Complaint Review: Readers Service OH - Long Beach California

Concerning the Company:
United Readers' Service, Ltd. or Readers Service OH
13400 Madison Ave. PO BOX 771747
Lakewood, OH 44107-0067

Readers Service OH Confirmation Number: XXXXXXX Cancel due to Fraud/Scam

To Whom It May Concern: 

During the approximate 2 week period from May 17, 2010 - May 29 2010, I received multiple calls at work and at my residence from 1-888-369-7323, 310-831-1130 and 310-241-0523. Company name: Readers Service OH (according to my Credit Card Bill).

Shauna (?) the sales person finally connected with me at my residence at 7:57 PM PDT May 29, 2010. I am on the do not call registry. She proceeded to tell me that I was a finalist in your companys sweepstakes and to expect various prizes, which included a car, vacation etc. The next thing I knew, we were talking about how I would receive 5-6 magazines at such a great price. That price after a locked 48 month calculation would be $39.90 * 48 months = $1915.20 in hindsight.

After a brief moment, her supervisor Brandy came on the line to confirm and do voice authorization via a Robot question/answer period. Besides the outrageous price, that in it represents a fraudulent scam rip off for magazine purchases as I can get those magazines at different places cheaper or even online without speaking through a Robot voice authorization method. The supervisor named Brandy mentioned that I would be able to change my magazines at any time and that I could not cancel my subscription at any time - no questions asked and/or if I recall; if a cancellation were to occur it would have to be within a 72-hour and/or 10 day period.

The next day, on May 30, 2010 I tried calling 1-888-369-7323, the number Brandy said was a working number to call if I wanted to cancel. I called multiple times and the number only gave me a fast busy signal; therefore, I knew it wasnt a working number or offline. I also tried the other two numbers from my caller id 310-831-1130 and 310-241-0523 with no answer. However, after further investigating on the Internet, the real number I found is 1-800-233-6454 to which I left a voicemail with cancellation details on May 30, 2010, 1 day after.

I realize this is over the Memorial holiday weekend and your Hours of Operation are M-F 9 am 5 pm ET. This seemed to be a pressure sweepstakes sale knowing this holiday weekend was fast approaching and time constraints to get the sale within a specific time frame to make it work for your company's policy to get your fast, over-exceeding the amount of cost of magazine monies.

There is only one place on your website that talks about canceling anything https://unitedreaders.com/faq.php

Q: what is your Cancellation Policy?
A: orders may be canceled within 72 hours of the time they are placed. We will not cancel any order after it has been sent to a publisher.

You would have to change publishers to change magazines from one to the other so this could not be talking about canceling the magazine subscription, no cancellation, nor 72 hours is not within a 10 day period, so again this couldnt be talking about canceling the subscription. No where on your website does it say you can not cancel and/or that you have 10 days to do so? If this is the policy then this should have been told to me on the phone and/or placed on your website in writing.

After careful investigation I found that your company is in fact operating under many different names. United Readers Services is a similar one to a website known as Reliable Readers Services. They both have the same contact information and they both have this quote: A Quality Magazine Service for Home and Business since 1972 with the exception of since 1972 missing from the Reliable Readers Services site.

Also, here are a few unhappy customers that know of your scam and are publicizing it for buyer bewares. Among a solid list of keywords: united readers, readers service are among those listed.

• http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=29616434571&topic=7106
• http://www.quis.com/2009/02/06/magazine-and-sweepstakes-telemarketer-scam-alert-readers-services
• http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/magazine%20scams%20and%20rip%20offs.html

The Telemarketing Sales Rule, effective Dec. 31, 1995, requires telemarketers offering a prize promotion to provide clearly and conspicuously to consumers, before payment, several items of information, including the fact that no purchase is necessary to enter, how consumers who do not wish to make a purchase may enter the prize promotion, and the odds of receiving the prize where there are several prizes. The rule also specifically prohibits others from providing substantial assistance to telemarketers whom they know or consciously avoid knowing are violating key provisions of the rule.

"Project Jackpot a joint effort between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the state Attorneys General and the U.S. Postal Service, targeted firms that fraudulently offered purportedly valuable prizes to consumers to induce them to purchase products. I feel that you have violated my rights as a consumer and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule by: failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose that no purchase was necessary to win a prize; misrepresenting the value of the prizes; and failing to disclose material limitations and conditions of the prizes. Also by sponsoring the promotion; claiming to send confirmation letters, prizes and bonus items to consumers; taking customer service calls from consumers; and billing consumers' credit cards; misrepresentation of cancellation by a supervisor and non-documentation regarding the time frame of cancellation of the subscription.

For your reference in for cancellation in the state of Washington: Telemarketing Sales Under Washingtons Commercial Telephone Solicitation Act ( RCW 19.158) when you agree to make a purchase during a call initiated by a telephone solicitor, the sale is not final until youve received written confirmation from the seller. The written confirmation must provide an address where a cancellation notice may be sent and an explanation of your cancellation rights. You may cancel the contract within three business days of receipt of the written confirmation; if delivery is not made within 42 calendar days of the initial solicitation; or whenever the Telephone Solicitation Act is violated.

Also in accordance to RCW 19.158.100 Requiring payment by credit card prohibited. It is a violation of this chapter for a commercial telephone solicitor to require that payment be by credit card authorization or otherwise to announce a preference for that method of payment over any other for unfair or deceptive reasons.

Also for your reference since I am Already Fallen Victim of your Telemarketing Scam:

Unsolicited telemarketing sales are not final until you've received written confirmation of the sale. Under state law, you have three days after you receive your written confirmation to cancel an unsolicited telemarketing sale.

Cancellation notices must be sent by certified mail to the telemarketer's address (done). If the address is unknown, cancellation must be sent to the Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9034 Olympia, Washington 98057. Cancellation notices should include your name, address and telephone number (done).

If you paid with a credit card, do not pay for that item on your credit card bill until you've received, examined and are satisfied with your product or prize. You must write your credit card company within 60 days of receiving the bill to officially dispute the charges.

To remedy this situation, I request that I be refunded the initial $39.90 currently in pending when officially charged to my credit card, cease all my subscriptions over the 48 month period, do not charge me any more monies pertaining to this fraudulent/scam sweepstakes telemarketing and do not send me anymore magazines. I will not pay any invoices billed to me for any of the 6 magazines as I have told you in writing now that I am canceling this subscription.

I have tried to call to no avail; therefore, I submitted complaint forms to the Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Attorney General State of Washington: Rob McKenna and the AGO staff, Washington State Department of Licensing, National Fraud Information Center, Rip Off Report, and the Better Business Bureau of Ohio. I have also submitted fraudulent reports to the three credit bureaus and made sure I am on an OPT-OUT.

If any magazines come or continue to come I will assume that these are a free gift to me as I told you that I do not want them. I DO however want in writing within thirty (30-days), a letter sent to my PO Box mailbox above confirming this transaction and any and all transactions in conjunction with your company be canceled, ceased and resolved with no monies owed nor a negative effect on my credit report. A copy of this letter and other information pertaining to your company(s) is being retained for future references for myself, for your company and to all Federal and State agencies listed below.

Thank you,

cc: File done with the following Federal and State agencies:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of the Attorney General State of Washington: Rob McKenna and the AGO staff
Washington State Department of Licensing Olympia, WA
National Fraud Information Center
Rip Off Report
Better Business Bureau of Ohio

Concerning the Company:
United Readers' Service, Ltd. or Readers Service OH
13400 Madison Ave. PO BOX 771747
Lakewood, OH 44107-0067

Readers Service OH Confirmation Number: XXXXXXX Cancel due to Fraud/Scam

To Whom It May Concern: 

During the approximate 2 week period from May 17, 2010 - May 29 2010, I received multiple calls at work and at my residence from 1-888-369-7323, 310-831-1130 and 310-241-0523. Company name: Readers Service OH (according to my Credit Card Bill).

Shauna (?) the sales person finally connected with me at my residence at 7:57 PM PDT May 29, 2010. I am on the do not call registry. She proceeded to tell me that I was a finalist in your companys sweepstakes and to expect various prizes, which included a car, vacation etc. The next thing I knew, we were talking about how I would receive 5-6 magazines at such a great price. That price after a locked 48 month calculation would be $39.90 * 48 months = $1915.20 in hindsight.

After a brief moment, her supervisor Brandy came on the line to confirm and do voice authorization via a Robot question/answer period. Besides the outrageous price, that in it represents a fraudulent scam rip off for magazine purchases as I can get those magazines at different places cheaper or even online without speaking through a Robot voice authorization method. The supervisor named Brandy mentioned that I would be able to change my magazines at any time and that I could not cancel my subscription at any time - no questions asked and/or if I recall; if a cancellation were to occur it would have to be within a 72-hour and/or 10 day period.

The next day, on May 30, 2010 I tried calling 1-888-369-7323, the number Brandy said was a working number to call if I wanted to cancel. I called multiple times and the number only gave me a fast busy signal; therefore, I knew it wasnt a working number or offline. I also tried the other two numbers from my caller id 310-831-1130 and 310-241-0523 with no answer. However, after further investigating on the Internet, the real number I found is 1-800-233-6454 to which I left a voicemail with cancellation details on May 30, 2010, 1 day after.

I realize this is over the Memorial holiday weekend and your Hours of Operation are M-F 9 am 5 pm ET. This seemed to be a pressure sweepstakes sale knowing this holiday weekend was fast approaching and time constraints to get the sale within a specific time frame to make it work for your company's policy to get your fast, over-exceeding the amount of cost of magazine monies.

There is only one place on your website that talks about canceling anything https://unitedreaders.com/faq.php

Q: what is your Cancellation Policy?
A: orders may be canceled within 72 hours of the time they are placed. We will not cancel any order after it has been sent to a publisher.

You would have to change publishers to change magazines from one to the other so this could not be talking about canceling the magazine subscription, no cancellation, nor 72 hours is not within a 10 day period, so again this couldnt be talking about canceling the subscription. No where on your website does it say you can not cancel and/or that you have 10 days to do so? If this is the policy then this should have been told to me on the phone and/or placed on your website in writing.

After careful investigation I found that your company is in fact operating under many different names. United Readers Services is a similar one to a website known as Reliable Readers Services. They both have the same contact information and they both have this quote: A Quality Magazine Service for Home and Business since 1972 with the exception of since 1972 missing from the Reliable Readers Services site.

Also, here are a few unhappy customers that know of your scam and are publicizing it for buyer bewares. Among a solid list of keywords: united readers, readers service are among those listed.

• http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=29616434571&topic=7106
• http://www.quis.com/2009/02/06/magazine-and-sweepstakes-telemarketer-scam-alert-readers-services
• http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/magazine%20scams%20and%20rip%20offs.html

The Telemarketing Sales Rule, effective Dec. 31, 1995, requires telemarketers offering a prize promotion to provide clearly and conspicuously to consumers, before payment, several items of information, including the fact that no purchase is necessary to enter, how consumers who do not wish to make a purchase may enter the prize promotion, and the odds of receiving the prize where there are several prizes. The rule also specifically prohibits others from providing substantial assistance to telemarketers whom they know or consciously avoid knowing are violating key provisions of the rule.

"Project Jackpot a joint effort between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the state Attorneys General and the U.S. Postal Service, targeted firms that fraudulently offered purportedly valuable prizes to consumers to induce them to purchase products. I feel that you have violated my rights as a consumer and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule by: failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose that no purchase was necessary to win a prize; misrepresenting the value of the prizes; and failing to disclose material limitations and conditions of the prizes. Also by sponsoring the promotion; claiming to send confirmation letters, prizes and bonus items to consumers; taking customer service calls from consumers; and billing consumers' credit cards; misrepresentation of cancellation by a supervisor and non-documentation regarding the time frame of cancellation of the subscription.

For your reference in for cancellation in the state of Washington: Telemarketing Sales Under Washingtons Commercial Telephone Solicitation Act ( RCW 19.158) when you agree to make a purchase during a call initiated by a telephone solicitor, the sale is not final until youve received written confirmation from the seller. The written confirmation must provide an address where a cancellation notice may be sent and an explanation of your cancellation rights. You may cancel the contract within three business days of receipt of the written confirmation; if delivery is not made within 42 calendar days of the initial solicitation; or whenever the Telephone Solicitation Act is violated.

Also in accordance to RCW 19.158.100 Requiring payment by credit card prohibited. It is a violation of this chapter for a commercial telephone solicitor to require that payment be by credit card authorization or otherwise to announce a preference for that method of payment over any other for unfair or deceptive reasons.

Also for your reference since I am Already Fallen Victim of your Telemarketing Scam:

Unsolicited telemarketing sales are not final until you've received written confirmation of the sale. Under state law, you have three days after you receive your written confirmation to cancel an unsolicited telemarketing sale.

Cancellation notices must be sent by certified mail to the telemarketer's address (done). If the address is unknown, cancellation must be sent to the Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9034 Olympia, Washington 98057. Cancellation notices should include your name, address and telephone number (done).

If you paid with a credit card, do not pay for that item on your credit card bill until you've received, examined and are satisfied with your product or prize. You must write your credit card company within 60 days of receiving the bill to officially dispute the charges.

To remedy this situation, I request that I be refunded the initial $39.90 currently in pending when officially charged to my credit card, cease all my subscriptions over the 48 month period, do not charge me any more monies pertaining to this fraudulent/scam sweepstakes telemarketing and do not send me anymore magazines. I will not pay any invoices billed to me for any of the 6 magazines as I have told you in writing now that I am canceling this subscription.

I have tried to call to no avail; therefore, I submitted complaint forms to the Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Attorney General State of Washington: Rob McKenna and the AGO staff, Washington State Department of Licensing, National Fraud Information Center, Rip Off Report, and the Better Business Bureau of Ohio. I have also submitted fraudulent reports to the three credit bureaus and made sure I am on an OPT-OUT.

If any magazines come or continue to come I will assume that these are a free gift to me as I told you that I do not want them. I DO however want in writing within thirty (30-days), a letter sent to my PO Box mailbox above confirming this transaction and any and all transactions in conjunction with your company be canceled, ceased and resolved with no monies owed nor a negative effect on my credit report. A copy of this letter and other information pertaining to your company(s) is being retained for future references for myself, for your company and to all Federal and State agencies listed below.

Thank you,

cc: File done with the following Federal and State agencies:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of the Attorney General State of Washington: Rob McKenna and the AGO staff
Washington State Department of Licensing Olympia, WA
National Fraud Information Center
Rip Off Report
Better Business Bureau of Ohio