Complaint Review: Columbia House - Internet

Christina in Norristown, et al: I've been reading all the comments about Columbia House from everyone. These are all comments similar to my situation. I've known about the Rip-off Report site since early on in my problems, but held off posting comments while I worked with Columbia House in good faith to try to get the return of my $70.00+. It's been 9 months. I initially tried everything everyone else did: e-mails that received "canned" replies, phone option hell, registered letters to Terre Haute, cancelling my "membership" [laughter], cancelling my credit card to get it out of their system (which eventually worked) and demands to talk with a supervisor [OK, more laughter]. I eventually complained to the BBB of Indiana. Nothing. I finally decided to up the ante. I complained to: #1 Mr. John D. McCullough Office of the Attorney General State of Indiana 302 West Washington Street, Fifth Floor Indianapolis, IN. 46204 + #2 (My home state): Mr. Randall M. Dana Office of the Attorney General State of Ohio 30 East Broad Street 14th Floor Dept. No. 066 Columbus, OH 43212 + #3 Shirley Li Internet Bureau State of New York Office of the Attorney General 120 Broadway New York, NY 10271 (www.oag.state.ny.us) Guess what? I heard immediately from all three Attorneys General's offices who in turn simultaneously contacted the BBB of Indiana. The BBB then immediately contacted me. And guess who else contacted me immediately by letter (and you'll want to get your pens and pencils out boys and girls, because you'll really want to write down this little piece of information): Ms. Maura McLoughlin Director Consumer Relations Columbia House 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020-1090 Telephone: (212) 596-2653 Fax: (212) 596-2657 So far, Ms. McLoughlin has sent 2 letters and is still continuing to try to squirm out of her financial obligations but I don't intend to quit. I've already written off the $70.00+ as an expensive lesson, but I intend to continue to pursue my money. At this point I HAVE THE OFFICES OF 3 ATTORNEYS GENERAL BREATHING DOWN HER NECK. In fact, I've just received a letter from Ms. McLoughlin recently, and it was IMMEDIATELY (and I mean within days) followed by one BBB letter plus 2 letters and an e-mail from the office of all 3 Attorneys General asking if her reply was satisfactory to me. It wasn't, but the sense of satisfaction this has given me to have the wolves nipping at Madame Director's heels is MAWVELOUS DAHLING. Oh, and one more thing. I've been copying CH's Chairman & CEO on all of this. Not that I believe he would ever read any of it but it makes me feel better. And THAT address would be: 4. Mr. Brian Wood Chairman & CEO Columbia House 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 100200-1090 Anyway, I would suggest everyone contact AT LEAST the Attorneys' General office / Fraud Division of your own state. You'll need to spend the time documenting everything, which is very time consuming, but you may be stunned at the response. You may not get your money back but if your complaint is legitimate, what have you go to lose? You may also be adding information/documentation that can help one of these Attorneys General's Offices eventually build a case that has some teeth. P.S. I hope I didn't transfer any of the info above incorrectly (like mailing addresses or web-site addresses). You can always confirm them on the internet. Good luck!

When you sign up with Columbia House, you have a monthly subscription in which they send you a Director's Selection notice and the latest offers and deals. If you fail to respond to the Director's Selection (basically the DVD of the month) by phone, or Internet, or mail, you will be automatically sent the DVD and charged. That's what you sign up for when you become a member of Columbia House. It's a great company and I LOVE the prices on their products. www.columbiahouse.com Thanks,