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Elizabeth of Phoenix, AZ (03/18/08)
They state my husband owes them money from a magazine subscription from the year 2000. He does not owe them any money, but they keep calling at all times during the day, from multiple phone numbers, usually hanging up before I answer.
I work an off shift and I don't get home until well after midnight. They start start calling at 8 AM.
Jessica of Port St Lucie, FL (03/10/08)
I received a call from Leubke Baker Associates regarding owing $438.80 for magazines I subscribed to in 2002. I told the lady I didn't subscribe to the magazines and she stated they were calling on behalf of Consolidated Media Services. She said that if I didn't agree to settle with them they would put this on my credit report.
I told her I wanted a phone number to Consolidated Media and she said she couldn't give me that information. She stated that once I decline the settlement statement they will contact me because the account will go back to CMS.
I never received magazines and would never even agree to this. I believe this is a scam and will dispute this once they hit my credit report with this charge.
Ernest of North Brunswic NJ (03/06/08)
I had a subscription with this company and either canceled or did not renew it. But they kept billing me. Someone just called and told me that I owed them over $50.00 which is a false claim.
This company is causing me to look over my shoulder, to make sure no damage is done by them to my credit report.
Karen of Chambersburg PA (02/29/08)
In 2001 they said that they would do a magazine subscription for me, I paid $50, never got the magazines, filed Chapter 7, and now 7 years later they are saying I owe $400. I will not pay, and I am going to raise a ruckus.
Julian of Westland MI (02/28/08)
Received phone call that I owed money on a subscription to receive 5 magazines monthly. The mailing address they gave me is one I have never even lived at. I was told it was ordered in 1998 and I owe $640.00 but they would settle for $122. I told them to get lost, this was fraudulent and never contact me again or they can talk to my lawyer.
I was warned that this collection would be placed on my credit report.
Denver of Wawatosa WI (02/18/08)
I was contacted by the collection agency Leubke Baker Associates after numerous hang-up calls from the same telephone number. They claimed to be working on behalf of Consolidated Media Services to collect a debt of over $600.00 worth of magazines! I was called by a telemarketer (CMS) back in 2001. I started receiving numerous magazines that I had not ordered. Apparently, my attempts to cancel any involvement with this company back in 2001 did not work. I had not thought about this in seven years, and suddenly a collection agency calls to say that my credit rating will be effected if I don't pay off this debt. (They were able to get the payment down to around $230.00, though. Lucky me.)
I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. I filed one for Consolidated Media Services. I also filed one for Leubke Baker Associates who are either in on the scam or see an obvious scam and don't care. I encourage anyone else who is going through this ordeal, to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. This will continue until the F.T.C. gets enough complaints to warrant an investigation.
Sarah of Columbus OH (02/16/08)
I received a phone call stating that I owed money for a magazine subscription. It was for almost $700. I have never subscribed for any magazines, never received any magazines. What should I do? This guy I spoke with couldn't even give me the phone number for the Consolidated Media Services. He was with Luebke Baker and Associates. The account number he gave me is AK481847. Thank you.
Dawn of Purcellville VA (02/13/08)
I got a call at about 7 last night from this collection company Leubke Baker Associates allegedly acting on behalf of Consolidated Media Services and stated that I owe CMS close to $700 and that my account was sent to collections where they will settle for $160. Apparently the charges were from 1999, I have no memory of this ever occurring. Apparently I agreed to charges of $58 a month for 12 months and I have memory of this. I pointed out that I had never received anything from the Collection Agency and/or CMS referring to these charges. When I asked for background account numbers, a way to contact CMS, I was told that they would provide everything once I paid the settlement. Then I thought maybe it was a scam and I said I would follow up with them. I decided to do research this morning and after reading all this I grew even more concerned and followed up with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency and the local State Protection Agency. I filed a formal complaint with the FTC and learned that unless others also file complaints these companies may get away with what they are doing because the FTC does not monitor ConsumerAffairs.com I would like to encourage everyone to use the FTC site and file a formal complaint to push the FTC to action against them for this nonsense.
Jamie of Cheektowaga NY (02/08/08)
I was contacted by Terry Linwood at Leubke Baker Associates in regards to Consolidated Media Services. They said I owed them over $600, and it was going onto my credit score. I argued and told them that I canceled and did not receive any magazines. He told me that I have to argue that with the company. He then took my payment down to just over $200, and because I am trying to keep my credit good I paid it. I then called them ,and they gave me a a number to call that went to a voicemail. The number is 1-877-388-0369. I called them back to make sure I got the right number, and they gave me the same number.
I didn't know about the problems people have been having with this company. If anyone can give me insight on what they did, it would be greatly appreciated. I have been on disability for over a year, and putting out money to protect my credit score is upsetting--and just to find out that this is a scam.
Julio of Englewood NJ (02/04/08)
I got a call from Consolidated Media Services stating that back in 1999 I had a magazine subscription that I still owed $96 on. I don't ever remember having this subscription. They gave me an address that I lived in right after high school. They said that it was not my fault, that the credit card I used expiration date had expired with 3 payments left. I would not have gotten into a magazine subscription for $400-$500. What do I do? I refuse to pay and asked for proof, but they could not give me any and gave me a phone number to Consolidated Media that went into some voicemail that was not part of the company.
Something needs to be done about this. I have worked hard to keep a good credit history--and now for this to mess it up.... Also, she said they had a second debt of mine from an address in Paterson, NJ. When I said I had never lived in Paterson, NJ, she said, "Oh, then this one is not you, but the first one is." Crazy!
This is just upsetting and scares me. I own a home and hope to move and buy a bigger home. I don't need stuff on my report messing up my credit.
John of Mt. Washington KY (01/15/08)
In 1998 a magazine company contacted me selling subscriptions to different magazines. Only being 19 yrs. old I thought it sure sounds like a good deal. After giving them my checking account info and also a credit card number, the magazines start rolling in. My parents told me I needed to cancel the subscriptions. From then on I returned to sender all magazines sent to me and called Consolidated Media to cancel the account. I was told that the subscription was canceled and everything was done. The magazines continued rolling in, my checking account was overdrawn by them, and then my credit card was hit--ultimately resulting in that card being overdrawn. Being a kid I was freaking out, no money, and my credit being trashed.
After contacting Consolidated Media, I was then told of the cancellation fee which was somehow the total of what they sold me the subscriptions for in the first place, except instead of being spread out over 24 months it was one lump sum.
When I got married I paid everything off on my credit reports. Fast forward to November 2007: my mother gets a call from Luebke Baker and Associates about a debt that I owe. After calling them back and telling them that this was settled 10 years ago by charging my bank account and credit card, they tell me they will settle for $104. I say I'm not paying anything over the phone, first of all; and second, until I see something in writing I'm definitely not paying. I don't give them any current information and tell them to send it to my parents' address that they already have. Two months later my mom gets another call from the same company. Once again I call them back and tell them they never sent what they said they were, and I'm not paying. They threaten to put it on my credit report; I've heard it all before.
I checked online, and the statute of limitations has expired for this. After calling them and telling them this, they clam up and will only ask me if I want them to status my account as uncooperative, not paying. What should I do? Our whole lives are based off our credit scores. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had it to do over, but as we all know that can't happen, so I will take the life experience. This company destroyed my credit as a young man, resulting in my now paying higher interest rates, insurance--everything.
Chrsital of White House, TN (12/10/07)
I agreed to receive magazines for a period of 24 months. After 24 months they are still trying to bill me for magazines that the subscription has run out on and constantly calling my home demanding payment. I never signed anything for these books and I have requested that they be canceled and they will not comply with the request.
I have had money taken out of my account after calling in and requesting that the subscription stop and then I have had items returned due to the fact that the monies was still taken out of my account.
Craig of Monroe WA (11/30/07)
I was first contacted by LB&A and told that I owed $186 for a magazine subscription from an address that I had lived at more than 10 years ago. They said they would take care of it for me before it went to collections. I said I would not give them my information because I did not know them. They hung up abruptly. They called again about a week later and I spoke to Deshaun. He said they had gotten the bill down to $100 now and that I could pay that. I told him the same thing as before. He would give me his info but if I wanted the info for the company that I supposedly owed money to, then I would have to submit it in writing. I then spoke to his supervisor who was rude and she also said she could not give me consolidated media services info. If I owe I'll pay it, and that's what I told them. I think this is a scam.
Nadine of Brooklyn NY (11/24/07)
I purchased a series of magazines from Consolidated Media and then canceled my subscription during the first year in 2003. At the end of that year the magazines stopped, and I thought that was the end of that experience.I paid much more money for the subscriptions than I expected to. I recently got a phone call from a collection bureau requesting that I pay a balance of $32.00. They were not able to tell me what exactly it was for. I refuse to pay because I really feel like they are tying to rip me off. To tell me I owe money 4+ years later and give me no supporting information--there is no integrity there.
Tina of Algoma, WI (11/22/07)
I got a call from LB&A stating that I owed over $500 to CMS, but GOOD NEWS! He could settle it today for $200! I asked again what this was about. Still not ringing any bells I asked when it was from, he said 1997.
My reaction was "Are you kidding me?!" I said for all I knew he could be anybody claiming I owed money since I had no record or recollection of this debt.
He said I subscribed to magazines through CMS and canceled but not in the allotted time frame. I said if I did I haven't received anything from them in a decade and IF I owed this debt I would be happy to pay it. I asked for documentation and he said they had a recording, and then badgered me about not remembering receiving Red Book.
He finally gave up and said he would see what he could do about getting some record of my debt and hung up on me.
I looked up debt collector laws. They state: Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.
Melissa of Aurora, IL (11/21/07)
Over a year ago I was receiving issues of a magazine that I did not order. I called the magazine company and they did not have record of me ever subscribing. Later, my credit card was being billed, without my knowledge, by consolidated media. I contacted them, canceled all subscriptions and was told that I did not owe any other money.
Now, a year later, I am getting calls from LBA debt collection agency. They are saying that I have to pay over $180 that I owe Consolidated Media. They also said that they could not give me any contact information for CM.
I find it interesting that I have not received any bills, not heard a word from these people in over a year and then they are trying to send me to collections!
Jennifer of Ormond Beach, FL (11/16/07)
A women from LUP Baker & Associates called me to say there was an outstanding balance and my account was heading into collections. She referenced a magazine subscription and an address from almost 10 years ago. I told her I had no recollection of what she is referring to.
She was VERY rude and there was so much noise in the background it was hard to hear, as if a party was going on. This just does not seem to add up!
Jill of Union, MO (11/15/07)
In 2004 my husband got a letter from Luebke Baker & Associates while he was away in the Army. He told me that CMS was a company that he had bought a magazine subscription from, but that he paid when signed up. He said LBA had contacted him before and he paid it. I asked for paid receipt or canceled check but he said that he didn't have one.
So, I called LBA and they said that he owed $150.96 and that if I paid it that day that they would knock it down to $80 with a $2 processing fee. I paid it.
It's three years later and I was getting hang up calls. My Caller ID said "Settlement Dept" After about the 5th one I called it back. I got some guy that said he was with LB&A. I said, "You are kidding me. We paid that years ago". I told him that we got something in the mail and that I paid if over the phone. He said they don't mail anything out and we just got this account this year.
He asked for a paid receipt or canceled check. They said fax us a copy and we will get it taken care of. I said that is what they said to me before, how do I know that it will be taken care of?
Arnella of Lawrenceville GA (11/14/07)
They called my brothers house and ask for me. When he told me I called them back and they said that I ordered magazines from them back in 1998, and that I made a payment of 49.99 and I own them 199.99 in colectors debt and if I did not pay today I will have to pay them $540 later. He said They will find me. He told me that I ordered their services for five years and the address he gave me was my old school address where I have not lived for over six years. I never received any magazines.
Connie of Port Jervis, NY (11/14/07)
I received a phone call from Luecke Baker & Assoc(LBA) stating I owe $276.20 to Consolidated Media Services for four magazines I supposedly ordered in October 1997.
I've never dealt with this company and never received any magazines. I explained I felt this was a scam, but the response I got was to write to LBA at their address in Peoria, Il.
I started to research the address and found this web site. I was glad to see that my suspicions were correct. Thank you in advance.
Anthony of Las Vegas NV (11/13/07)
I was contacted my a Miss Glenn of LBA who said I owed $240.30 to Consolidated Media Services. I was told that I had subscribed to magazines that included a Polo magazine back in 1998. I have no interest or no experience in polo nor would I subscribe to any such magazine.
I also find it very interesting that a collection company would have a listing of magazines that I had supposedly subscribed to. LBA would not give me an address or phone number for Consolidated Media Services. LBA wouldn't even let me confront CMS. Why not?
Mary of Ewa Beach HI (11/13/07)
Luebke Baker & Associates calls my home at least twice daily saying my husband owes money for a magazine subscription. The time they are claiming this to havce happened was when my husband and I were moving to Germany for 3 years (we were both in the Army. We would not have subscribed to magazines when we knew we would be out of the country for 3 years. I have asked for the contact information of Consolidated Media Services but I have been told I need a written request for that. I have asked for the bank account information that was used for this supposed purchase but have been provided none.
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Katherine of Lexington MA (11/10/07)
My name and address are being used without my knowledge or consent by CMS public space verified who sold it to Automobile magazine. The first time I started finding the undesired magazine in my personal mailbox at my home I called the subscriber dept. at the magazine and removed my name. Then I started getting it again. I complained again and they said We did stop the magazine but the agency keeps putting it back on. When I asked what agency? they said: CMS public space verified. Automobile magazine says they have removed my name again but that I now have to contact the agency in order for them not to put me back on the subscriber list. I looked up CMS which has a long list of complaints against it and previous FTC rulings.
Lynn of Duchesne UT (10/08/07)
I set up a subscription with Consolidated Media Services three years ago. They told me I had a month trial and would recieve a vacation. I was set up to pay $80 a month but could cancel within the first month after looking over the paperwork they were suppost to send me. Well I never recieved the paperwork and started recieving magazines that I didn't even order. I got my first bill from them and sent it back stating that I would like to cancel. They called me up a few weeks later and told me I had to pay for the month I used so I paid them $80. They then told me that I was cancelled and would not hear from them again.
I stopped recieving magazines up until this month I recieved a Better Homes and Garden and I'm sure it had to come from them. Then I just recieved a phone call Luebke Baker and Associates stating I owed more than a thousand dollars but could settle for $399.99. I told him that I had cancelled and they told me to pay the $80 and I would be done. The gentleman told me that yes I did cancel with Consolidate media services but because they prepaid the magazine companies I owed the full amount but it was okay to settle for a lesser amount.
Heather of Darnestown MD (10/02/07)
I received a call from Consumer affairs yesterday (10/1/2007) stating that I owed $230, but he was willing to settle for $179 for a magazine subscription that I never received. I asked for the contact info for Consolidated Media Services, as he stated that he was calling as a collector in their behalf. He would provide me with no such information. Follow that with a second and third attempt to get me to pay him the said owed monies. Very frustrating. As I just logged on to the internet to do a search for the contact info for this, Consolidated Media Services, I am alarmed at the number of others that are being pursued as well. Where to go from here?
Garry of West Hazleton PA (09/27/07)
They said it was a free magazine offer and i was suckered in and now they are haunting me for money for magazines i didn't order. i paid some of the money cause i just started repairing my credit. now today sept.27.2007 I got 5 phone calls saying that it went to a collection agency .Now my credit is in jeopardy for this .I paid them 200.00 something a year or two ago and told them to cancel it but evidently they didn't.
George of Stillwater NY (09/27/07)
I remember like it was yesterday, my credit card being charged 100's of dollars on statements 2 months in a row, I contacted my credit card co. for info on the co. taking this money, i then tried contacting them after several attempts, they said they were a magazine business, i assured them them we had not received any magazine subscriptions. my credit card co. worked with me and denied payment for fraud and unauthorization, we never heard anothe word until today 9-27-2007, 10 years have passed and the nightmare is back!
Roger of Bear, DE (04/27/07)
I received a phone call from CMS stating they are going to start billing me next month for a magazine subscribition that was paid in full in 2003.
After paying over $300 in 2003, they billed my debit card once again, which forced me to close my bank account so I wouldn't be overcharged again.
I have not heard from these people since 2004 when I cancelled the subscribtion. Now they want to bill me $66 a month for 24 more months, for magazines which I no longer receive.
Suzie of Liverpool, NY (01/16/07)
I received a phone call today from Luekbe Baker and Associates, a collection agency. An account had been reported to them stating I owe %588 for a magazine subscription going back to the year 2000.
I remember several years ago I had a problem with a magazine company taking money from a credit card of mine for a magazine subscription. I had to fight with them back then to stop the billing and discontinue sending me anything in the mail. I never received any magazines and now seven years later I can not recall what the outcome of the dispute was.
Jon of Kettering, OH (12/21/06)
I just received a phone call from a collection agency saying that I owe Consolidated Media Services $500 for a magazine subscription.
I remember when the person from the company called me in 2003. They told me I would get a diamond watch if I ordered. The first string of magazines came in and not one of them was the magazine that I wanted. I also never received the watch that they promised so I called and cancelled. I basically paid $199 for 4 magazines which I didn't even want.
Now this collection agency says that I owe $500ish. When I told the collection agent that I would like to contact my lawyer she said, she would "lower it to $199, which was less than paying a lawyer." I told her I would pay the $199 but I wanted all of the magazines that they never delivered, as well as my diamond watch. She said they do not have to do that.
I purchase investment properties and see my credit report every month or so. I will keep an eye on it.
Gilbert of Stockton, CA (11/28/06)
I received a collection letter stating that I owe $133.30 to Consolidated Media Services. I have never heard of these people nor have I ever received any correspondence from them.
After investigating them on the internet I find that they are involved in magazine subscriptions. I have never subscribed to any magazines.
We attempted to call this company and you are left on hold for an extended period of time, 25 minutes and no one comes back on the line. If you go to their website they only give you options on how to make a payment, nothing about the bill itself.
Jonathan of Sanibel, FL (09/26/06)
I received a collection letter from Luebke Baker & Assoc on behalf of Consolidated Media Services for the amount of $220, which they say they are generously reducing from the $542.08 I owe!!!!
I remember this magazine scam from a few years ago and I didn't fall for it then either. I never received a single magazine and never asked for any in the first place nor did I ever pay them any money.
Karen of Bremerton, WA (08/08/06)
In 2000, my husband agreed via phone to subscribe to several magazines through Consolidated Media Services. He misunderstood the offer, and ended up purchasing many more magazines than he intended, many of them for a period of 5+ years. He spent more than a year paying the commitment off - more than $700.
Fast forward to 2005 – We get a call from a collection agency telling us we are being sent to collection for $438.88 owed for those magazines ordered back in 2000. We had not heard from Consolidated Media Services since late 2001/early 2002 when we received what we believed was our final statement. They claimed my husband has been “unresponsive” and have therefore sent him to a collection agency – Lubke Baker & Associates.
We’ve not received ANY bills from them in years. They claim bills to us have been returned as undeliverable-even though we’ve updated our addresses with all of the magazines and had our mail forwarded after we moved in 2003. My husband is a public employee so he is very easy to find.
Per the advice of an attorney friend, we sent a letter to L,B & Assoc. requesting proof in writing of the money they claimed we owed them. We have not ever gotten a response. Our attorney friend said that they can not continue to contact us for payment until providing proof of money owed. The calls stopped – until about a month ago. Now we are getting 3-5 calls PER DAY from Lubke, Baker & Associates with the same demands for hundreds of dollars – including even more late fees that have accumulated this past year since we’ve been “unresponsive.”
We’ve filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau of Georgia a year ago and have filed them again this week but we are at our wits end with this harassment. We just want it to stop.
Tabitha of North Pole AK (08/03/06)
In 2003 I was contacted by Consolidated Media Services to ask if I wanted some magazines. I agreed. I never received the free gift they sent out and called and canceled. I did receive a few magazines, but after cancelling they stopped coming. I was contacted today by LBA, their collection department. I was treated like crud by some little girl on the phone and her manager was no better. They wanted me to pay $269.91! For the magazines! I said NO, then they offered to lower it to $155.97. I said I wanted to get some legal adivce and was then told that if I wanted to do that then would turn my account back over and it would go on my credit. They would not give me the chance to get legal advice first! The manager, Shannon then knocked the settlement down to $121.97. I was never given the chance to ask my lawyer for advice on this matter. I offered to pay for what I did receive, around 9 magazines and I figured they were around $5 each at the news stand. That is no where near the $121.97 they wanted. I was told if I did not pay it was going on my credit, so I paid them.
My credit was in jeparody over this. I was denined the right to talk to my lawyer prior to paying this debt. She said my lawyer would charge me more then my debt was. Then she said she wanted all my lawyer's information so she could contact him. I refused to give her that information and was then told to either pay or not... Since we are refinancing our current home I could not risk this collection showing up on my credit report...
Karen of New Milford, CT (08/01/06)
I only remember ordering a subscription to People magazine, but the next thing I knew they were calling trying to collect $500 for my magazine subscription. I told them they were wrong and they said I could pay $160 to call it even and they would go away.
I just recently starting getting calls from a collection agency trying to collect the money that was supposed to be written off years ago. Story is the same as all the others, only they call with different numbers and different names.
Audrey of Westbrook, ME (2/9/06)
I was contacted at work by a representative from LBA Associates regarding an overdue account from 1999. They stated that I had already paid over $350 to Consolidated Media Services and I still owe $43.88. I do not have any recollection of this magazine order or this company. I am quite concerned that this is nothing but fraudulent activity and many innocent people can be hurt.
I am refusing to pay at the time. I'm not sure if this ever occurred, but if they targeted my account, unbeknownst to me, I have lost $385.
Andrea of Jamestown, ND (2/3/06)
My husband received 2 phone calls on his cell phone from Luebke Baker and Associates stating that he owed $262.08 to Consolidated Media Services for a subscription he started in 1997.
My husband does remember getting a call one morning about some magazine and shortly after that we received a few. We tried to find out why he was getting these magazines and CMS told us that he agreed to a contract and had to pay $300 to cancel all the subscriptions. When we asked for proof of the contract, they said that they had a recording but for some reason it didn't work that day!
We paid the money and never heard from them again. That is until this December. It has been 8 years!!!!! Give me a break.
Fraser of Athens, AL (1/27/06)
I have received 3 phone calls from Luther, Baker & Associates in LESS than 24 hours demanding a debt be paid in the amount of $588. I do NOT know anything about Consolidated Media Services, nor do I subscribe to their magazines, yet they continue to call and harass me.
This has caused a debt to be reflected as a "non-payment" debt and has now gone against my credit. This is FRAUD.
Kimberly of Baton Rouge, LA (1/26/06)
I received a call this morning from an attorney saying that I had an outstanding debt with Consolidated Media Services for $30. My husband had subscribed to their magazines in 2002 and had the $15 taken out of our bank account monthly. The attorney said that we had two payments left and if we cleared the balance that day everything would be fine.
Since I didn't want anything to mess up my credit, I paid the $30.
Christina of Mineral, VA (1/24/06)
CMS claimed that in 2002 I ordered a subscription of multiple magazines. I never ordered any subscriptions but was sent Elle and Vogue in the mail. I tried sending them back and no bills were ever sent to me.
Then in 2004 I received a phone call requesting payment for over $600, which I ended up settling for approx $480. At that time I requested cancellation any further subscriptions but they stated that they could not do that because they were now paid in full.
Two years later (1/24/06) I find that what I thought was paid off (that I didn't order in the first place) has been turned over to a collection agency and I owe approx $380!
Damages: They are still sending me magazines that I never ordered, reordered or signed any type of agreement.
Peggy of Middletown, NY (1/23/06)
I received a phone call in January of 2006 stating that I owed $600 to Consolidated Media from 1999. I do not recall signing any agreement or phone call back in 1999. I told the creditor that I wanted information on the contract or the company or any of my personal information. He couldn't give me any information nor would he give me a phone number to contact the company.
I refused to pay and two weeks later I received a letter from a law firm LBA stating that they would reduce the amount I owed to $359. I took the letter to the troopers and my district attorney.
Then I get another call. This guy tells me that I signed a contract on 6/26/00 for 10 payments for $58.60 and that I paid them $464.80. He said I owed $359 but that if I paid now it would be $198. I told him to do the math - those numbers don't add up.
I told him that I wanted a copy of the contract, phone number to consolidated media, the method of payment I used back in 2000, and why the creditors did not match with the story I got back in the beginning of January.
I told him that I refused payment the first call and I refuse to pay them this time.
Tracy of Lafayette, CA (1/18/06)
In April 2001 I signed up for what I thought sounded almost to good to be true - lots of my favorite magazines at a great price. But by the time my credit card bill came (May of 2000) I was laid off from my job. I immediately contacted CMS and requested that the subscription be canceled. With much fuss the woman canceled my account and refunded my money. I never heard from them again or got any of the magazines.
Then out of the blue in December of 2005 I start getting phone calls, sometimes 3 times a night. I finally answered and who should be on the other end? CMS. Supposedly they turned over my accounts to some collection agency and wanted to know where their money was!
I told them that I had canceled in May of 2001 and that was the end of any dealings I had with CMS. I explained that I had my credit card statement and letters to prove it.
Since that phone call I have received a letter from a collection agency stating I owe $300. I am now in the process of sending them a letter of complaint against CMS and stating that I don't owe them or anyone else money.
Gaetana of Brooklyn, NY (1/13/06)
Approximately 5 to 6 years ago, I received an email from CMS offering me free magazine subscriptions. I was told that I would be charged $58.00 per month for an entire year to cover subscription for 4 years. I was charged $58.00 on one of my credit cards, and yet I never received one magazine from this company.
I tried for days to cancel but always received a busy signal. I finally got through to them and was told I had to pay over $700 because they already paid the publisher. I told her I wanted to cancel because I had been waiting over 1˝ months for magazines that never arrived. She said I couldn't cancel.
A year or so later I received a bill from CMS stating I owed them $58.00, which I paid. Now I am being harassed by the collection agency that was hired by CMS to do their dirty work.
Carol of Chicago, IL (1/11/06)
In April 2001 I was contacted by phone to subscribe to magazines. I got the package and immediately tried to cancel the subscription but was ignored. I got a call from CMS telling me to pay $239.94 to cancel my account. I paid it, had my credit card company block further payments and never heard from CMS again. No overdue notices, no bills, nothing.
On 11/25/05 I got a call from LBA, a collections agency for CMS, telling me that I owed CMS $600 for magazines. The rep said they were authorized to offer a buy-out in the amount of $250. I was stunned. "Amanda" told me that LBA sent me a letter dated 11/3/05 informing me that I had been sent to collections. I never received that letter, or any previous bills from CMS.
I sent a certified letter dated 12/3/05 to LBA formally disputing the collection action and requesting copies of all documents, correspondence and audio tapes in my file including but not limited to the contract indicating the terms and conditions, the names of the magazines, the letter requesting payment of $239.94 and copies of any and all communication (bills/notices, etc.) indicating that I owe money. To date I have received nothing.
Yolanda of Anchorage, AK (1/10/06)
My husband received a collection notice in the mail for $1302 for a catalog subscription from 1999. He called Consolidated Media Service on 12/10/05 asking why he had received a charge for a magazine subscription he had never ordered. He was told he had ordered the subscription in 1999 and had made monthly payments of $58.24 for a total of around $600 and then he had stopped making the payments. This was an attempt to collect a debt for the remaining balance owed and legal fees.
I have researched all bank statements from 1999 to date and can find no record of any payments of $58.24 a month coming out of his bank account. I called the 800-number and spoke with a man named Henry who told me that this was a legitimate debt and we must pay it.
I told him I was fully aware this was a scam and that my husband had no intention of paying for this. I told him we were taking this matter to court and I wanted proof of all payments made, bank account, credit card info, or anything else he could give me to support this claim of debt. I told him I had researched this company and knew of the massive amount of fraudulent accounts they had with consumers everywhere and I refused to let my husband be apart of this. I told him I wanted the debt taken off his credit report immediately.
Janella of San Juan Pueblo, NM (1/5/06)
I first talked to Consolidated Media Services in October 2002. I thought it was a good deal, to get all these magazines and the saleslady convinced me because she worked on commission and really needed the money. I gave in and now will continue to receive magazines until 2007. Which comes out to 5 years of wasted magazines.
It is my fault and I learned from this. The $500 could have gone towards something more reasonable than magazines.
Todd of Somersville, CT (12/22/05)
Like all the others that posted here - it happened to me. I received a phone call from a collection agency from CMS. I told the man I had no idea what he was talking about. I have not received a magazine, a bill, or overdue statement.
I told him if he could send me some proof of this bill I would be happy to pay. He then told me there was no time, and that I only had 7 days before this goes on to my credit report. I asked him the date of the bill and he told me the year 2000! I was shocked and now getting mad.
I had financial troubles 8 years ago and since then I swore I would keep good credit, and I have. My credit is now destroyed because of this.
Joanne of Myakka City, FL (10/29/05)
This company claims they called my home in 2001 and spoke with me about reduced rates for magazine subscriptions. They claim I made one payment. To the best of my knowledge I never ordered magazines from them. I also never received any magazines of the titles they claim. As a matter of fact, I never received any magazines in 2001.
On October 28, 2005 Consolidated Media had a collection agency call me in an attempt to intimidate me into paying $531. However, if I made a check payment online they would reduce the collection amount to $241! I informed the collector that I had no intention of paying this debt, reduced or otherwise, as I had not ordered or received magazines.
This whole scenario really alarms me. I had an unlisted phone number in 2001 and moved two years ago, with another unlisted number. How did they find me? This will damage my credit without me being able to contest it.
Laura of Pembroke, MA (12/28/05):
I received a phone call in 1997 from a telemarketer. I can't remember all the details exactly, but a short time after the call I started receiving many magazines that I did not request. I tried to cancel but was told that I could not and I ended up paying them over $200.
Now, in Dec 2005 I get a phone call stating I am in collection because of CMS and that I owe over $400. I told the collection agency I thought it was false and asked if they had any info for CMS. They stated they only had their name, city and state. So I look up CMS online and I am not surprised to see complaint after complaint towards this company for all of the same things that I went through and now continue to go through with this company.
Damages: $200 in 1998 and now in 2005 I am told I am in collections as I am trying to build my credit score.
Elizabeth of Tampa, FL (12/28/05):
I was contacted by LBA & Assoc this morning saying I owed $155 to Consolidate Media Services from a magazine subscription from Oct. 1999, almost 7 years ago! I told them they would not get one cent from me as I remember being scammed by them back in 1999, never received ANY of their magazines, and still had to pay them $311.
LBA told me they had record of the $311 I paid, but I still owed $155. When I questioned why, she told me that I agreed to 14 payments of $11.25 each. I told her to do the math and that that was $157. If I had already paid them $311 what was her point?
She finally gave up and told me to call Consolidated Media Services myself and gave me an 800 number. When I called, it was a wrong number, so I called LBA collections back. She told me she would file me as a refusal to pay. I then told her NO, you are not going to affect my credit with this. I told her you obviously have to report to someone at Consolidated Media Services that I am not paying. I want their information.
She said she had no idea what happens to the claim after she is done with it, and hung up on me. I am fed up with people and companies like this that can affect people's credit. I told her I would rather pay $1000 in court than give them one red cent.
I will be contacting the BBB and FTC to make sure this does not affect my credit report.
Glenn of Rancho Cucamonga, CA (12/24/05):
About 5 years ago, I moved into the dormitories at a local university. I received an invitation in the mail that told me to call because I could receive a gift just for calling. I was told that if I subscribed to various magazines they would give them to me for a low price. I would be locked in for a year and then I could cancel after that year was over.
After the first year I cancelled the subscriptions and have never received a magazine since. About 3 months ago I got a call from a collections agency. The man explained that my account was delinquent and that I had to make a payment of $74. I told him that I cancelled the subscription a long time ago and had not received any past due information. He stated that he would research the findings and get back to me. I gave him my new address but never heard from the collections agency or CMS.
Now I get a call from a lady from the collections agency saying exactly the same thing the man stated three months earlier. I explained to her what I told the first person and she said that it was not documented and that my old address was still showing up. I again gave her my new address to send me a bill. She wanted me to make a credit card payment over the phone. I told her that I would make the payment, but I wanted something in writing and I also wanted to make sure that I would have no more connections with CMS!
She said she was going to call me tomorrow. The next day I missed a call, and figured it was the collections agency so I called them back with the number that I got from the previous night. I spoke with a female and asked what was going on with my account. She said that they are seeking $74 to close the account. I told her that I understood that and was waiting for a bill. She said that they sent it out a long time ago. I asked her what address they had on file and she read my old address once again! I told her of my previous experiences. She said that none of that is documented and that she will change the address now. I'm getting so frustrated with this thing!
Amy of Eden, NY (12/13/05)
I tried to cancel my order with CMS and even contacted the BBB. My credit card was charged $116.48 for magazines that I didn't want. CMS stated, in the letter, that I would still be receiving certain magazines since I already paid for them. I just found that letter and realize that I never got those magazines.
I paid for 3 years of magazines that I never received.
Raylene of Whitewater, WI (12/7/05)
I got a call saying I had won a 3-day/2-night vacation because I was a Visa cardholder and that I could also receive free magazines. Then I was told that after I received my magazines, I could subscribe to them at a lesser charge. The caller said he needed to verify my Visa account number to make sure I was the person on the account, and told me I would also be entered into a drawing for a large sum of money.
I thought the call was from Visa, so I gave them my account number. I am still receiving magazines and being charged $49.92 every month. I have called the company numerous times to cancel the magazines and get a refund, but they either hang up on me, call me with more magazine-selling schemes, or tell me that if I don't pay I will have my wages garnished or be contacted by a bill collection agency.
Andrew of Chesterville, ME (11/29/05)
I was recently contacted by a collection agency about a bill for $681 that I allegedly owed for a magazine subscription. I never received any magazines nor did I sign anything. This goes back to NOV 2000!
Now it's Nov 2005 and they have sent my account to collections. I never received a single magazine nor did I agree to this.
To have a collection agent call me up and harass me about paying them off is totally wrong.
David of Suwanee, GA (11/25/05)
I was contacted in my home in Atlanta after I moved into a new home. This collection dept/attorney said that I had ordered a magazine in 2000 when I lived in New Jersey and I had made two payments on the account. I never ordered the magazine.
They said a balance was due on the account of $299.52 and they would be happy to draft my account. I asked them how the magazine was ordered or how the payments were made and they were unable or refused to answer any of my questions. They threatened me and got very loud with me.
I asked them to send me a copy of a demand for $299.52. Now I feel that not only am I being harassed, but that they should be investigated for sending a fraudulent bill through the US mail.
Misty of Provencal, LA (11/22/05)
I received a call from Consolidated Media telling me of a "good" deal on magazines. Stupidly, I agreed to subscribe to the many magazines that they said were on discount and that they would match, but afterwards I decided to cancel the subscription. I was told I could pay $82.50 and it would be taken care of, forever!
That was in July of 2002. Now, in 2005, I have been contacted by LBA that insists I owe $291. But they say I can pay $82.50 and my account will be settled forever. This is the same thing I was told in 2002!
The woman spent at least 10 minutes trying to persuade me to 'just give her a credit card number' to pay them because, in her words, "its only 82.50". She encouraged me to pay with a credit card because "if you don't legally owe it to us, then we will have to reimburse you".
She then added that if this was not resolved by tomorrow, that the case would be sent back to Consolidated Media and I would then have to pay $291. I told her that was fine, I have no problem in paying bills I owe. She finally she gave me an address and a phone number for LBA, however she said that she could not give out Consolidated Media's contact information and that I would have to find that on my own.
I have hung up on them, told them I would take legal action, and even told them to just go ahead and sue me!! I am at the end of my ropes!!!
Roxanne of Escanaba, MI (11/18/05)
I received a phone call from LBA in Peoria Illinois. The woman advised me that I owed over $600 to Consolidated Media Services from an order I placed in 1999. She said they would settle for $250 today if I would agree.
She stated that I had paid the initial $600, but when the subscription was to be renewed, I had never paid for it. I told her that I never renewed the subscription but cancelled once my first subscription was done.
I have never received any notification from CMS until today. I did not agree on the settlement and I am writing LBA to state my dispute. I am also checking further on these allegations. I am going to request a copy of the document they received and see if this company is bogus or affiliated with Consolidated Media Services. I would like to know what else I should do since I know that I handled all matters correctly some 6 years almost 7 years ago.
Katy of Ypsilanti MI (9/19/03):
About 3 years ago, I moved into a new apartment in a new town, I thought I was finally free from the telemarketing that had plagued me at my previous residence... I was wrong. Within a week of moving in, I received a phone call from a very pleasant woman who told me that if I subscribed to 8 magazines of my choice from their extensive list, the company she worked for would "match" my subscription and offer me 4 more magazines, free. I was told that I would be billed a mere 3.99 per magazine (for the 8 I chose) per month for the next 12 months- after the billing period was through, I would continue to receive all 12 magazines for free for another 3 years.
I am heavily involved with music, and home recording... some of the magazines they offered were music and d.i.y. studio/recording magazines. I had done a lot of cover price research on this type of magazine and determined that since they normally ran about $6/issue at a book store, or $5 through a direct subscription. As for other magazines, I did some quick math and figured that if I was going to be getting the magazines for 4 years total and only paying for 1 year, subscribing through CMS would be a true benefit to me... again, I was wrong.
The polite woman who made the first call signed me up, and after much questioning on my part, assured me that NONE of my personal information would be shared, and that I wouldn't be charged ANYTHING other than the 3.99/magazine/month (which totals to a payment of about $32/month for the 8 magazines I chose - This was very important to me, as I was living paycheck to paycheck at the time, and was using my debit card instead of a credit card to pay.)
The lady told me that I would receive a "welcome package" within a week, and that payments would start in conjunction with that phone call. She then listed magazines and I picked 8 of my choice- these were Keyboard, Guitar Player, Home Studio Magazine, Guitar One, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, American Psychology, and Discover. I was told that the 4 magazines I would receive free of charge would be Jane, Elle, People, and Spin- I wasn't really interested in the first three, but they were free, so what the heck - and I asked if I could substitute Spin, as I was already subscribed directly through their publisher, I was told yes, so I substituted Readers Digest.
I was then passed on to a man who claimed to be the woman’s supervisor, he asked me some questions about her performance and then double checked my information and bid me good day. I did indeed receive my welcome package about a week and a half later, included was an invoice stating that $66.65 had been withdrawn from my account in payment. I was shocked! I had done the math with the woman who initiated the first call, as well as her "supervisor" and we had concluded that I would be billed UNDER $40/month for the services. I immediately got on the phone to CMS and tried to straighten things out. The man I spoke with was VERY rude and defensive, and insisted that I had agreed to pay $66.65 per month for the magazines. I said I wanted to cancel the subscriptions if they were planning to charge me that much, more than $20 over the "original" fee... he told me that I couldn't cancel, as it was too late, and that my only option to avoid monthly payments would be to pay it in one lump sum right then- and that it would be in the neighborhood of $800 for the entire payment.
I explained as patiently as I could my reasons for paying in monthly installments, and told him in detail, the account of my first call with CMS. He continued to insist that I was wrong and that I must not have understood - he then told me that all conversations were taped and that I could request to listen to my initial call if I wanted... I told him that yes, I would very much like a copy of the recorded conversation. After that, he abruptly hung up on me.
I was too frustrated to call back that day, but the next time I called- I was put on the phone with a woman who spoke such broken English that I could only understand about 1 word of every sentence she spoke, for obvious reasons, the conversation didn't get very far before I hung up.
A week after that call, I began to receive billing statements for various services that I never signed up for, long distance phone service, even a dating service - I was too busy for the next month or so trying to cancel all these other services and get my money back from them to even deal with CMS at that time. I did eventually start a routine of calling them monthly to dispute charges (still not having received any magazines), and question why they had given out my information when they told me they wouldn't, and to get a recorded copy of that first call to be used in any legal disputes I, by this time could foresee occurring.
I never got that recording, and I ended up paying every penny and then some of the $800 lump sum. To make a long story short, I eventually began to receive magazines, however- they were not the magazines to which I had subscribed - I wound up getting only 1 of the guitar magazines, and none of the other music magazines that had been my reason for subscribing in the first place. The other magazines were constantly being substituted with titles like Field and Stream (which I receive to this day) and Teen People - I am in my twenties, I have NO desire to read this magazine. I received Entertainment weekly very sporadically and eventually (after only 14 or 15 copies of what is supposed to be a WEEKLY magazine the subscription ended).
CMS began to call me on an almost weekly basis throughout the next 6 months asking for more money and when I refused, changed their tactics by trying to trick me into paying them more money. I continued to be billed the $66.65/ month, even though the CMS payments would often be withdrawn off schedule (I was told my payments would be withdrawn around the 15th of each month) causing me to bounce several rent checks and have other debit purchases fail to go through as well. I eventually cancelled that bank account just to stop their withdrawals - and when I did that, started getting VERY angry calls from them saying they were going to send my information to a collection agency and that if I didn't pay them the rest of the fee (at this point, I had only 1 month left to pay on - supposedly) that there would be severe legal consequences. When I finally had the money, I sent them a money order for the final $66.65 and figured I'd washed my hands of them – and for the last time, I was AGAIN WRONG...
They continued to call me well into the next year asking for more money until I finally told them to stop calling me and that I would be the one taking legal action if they called me again. I learned the true meaning of the word "NO" during the last few years, and I think that CMS finally has because I haven't heard from them in about 6 months, however, I am still receiving a few of the magazines (Readers Digest, Discover, Jane, and of course, Field and Stream) though these magazines hardly seem worth all the bullshit that I've gone through because of this company.
If I could go back to the day I received that first call and tell them to take their magazines and put them somewhere I won't mention... I most certainly would. I guess you could say I am lucky that it wasn't worse, and that I actually received SOME magazines, as most people who's complaints I've read never even had that privilege... but I still wouldn't wish this experience on even my worst enemy. No one deserves this.
Karen of Sacramento CA (8/20/03):
When I first moved to the States a little over a year ago I was bombarded with telemarketing calls, CMS being one of them. Being completeley unaware of what a telemarketer was or how much I could get tricked I listened and decided that since I wasnt working at the time some magazines would be nice to bide my time. I was told that that I would get 3 or 4 free magazines if all I did was agree to contribute towards Rolling Stone magazine which I agreed to do since I figured it would cost around $5 to $10 on one magazine a month, then I get billed $58.24 for my supposedly free magazines, completley stumped when I was given the price and feeling too uncomfortable to say I changed my mind.
I decided to give it a go and see if I would like the magazines and cancel in a month if I did not feel I was getting my money's worth,well it took me about 3 months for me to get my first magazines and I do not have any interest in them, Rolling Stone which is supposed to be the only one I'm paying for I dont even read! I tried calling and cancelling but was told that I couldn't, all I would be doing was paying off a lump sum for 2 or 3 years instead of 4 and I would continue to get these magazines which I had no use for.
They got me again today, I was called early in the morning when I was still asleep and almost to the very end of the conversation I thought they were trying to talk to me about my existing subscription because I was told that I would be entered in a $5000 draw Saptember cause of the Visa card I was using to pay for my magazines. When I tried to clarify with them towards the end when they were getting me to talk on a tape I think I was told that I was renewing my subscription, nothing was very clear since they talk so fast! It strikes me now that they were entering me in the competetion by renewing my membership through them but that wasn't made clear at all, I dont want to be involved with them any longer, it's a waste of time and money which I dont have!
I think it's terrible how they try to trick people out of their money. I was told I would only have to pay for one magazine and instead I ended up paying $58.24 a month, where in the world does one magazine cost $58.24? It's terrible how they get you.
Kathleen of Tallahassee FL (2/18/03):
I was called one night and asked if I would be interested in a multiple magazine subscription for an incredibly discounted rate. I am a big fan of magazines so I heard them out. Before I knew it I had agreed to a $90.00 a month subscription service for four magazines for three years.
I knew I was in trouble, so the next day I decided to spend a fair amount of my time finding them on the internet so that I could contact them to at the least minimize my subscription, and at the most cancel it entirely. Lucky for me I got a call from them that day and they wanted to confirm my order at which time I told them I was interested in cancelling stating that my fiancee received word of his employment termination after I spoke with them. They agreed to a lesser subscription at a reduced "student rate" for a cost of $29.99 a month for 12 months. I also opened my account with a credit card but to avoid my card being billed each month I asked to be put on invoice billing whereby they were supposed to send me a paper invoice for me to make my payments each month.
Now a couple of months have passed and I have yet to receive the first invoice from them. Sure I think this is strange but having yet to receive correspondence from them I had no means by which to contact them in regards to my now past due account. Next thing I know I ma receiving a harrassing call at my place of employment notifying me that my account was past due to the note of roughly $60.00, and that I needed to pay it immediately. I informed the caller that I had yet to receive the first invoice for my account and until such time as I did receive the invoice I would not be remitting payment of any kind. I made this statement several times and the customer service (what a joke, customer service yeah right!!) rep went on to give me the adress I shouold remit my payment in full to.
I informed her again that I would not be paying until I received an invoice from them. Today I come home to a letter from Consolidated Media Services (CMS) notifying me that my account was past due and payment shoujld be remitted immediately. I was given three options: either give them a credit card to chrage my past due amount and all subsequent payments to, send them a voided check with all of my banking information on it so that they could conduct an electronic payment for the past due amount, and all subsequent payments, or send them a check or money order for the "total payment amount due CMS" (which I assume to be the cost of my subscription as a whole).
However, no amount due was stated anywhere on this invoice. I decided to call the phone number on the invoice, and was fortunate enough to speak to yet another unpleasant CMS employee who when asked if my account could be cancelled informed me that it could not as CMS paid the respective magazine companies my subscriptions in advance and such monies were not refundable to them, and now my account is past due by $89.97, and they expect me to remit payment immediately.
I was them given the number of their Customker Service department who could answer and further questions I may have. I took the number and tried to call but their office ohours had expired and I reached no one. Now I find myself in a situation where I know I ma dealing with a bunch of crooks and I don't know how to get out of it. I am angry, dejected, and ready to strike. I have no desire to continue with this company, but am uncertain as to the recourse I can take if any...is there help?
Diane of Forest Park OH (3/7/03):
I have written to them about canceling my subscription before, I felt it was being ignored. They're still sending magazines even the one I don't want. I've told them a bunch of times that I didn't want the magazine that they keep sending me. I was told before that they would take care of it. Money has been taken out of my account without authorization, and I am fighting to getting it back.
Charles of Scott AFB, IL (2/3/03):
I was offered a subscription to several magazines by CMS Magazines. Being in the military I was deployed short notice to the Middle East. I left a full power of attorney with my brother to act on my behalf and get this cancelled. They wouldn't talk to him at first. I am in a location where I do not have access to a phone. They keep calling my house even after they had been asked to stop by both my brother and my wife. I thought it was illegal for telemarketers to keep calling when they were told to stop. I will be gone for a minimum of 6 months to defend this country and all I wanted was for the subscription to be cancelled. It seemed to be a big hassle to the company to do this. I haven't been billed yet and I shouldn't be billed since I have not received any of the subscription yet.
Christina of Newark DE (10/23/02):
I was told I would receive magazines at a discount price for three years. I am a school teacher and needed the magazines for class (bilingual magazines). When I didn't receive any magazines, but was charged for them, I called to complain. The person I dealt with was very rude and said there was no way they would cancel my order. I called my credit card company to stop payment. For the last three months, CMS has called my work harassing me. When I would come to the phone from my class, they would hang up. They also were very rude to the secretary at the school. I was recently sent a payment recovery notice, which I am disputing. I finally received some magazines since I complained, but they weren't even the magazines I wanted. I just want to let CMS know that I am not pleased with what has happened and I will be disputing the payment recovery.
Jenice of Orlando FL (10/21/02):
I got a postcard in the mail from CMS stating I was eligable for a drawing and free magazines if I buy several issues of TIME. Several days later I called to cancel out of the drawing and the magazines and the guy said I said yes to a three year verbal contract of all these magazines I was supposed to get for free. The stress of speaking to several different people that would not let me talk to a supervisor. They took money out of my credit card. A couple of weeks later I had a miscarriage. They are all a bunch of liars.
Toby of Ormond Beach FL (10/10/02):
My 18 year-old daughter was hit by a telemarketer as she was getting ready to go to work. They asked her her interests and were very pleasant over the phone. They then offered her several "free" magazines if she'd subscribe to several others. Of course, a teenager lives for magazines and she got hooked! She believed the payment to be only two payments of $66 + on her newly acquired $200 limit credit card so figured, why not? It sounded like a good deal to her. They claimed to have sent her a confirmation card which she signed and returned (of which she has no recollection.)
Now they are charging her $66 + per month on her credit card with a limit of $200! Needless to say, I signed for this card as her mother so she would have something in an emergency to pay for a new tire or road service and now she has practically exceeded her limit. While I'm not defending her agreeing to this subscription "agreement," she did not receive any confirmation notice to her knowledge, she did not realize she was going to be paying for magazines she did not even agree to, she did not authorize a charge of $700+ to her credit card.
My daughter is a college student with only a meager part-time job. There is hardly any way she can afford to pay this amount for more than the two months which we have already paid! When I called the company, the "gentleman" I spoke with was extrememly rude and defensive. I told him to cease charging her credit card and cancel ALL subscriptions since it was not what Toby understood on the phone. He argued with me that he could not stop the subscriptions and that they had gone to a tremendous expense to get her such a super rate. I argued back but obviously, I have gotten nowhere.
Melinda of Florence MS (9/5/02):
I am now receiving several magazines I can't afford. I wasn't given the true cost until after they had my bank info. They also gave my info. to another co. that charged over $55 on my account. I had the bank reverse those, but I can't get the magazines stopped. "There's no cancellation provision," they say. $40 per month out of my checking acct automatically for 3 years! I am a single mom & can't afford this! I did not understand that it was for 3 years!
Syscine of Antelope CA (9/5/02):
Telemarketing Group called to send me free magazines, this has been two months now. They indicated I would receive a confirmation package in three days, still nothing. They called to confirm my address, and again stated, it would be three days, still nothing. Today, I get a call from a lady named Bookie, and she told me I was two months behind in my payments and I let her know I still have receive nothing. I finally told her to cancel everything and she stated I only had 10 days. Well, I have not signed anything let alone recieved anything, so I feel this should be canceled and no notice of collections should be an issue.
I did some research on this company and in April the Federal Courts are to be addressing this issue as there are numerous people with the same issues and they are fraudulent. I also, printed a letter from another gal with the identical circumstances as mine, these people need to be stopped.
Maurice of St. Petersburg FL (9/4/02):
About 18 months ago I started receivng a lot of magazines. I called and cancelled them and refused to pay. Last August when I purchased a home I was forced to pay over $500 to a collection agency in order to close on my home. I called the CMS and raised heck. They said they would cancel all magazine. In Feb. 2002 I received a new bill from a collection agency for over $300. I called CMS again and was told they would take care of it. A few months ago some called to renew my magazines, I told the girl I never ordered any, quit sending them. Now I am receiving a lot of magazines again. I am afraid the are charging me more money, then sending all these to collections. No matter who I talk to they assure me they will take of it, yet I keep gettin more and new magazines.
David of Russellville AR writes (9/19/01):
I was told over the phone that I would receive computer magazines at a special discount rate. I asked what the "catch" was and was told that there was none. I signed up for the magazines and they never came, even months later. But, the company withdrew several hundred dollars out of my bank account. Worse they gave out my bank account without my permission and I spent weeks contacting businesses and getting my money back for services that I was unaware of and not using.
At least the other companies associated with CMS immediately gave back my money, having other complaints from other people as well. The worst part is that CMS would not give back my money, they said that we had a contract. I said not since you broke your word and lied by giving out my personal banking account number and on top of all that, I have not received one computer magazine.
I called several times and the customer service would not let me speak to a suppervisor. They rudely told me that we have a contract and I would have to wait for my late magazines. At this point they have deducted my account twice and no magazines but a lot of headaches trying to get my money back from them and two other companies which I had never talked to before. I finally demanded over the phone that I get my money back and they said that they would return my money in a week or so, which I will have to see to believe. They told me that they are going to send me a collection notice and report me for breaking a contract. I have not received any magazines at all. Why am I being billed?
I lost $140 to CMS so far for no magazines recieved. They were billing me for future magazines all in one year in monthly payments. I lost $48.69 to some Long Distance Calling plan membership that I knew nothing about until I questioned how they got my account number to my bank. I lost $96.99 to some other membership service called Connections which are supposed to send back my money since I never used or agreed to their membership priveleges. They told me how they got my bank account from CMS and were nice and apologetic. CMS really made me feel vulnerable since they would not even discuss giving my money back and were giving out my personal bank account like it was candy.
David should contact the U.S. Postal Inspector immediately.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
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