Complaint Review: NSS Magazine Subscriptions

I accepted last August a "Free One-Year Subscription" to several magazines. Part of the deal was automatic renewal, if I would not cancel the subscriptions afte the first year. However, very little was provided about how and when the cancellation should be done.

I had given # of my CC which was due to renewal in January 02. However, on my April statement there were two charges with only phone numbers - no company name. The numbers seem to go to same automated service, which asks for a code, supposedly on the CC statement (but the code was NOT there!)

The company had charged my *expired* card, by likely giving a future date for the card - which was of my renewed card. All this happened without any renewal notice.

The business practices of this company are very speculative and immoral, and maybe even illegal. On the bright side, after I found the customer service phone number (800-799-9939) I got courteuous service and a promise to refund the magazines and cancel the subscriptions. Time will show if it happens, and if the promised cancellation letter arrives by mail.

Ted
Houston, Texas