Doubleday Books Fraud, fooling, farce, an insult to the literate New York, New York
The book club is an institution in this country. My mother belonged to one for many years and enjoyed the books she got and gave and even when I was grown and gone I happily received shipments of children's books for my son-now 34. I have cherished them all and passed them down. So I had no fear when I signed up for Doubleday's "special".
The books I ordered arrived fairly promptly. There was a complicated "free shipping" arangement which amounted to signing up with another company and being stuck paying their fees if you didn't cancel on time. I did manage that hurdle.
Then the bank statement came saying I had incurred a charge of $46.39. No. Surely not. E-mails to my bank and customer service said I had ordered books labeled "choice of the month." No. Surely not. I had not received any envelope, e-mail, statement, nothing. But I was told they were shipped on the 5th or 6th of June.
I wrote back stating they would be shipped "return to sender." I had not requested them. I didn't see an order blank,etc., etc., Silence. I was furious. But no books arrived. June passed. Then July. I was careful now to watch for paper and e-notices. "Decline"- that's what I checked every time. But I saw that the $46.39 was still on my paperless statement as an amount that I owed.
Wrong! I wrote another e-mail." Dear Anne (if that's you're real name-or Kevin?) I didn't ask for these books. I have filed a claim with my bank against you. I haven't gotten any books but I Will send them back." Ignored.
Then this week,on the very same day, a letter came from my bank saying the final decision was in my favour. This was fraud. It listed a case number,a contact number, even Jamie's extension number and office hours in Nebraska. I forwarded these once again to Anne? Kevin? with the expectation that finally the erroneous amount would be removed from my account.
Two days later,I got a "gentle reminder." Grrr. I reminded them they owed me a response- and as it was Sept.-I doubted I would ever get the unwanted books. Aha-surely this would wake them up and bring them shame!
And today;today i finally got their response. They've sent my account to a collection agency. I now owe them $102.49? Nice work if you can get it. Too bad I'm literate. And very,very angry. I am writing my State Attorney General. Doubleday has become Doublecross.