Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
"Quilt" magazine and their strongarm renewal tactics >

"Quilt" magazine and their strongarm renewal tactics

"Quilt" magazine and their strongarm renewal tactics

Old 01-21-2011, 01:28 PM
  #1  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
Eddie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,061
Default

I subscribed to "Quilt" magazine back in January 2010 for one year, and decided to let the subscription lapse when it came up for renewal. They sent several reminders to renew, etc., all of which I ignored.

Today, I get this in the mail from them:

UNPAID ACCOUNT

WE HAVE SENT YOU FOUR INVOICES AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU YET.

EITHER:
(1) PAY YOUR BILL OR
(2) CALL US AT #800-866-2886 TO TELL US WHY YOU HAVE NOT PAID.

OR WE WILL PLACE YOUR NAME ON OUR BAD PAY FILE.

P.S. If you have sent payment within the last two weeks, please disregard this notice.
This makes my blood boil when I see companies use threats and intimidation like this, simply because someone choose not to renew their subscription. GRRRRRRR!!!!
Eddie is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:31 PM
  #2  
np3
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 13,214
Default

Did one of the notices ask you to mark No thanks if you didn't want to renew? Most subscriptions automatically renew if you don't send in a cancellation notice. And from their point of view, you owe it per the original agreement. It is annoying which is why I seldom order magazines.
np3 is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:31 PM
  #3  
Super Member
 
Grama Lehr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Posts: 4,783
Default

DITTO!!! :twisted:
Grama Lehr is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:32 PM
  #4  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: California
Posts: 3,502
Default

OMG!!! Why in the world would they ever send something like that?!?!? That is an unacceptable way of doing business.
pittsburgpam is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:32 PM
  #5  
Super Member
 
kittenquilts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Currently,Missouri
Posts: 1,319
Default

I think I would contact them. However, I wouldn't use the phone number listed on that form. Somehow this just doesn't look right.
kittenquilts is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:33 PM
  #6  
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
Default

I believe it was Andy Rooney who said that if you get this kind of mail. any junk mail for that matter and it has a paid return envelop with it, just bundle up all the paper including the original envelope and send it back to the company. They way they have to pay return postage. I have done it and it ended the junk mail.
Holice is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:43 PM
  #7  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
Eddie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,061
Default

I called them just now and gave them an earful of what I thought of it. They apologized, said it was a form letter, blah, blah, blah. I told them to cancel me and to never contact me again.
Eddie is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:43 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
marknfran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Mead, WA
Posts: 598
Default

Originally Posted by Eddie
I subscribed to "Quilt" magazine back in January 2010 for one year, and decided to let the subscription lapse when it came up for renewal. They sent several reminders to renew, etc., all of which I ignored.

Today, I get this in the mail from them:

UNPAID ACCOUNT

WE HAVE SENT YOU FOUR INVOICES AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU YET.

EITHER:
(1) PAY YOUR BILL OR
(2) CALL US AT #800-866-2886 TO TELL US WHY YOU HAVE NOT PAID.

OR WE WILL PLACE YOUR NAME ON OUR BAD PAY FILE.

P.S. If you have sent payment within the last two weeks, please disregard this notice.
This makes my blood boil when I see companies use threats and intimidation like this, simply because someone choose not to renew their subscription. GRRRRRRR!!!!
I had the same problem with Prevention magazine. They did an automatic renewal even though I sent them notices to cancel. They kept sending those threatening notices. So, I renewed another year. I was finally able to write them and tell them I am refusing any issues they have sent at the end of the last issue and if they continue to harrass me, I shall turn them into the Better Business Bureau and notify each news media of their tactics. They stopped and never heard from them again.
marknfran is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:43 PM
  #9  
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: South Texas
Posts: 40
Default

I also had a subscription to the same magazine. Over a year ago I also decided to let the subscription lapse and got the same notices. Here we are over a year after the original subscription lapsed and every three months or so I still get the same "unpaid notice". Guess they think senility will catch up and I will start to pay!!
marymac628 is offline  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:44 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
pookie ookie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Trifid Nebula
Posts: 1,304
Default

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This post will show up in the big search engines, too. I'm sure you're not alone.

Things seem to have gotten universally worse in the last few years. They're many aggressive ones out there.

I know why they think these poor business models are okay. Many of my favorite magazines have gone under in the last seven years. But I gotta tell you, nothing makes me less likely to purchase from in the future than a company who behaves like a con artist.

I had to call an automated line to "cancel" a magazine (meaning tell them not to automatically renew) and the automated responses were intentionally worded to get you to accidentally renew. I'm glad I looked it up online first. The internet complaints saved me the hassle of dealing with the magazine again later.

It's not just magazines who've gone down the toilet. Many of my definitely legitimate dealings in the last two years have felt like a con. Two of my banks are a mess.

Good luck to you, Eddie.
pookie ookie is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
caspharm
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
14
11-05-2014 05:39 AM
Linda B
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
49
01-07-2014 07:43 AM
Butterfli19
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
30
11-24-2009 09:59 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter