Complaint Review: Palmetto Marketing

In March of this year I ordered a magazine from a very smooth, very flirtatious young man who came to my door. He, like many others, claimed to be a student trying to win a trip to Jamaica (he even invited me to come with him!). He told me it was two-year subscription which cost $40. I paid by check, which cleared my account quickly. To date (July 17th), I have not received my magazine.

When I contacted the company by telephone, I was told that my subscription was actually a bi-monthly, one year subscription (6 issues). The salesperson, of course, left the "# of issues" box on the receipt blank. An employee named Kristen told me that my subscription would be extended to two years (12 issues) if I sent them a copy of my receipt, which I did.

I then received a postcard stating that I could expect my first issue by September 15th, which is almost 180 days from the order date. After another letter and another phone call, Palmetto has agreed to refund my $40 within 2-3 weeks. We'll see if that happens!

I did some research about this company, which has several complaints filed against it with the BBB of Southeast Florida for failing to provide products purchased and to resolve problems with orders. Also, consumers might be interested to know that, according to news articles I found on the internet, a Palmetto Marketing "independent contractor" salesperson apparently murdered a woman in New York in 2000, for which Palmetto paid a $1 million settlement (http://www.fultondailynews.com/html/8532.asp), and another was accused of raping a 12 year-old girl in Ohio (http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20020912/localnews/70394.html).

Susan
Elkridge, Maryland
U.S.A.