Complaint Review: AM Press Assoc.

A Knock on the door, a male and a female, "You must be a good person" [That is really disarming]. They were selling magazine subscriptions for college scholarships- $15,000 if they make 30,000 points. Female seemed the smarter, at least, she talked more than the guy.

Two plastic laminated cards with only magazines listed and the sales pitch, "If you buy more, we get more points" When I asked how points were determined I got an evasive answer, something to the effect that children's books gave fewer points [That answer and no points listed, bells should have started going off in my head]

When I made one selection, she said "you have to choose another one, else my friend doesn't get any points". When she wrote out the price on the 3-part receipt form, I expressed some reservation, so she quickly added that because I was ordering two magazines I would get free coupons [another darn disarming tactic]

Pay half now, mail the balance within a couple of days, saying that if I added a comment on them being nice- they would get extra points for this. I asked them what happened if I moved, they said a call to the 800 number would make sure I got my subscription.

Three business days to give notice to cancel transaction. I started looking for a phone number on the receipt...None. Only the Post Office Box .... starting to get really bad vibes about this...especially after reading that service doesn't start until 90 to 120 days after final payment.

Google search confirmed my fears...in hindsight, as I have hinted at above, they are calculating, very disarming and methodical. A stop payment might hurt a little financially, but I prefer that outcome than them getting anything.

Hope this helps someone in the future!

Chris
San Jose, California
U.S.A.