Was at work, got a phone call about free magazines. Was extremely busy so just said yes and figured i could cancel later. nothing was mentioned about not being able to cancel my account. now they keep sending me bills, harassing my place of work and not going away. they say they have a tape recording of me agreeing but they do not even have my correct name.
i dont know what to do..

I received a call AT MY JOB (like most others here) from someone conducting a short survey. Questions asked were how old I was, where I lived, how long I've worked there. Only like five questions.

For answering these questions, I was to receive a great deal on FIVE magazine subscriptions. She went on to explain the 'deal' and how I'd be saving a LOT of money on all these magazines. It would cost $2.31 a week for FIVE magazines. She explained the cost, and how I'd pay, still explaining how it was a great huge savings.

I have gotten these calls before for other things, and a couple times they DID work out. (I won dinner at a comedy club once for a short survey...my first date w/ my now husband!! LOL) So, before hanging up, I got a phone number and extension where I could reach this woman. I would be receiving my info in the mail.

Two days ago, I got my info. Now the fun begins! I wanted to see just what BIG DEAL I was getting from this place. So, here's the deal:

$20 a month for 24 months equals $480.

$480 divided by five subscription equals $96

$96 divided by four years equals $24.

Their GREAT WONDERFUL BIG SAVINGS is charging $24 dollars for a subscription that you can get from the magazine's website for 1/3 of that price!!! (from $8-$15 online)

I was offered the five magazines as follows: US News and World Report, Jane, House and Garden, Woman's Day, Premiere.

Thru this company, I would pay $480.00 for these. I went to EACH of the magazine's websites and clicked the 'subscribe' link. This is what you pay for each of these mags thru their websites;

Jane--$8/year
House and Garden--$15
Woman's Day--$10
Premiere--$12
US News and World Report--$15 for 52 ISSUES

And here's the kicker... US News and World Report is a 52-ISSUE subscription, but Publisher's Business Services only gives you TWELVE ISSUES. So, you're paying for a 52-ISSUE subscription and only getting 1/4 of the magazines!!!

THAT IS SIX TIMES THE PRICE OF THE SUBSCRIPTION!

So, anyone who reads this...DO THE MATH before you agree to this. Don't give ANY BANK/BILLING INFO over the phone, get the paperwork in the mail, then do the math. You will see that YOU TOO, CAN BE RIPPED OFF!!!

I am sending in a letter w/ my findings to them, and asking to cancel my agreement. I'm sending it certified and return receipt. I will report back if/when they cancel my agreement.

This company initially contacted me several weeks ago trying to get me to buy some magazines from them. I kept telling the rep that I did not want to participate in any discount program and that did not want to receive any magazines that I had to pay for. The rep told me that the magazines were free of charge and that I could cancel at any time. What the rep didn't tell me was that there was no way to cancel without paying a ridiculous $125 cancellation fee.
The good people at PBS called me today and played a very highly edited recording of me "agreeing" to accept their magazines (again, this was edited as I never agreed to theuir magazines, they never told me that I was being recorded, and they definitely edited the recording).
The agent then tried to threaten me, and I told her to "get fucked" and also told her that I would not pay any invoices and that they were free to try to pursue any action that they would like. I also told the agent that they had better not touch my credit file or I would have them over a barrel faster than they could spit.
Someone needs to hunt these people down and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

I personally think that they picked on the wrong person when they called me. I have filed a formal complaint with the US Federal Trade Commission, the Texas Attorney General, and whomever else I could reach. Don't be fooled by these cockroaches, there is nothing they can legally do, and if they do place any adverse informationb in your credit file, that constitutes a willful violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If they contact me again, I will reference the FTC Temporary Restraing Order placed against PBS May 20, 2008, which they also are willfully violating by the nature of their contacts.

They called me twice witjhin a 10 minute span (again a violation of the FCRA) and violated the single contact per day that they are allowed. Every action that they take appears to be a violation of federal law and possibly a violation of wire fraud laws as well as Consumer protection laws.

I never agreed to accept this many magazines and I dont want them, any of them.