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
    rjp1952
    I am convinced, I will rip up my acceptance notification immediately.  
    Thanks for the valuable feedback.
  • 0
    Jewish-Links.com
    Here's a letter that I just sent to the Handyman Club:

    Hi, I noticed that I had a $27 charge on my account. Si I called the clubs phone #, and I was told that it's because there is a $300 charge to be a life member and it says it at the end of the letter (which it doesn't).
    So I told him that I didn't want to join then, and he told me he'll ttake me off of it.

    Well the charge is still there.

    I therefore want my full $12.00 refund for joining the club which is "satisfaction guareenteed", and I'm not satisfied.

    Please note that if I don't hear back from you within 24 hours I will dispute the charge with my credit card.

    Thank you.

    (p.s.I will be posting this letter on the internet.)
  • 0
    doug
    HA HA HA HAAAAAA.  I was about to get suckered into this until I read the internet reviews. I'm sending back the postage paid letter empty so the scammers will have to pay for the postage.  If we all do this, maybe we can cost them a lot of money.
  • 0
    sick of scam
    Here is the "Headquarters" phone number....1-800-243-7679.  I have found that going to their web page and calling direct to be VERY helpful.  Don't ask them to do something...tell them to do something! Also writing things on the bills like, "cease further contact" or "leave me the f@#$ ALONE" are pretty effective! :o) I have also sent back an invoice with "Cancel my account, credit my account and do not contact me again.  If contact continues I will contact the authorities to press charges"  I haven't gotten anything from them since the last comment was sent in except for an overpayment notice asking for current address to send the check.  Guess they got the hint!
  • 0
    JC
    I too have gotten tools and calendars that I didn't order. Thanks for the info. It confirms what I thought I knew about unsolicited merchandise. It saves me a trip to the post office and worrying about threatening letters alluding to fact that I will be reported to a collection agency. If it happens agin, I will report it!
  • 0
    pam
    this is the second or third RSVP to join that has come to my house. I am a DYI-er  so i opened it. Looked too good to be true.  I googled the company(a habit i practice often now) and found you guys which has saved me a bunch of headaches. If it looks too good to be true it usually is not true!! Now i know where to put any mail that comes from this company!!thanks
  • 0
    lori
    July 25, 2011

    I received the Past Due message for the first time. Couldn't believe that they could have the balls to do such a thing. Like you, I never signed up for anything, nor would I even consider it....

    Decided the the Inspector General of the US Post Office should be informed.

    Maybe you will use this: https://www.uspsoig.gov/hotline_ok.html

    How about: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudscheme

    or call Fraud Complaint Center of US Post Office: 1800-372-8347

    Better Business Bureau should be ashamed to have this company on their rolls. If 754 complaints have been filed, isn't that enough for them to realize that something is very wrong with this company?
    Surely, a class action suit is necessary. Let's get it together and knock them for a loop as they have us.
  • 0
    Lori
    As a follow-up to my last note--I called HEADQUARTERS at: 800-243-7679.

    Their system is automated and you can't press for an Operator.

    I followed the automated instructions until I heard, "Haven't received your books or other items." Clicked there and was put through to an operator named Dan. After verifying my 8 digit account, he let me speak.
    I asked to have this account closed as it was never active anyway.

    He told me it will take 24-48 hours, but I should be able to log on to their site and pull down "My Account." His instructions are to type your last name in CAPITAL LETTERS and then enter the account numbers.
    He claims that I will find the account closed, but may still receive another Past Due notice. I was instructed to tear that one up!

    Ok, I shall return with proof in 48 hours! Wish me luck--I wish you luck!
  • 0
    The Frenchman
    Wow! thank you very much for the warning. I thought it was too good to be true. I thought there was a warning sign when I received the bill to join. They advertised 12-month membership and they sent me a 24-month bill for $24. What a scam !!
  • 0
    Jack G
    Just received a notice for $19.95 due for a backsaw that was supposedly sent to me.  The member Services # they gave on the form is bogus and there is no address on the return envelope or other phone # anywhere.  They are hoping that I send the $$ to their PO Box- not a chance.  I tried to find another phone # for them without success.  Did anyone get a good customer service number for them?
  • 0
    Frankmas
    I have a collection of the Drill guages.  Hate to see the waste of resources.  I keep sending them the blank invite back wasting their postage and time.  If everyone would do the same then the scammer will realize it is costing him money.
  • 0
    DAC
    I am going to follow the advice of the others and send a complaint to the US Postal Inspector, the PostMaster General, and the Attorney Generals of my state of CA and their state of MN.
  • 0
    ALBERT MALIN
    I NEVER ORDERED YOUR STUPID MAGAZINE AND I NEVER WOULD. YOU ARE  ISSUING A FRAUDULENT INVOICE AND SEND FOR COLLECTION IF YOU WANT. I HAVE NO CREDIT SO YOU CAN'T HURT IT. SO SCREW YOU AND YOUR COMPANY AND DROP DEAD. GUYS LIKE YOU GIVE PEOPLE A BAD NAME. GO AHEAD AND SUE. YOU WILL LOSE. DO NOT WASTE YOU PAPER............. ALBERT MALIN
                                P.O. BOX 3305
                             ARIZONA CITY, AZ. 85123
  • 0
    Alika Mede
    Let me know how this works out.......am starting to get a lot of junk mail from them   Larry Orkend
  • 0
    Joe Bean
    I just received a package I DID NOT ORDER HOW DO i return it?
  • 0
    Joe Bean
    I just received a package I DID NOT ORDER HOW DO i return it?
  • 0
    KRB
    Below is the letter I enclosed when I return my calendar on 10-9-11. Today is 11-19-11 and guess what I got in the mail today, another bill. I can’t wait until my subscription runs out. The way the run this company I figure I am good for about 1-2 tears of free magazines.

    Dear Handyman Club of America,

    I am returning this calendar THAT I DID NOT ORDER.

    As I remember last year I was also sent a calendar I did not order and was expected to pay for it.

    PLEASE be advised that if sending items to members they did not order, and expecting them to pay for said item is a practice Handyman plans on continuing, PLEASE CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP.

    I do not, and will not belong to ANY club or origination that uses this practice. I am the consumer and NEVER purchase items unless I initiate the sale.
  • 0
    Jed Ervin
    If those having bad experiences want to prevent others from being screwed, perhaps the best way would be to copy off  the several pages of these reports and send to each of the advertisers supporting their magazine, with the promise to never purchase from their stores if they continued to do so.  I possibly could have been victimized with the "lifetime" membership offer with all its free tools etc.  However, I go by the dictum "if it's too good to be true, then it is too good to be true".  That led me to Google "complaints against Handyman Club of America" which led me here....thank the Lord.

    So, while I escaped being victimized, it still really pisses me off about this company.
  • 0
    Frankie O.
    I was asked to join Handyman for $12.00 for 12 months.  I recieved a bill for $24.00 for 24 months.  
    I was a member many years ago and never had any complaints against them.  I have attemptrd to get their phone number and so far it has been impossible to find it.  If I get any thing from Handyman, it will not be opened and returned because I will have a signed letter from my postmaster to prove FRAUD if Handyman attempts anything against me.  After reading all these complaints, there has to be something wrong.February 12, 2012.  
    Get your Attorney to join to see what happens and then you will be able to prove FRAUD.
  • 0
    Nurse Nancy
    Invitation to join Handyman Club was sent to my father, who has been deceased for almost 6 years.  How are these people getting their mailing lists?  So glad for all the information above.  Saved me from making a mistake.
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