I went to my bank account this morning. I've been putting it off because I didn't really want to see how much money I spent in Vegas but I've been home for a couple weeks now so...it was time to face the music.
I looked over my charges and saw a VISA purchase for $32 during that weekend that I couldn't recall and all the description gave was a phone number. My first thought was OMG...did I buy a dirty movie? Or did I accidentally touch something in the minibar? Did I get a TATTOO? I ran to the bathroom and check myself in the mirror before calling the number and after going through all of these directions so the automated computer system could figure out who I was....I found out I'd been charged for a RENEWAL for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. I didn't authorize the charge and I sure as hell didn't want to pay $32 for it. On their website right now...you can get ONE YEAR for $11. Basically...for being a subscriber since 2007....they want to STEAL $21 from me. No thank you. I want my money back and now....I will never read your stupid magazine again.
Upon further inspection....I discovered ANOTHER charge to my account in early October for $37.34. This time the people trying to steal my money didn't sneak around they had their name right on the charge. Food & Wine magazine is available for subscription on their website right now for $12 for a year. And in their defense....it does say that they will AUTOMATICALLY renew your subscription but for $19.99. So Food & Wine was trying to STEAL $17.34 from me. No thank you. I want my money back and now....I will never read YOUR magazine again.
Let this be a warning to you! DO NOT sign up for magazines ONLINE. DO NOT give a magazine your credit card number. Pay by check only!
I'm appalled that magazines are doing this. I love magazines and I subscribe to A LOT of them. I think it's time for me to cancel all of my subscriptions and buy a NOOK and read my magazines there.
I am so freakin mad right now that I need a drink and some awesome Cake in a Cup!
*******
In other news....I'm switching to bottled water because my kids turned into Vampires last night and wanted to bite my neck. I have NO IDEA where they came up with this....I'm not a TWILIGHT-AHOLIC. There is obviously something in the UTAH water.....
I agree on the magazines, it is such a rip off. And with BHG you can read all the stuff online for free anyway so why bother. If Im at the grocery store and see something in the magazine that I need to grab it for then I will buy it but otherwise I just stick to all the online stuff.
ReplyDeleteOkay, now you've got me scared, I get all kinds of magazines, just started them this year, kind of a new obsession, but I would NEVER pay 32 $ for the things. OMG, thanks for the warning, I am so not okay with them automatically charging. Oh and I checked out the Nook, it looks awesome, even better then the kindle. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThat totally sucks! And is SOOO wrong to do to loyal readers. I'm glad I never signed up online, b/c I had no idea either. I just happened to subscribe by check. And thankfully got some REALLY REALLY amazing deals this year. But, even with the enticing deals, I decided to not renew 3 of my subscriptions.
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping Country Living and Creaking Keepsakes.
Country Living--$10
Creating Keepsakes--$24 w/a free gift subscription for a friend.
I typically only buy mags from nephews and nieces when they do fundraisers. Then I let them run out. How many mags do I REALLY need floating around this house?
ReplyDeleteWow, that is really sweet of them to renew you for $19. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI guess they like to stick it to the loyal customers, eh?
geez woman you gotta regulate on those magazines! thats awful that they would do that!! but tell me more about this cake in a cup... mmmmm
ReplyDeleteThat sucks. I *might* be ok with something like that, if they offered it to me for the same price that they were offering on their website. Not some jacked up price becuase I was a long standing loyal reader.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is amazing that a company would pay back their loyals customers in such a way. Thanks for letting us know about this. I am thinking of buying a Kindle for my Christmas present.
ReplyDeleteThose sneaky magazines! I had no idea that they did that. I am going to have to check my accounts - maybe they have been siphoning money off of me and I never realized. Very underhanded.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a good day other than that.
XOXO
Jen
Oooo, that really ticks me off. That exact thing has happened to me before. It wasn't like I wouldn't have renewed my subscription, but I sure would like it to be my decision and to know about the charges on my card BEFORE they happen! I feel ya, sista!
ReplyDeleteThat is scary! I can't believe that it says that they can automatically bill you for another year. Thanks for the heads up about this.
ReplyDeleteugh! How annoying!
ReplyDeleteUgh! Thanks for the heads up. We get a ton of magazines too and I'm sure I have done some online!!! I will keep an eye on it!
ReplyDeleteI got totally screwed by some kind of magazine thing once and now I'm super careful about how I purchase them. I hope you can get it all straightened out.
ReplyDeletethat is really shotty business practice to steal your money. Totally sucks!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience with O Magazine. It was a nightmare to get out of. I'm trying to let all my subscriptions go.
ReplyDeleteI watch the magazines Matt gets like a hawk b/c they're constantly trying to get you to 'renew' when you have 13 months left on your subscription! I don't get any myself, b/c all they did was pile up. And bloggers tell me all I need to know anyway :)
ReplyDeleteand I do NOT answer the door when the magazine people come around!
What a sorry thing to do to someone who is a loyal subscriber. Some people don't know how to treat their own people!
ReplyDeleteI also just pick up what I want at the store checkout. I am ashamed to say it is generally People and Us Weekly, really high class stuff. :)
You don't have to quit magazines (unless you really want to, of course.) When I sign up online I just opt out of auto-renewal. Now you know for future reference. :)
ReplyDeleteJust call them and see if they'll cancel them...good luck!
Wow- I knew you liked mags, but never thought about the expense associated with subscriptions.
ReplyDeleteThe only sub we have is to STAR mag. And, I honestly don't even read the articles. I look through the pictures and imagine what it would be like to be thin, have lots of money, stylish clothes, and a coke addiction.
As a magazine junkie myself, thanks for the heads up on the renewal. Also, be sure to check your credit cards as I am told some of them are going to start charging outrageously high interest rates soon (like 30%).
ReplyDeleteMan, you have to be so vigilant about those charges! That's really unconscionable-- glad you caught it and got them reversed.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many people never even notice these bogus charges!
Connie, this happens to be me all the time! And I am a fitness magazine junkie (7 mags a month). I am seriously considering cancelling them all cause the $$ ain't worth it! Glad you caught them!
ReplyDelete