Most of your message is not even worth replying to because it wouldn't be for your edification....in other words, I'm not looking to start an argument with you.
I am looking to inform you that it isn't an absolute that Americans are dumb. I may be gullible, and I may want to believe that people who call me and tell me that they are checking to see if my magazines are coming in (and that they are essentially the exact same company that I am already subscribed with) that they are telling the truth.
Fraudulent business practices that people fall into don't necessarily reveal those peoples' intelligence levels to be low. I am a recent college graduate majoring in Cross-Cultural Studies and minoring in Philosophy, Youth Ministry, and TESOL. I'm not an idiot, plain and simple. Not saying I'm a genius either...but my point is, fraudulent business practices reveal the hearts of those working in a company and the heart of the company itself, not the intelligence of (or lack thereof) of its victims.
Additionally, your voice verification means nothing to me for a number of reasons. 1: The voice recording information could be changed--I mean, a person answers yes to virtually every question, it wouldn't be difficult to make it sound as though they were saying yes to something completely different; 2: In my case, I wasn't allowed to NOT confirm after it had been recorded and I didn't want to go through with it (and they already had my information after recording the first time); 3: If you don't understand the terms they still refuse to explain them with any degree of clarity that would even begin to benefit any human on this planet; 4: they lied about the terms in the first place by claiming to be something they weren't, nullifying the agreement and the purpose of the agreement.
I was duped because they LIED to me, not because I'm stupid for believing them when they pulled up my card information, address, and "my" magazine information.
As for the letter, I received mine AFTER this cancellation period you mentioned. But you know what's odd about that? It wouldn't have mattered if I had actually received it on time anyway, because everyone that I spoke to claimed that it wasn't possible to cancel the order---ever---regardless of whether or not it fell within a specific time frame.
Also, MC's website claims: "We will cancel your order and refund your account per your request." So what's the problem? I spoke with probably 3 different people who apparently haven't gotten the memo.
What's more, albeit on a completely different vein, your company doesn't know the meaning of customer service. When a supervisor refuses to give me information about their boss and refuses to give me a website, phone number, time to call (whether a day or a range)....and then hangs up on me, there's a problem. When someone tells me that they actually will send out information about a company and doesn't, there's a problem. When 166+ people have virtually the same complaint about a company, it's probably legitimate.
Even if all Americans WERE stupid (hypothetically), it still seems suspicious that they all seem to have the same problem under just about the same circumstances. And...that hypothetical is ridiculous. More plausible--ignorance about the ways that magazine companies like yours deceive, threaten, harass, and exploit their potential customers. Also plausible: some people weren't the sharpest tools in the shed. But 166? Thousands? Percentage of likelihood is dropping quickly.
They have been calling me for months. I've always refused to give any information. Just today the guy was polite enough so I just verified my address and a few other harmless things. Then he said his supervisor would be calling back to make sure he was polite and courteous. The "supervisor" called back in about 3 minutes. She asked if the original guy was polite, then went off on another set of questions about which magazines I was receiving. I told her the name of one magazine I get. When I said that was all I receive, she told me that I should be receiving more, and wanted to know which ones I was NOT getting. I said I didn't know which magazines I am getting (I really don't know...my wife gets some too), she started naming off a bunch. Then she asked me how I was paying for them, and I stopped her to say this conversation was over because she obviously didn't know what she talking about. She said "you didn't know...you didn't know!" then hung up on me! I hope they keep calling. I am just going to start playing with them. This could be fun.
And one more thing, at some point, she asked me a question to which my reply was "ok", and I could tell that she recorded me saying that. They are obviously trying to scam people. No doubt about it.
This company is a scam. They do not have any of your information but get it out of you by asking certain questions. If you received a call from this company and have been signed up for service there a few things you can do. First fill a dispute or a chargeback with your card company or bank. Then file a complaint with the Attorney General in your state. The more complaints they receive then the easier it will be to shut the company down and more people are not screwed by this company.
I got tricked into giving all of my information last year in August. After 3months I realized this was all a scam and that they were stealing my money. I am a college student and have been desperately trying to figure out how to cancel my account with magazine connection. This is how I did it....
1. Contact your credit card company and try to explain what happened to you. If this doesn't work like it didn't for me, cancel your card immediately.
2. Magazine Connection will continue to call you. Pick up and tell them that they are stealing your money and that you are not getting what you want or that you never signed up with them in the first place.
3. File a complaint with Better Business Bureau ASAP!!! Here is a link: http://www.bbb.org/denver/business-reviews/ma ... ver-co-90107467
4. It will take them a while to respond but they will eventually contact you and cancel accounts. It took me at least 3months for a response.
During the time I was waiting for magazine connection's response I was sent several deliquency notices. Magazine Connection was getting annoyed and started to send me notices that they were going to turn me into a collection agency if I didn't pay $800+ dollars. I called and asked why it was so much and they claimed it was late fees and I asked them to send me a detailed bill but I never got one. I just got a letter stating that I needed to pay up $800+ dollars. I found out through a friend that it would cost more to report me to a collection agency then what I owed to magazine connection. I continued to wait it out and finally magazine connection contacted me via email and cancelled my account. I also received a cancellation confirmation in the mail.
Magazine Connection is currently being investigated by the Attorney General's office in Denver, Colorado so file a complaint with them too. Here is a link.... http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/depart ... s_telemarketing
The faster you act the better it will be for you. I had to deal with annoying phone calls and letters for months until I realized I had to file a complaint with BBB or the Attorney General's Office.
This will work for any person of any age/situation. Do not let them win. They will try everything in there books to get you to pay whatever! DO NOT GIVE IN! FIGHT!
Hope this helps you guys.