Bbeing charged for a membership we didn't join

ComplaintsOtherHandyman Club of America

Complaint

0
Paula Linn
Country: Canada
We received a latter from Handyman Club of America demanding that we pay "our past due membership fees". Our balance said $470! I've never heard about this company.

The letter didn't have any invoice number or phone number I could use to call them. I couldn't find their phone # anywhere including their website to dispute this matter so I e-mailed them asking them if they had any records of us signing a contract with them and of course I got no response.

Comments

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  • 0
    tj
    Some other reports on their activities.  It appears that unsolicited bills may be one of their tactics.  Many complaints about problems with billing for unauthorized "subscriptions", unsolicited shipments, and problems cancelling.  

    Don't mess around, as they appear to send even unauthorized charges on non-existent accounts to a collection agency, which may result in credit damage.  

    File a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector for violation of TITLE 39 USC §3001, sending an "invoice" or "bill" for unordered merchandise thru the U.S. Mail, or sending a solicitation appearing to be an invoice or bill.


    http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2004/5/29/154653/659
    http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=handyman+club+of+america

    Typical complaint:

    http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/put-into-collection-for-a-membership-we-did-not-sign-up-for-c18281.html

    "Handyman Club of America
    Posted: 2007-07-24 by DARLENE MCDOWELL [send email]
    PUT INTO COLLECTION FOR A MEMBERSHIP WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR

    Complaint Rating:
    My husband and I have been fighting with this company for 2 years now. We do not have a membership with the Handyman Club of America, they keep sending useless stuff to our address and we keep calling them to stop this. 1 year a go we recieved a letter from Handyman saying that we owed over $400.00. When I contacted them, they finally got the messeage, (or so we thought) and we were told to disregard this notice. Today we received a bill from RMBC Inc. collection agency for $530.00. I called them and tried to explain what was going on, and was hung up on. Nice customer service. The battle continues. "
  • 0
    Frank D.
    Let's add a new twist to this "scamming". As a recently "paid in full" life member I am know being billed for a calendar that was never received nor authorized or requested. I have sent a response letter indicating my sentiments about this and to discontinue sending bills for a "ficticious calender".  The invoices continue to arrive. I stated in my response to the first billing that nothing was ever received and if billing continues I would have to escalate complaint proceedures.  This is now escalated to let any and everyone know of the continued "harrassment" of this club.  Especially once you are a "PAID IN FULL" life member.  I refuse to waste my valuable time promoting this company but will persue every legal avenue necessary to protect my "LIFE MEMBERSHIP" to receive what I have now "PAID FOR IN FULL".
  • 0
    danny
    My father is a handy man by trade, last year in November I got some mail from the handy man club of America. I thought it would be nice to send my father a 1 year gift subscription membership. I went online and paid the 12.00 dollars, 5 months later my father hasn’t receive anything so I assume they did not charge the membership, I looked at my bank statement and saw that they actually charged my credit card, I decided to give them a called this was in april-08 the rep I spoke told me that he did not know what had happen but that I would be receiving the magazines in 3 weeks I just got of the phone with them 5/08 and they said my subscription was cancelled because I haven’t made a payment mine you they charge my credit card but they have no records of it so now I have to send them a copy of my bank statement, to be cont. bottom line from my experience I would not recommend any thing that has to do with the handy man club of America to any body so people save your self the aggravation...
  • 0
    Rob Leiter, Dayton NV
    | 2 replies
    To all who have blogged this site.  I would like to thank you for saving me some heartache, since I merely expressed some interest on the "FREE STUFF" website.  The next thing you know, I received a bill for me "FREE" subscription.  Other than the amount owed, there is a list of 13 "benefits" and FREE GIFTS, none of which would amount to much, even if they did arrive.  From the sound of things, I may be lucky just to cancel without any drama.

    RL
    • 0
      ANNAE ALLRED replies to Rob Leiter, Dayton NV
      | 1 reply
      THIS IS YOURS TO KEEP FOR TRYING THEM.  THAT IS PART OF THE DEAL .   YOU GIVE YOUR OPINION, AND ALL THE STUFF IS YOUR TO KEEP.   ANNAE
      • 0
        CindiH replies to ANNAE ALLRED
        I have had the misfortune to have a Lifetime membership.  I have signed up multiple times for the try it and keep it scenario.  They have NEVER sent anything but a few plastic pieces of nothing.  They are a big scam!
  • 0
    DaveA
    My sentiments.  A life member with the same calendar situation. No calendar and sent letter to Larry Okrend HCOA in Minnetonka, MN and no reply from the company in over a month.  I have also not received any magazines for over a year.  My next step will be with the BBB and the Minnesota Attorney General
  • 0
    grpapooh
    The Handyman Club of America is one serious rip off company!!! I too fell for the come on. Free tools... no where in the subscription form did they say these free tools would be tied to buying a bunch of hard cover books. The few I did get ( and sent back ) were cheap imports. I finally got them to quit sending the books, by writting a letter saying that any more items would be considered un-solicited goods and disposed of. This was good for a while, now they are on a calender kick. There just is no getting these people off your back. Do yourself a big favor and stay far away form this company. I guess my next step is the BBB and Attorney General.
  • 0
    Woodsmith
    | 1 reply
    Wow! I was just about to join... thanks for the warnings fomr the botom of my wallet (and heart!)!
    • 0
      CindiG replies to Woodsmith
      DON'T do it.  Leave these people to their own scams
  • 0
    Ron
    I received a book from Handyman Club of America which I did not order. I returned the book after a hassle with getting a mailing envelope. Today,I get another letter from  Handyman Club of America requesting the return of the book. I tried to call and could not get anyone on the telephone. In addition  I have tried to cancel the membership which I did not want.
  • 0
    dave d
    Thanks guys! I was just about to send back the rsvp and thought to google the company first. Thanks for saving me alot of aggrevation!
  • 0
    martin denny
    | 6 replies
    I did not join this handyman club and did noat receive any products and just received a collection notice for $24.00 and I can't find and E-mail or telephone number to call , can somebody help my e-mail - mrtden8@aol.com
    • 0
      Marian replies to martin denny
      | 1 reply
      I can't find a number either.  I am going to sent them a certified letter with a return receipt.
      • 0
        Joe replies to Marian
        The phone number for Handyman Club of America is 1-800-243-7679 . Be prepared for long waits,pre-recorded messages and rude customer service.But most of all,don't lower yourself to their standards and be persistent.
    • 0
      Valerie Duncan replies to martin denny
      | 1 reply
      I did join, lifetime membership, and am trying to get my bill straightened out, but cannot find a phone number for them either.  the one i did find was all voice automated!!!  I WANT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON NOT A MACHINE!!!!  I AM NOT A ROBOT!!!
      they also keep sending my bills to the wrong address and i need to get that straightened out!!
      they keep saying my payment is late......well, DUHHHHH....if i don't get the bill, yeah it's gonna be late for sure!!!  
      if anyone has the number for Handyman Club of America, would you pleaseeeee send it to my email address?
      trucking_is_my_business@yahoo.com

      Thank you so much
      • 0
        johhnny replies to Valerie Duncan
        andyman Club of America is 1-800-243-7679 .
    • 0
      Dirt Sifter replies to martin denny
      Did you ever come up with a phone number?  They are sending us stuff that we didn't order and do not want, but must pay return postage because we've opened the box.  Can't find a phone number and no response to emails.
      Thanks.
    • 0
      CindiH replies to martin denny
      You have to have a membership number to get through on the phone.  Its all bull!
  • 0
    R Keehn
    I also did not join their membership. Normally do not open "junk mail", but accidently (and thankfully) opened their demand for payment of $24.00 and threat to turn my account over to a collection agency. I have sent a letter to the company, as well as filed complaints about this scam w/ the BBB, post master general, and attorney generals of the US, MN and TX (my home state). It is very frightening that this company has an A+ rating with the BBB simply because they can "resolve" the issue by ceasing their threats of one person and simply moving on to the next person. I shudder to think what may have happened had I not accidently opened this piece of junk mail.
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