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.
Have also had a call from this number over a week ago. Went through about 7 magazine names and told her I subscribed to none of them and that I was on the do-not-call list and told her in no uncertain terms to remove my number. So today I get another call. Am sick of this. What good is the DNC list? I imagine this works for legit telemarketers but not these scam artists. They just start using another number and it's business as usual!
Got a call tonight about renewing Guideposts. My subscription does not expire for two more years. I gave the caller this information and told her there was "no way" I would renew something so far in advance. She was not happy but she did hang up. .