International Readers League Of Georgia - IRL Of Georgia IRL of Georgia Magazines Subscription Ripoff Georgia
I was caught in the International Readers' League plot. They called me yesterday Feb 28,2006. At the beginning they promised me gift and in the run in their sweepstake. I agreed to their payment of $39.88 for 24 installation payments as the telemarketeer was a very pushy guy (did not give me time to reconsider and telling me what a good deal it was and stupidly I trusted him). I did ask him about cancellation and I was sure that he only told me that the first payment is not refundable but unfortunately I did not record it down as evidence. When I put down the phone I did some calculation and realize the ridiculous total amount I have to pay (amounting to $957.12 in total). So I called the toll free number he gave me but it was almost 6.35pm, there's no one except for the answering
machine. I realized the line closes at 6pm and they called me around that time, meaning even if I have second thoughts, I wouldn't be able to make changes. Its really unfair for me and I felt helpless just to wait for tomorrow.
As soon as I got up from bed, I called them back March 1, 2006 and the girl told me that I cannot cancel my order and that they had already prepaid the publishers. But she "helped" me decrease my payment to $33.88 for 16 months (totaling of $542.08)..
I'm still not happy with that because I wanted a cancellation not a discount, and after reading threads from various forums I heard the victims were charged extra sometimes and were forced to pay renewal subscription fee.
As a full-time international university student, I am not working and I'm very reluctant to bear such cost.
Alex
Wichita, Kansas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lawrence
Kahului,Hawaii,
U.S.A.
IRL, legal issues.
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, July 14, 2006
I do not feel that the subscription agreement with IRL is a binding contract as it was verbal and not written. To the best of my knowledge, having a background in law enforcement, you can cancel any monthly service at any time during the period as you did not, for example purchase a complete product for which you agreeded to pay for over time. Eg: a tv or a car. This service is monthly and can be cancelled at any time. I plan to send them a registered letter advising them of potential fraud and criminal coercion on the part of their telemarketing calls and procedures, which is contrary to and in violation of HRS 708-830 and 707-724. Although laws may vary state to state.
Alex
Wichita,Kansas,
U.S.A.
How to solve?
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, March 05, 2006
How can I cancel my subscriptions? Do I have to do what Bob of Yorktown, Virginia did by cancelling all subscriptions directly through the mags publishers? (I haven't receive any mag so far and no idea what mags they're gonna send me). Is there such thing as an uncancellable policy, they did not tell me about it nor the 30 days cancellation due?
Desperately waiting for advise before passing the 30 days mark.