US Digest LLC called and woke me up in the morning a couple of days ago telling me my subscription to The Week magazine was days away from running out and that I hadn't returned the renewal card that had been sent to me. I really like that magazine so I agreed to renew it. The gal talking to me already knew I'd used an Amex card for the last renewal and even told me what the correct last card number digit was. So, I agreed to a renewal. During the process she told me that I could cancel within ten days and could later transfer the subscription to another party if needed.
When I got my head together I looked at the label on a copy of The Week next to my bed and saw that the expiration date was almost three years away. I called the magazine and verified that. Since at my advanced age I don't even buy green bananas I figured I didn't feel any need to extend the subscription right now.
Yesterday I looked at my Amex account's "recent charges" online and saw that US Digest LLC had charged my card more than I could have purchased the same subscription extension directly from The Week magazine.
I called US Digest LLC and told them to cancel the subscription, and they agreed to do so. Today, when I looked at my Amex account online, there was a full credit issued by them.
I guess I got lucky on that one, and even though they now have my Amex card number, so do a zillion other places I've done business with. Since I monitor my "recent charges" with Amex online at least once a week I'll spot any funny business in time to quell it.
Just answer the phone and talk to them. Tell them to hold on just a second, and then start making all kinds of burping/farting noises. Apologize and tell them you've had a bad case of the runs lately. Start asking them about THEIR bowel movements, etc. This should get rid of them. You don't have to use this ruse, you can use some other story/ploy. If these folks are getting paid by how much they sell, they certainly don't want to waste any time with you on these things. They'll take you off the call list pretty darn fast. Even if they don't, you'll have some fun screwing with them!