Complaint Review: National Magazine Exchange - Clearwater Florida

I've been working at Special Data Processing (National Magazine Exchange/NME)as a billing supervisor for over 2 years. I feel for people that think they are being duped. The reality is, we do give away 1 million dollars every 2 years. People can call in and enter for free. I am a billing supervisor for those that chose to recieve magazines. Currently, we offer people 5 magazines for 99 cents a week. We have 1 to 4 yr services. Our company has a Code of Ethics posted in every station in our company. I've seen a lot of people get fired for not adhering to that. I actually witnessed a lady from Iowa being presented with a check this past January. If our company is so unscrupolous, why have we been in business since 1984? We are registered with the BBB and have no outstanding complaints. What I suggest a person do is pay attention to what you are doing. I have had people that gave me credit card #'s and I've billed them and they didn't even know what they were doing. That isn't my concern. I have to read a script, go over the billing in detail.. Then go over everything AGAIN and have it recorded on a digital recorder with the customer agreeing. The fact is, out of 100 calls to us, only 6-7 people buy magazines. And we abide by every law, federal and state. My final thought is.. Don't hate our company, hate the laws and legisilation that would allow us to stay open for 18 years. 90 out of 100 customers RE-NEW their subscriptions with us.. We have the best prices in the market..

Wow, we've been there too, how much did they try to charge you? Back about 8 years ago I feel for their, "Welcolme to the neighborhood" line. They say you've won this magazine and that magazine, just to get a bill for $750+ dollars for three magazines that would have cost $20-$30 on newstands. These people need to be shut down. My husband and I don't get the phone calls anymore because we threatened to sue them, so in the last year we've gotten over 10 letters. These letters are in a white envelope with the words, "Important Delivery" and, "Official notice." In the from name: NME/ Pat Haines Address: 16120 US HWY 19N City: Clearwater State: FL Zip: 33764 (looks handwriten, but isn't). My husband actually opened it this time. The inside reads: "Official Notice, Telephone Number: 1-800-444-6247 Number: 633559207" Then it reads: "Message: Dear **** We are trying to reach you regaurding your $1,000,000.00 sweepstakes ID # 633559207. Please call us at the above number. This is a free call. Sincerly - Pat Haines, Sales representative." What is so funny about these poeple is the fact that we know we didn't enter into a contest and a winning prize, but we are supposed to call a "Sales" representative, doesn't make since that they are this stupid. Then you flip the letter over, and in real small print and very light you read: "Entry instuctions: Please call the number on the reverse at your earliest convenience regarding your $1,000,000.00 Sweepstakes number." In big letters: "$1,000,000.00 "Strike it Rich III" Sweepstakes Official Rules" Then again real small: "No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. To enter, follow all entry instuctions specified elsewhere in this offer. Sweepstakes begins 12:01am Eastern Time on 11/1/2001. No mail-in entries accepted at Sponsor's address. One entry per household per day irrespective of the method of entry. Consumer Disclosures: One grand prize will be awarded. The winner of the guaranteed Grand Prize can choose either a $1,000,000.00 annuity payable installments of $33,333.34 or one lump sum payment of $400,000. Estimated odds of winning 1:50,000,000. You have not yet won. No purchase necessary. Your entry must be received by the date specified elsewhere on this offer or by 11:59pm (ET) on 12/15/2003, whichever sooner. Sponsor: National Magazine Exchange, 16120 US 19 North Clearwater, FL 33764." It just keeps going and going. The highlights of this scam is, I have never heard of anyone ever winning ANY of their "Sweepstakes." You know how it says, "No purchase necessary?" If you decline, the person on the phone will say, "Are you sure. If you decline, we will have to take your name out of the drawing." Did you see the Lump Sum? That doesn't look like $1,000,000.00 to me. I wanted to point out some "Highlights" in the rest of the fine print. It starts reading on who can be included in the Sweepstakes and reads: "The sweepstakes will be presented in conjunction with various promotions and solicitations offered by the properties, subsidaries, divisions, licensees owned or affiliated with National Magazine Exchange, Special Data Processing Corporation, and/or by their advertisers and marketing partners." This basically means, they'll have the whole world soliciting you. It also reads: "For name of winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by 12/15/2003." So, if anyone does actually get anything, the whole world has access to them. The worst part of the entire letter is the very last paragraphs, it reads: "Based on your consumer report and because you meet our credit criteria, YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO RECEIVE OUR MAGAZINE OFFER ON CREDIT. If you would like your name removed from any future pre-approved solicitations, you may do so by calling our opt-out request line at 1-888-567-8688 or by writing the credit bureaus below." Then it lists the following: Tans Union Market, Consumer Opt, Experian and Equifax. I really feel that any credit bereau participating in selling our personal information should be stopped by the US government. It's hard to have any privacy anymore. But this is so low. By the way, you can call their "Opt-Out" number all you want, that doesn't work either. I figured if their number of 50,000,000 people they're scamming times the $750+ they charge, their actually getting away with "Stealing" $37,500,000,000.00, now that's a problem!!!