mtnbud

I just got a bill for Bicycling Magazine which I haven't ordered. There's no contact information on the bill other than where to mail the check. I Googled the address and apparently quiet a few other people have been had similar bills for other magazines which they did not order (or receive). The address is connected to Hearst Magazines. I plan to ignore the bill especially since I'm not getting the magazine. I'm not sure what I should do if I do receive the magazine since there's no contact information on the bill. Anyone else get a bill like this? Any thoughts?

WizardOfBoz

https://www.bbb.org/CSAL/news-events...cription-scam/

Mainiac

I received on as well.

willibrord

I believe that legally if you receive any magazines you must send them back. Just write Cancel or Return to Sender and return them.
Also you must reply to any invoices by email or by mail. Dont send them any money

Myosmith

Phone:866-387-0509Email:BICcustserv@cdsfulfillment.comAddress:Customer Care
PO Box 6000
Harlan, IA 51593-0128

• Contact Customer Care

Steve B.

The OP stated he/she has not received any magazines, just the bill.

I'd ignore the entire thing.

I didn't renew a yearly subscription to a magazine, I simply didn't pay the for the renewal. They will continue to send magazines past the renewal date and that's fine, but I'm not paying for them. It's the magazines choice to send or not, but they will be sending free magazines.

_ForceD_

HerrKaLeun

What is a magazine?

Cuyuna

Retro Grouch 

Not a lawyer but I play one on the internet.

That's crazy. You can't obligate somebody to do something just by sending them a bill or a product.

KraneXL

Yes, mail back "Did not order" in lieu of the payment, and make a copy for your records. Its always best to make an effort to stop a subscription than to do nothing. Just by receiving it without saying otherwise, makes it look like you accepted the delivery. Its a periodical. I'm pretty sure by the time they get it back its old news.

indyfabz

Rodale, Inc., which published Bicycling, was recently acquired by Hearst. Based on Hearst's history of "duping" people into subscriptions and the information provided in post #2 above, I vote scam.

https://www.thebalanceeveryday.com/be...stakes-3970855

jefnvk

I once got a 3 year subscription to GQ for like $5. Got the magazine for a good five years, each time after the 3 years with a cover stating "your subscription is ending, RENEW NOW" such a bill to renew.

Never bothered with it, eventually they stopped sending it. Unless they have your credit card and permission to auto bill, I would toss it in the trash and not worry.

Ogsarg

I don't believe you have any obligation to do anything but if it were me, I'd call in order to have a record that I informed them that I never signed up for a subscription, never received the magazine, and do not want to receive the magazine. May save you aggravation later.

berner

I would phone your State Attorney General's office to let them know there is a scam underway or you are being slammed.

TimothyH

This is great...

"BBB has determined that Premier Media is not where they claim to be and currently uses a fake address in Mobile, AL (The RSA Battle House Tower at 11 N Water St Mobile, AL 36602-3809, which is also across the street from the Mobile branch of BBB)."

LoL. Gotta love their sense of humor.




-Tim-

Jon T

That's where you put the bullets.
Jon

bobwysiwyg

More correctly, cartridges.

Milton Keynes

It's like a website you can hold in your hand.

mtnbud

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate your thoughts.

Jeff

willibrord

If they mail it to you and you read it you are liable for the amount owing. If you throw it out you are not. The best way is to send it back to them, it doesnt cost you anything but your time. You can try calling them but in my experience, you may never even get through to leave a message. The most fool proof way would be to send them a registered letter so you have some proof that they received it. With an email you will have the proof in your sent folder.But they probably don't read their email messages.

speedevil 

In the movie "A Walk in the Woods" Robert Redford's character said "Books. You know, like TV for smart people."

Skipjacks

Nope.

It's actually illegal to demand payment for a previously delivered product. In other words you can't send someone a thing then demand payment for it. This probably varies by state, but I know the electric company here in Maryland got in massive trouble for this a few years back. They announced they would be sending everyone a CFL lightbulb as part of their lower energy plans....but would be adding $9 to every account's bill the following month.

There was outrage and the regulators stepped in and put a huge kibosh on that plan saying it was 100% illegal to force payment for a product that was not specifically ordered by the customer. They were welcome to send free lightbulbs or to sell $9 lightbulbs. But they could not send lightbulbs then demand $9 after the fact.

KraneXL

Well I learned something here today. As a matter of fact, I just receive a box containing water saving devices: a shower head and water aerator from my water company. I would not have occurred to me to check the bill to see if I was charged for them. Thanks to you, I will investigate.

Skipjacks

None of this is based in any kind of law.

How would they know if you read it?

Hell how would they prove if the mail even delivered it? I'm sure it wasn't sent with tracking.

And how would they possible collect? Take you to court? You'd show up and say "I have no idea who these people are, your honor. They don't have an order request from me for this magazine or any proof they sent it to me. These people are nuts."