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We have received hundreds of complaints about this company, in addition to the small sample shown below. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been hearing the same complaints and took action against the company in May 2008.
Gary of Stratford CT (08/27/08)
They called my past job and thought it was a cool deal. They told me that they would send me a list of magazines and I could just pay the shipping for the ones I would choose. They sent me the list and wanted nothing on the list and never chose anything. Now I'm getting women magazines and stuff I don't want.
I've emailed them about it and talked to them. They are saying it is too late trying to charge me $90 to cancel. I emailed them to cancel and the last guy claims there is no record of the email plus I called before that and there is apparently no call record of that too.
This is still new but I assume they are gonna affect my credit rating.
Gail of Iowa Park TX (08/12/08)
These people keep sending magazines & bills for magazines I DID NOT order. They had my address right but my name wrong. They swear they have a recording of me...whatever. Didn't order/don't want. They have been sending me bills & say I now owe over $35 but if I want to cancel I have to pay $60. They only call at work...not home.
This is a complete scam & NO MATTER what they say I didn't order any magazines...I never read them & if I did read magazines it wouldn't be the stupid ones they are sending me....I'm tired of this harassment & I'm contemplating having to hire an attorney because I have exemplary credit & I refuse for this to mess it up
I currently am getting stress headaches over the though of this screwing up my credit....
Jenna of Fulton NY (07/19/08)
I was at work when this company called me and gave me their sales pitch. When she told me about the fee, I asked, is this a one time fee. They said yes. A month later I received a bill from them, stating that I owe them 29.90 a month for the next 2 years. I would never have signed up for something like that, I can't afford that! Now they are calling and harassing me at work, which I have since told my coworkers to tell them I have quit, hoping to stop the calls. I have tried to contact them myself to cancel, but as soon as I hit the submit button it clears my screen, so I tried it again with the same result. That was when I decided to type their name in a search and found all the complaints from other individuals on the consumer site. I just cant believe I fell for their scam!
They are threatening to send me to collections, I've received 2 pink slips in the mail stating my account is overdue. My co workers have told me that they have been calling for me, but haven't actually got me on the phone yet.
Michelle of Pinson AL (07/18/08)
PBS called my husband at work, he is a store manager, but was running a register at the time and dealing with customers. He thought that he was getting some free magazines. Imagine getting a bill for $800.00, for free magazines. We both have talked with many different people from this company. We have been harrassed at work and at home. After many discussions with PBS, my husband agreed to pay $55.00 just to stop the madness and they said that would cancel the subscription. Meanwhile, someone leaves a voicemail on my cell phone stating that in order to prevent our account from being turned over to a collection agency they would accept a nominal fee of $31.80 and that would cancel our subscription.
So I called and talked with David at PBS and let him listen to MY taped conversation of the change of dollar amounts which he agreed with. I reiterated that they would not take the $55.00 out and instead they would take the $31.80 out of my husbands checking account and he stated yes, that would happen. But in reality PBS deducted both amounts from my husbands checking account, resulting in a $25.00 overage charge and on top of that we had to pay an addtional $25.00 to do a stop payment on the amount they stated they would not take out. This has been going on since March of 2008.
It is now the middle of July. I have faxed over copies of where they took both payments out (account numbers deleted of course). Now that they owe me money, I for some reason have to wait for someone's approval in order to get a refund. I have asked them to take me off their mailing/phone list. We are still getting calls and bills. I feel like this has gone too far. What are people supposed to do when they are threatened with collection agencies, bad credit, etc.? My husband and myself are at our wits end with this total and complete mess.
Financial hardship with deductions from checking account. Emotional stress with numerous phone calls dealing with rude individuals
Jason of Mesa AZ (05/23/08)
Unsolicited call on my business phone. New business. Told I would get free magazines if I answered survey questions. At end of survey was told that there would be a one-time charge of $27 for the magazines. Yesterday I received a bill for $29.90 per month for 23 months. Was told this telrephone transactioin had been recorded, which I view as a veiled threat to keep victims from seeking retribution.
I run a small landscaping business. I cannot afford these magazines, nor do I want them, especially Woman's Day and Vogue. I am a single man with no roantic entanglements.
Luanne of Durango CO (04/21/08)
This company called my daughter who is not mentally stable and only 19 years old. They called her at work and harassed her and got information from her. She said she never chose to order magazines. Now they are trying to say she owes 700.00 plus dollars. I called and explained to them and said no one wants the magazines and to stop sending them. They wanted $100.00 minimum to stop sending them. I said we do not want your magazines and we will not pay you anything. They stated they will turn her into a collections agency and the judge will decide. This place is a huge scam and should be put out of business for preying on young people.
My daughter and I are very upset that she could even possibly be charged that huge amount of money for magazines she did not order and does not want. What young person would commit to 5 years of magazines they didn't ask for and pay $700.00 for?
Kathleen of Bethlehem PA (04/07/08)
My daughter was contacted at work to buy magazines. She declined the offer by kept on being persistent. My daughter refused to purchase any magazines. She received a bill on April 6, 2008 and was charged a total of $717.60 or monthly charges of $29.90 for 23 installments for Elle (60 issues); Men's Journal (60); Rolling Stone (130); Home (40); Woman's Day (83) Gentlemen's Quarterly (60) and Vogue (60).
Nothing yet...however, I plan to file a grievance with the Better Business Bureau in addition to soliciting for a possible Class Action Suit against these dirtbags.
Amelia of Richmond VA (03/10/08)
I am a professional fundraiser and was called by these people in the middle of the day at my work. I was harassed to the point where I just wanted to get the obnoxious person off the phone. 1) What kind of company has people calling people who are that abrasive and annoying at work? 2) Upon getting a bill from these people for a service they haven't provided, I found out that they recorded my phone conversation with them as proof that I 'agreed' to pay for this service.
I will state here and now that the phone conversation is edited against the person they are soliciting. I did not recall agreeing to 6 months of service and then backing out. I am not paying for ANY service that I haven't used nor received. This company is horrible, and they still keep sending me forms that I need to pay and give them a credit card number. It looks legit until I started researching them and reading stories which are extremely similar.
Ann of Clarksville IN (03/04/08)
I work at a retail store. The Publishers Business Services called, and unfortunately for me, I answered. I told them that all business-related questions can be directed at our Home Office, but the representative kept harassing me about answering a few questions. I answered them in an attempt to get them off the phone so I can get back to assisting customers out on the sales floor and do my duties as my work demands--so half-listened to the questions. I asked them if I could cancel at anytime but couldn't quite hear the answer as music is played at our store and another associate was talking to me on our walkie-talkie earpiece. I lamented over the fact that someone could have possibly just stolen my identity, but received a bill yesterday saying that I owe over $700 for publications that I do not care about. I subscribe to other magazines; and in the past, I have the opportunity to end them at anytime and never had to pay this absurd amount for them.
I refuse to pay this amount, and the harassing behavior that I get from this company is horrible. Someone needs to inform all major publishing companies like Conde Nast and Hearst not to deal with this company for it is a scam. Even in their invoice, they say they have a tape of me and threatens that my credit will be damaged if I do not pay. I feel that I was unable to make an informed decision since I was at work and had work distractions keeping me from doing so. My invoice also has my name spelled incorrectly so basically, on this company's records, they have someone who does not exist.
I cannot afford to pay this ridiculous amount as I am in debt for student loans and will continue to be for I am going back to school in the fall. I have been worried since this has happened that my credit will be ruined which may affect the student loans I need to finish school. I felt that I was bullied and duped into a deal and now am stuck. All my magazine subscriptions in the past have always been through the mail or internet, never by phone through an outside company. I have always dealt with the publishers directly. I can't afford the payments. I visited the Publishers Business Services' website to file a complaint, but when I hit the 'submit' button, it didn't look like it went through and did this 2 more times making me think that the website is bogus.
Michael of Hartsville SC (02/13/08)
These telemarketers called me at work with a blocked number. They began their approach concerning magazines. I offered to take a look. I get a bill for $24.00 per month for 3 years. I called 3 times and emailed 3 times over a month to no avail. Finally I get a harassing call about the bill that was due. They said that I had a 10 day grace period to cancel. How in the hell can you cancel when they block their number and do not send a bill intentionally for a month to far exceed the 10 days. This is a criminal practice. The claim to tape the conversations. How is this process legal? Is there any legal recourse to avoid this on my credit? Thanks in advance for your cooperation with this matter.
I am now receiving bills for $24.00 a month for 30 months from these people. They will not return calls or answer emails in order to rectify the situation. I am seriously concerned that they ar escamming thousands of people daily like this. Please help!
John of Chadwicks NY (02/06/08)
I was called at work. I work at a lumber department with many customers and power equipment. I was unable to hear the call. The next thing I know, I receive bill for $720 of magazines from Publisher's Business Services. I have called these people three times for cancellation. Today I was told that this is not possible. When I asked for the contact information for someone who could take care of it, the customer service rep hung up the phone on me.
This company clearly states they will report this to credit reporting agencies. I do not want these magazines, I will not make a payment, and if any arrive in the mail they will be refused and returned to the Post Office.
Deidre of Williamsburg VA (01/22/08)
I received a phone call from a telemarketer (Publisher Business Services) while I was taking care of customers at my retail job. I told him that I was working and had to go but he wouldn't take no for an answer and kept persisting and I finally accepted just a trial offer of magazines. At first the bill was twenty dollars. I paid it and then received another bill a few weeks later for $44.00. I paid that bill also and wrote on the check to cancel the order. (also wrote a seperate note)Now another high pressure guy is calling me at work and saying I owe them $1000.00 and that if I don't pay they will report me to a collection agency and my credit will be ruined.
Carol of Bonaire GA (01/07/08)
ordered some magazines one day when i was working nights and sleeping during day. realized what i had done and called to cancel as soon as they sent the first bill. which was months before ever receiving magazines. was told that i couldn't that we had a contract I dont think i would have agreed to anything like that. But they say they will charge me almost $900.oo and it will go on my credit report if i dont pay. This company doesn't send magazines that i would order they don't send any magazine consistently . i receive all diferent kinds of magazines and vert rarely do i get the same magazine more than twice.
I cant believe that I have to pay for magazines that i dont want for 2 years.
I don't have the money to pay for something like this. I have been trying to keep these people paid and I struggle just to pay my everyday expenses. I am trying to qualify for a home loan and I think that it is hurting my credit score. Not to mention the stress of trying to come up with the money for something I dont want. I was told I have to pay for 2 years.
Susan of Yorba Linda CA (12/04/07)
This company called my son on his cell phone at work -saying they were giving a special deal to Bed Bath and Beyond employees to trial magazines at no cost to them. My son asked at least 6 times if there was a cost and he was told no > they called to back to confirm -again he was told no cost Yesterday he rc'd a bill for $720 for 7 magazines most of had a subscription times of 50 - 90 issues. The other issue is that he is only 17 -even though he is almost 18. I called them and they cx right away but told me that they had taped conversation that my son agreed to this. I told them that I highly doubt my son would agree to$720 worth of magazines when he was told they were no cost and a trial. I am not throughly convinced that this is over but I certainly hope so.
Gloria of Irvington NJ (10/10/07)
They called my job on a very busy day asking me questions. I assumed that this was a survey related to my place of employment as they periodically conduct phone surveys among the employees.
I received an invoice telling me that I will be receiving 60 issues of Elle, House & Garden, Vogue, Lucky and Glamour and 90 issues of Inc. Magazine . That's 6 magazines a monthly at a total cost to me of $720 (24.00 a month) and that I could not cancel this subscription. I did not realize that this was a phone solicitation and am not interested in this subscription. They provided no contact number and actually sent a veiled threat regarding my future credit status if the payments aren't made and kept up-to-date.
M of La Jolla CA (09/06/07)
Just as the other person reported. They called me at work and sold me a false bill of goods. They made it sound like it was $24 for the entire deal but it is actually $24/month for 6 months. They are liars and crooks. They totally scammed me -- and I am a pretty smart person. I can only imagine how well they do with elderly or otherwise compromised people.
I am out a lot of money for crappy magazines.
Allison of Carlsbad CA (08/27/07)
A call came to front desk at my work, I was temporary Receptionist and was told I could receive lots of magazines over a 5 yr period, and be billed $18 for 29 months. I could change my choice at any time. I gave out my MC number and the next day they charged my bank about $200. I did not notice the charge right away, and they charged my account about 6-7 times for over $850 and I filed a fraud complaint with my bank. They are SCAM ARTISTS and need to be fully investigated.
The bank has reversed the charges pending their investigation but asked me to work it out with them. So I wouldn't lose my job I had my mom call them and they said there are guys who are paid commission to collect money on the full order and they had a recorded telephone call. I had a typed confirmation of an order for $18 and they didn't seem to want to discuss that. I would NEVER have allowed ANYONE to take almost $900 from me in 2+ months for magazines. This is outrageous. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING FAST. Before resolving, they wanted copies of my bank account showing they withdrew the money, so I sent but blocked out my full account number. I know that is what they were looking for, since I canceled my MC account. They called me again at work and said they can't do anything. They just spoke with my mom earlier today and said they would work to resolve.
Bobbyjean of New Galilee PA (08/26/07)
I cant believe that my story is the same exact as i read on the complaint before mine. I called called at my office and after few times i said ok. i paid like 14.95 said ok thats good i'll call and cancel. got a bill for 700.00 and change. yeah that was NOT in the conversation NO Where Hewllo FLAGS!!!!!!!!!!! so I wrote them huge letter and waiting for response. But i just cant beleive people getting screwed by these people. THIS COMPANY
i have been told by my work if it these calls dont stop I can lose my job they call that much
Sandra of 187b Gilbert Ave. NY (08/22/07)
Publisher's Business Serivces contacted me at my extremely busy New York Consulting office approximately three months ago (May, 2007). They asked if I would like to receive magazine subscriptions at no cost- I would only pay for shipping. I gave my home address and asked that they send me information in the mail.
A few weeks later, I received a bill in the mail and magazines began pouring in. When I asked them to stop sending the magazines, they said that I was under a five-year un-cancellable contract that I had verbally agreed to over the phone. I had only requested more information to be sent to me regarding their subscription options- I NEVER agreed to a contract.
They began sending magazines to my work address and consistently harassing me at work in a disrespectful, demeaning and threatening manner. They have been sending letters that my credit score will be ruined because of my debt with them.
On the afternoon of August 20, 2007, a man who identified himself as Paul Brooks called regerding the account. He spoke in a threatening manner, asking to speak with my boss and the CEO, saying that he would find my social security number and further information about me. When I had to end the call to tend to pertinent business issues, he called my business phone approximately fifteen times and spoke in a manner that caused me to feel unsafe and severely threatened, incurring emotional trauma and threats of physical intimidation (citing that he will find and disclose my true identity). On the last call of the afternoon, I picked up the phone to his voice asking, Are you going to file for harassment against me yet.
Mr. Brooks claimed that my alleged debt with the oral contract (that I did not agree to)totals $960!!!!
Based on my experience with Publisher's Business Services, they have practiced unethical business in many areas:
Sales practice- sales presentation misrepresented the product/contract, sales presentation used dishonest sales practices, sales presentation used high pressure methods
Billing & Collection Issues- Failure to correct billing errors, general billing complaint issues
Delivery- delivery of unordered services
Contract Issues- General contract complaint issues
PBS claims that my credit score will be destroyed and they will be sending my account to collections.
These are on top of the consistent distraction PBS has incurred to me at work via their harassment and the intimidation that their threats produced.
Stephanie of Glendale CA (07/30/07)
I received a phone call despite the fact that my phone number is registered on the national Do-Not-Call registry. I asked what the company did and the person was not very specific. She wanted to ask me 5 questions and give me an award if I did this. I asked her if the company was a research company, but she did not answer that affirmatively. I confirmed the company name and immediately searched it via Google and saw the first entry that came up was about complaints against them. I told the person that and she asked if that meant I did not want to answer the questions. I said it did and then hung up.
Tracy of Old Hickory TN (06/15/07)
my husband was contacted at our business and answered questions that he thought where pure inquiry now we have recieved a bill with no contact number and an incorrect web address for a total of $720.00 for magazine subcriptions to which we have no use. i have since contacted several resources trying to aquire contact information to no prevale.
Franziska of New York City NY (06/15/07)
I received several calls from Publishers Business Service and they called so many times that I agreed to get a month for free?. But now I get all your overdue letters and threatening calls saying that I have a subscription not even able to cancel? I never heard of anything like that.
I am sure I understood that you said a month for free. Since I thought that I moving back to my country in the near future, I would have never agreed to a year subscription and it was not even for Business purpose.
I sent them a letter explaining that I dont agree with that and I sent all the magazines back. They still send me magazines - i just keep sending them back..
They tell me that they have my signature via record tape. Is that even possible?
Natalie of Columbia SC (06/01/07)
PBS called my place of business, telemarketing. I told them that I was NOT interested in magazines that I do not have time to read. They continued to harrass me and call my place of work for a few days. Finally (and reluctantly) I agreed to the magazine subscription. When I called to cancel it, the person I spoke with (Nick) told me that I COULD NOT cancel, that it was part of the contract that I agreed to by telephone. He did not mention that I would cancel after 6 months, or anything of the sort.
PBS automatically drafts my account for the amount of the magazines per month. Sometimes they draft on the 1st of the month and other times, they draft on the 3rd or the 4th.... its very annoying. I wish this could go away
Amanda of Raccoon KY (05/29/07)
I was called by the Publishers Business Services at work as well. I too, am a receptionist. There was a lady called and offered me a magazine subscription. I thought they were meaning for the business, but they were meant for me. The lady that called said the conversation was being recorded and then after talking a different person called to confirm the subscription.
After a month of waiting for the magazines I had never received, I was getting worried. The bill arrived with a note saying that if I didn't pay the bill it would be counted against my credit history. It also said I couldn't cancel the subscription for 6 months. So, I paid the bill. I was furious. Then I started getting the magazines a few weeks later.
They still called my work and offered me what sounded like great offers. I would receive 4 magazines for free, if I paid shipping. I said, OK, I'll do it.
The other day they called and said my account had been paid in full, and preceeded to offer me yet another offer. I declined, twice. Then there was another payment withdrawn from my checkings account. I emailed them telling what had happened, and left them compalints on their website, www.magsubs.com. They have never returned my email or complaints. It's been over a week and still nothing.
I'm beginning to wonder if I can cancel after being subscribed for over a year.
Shonte of Durham NC (7/2/03):
The company called me at work in order to get me to purchase their magazines. I didn't give them my work number, I guess they were just making telemarketing calls and because I am the receptionist they targeted me. At first I told them I wasn't interested and they continued to harrass me.
After they continued to call for a couple of days I decided to agree to get the magazines for a little while and if I didn't want them anymore I would just cancel the subscription. The deal was that I would get the (6) magazines and only pay shipping and handling. Well a couple of days later I decided that I didn't want the magazines anymore and if I did want them I would just buy them from the store. Being that I haven't received any of the magazines I figured I could just go ahead and cancel. PBS sent me a bill and I forwarded back to them.
When they called me at work I told them not to send me the magazines b/c I no longer wanted them. The person I spoke with (Ann Smith) told me that I could not cancel for 6 months and that I would have to pay for a 6 month subscription in order to cancel. She said that these were the terms of our agreement and that our conversation had been recorded. She told me that the magazines had already been financed and that I had to pay for the financing.
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