Thank you for this thread-I was just about to subscribe to Country Gardens until I read this. You all just saved me from going through all this @#%&.

Ok, I ignore mine too, only because it's not worth putting a stamp on. Since they obviously have your e-mail why don't they ask that way instead of wasting paper and money on postage.

My DH likes Hemming News. Mostly just to check out the events. I found that we can go on line and check those out.
He looks at the magazine in store while I shop. Once in a Blue moon we buy one

The only problem I see with this is the wrong person is getting the message. That person on the phone didn't have any thing to do with it. Believe me I've done my share of B------- over the phone. I'm no angel. Some one just reminded of this.

I have received my 3rd renewal notice -- guess I better get busy and let them know I don't intend to renew, before they put me on their list!

Strange thing is -- I never subscribed, just had a sample issue or something. I never asked for it and never intended to subscribe. Wondered why they were hounding me. Now I know.

I have never had that happen but I have done the trial mags before and then sent the cancelled bill only to get several more before I either call or just ignore them...It costs them money and me money to have to keep sending cancelled bill or request for payment...if you don't pay after 1 maybe 2 bills then stop...But what you got is uncalled for...I might send back a letter stating that if they have a problelm not understanding cancel then you will let your lawyer handle the problem ...that will probably have them drop the matter....LOL

You go girl!!

I think you are right....and some people pay bills that come to them without even knowing what they are paying for....If I try and don't like I say stop...If I like for a year or two and then want to stop, I send bill with cancel on the bill...then it is up to them to take care of the order...if they don't too bad...I did my part...but many will eventually pay and that isn't right...you don't want it, don't pay for it!!Simple

That is why I usually don't subscribe to mags anymore....Not enough good quilts and patterns....There use to be one mag that had no less than 10 to 15 patterns in each issue...these were either full quilts or different squares....it was great ...not anymore...if I can't find at least one quilt in the mag, I don't buy it...mag is less than a pattern....but if say in months there is nothing, then the subscription is useless....not worth wasting the money

same with the cables...we will give you months of this free..then you pay...will you have to call to cancel and so you have to have notes to remind you to cancel by this date...pain in the you know what

I agree with you. Many of the patterns in magazines aren't what I'd choose to make. I have the same problem with scrapbooking magazines. Things are a little too "far out" for me to want to make them.

I received a card from some quilting magazine, I forgot what the name of it was now, but it said we will automatically send you this magazine unless you check the block below saying :do not send. Well, I checked do not send and put it in the mailbox. That afternoon, the card was still in my mailbox, there was no prestamp on it. I even would have had to put one of my stamps on it, but I didn't. I am gonna wait until the book comes in and just put return to sender on it and send it back.

The way that companies try to who-do us now! It is a crying shame. :thumbdown:

This is why I very rarely subscribe to magazines. Recently I have had a new problem of receiving "complimentary subscriptions" to magazines that I have now interest in. It took considerable effort to find contact information to tell them to stop sending these. I finally got someone who supposedly removed my name from their list and, low and behold, 4 month later another one showed up, this one in my sons name ( he has not lived in the US for 5 yrs now).
I find it very annoying to have to waste my time undoing something I did not ask for.
I very carefully look at any offer and if it is automatic renewal, I decline. I consider this a predatory practice and am concerned for the elder people who may not be able to read or understand the very fine print they like to use in these promotions.

I have gotten them before and it ticked me off. I have stopped all but one of my quilt magazines. There are too expensive.

Yep - I find that I start getting renewal notices after only a couple months of delivery. :roll:
Expiration date of the subscription should be on the mailing label.

I've recently started going to a large book store that happens to have a coffee shop in it - grabbing a cup of coffee and browsing the magazines while I drink. I only buy now if I absolutely think I'm actually going to make something in the magazines (usually not).....I do the same with my scrapbook magazines anymore.

I've experienced that with other quilt magazines too (BHG APQ is the worst I've seen) They don't offer longtime subscribers a better rate for renewal - but they'll give it to brand NEW subscribers ?? I was a charter subscriber, but no more. I contacted them about it and they still would not give me the better rate, after 15 yrs as a subscriber ?? WHO'S in charge of their marketing ?? NO wonder most magazines are on the decline ! :roll:

I've had this happen with several subsc. recently. I guess it's their new practice as they try to stay afloat !! NOT the way to do it, by harassing good customers ! :(

Wow that realy stinks. I have never had that happen before from Quilt or any other mag. The only reason I renewed my Southern Living is because I got two free gifts subscriptions all for only 21.95. So DD & BFF got a free mag.

For people getting unwanted packages, write "REFUSED" on the front in black marker and leave at your front door. The postman sends it back.

I used to have a lot of old folks living here and, as you know, they are targeted by companies with these kind of disreputable tactics. The fake billing and unsolicited packages continue to arrive long after the people listed have died. My postman told me about "REFUSED" and I'm grateful for it.

One word of caution, make sure it is something you definitely want to refuse. It's pretty easy to accidentally return something you are waiting for due to an unfamiliar return address.

I had received an unwanted subscription and renewal to two magazines from Reiman Publications (Taste of Home, etc). I was able to cancel one by email reply. I emailed the company indicating I wanted neither. Today I received an email from Customer Service which was very gracious. I guess maybe it depends on who the publisher is.

Your quilts are beautiful. I used to make my own clothes and when i retired to Atlanta from Pa I meet an elderly woman who wanted me to put the backs on her quilts. I loved it so much I stopped making clothes and started making quilts. I sell most of the ones I make but I don't have the quilting machine or a place for one. Your are like the football player who did needle point. Rosie Greer. He was excellent also.

My internet service was interrupted from Saturday night until this afternoon. (When the service man opened it, I had 584 messgs in the Spam box, and about 114 in my e-mails ...... mostly spam!)

I'm not going to take time to read the the 15 pages of response you've had regarding this complaint, Eddie, so forgive me if this has been said umpteen times while I've been absent.

I had the same experience with Better Homes & Gardens, and I told them I didn't appreciate this kind of treatment from an old established company. Once, I didn't notice my expiration date, and ended up with about a 2-1/2 year subscription into the future!

I think the economy has forced publishers to use these devious means to get renewals, and we all need to scream loud and clear to make our feelings known. I hate to get nasty, but sometimes its the only language they understand! :thumbdown:

Wow, like someone else had said, I have the envlope ready to go to subscribe to Quilt Magazine. Actually, I was going to subscribe to that one because so many on this board said that was their favorite on an earlier thread.

Luckily, I've been too busy to mail the subscription and now it will go into the recycle bin. Unfortunately, I had asked for and received subscriptions to two other non-qulting magazines for Christmas. Now I'm worried that my MIL will be bothered by these companies to renew them. I wonder if both of us will be, though, since my name is the addressee but she placed the orders.
I've seen several people say to contact the BBB about these tactics, but I suggest people report to the Attorney General in their own states and/or the states where these companies are located. The AG's office has the law behind them whereas the BBB deals only with a company's repu-
taton.
I've recently found out some interesting things abou the BBB. My son started his own business last year. He was contacted by the BBB a couple of months ago to be listed as a "top company" by them if he paid a fee. That much surprised us, but then we found out that companies that have complaints filed against them can pay to have the complaints erased! What's that about? Now I don't feel like the endorsement of the BBB means anything. Gee, what's the world coming to???????

I do not blame you for being angry. Send them a message saying you did not re-new the subscription there fore owe them nothing. they had not sent you any magazines, say so.

The trouble is that even if you stop renewing as I did, they bombard you with all kinds of mail. I stopped McCall's about six months or more ago. After which they kept sending me "special offers" which weren't special at all, the subscription price was always the same. Then yesterday I got a McCall's Mag. in the mail. I hadn't requested it, I hadn't paid for a new subscription, all I had done was tell them I was quitting. Now it says on my address line that my subscription ends in Jan. of 2112. What could that mean?? I'm kind of concerned. It sounds like some kind of con to me. :evil:

Fons and Porter sent me renewal notices and I tossed them, then the last one said 4th notice. I am getting renewal forms when I have months left of the subscriptions. I am not paying postage to tell them I am not renewing, unless it is postage paid.

YAY EDDIE. They sent me one also saying that I owe them for my renewal, when I have not even had their mag for over a year. I had better be on the lookout for a letter like you received next.

When you send back the invoice with "Cancel" written on it, KEEP A COPY, then call the co.'s 800 number if available and write the date on it and names of anyone you may have spoken to. 'Cancel' by phone first and then also send the paper invoice back with "Cancel" written on it. This has saved the day a couple of times.

Perhaps you would want to also call the Direct Marketing (not sure if subscriptions fall under this association or not) or Better Business Bureau to also file a complaint.

I don't even open the envelope/junk mail. I simply write return to sender on the outside of the envelope. The vendor eventually removes you from the mailing list.

I've subscribed to Quilt mag for several years...and have had no problem. I learned when I did not renew for the 2011 year, I've missed out on some really nice 'recipes' for quilts...so I quickly sent in my renewal. I love this magazine!