Complaint Review: Direct Service of America

I received a phone call from 817-302-1716. (The 817 area code is where I live so I answered). I was told that I been on one of their advertisers websites and signed up for a sweepstakes. They were calling to "congratulate"  me that I had won an entry into a 1 million dollar prize. Of course, I thought this was kind of shady. I would not have continued but I had recently downloaded an automatic recording app on my cell phone because of some problems I had been having with health insurance. I continued the conversation and not to my surprise I "WON ANOTHER PRIZE!"  I really did not buy into this game they were playing with me, but at same time I had actually been on publishing clearing house website a couple days before and thought it may just be a legit but lame sales call to try and sell magazines or something. Part of me was quite sure that I was being scammed but the other part of me said, "what the heck, why not try it? Because I have this whole thing recorded anyhow." I even told the person on the phone that I was recording them at the moment. They continue their spill and even gave me an employee number.

After feeding me a lot of nonsense they finally asked what I was suspecting they would.... They asked for my debit card number and expiration date. This was going to pay for my magazine subscription which what's going to cost about $39. I would pay the first month and last month subscription fee. At any time I was able to cancel the contract and no longer pay any more money towards the magazines, yet I would still receive them and... I would receive my free $1,000 shopping spree or vacation coupon of my choice. I gave them information in the slight chance that I could actually be charged only $39, cancel the subscription, and be left with $1,000 gift. For a $961 profit.

Of course, this sounded too good to be true, but I did cover my own back by asking them how they were going to make money knowing that people would be doing exactly what I was about to do which was leave them high and dry after getting the free gift. Ashley brown, the woman I had been speaking to this whole time, told me that they had been around for years and years and have been doing the same thing so their success is based on the 80% of clients that actually keep the subscription and continue paying their bill and are happy with the service. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and continued to go along like a schmuck.

5 business days later I get in the mail a very vague and shady letter in the mail....I'm not a lawyer and have not talked to one regarding this situation but basically it asks me for a signature on paper that's needs to be mailed back to receive my "prize".(There isn't even a mention of what the prize is)  It also mentions in fine print that I am authorizing the entering of my order....This is separate from another piece of mail (in the same envelope) that outlines the "payment plan" I am under. Which is $39.90/month for 30 months or $1,197.00. 

It does not mention that I can opt out of the remaining payments. Also I can find hardly anything on Direct Service of America through Google, except for the occasional scam warning.. The same for the address the signature is supposed to be mailed back to. No mention on Google except for the magazines scam warnings. As for the address that I received the mail from,.... I googled that and found nothing but advertisements for a currently un-leased business building... They are mailing from an empty office? 

So right now I have some clown that has already taken $39.90 out of my checking account and thinks they are going to get more from me. I do not really know what my next step towards action is though. It is now to late to call the number provided on the bogus letter I received. I attempted to call and I got the vm for a generic customer service. No mention of company or affiliation.

My advice... steer clear of any sweepstakes and never give a card number over the phone to someone that called YOU. I realize now how dumb I was in the moment but I am strapped for cash and I went for a hail mary, hoping things would end up good. I do, however, have the entire conversation recorded and saved on my phone/computer and I have the letter I received in the mail. (I will not be mailing them anything).

If anyone has been in a similar situation or a lawyer that has legal advice towards the situation. Please let me know. I did my best to explain what all went on. If something doesn't make sense or anyone has a question or suggestion feel free to post! Good luck to all those honest few out there!....