John and Jane Does Numbers 1 through 25 and Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Sandra J. Feuerstein
    Referring Judge: A. Kathleen Tomlinson
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Other Statutory Actions

    Hecht v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: August 2, 2010 as 3:2010cv01212 Updated: August 3, 2010 23:47:37
    Plaintiff: Chana Hecht
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Christopher F. Droney
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > Connecticut > District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    LUCIBELLO v. SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Filed: May 7, 2010 as 2:2010cv02333 Updated: May 11, 2010 22:11:56
    Plaintiff: RICHARD LUCIBELLO
    Defendant: SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC.
    Judge: Jose L. Linares
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Third Circuit > New Jersey > District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Couhie v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: April 8, 2010 as 2:2010cv01594 Updated: April 12, 2010 21:27:39
    Plaintiff: Michael Couhie
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Leonard D. Wexler
    Referring Judge: A. Kathleen Tomlinson
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Couhie v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: March 8, 2010 as 2:2010cv01098 Updated: April 5, 2010 14:30:49
    Plaintiff: Collen Couhie
    Defendant: Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Presiding Judge: Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein
    Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Crews v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc. et al
    Filed: March 3, 2010 as 1:2010cv00933 Updated: March 31, 2010 22:40:10
    Presiding Judge: Senior Judge David G. Trager
    Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr.
    Cause Of Action: Fair Debt Collection Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit

    Hesler v. Sunrise Credit Services, Inc.
    Filed: February 23, 2010 as 2:2010cv00809 Updated: March 23, 2010 18:58:01
    Presiding Judge: Senior Judge Arthur D. Spatt
    Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay
    Cause Of Action: Fair Credit Reporting Act
    Court: Second Circuit > New York > Eastern District Court
    Type: Other Statutes > Consumer Credit
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