In November 2007, I renewed my subscription to National Geographic through Magazine Reader's Service (1-800-459-6627) via telephone. As my current subscription did not run out until December 2008, I asked and was assured that the new subscription for 3 years would not start until January 2009.
In June of 2008, I started getting renewal notices from National Geographic so I called them to see if they had any information on my renewal. They did not.
Magazine Reader's service to make sure that I was still on schedule to continue, or begin, the new term. I was assured that the subscription information had been forwarded to National Geographic. I was also told that they, Magazine Reader's service, would submit another notice to the magazine to make sure.
Well, I kept getting renewal notices and made the same phone calls to National Geographic and Magazine Reader's service with same results. This happened 3 times between June and November of 2008.
Finally, I called again, today, December 15, 2008, and again national Geographic had no information about a continuation or new subscription and Magazine Reader's Service offered to resend the notice. However, it would take 4-6 weeks for the subscription to begin. This was/is unacceptable so I asked the service for a refund and renewed with another service whom I have been with for 17 years with excellent service.
Now I have to wait and see if Magazine Reader's service actually makes the refund!
Although I feel this is a scam, they have answered their phone everytime I have called and they acknowledged the November 2007 transaction.