Melissa
Mount Vernon,#2Author of original report
Fri, May 14, 2004
Well, it IS possible to get these scammers off your back. The day after I posted my initial report, I sent a letter to Atlantic Magazine services telling them that I would send them no more money, regardless of whether I received any more unwanted magazines or not. I also faxed this letter, and included at the bottom that a carbon copy was also being sent to the Florida State Attorney General. Two days later I received a bill from the same company I had just informed that I wished to do no more business with them. I also filed a complaint with the Consumer Services Department of Broward County, Florida, in which this rip-off ring is located. They were very helpful on the phone, and sent me some forms to fill out about my situation, which I returned sometime in late April. Meanwhile, I also had to close my bank account, because the credit card information that the scammers had gave them access to it. May 1st was when my bill, the one from a company I want nothing from for magazines I don't want, was due, and of course I didn't pay it. They sent me a second notice, which I also had no intention of paying. Last week, however, I received a letter dated May 3 that was very short, but did state, "TO KEEP UP WITH OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE RELATIONS WE HAVE AGREED TO CANCEL THIS ACCOUNT." It was in all caps, by the way. I received a copy of the same letter from the Broward County office of consumer affairs. As they believe that my complaint "has been satisfactorily resolved," I guess their closing the case. But not before I put this illegal operation on their radar. The point is, once Atlantic Magazine Services realized that 1) They have no way of getting any more of my money with or without my consent; and 2) The authorities are on to them, they backed the heck off. You may have to cancel bank accounts and credit cards, contact several consumer affairs agencies, run up your phone bill, but it's possible to stop business with these criminals AND get them in a bit of trouble, so I encourage everybody to do it.
Nicole
Boca Raton,#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, May 13, 2004
In response to "Melissa in Washington", as well as any others who've taken the step to report bad business dealing with Atlantic Magazine Service: I represent this company, and can assure any outside readers that this company is legit. If for any reason a customer feels that he or she has been mis-led, or mis-informed, it in my opinion, is a lack of communication more so on the customer's part than anything. Atlantic Magazine Service instills the utmost in customer service, and in doing so ensures that the customer not only agrees to the terms of the sale through a representative AND supervisor, but is then re-itterated the entire sale through our verification unit. Furthermore, the verification clerk records the entire conversation (with the customer's permission), and has the customer one more time explained the entire terms of the sale in which the customer MUST agree to, otherwise the sale is NOT processed and no payment will ever be taken. If you are going to "report" a company for bad business, be realistic. Our company requests your credit card information (everything from the #'s, to the adress in which the card was applied to), and if you do not understand the billing or the terms of your sale, WHY would you provide such an extensive amount of-in my opinion VERY PERSONAL-information? To me, that seems irresponsible, among OTHER things. Perhaps your own stupidity is what really angers you to the point in which you must make up such non-sense about a company. Try perhaps blaming YOURSELF and your own vulnerability, rather than primarily others (i.e. "they lied to me, blablabla"). Lastly, I want to add that you are specifically advised that your order is not subject to cancellation for the reason that ALL orders are pre-paid by the company, to guarantee the frozen rate of all the magazine subscriptions. This, as well, is ALWAYS recorded on tape, with your understanding of either a "YES" or "NO". If you had an issue with customer service, that is unfortunate, and I would certainly like to extend an apology on behalf of Atlantic Magazine Service, but not by any means does it prove the validity of your statement, that our company "lied" about recording your agreement to the terms of the sale. I can ASSURE YOU that a tape does infact exist. This is company policy--NO exceptions.
Nicole
Boca Raton,#4UPDATE Employee
Thu, May 13, 2004
In response to "Melissa in Washington", as well as any others who've taken the step to report bad business dealing with Atlantic Magazine Service: I represent this company, and can assure any outside readers that this company is legit. If for any reason a customer feels that he or she has been mis-led, or mis-informed, it in my opinion, is a lack of communication more so on the customer's part than anything. Atlantic Magazine Service instills the utmost in customer service, and in doing so ensures that the customer not only agrees to the terms of the sale through a representative AND supervisor, but is then re-itterated the entire sale through our verification unit. Furthermore, the verification clerk records the entire conversation (with the customer's permission), and has the customer one more time explained the entire terms of the sale in which the customer MUST agree to, otherwise the sale is NOT processed and no payment will ever be taken. If you are going to "report" a company for bad business, be realistic. Our company requests your credit card information (everything from the #'s, to the adress in which the card was applied to), and if you do not understand the billing or the terms of your sale, WHY would you provide such an extensive amount of-in my opinion VERY PERSONAL-information? To me, that seems irresponsible, among OTHER things. Perhaps your own stupidity is what really angers you to the point in which you must make up such non-sense about a company. Try perhaps blaming YOURSELF and your own vulnerability, rather than primarily others (i.e. "they lied to me, blablabla"). Lastly, I want to add that you are specifically advised that your order is not subject to cancellation for the reason that ALL orders are pre-paid by the company, to guarantee the frozen rate of all the magazine subscriptions. This, as well, is ALWAYS recorded on tape, with your understanding of either a "YES" or "NO". If you had an issue with customer service, that is unfortunate, and I would certainly like to extend an apology on behalf of Atlantic Magazine Service, but not by any means does it prove the validity of your statement, that our company "lied" about recording your agreement to the terms of the sale. I can ASSURE YOU that a tape does infact exist. This is company policy--NO exceptions.
Nicole
Boca Raton,#5UPDATE Employee
Thu, May 13, 2004
In response to "Melissa in Washington", as well as any others who've taken the step to report bad business dealing with Atlantic Magazine Service: I represent this company, and can assure any outside readers that this company is legit. If for any reason a customer feels that he or she has been mis-led, or mis-informed, it in my opinion, is a lack of communication more so on the customer's part than anything. Atlantic Magazine Service instills the utmost in customer service, and in doing so ensures that the customer not only agrees to the terms of the sale through a representative AND supervisor, but is then re-itterated the entire sale through our verification unit. Furthermore, the verification clerk records the entire conversation (with the customer's permission), and has the customer one more time explained the entire terms of the sale in which the customer MUST agree to, otherwise the sale is NOT processed and no payment will ever be taken. If you are going to "report" a company for bad business, be realistic. Our company requests your credit card information (everything from the #'s, to the adress in which the card was applied to), and if you do not understand the billing or the terms of your sale, WHY would you provide such an extensive amount of-in my opinion VERY PERSONAL-information? To me, that seems irresponsible, among OTHER things. Perhaps your own stupidity is what really angers you to the point in which you must make up such non-sense about a company. Try perhaps blaming YOURSELF and your own vulnerability, rather than primarily others (i.e. "they lied to me, blablabla"). Lastly, I want to add that you are specifically advised that your order is not subject to cancellation for the reason that ALL orders are pre-paid by the company, to guarantee the frozen rate of all the magazine subscriptions. This, as well, is ALWAYS recorded on tape, with your understanding of either a "YES" or "NO". If you had an issue with customer service, that is unfortunate, and I would certainly like to extend an apology on behalf of Atlantic Magazine Service, but not by any means does it prove the validity of your statement, that our company "lied" about recording your agreement to the terms of the sale. I can ASSURE YOU that a tape does infact exist. This is company policy--NO exceptions.