- Report: #333286
Complaint Review: Viking Magazine Service - Bloomington Minnesota
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Viking Magazine Service
9201 E. Bloomington Bloomington, 55420 Minnesota, U.S.A.
Phone:
952-885-0922
Web:
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Viking Magazine Service Beware Viking Magazine Scammed my 20 yr old daughter out of $897 Bloomington Minnesota
Viking Magazine Service kept calling my 20-yr old daughter at college to subscribe to their magazine service. They offered her something free to entice her. They got her to subscribe to 5 magazines for 5 years (who in their right mind would do that?) and they charge full cover price, not even a discount as you would get if ordering directly to the magazine.
3 different people called her, the 3rd person recorded her call and responses as a "verbal contract" so that she couldn't get out of it later.
These people are very slick. They very quickly glossed over the details and got her to give up her debit card number and all kinds of personal info about herself. They got her to verbally commit to paying $59.60/month for 15 months (total $897). I was able to listen to the recording by calling up and pretending to be her (they wouldn't talk to me at all). It sickened me to hear how they talked to her and got all this info out of her. It was obvious to me that she didn't realize what she was committing to, nor for how long. This is her first experience with any kind of contract situation. She had no idea what was really happening. I doubt she will still want to read Teen People when she is 25!
They told her she had 14 days to change her mind but of course I didn't know about it as she is away at college. She forgot about it until the magazines started arriving and her account was being debited (which caused her to overdraw twice for another $54 in bank charges). As far as I am aware there was nothing in writing as far as a contract that had to be returned, it was all done by phone.
She can't afford this, she is a student paying for tuition and books. I tried to get her out of it to no avail. I considered changing accounts and closing this one but I have heard from other parties on the web that they will turn her over for collections & it will ruin her credit.
I see on the web that many people have been victimized by this company, mostly young and naive or older people. These are the ones who typically fall for this kind of scam because they don't know any better. And they are the ones who can afford least to pay these outrageous charges.
I do NOT understand why a magazine subscription can't be cancelled, since the product has not been delivered. In fact, in the 4 payments made so far, she has paid considerably more than they have delivered. If dealing with any magazine directly I'm sure you could cancel a subscription. It would seem that legally she is stuck because they have her on tape accepting this. However ethically and morally it is reprehensible. I would love to see some sort of class action suit against this company for deceptive business practices, or whatever we can get them for. I would also like to know if there is any way to get her out of this without her getting turned over for collection. If anyone has successfully done this please contact me.
Nancy
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
3 different people called her, the 3rd person recorded her call and responses as a "verbal contract" so that she couldn't get out of it later.
These people are very slick. They very quickly glossed over the details and got her to give up her debit card number and all kinds of personal info about herself. They got her to verbally commit to paying $59.60/month for 15 months (total $897). I was able to listen to the recording by calling up and pretending to be her (they wouldn't talk to me at all). It sickened me to hear how they talked to her and got all this info out of her. It was obvious to me that she didn't realize what she was committing to, nor for how long. This is her first experience with any kind of contract situation. She had no idea what was really happening. I doubt she will still want to read Teen People when she is 25!
They told her she had 14 days to change her mind but of course I didn't know about it as she is away at college. She forgot about it until the magazines started arriving and her account was being debited (which caused her to overdraw twice for another $54 in bank charges). As far as I am aware there was nothing in writing as far as a contract that had to be returned, it was all done by phone.
She can't afford this, she is a student paying for tuition and books. I tried to get her out of it to no avail. I considered changing accounts and closing this one but I have heard from other parties on the web that they will turn her over for collections & it will ruin her credit.
I see on the web that many people have been victimized by this company, mostly young and naive or older people. These are the ones who typically fall for this kind of scam because they don't know any better. And they are the ones who can afford least to pay these outrageous charges.
I do NOT understand why a magazine subscription can't be cancelled, since the product has not been delivered. In fact, in the 4 payments made so far, she has paid considerably more than they have delivered. If dealing with any magazine directly I'm sure you could cancel a subscription. It would seem that legally she is stuck because they have her on tape accepting this. However ethically and morally it is reprehensible. I would love to see some sort of class action suit against this company for deceptive business practices, or whatever we can get them for. I would also like to know if there is any way to get her out of this without her getting turned over for collection. If anyone has successfully done this please contact me.
Nancy
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Nancy
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Viking Magazine Service Bloomington MN
#2Author of original report
Fri, July 25, 2008
Great news! I was able to get my daughter's contract cancelled by contacting the Minnesota Attorney General's office! I would strongly recommend that anyone trying to get out of a contract with these slimeballs contact that office. You can find all the required info online. One thing, if you are doing it on behalf of someone else, you have to write it as if you were that person. They will not do anything third-party. Also, be sure to admit in the letter that you realize that they have you on tape accepting it, or they will get you on that point. Persevere and good luck! It can be done without ruining your credit rating by not paying.
