On April 5, 2010 I went to the Destination Maternity shop on the corner of 17th St. and Causeway Blvd. in Metairie LA with my granddaughter, who is pregnant. I purchased some items, that totaled $99.99 with my HSBC credit card. At no time were we asked or notified of any subscription to a magazine called Parenting Magazine. I had been warned by a friend to not fill out any cards, etc. while in this store, because she had this same situation happen to her. So I had warned my granddaughter as well. A few weeks after the store visit, my granddaughter received a Parenting magazine at her home address. She asked me if I had ordered it for her, which I had not. I looked at my credit card statement, but had no charges anywhere for it. To this day, we still have no idea how they had my granddaughter's address.

On 6/7/2010 - two months later the $20 charge from WPI Parenting Magazine showed up on my HSBC credit card. The credit card co. would not remove the card, even though I advised it was a fraudulent charge. They told me to contact the magazine and cancel the subscription. I Googled the store name (Destination Maternity) and the magazine (Parenting Magazine) together with the word COMPLAINTS and discovered this is a nationwide problem where the store will steal unsuspecting customers, without their permission or knowledge - as in my case - and send to the magazine for the subscription to begin.

I called the store and asked to speak to the manager, whose name I did not get unfortunately. She apologized and said the sales staff always tells/asks the customer about the Parenting magazine subscription. I had to insist over and over this was not the case with me. She offered a toll free number for me to call to cancel it, which is 1-877-604-7858. I ask what the sales person got out of this, commission? bonus? what? She said they receive nothing. Frankly I do not believe this. Destination Maternity and Parenting Magazine have some sort of collusion of fraud going on here, stealing credit card numbers and I have already filed a Better Business Bureau complaint against the store. A lot of people don't notice the $20 small credit card charge and might overlook it, and THAT is what they are counting on. I would bet on it. I received the same letter as others on this Complaint Board from Ms Perskie at Destination Motherhood's corporate office in PA. via the BBB here in New Orleans, LA.

Here is my rejection response to the BBB: I attached 43 documents - complaints from this site and others showing the BBB how extensive the problem is.
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 8206010, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
I have already received a credit of $20 from Parenting Magazine on my credit card. Ms Perskie's assistance is not needed and my granddaughter and I will never set foot in that store again, nor will any of our friends and relatives. Unless they are planning on charging me again, I have no reason to send her any information on myself or my granddaughter.

Ms Perskie's letter must get around a lot as it is referred to in file of I have attached of complaints from all over the country about this store, Destination Maternity, and its affiliate stores: A Pea In The Pod and Motherhood Maternity. All of them are accused of fraud, theft or misuse of credit/debit cards with the partner in this scam - WPI Parenting Magazine. I have filed a 911 police report with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's department which will soon be handled by their Economic Crimes Department. And next week I am filing a complaint with the Louisiana Attorney General's office since this crime took place in Metairie, LA and in the State of Louisiana. I am also considering filing a complaint with the Attorney General's Office in PA since their corporate office is in PA.

I do wonder, and have this question for Ms. Perskie: exactly what is the compensation, bonus, fee, whatever you wish to call it - let's call it financial incentive that the Motherhood & Destination Maternity and The Pea In a Pod stores receive from WPI Parenting Magazine for each of these magazines that are charged on the customer credit/debit cards? And don't insult our intelligence with telling us nothing. I am posting this and your response on the online Complaints Board. There is obviously something in this arrangement for you organization. I have read there were class action suits settled regarding this same issue. My anger and ire over this is that at no time - and I want to repeat this - AT NO TIME - during my visit to your store did any of your safeguard measures happen. What should happen is NOTHING. Parenting Magazine should have a rack of brochures and if we are interested, we can take one and fill it out online or mail a check to them.

So to satisfy ME, you need to do that. Discontinue this scam and practice on unsuspecting customers, some of whom were using a debit card and were over-drafted on their account. This does not occur in the maternity department of Sears, Target, Dillards or Walmart.
Regards
I know others on this site will not go to this trouble, but at heart I am an activist and a fighter for the rights to our privacy. I will NOT have my credit card just handed over to someone else without a fight. They picked the wrong customer for this measly $20 charge. I will keep you posted on my quest. My goal is to STOP this entirely. And if I have to send in an undercover customer to make a purchase and test this every six months until I die, I will. And I will report them to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff Department every time.

Be aware just because the clerk tells you if you have a gift receipt that the recipient can return items after 10 days, doesn't mean that it will be honored.

I bought over 400.00 in clothing for my daughter-in-law. She needed to return 2 items. She was told by the clerk that even with the gift receipt, an exchange would not be honored. She asked to speak to the manager and was told the same thing a little more rudely. Even in these times, giving good customer service doesn't seem to be a big deal for them. I will not be shopping there again.