Has anyone else noticed how shady the magazine subscription business has gotten?
Once upon a time you could tell when you subscription ran out by looking at your bill or mailing label, but now these notices are missing. Not only that but, today I get a bill in the mail for Readers Digest for $46 (two subscriptions @ $22.98 each) with a note from the billing manager that we "may have overlooked" sending in our payment. Bottom line is we didn't owe them anything.
In December 2005, Readers Digest offered us a one year subscription plus free one year subscription for another recipient to be used as a gift. We accepted and paid the typical yearly fee.
In January 2007, Readers Digest told us it was time to renew but we would have to pay for our gift subscription to continue being sent to our recipient (a local hospital, which I hope they put in their waiting room or gave to patients). We opted out of the gift sub, but paid for our yearly subscription for a new renewal date of April 2008.
Today, the bill for $46 arrived. I called and straightened it out and was told that my subscription truly expires April 2008 and I currently owe nothing, but I have to wonder how many people just pay these bills as they come in.
Anyone else noticed how shady this magazine renewal business is getting?
Scott