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HGTV review: never ordered the subscription 70

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7:40 pm EDT
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I am also a victim of this scam. I received an email containing my "payment due immediately." when I called the customer service # [protected]), which by the way, they do not provide on their website (gee, I wonder why?!?!) in which their email sent me to pay my "bill" & cancel this unwanted subscription that I never ordered, the csr said when I entered a sweepstakes on the hgtv website, I was automatically enrolled for a subscription! What a scam! I told the lady to cancel this unsolicited subscription immediately, because I would not be paying their bill of $18! Ugh! How do these people get away with pulling scams like this? It's a shame that hgtv doesn't put a stop to scams like this that result just from visiting their website & entering a stupid sweepstakes! I thought hgtv was a respectable & safe website! Wrong! I may not ever go their website again! Beware! Unbelievable!

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

70 comments
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jrm123456
, US
Jun 25, 2019 6:25 pm EDT

I entered the sweepstakes and never opted to get the HGTV magazine. I spoke to someone and cancelled it and asked for and received an cancellation number. HGTV should be ashamed of themselves. I am going to reconsider watching this channel in the future.

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Marjorie McKee
, US
Mar 16, 2019 6:53 pm EDT

I keep receiving a bill from you saying that I owe you $19. for a magazine that I didn't subscribe nor give as a gift for another. When I did years ago, I would pay for more than one year but you billed me the next year. You probably owe me two or three years now. Stop trying to get to pay for something I don't receive.

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Christi Houmes Coffman
, US
Dec 20, 2018 8:02 pm EST

I didn't have time to call during the day, but I called at night [protected] to cancel anyway and HGTV magazine still wants to charge me for 1 or 2 magazines. I never wanted the magazines and never knew I would receive a bill! Now I Never want to do a sweepstakes again!

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eternallife
, US
Nov 16, 2018 1:58 pm EST

Never ordered any magazine, and also received i with a bill in the mail today! IT'S A SCAM! I think we were all re-directed to a fake sweepstake giveaway website. The first thing I noticed when I was about to enter the sweepstakes was, it was an exact sweepstake that already took place and ended a few months ago! Go here and cancel > https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/HR/HGT/ext_cancel_save.jsp?lsid=32410654042017816&vid=1&&cds_mag_code=HGT&cds_to_id=cancel

AND DO NOT SEND THESE SCAMMERS ANY MONEY!

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MC121985
, US
Oct 11, 2018 7:39 pm EDT

I just got the magazine in the mail that I did not order either, now I have to call them!

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WASDStoic
, US
Oct 11, 2018 8:29 am EDT

Wow its funny to see these conversations tating back as far as 2015. That means this company has really been pulling the wool over some folks for a while now.

I called the 800 number [protected]) and they took me off without any arguments.

Best wishes

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rosebud the 3d
, US
Oct 02, 2018 8:52 pm EDT

I also entered a sweepstake and next thing you know started to get letters of a bill for HGTV I DONOT want the magazine!

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Dana Bruss-Burns
, US
Sep 22, 2018 3:23 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I to have NOT ordered HGTV magazine, I have tried to get a hold of them to let them know that I did NOT order this and I will NOT PAY FOR IT. There is no sense that they do NOT have a way to contact them. I tried to send an email to the email that was in one of the pages I seen, but of course it was no good. I hate being scammed. I just got an email that I ordered it. I am not going to take this crap.

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Vicki Pless
, US
Jul 08, 2018 9:04 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I also received an invoice for 11 issues of HGTV magazine subscription that I did not order. However, I did enter the sweepstakes 2018 home giveaway. I called the 800 number given on this site thanks to other people that are being scammed by this company. The company is closed right now but I got the option to discontinue the subscription and if I get another invoice to disregard it. I never received 1 magazine from HGTV. Why did I even get an invoice in the first place. I will report this to the BBB and whomever I need and dispute it if it’s reported on my credit report. My signature is not on anything. I never ordered anything. I only entered to win the sweepstakes with no strings attached. This is a scam! Shame on HGTV for associating with such a company. I will never support HGTV again or any of their affiliates!

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Fellim
, US
Jun 27, 2018 10:05 pm EDT

After I entered a sweepstakes on the HGTV website, I got a bill for subscription which I didn't order. I blocked HGTV on my email address but I continue receiving bills. I am not going to pay a bill that I didn't order. Any advice. HELP!

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Serendipitee
, US
May 26, 2018 10:19 am EDT

I too have been harassed by Hearst Magazines for a subscription I didn't order. Joanna Coles the Chief Content Officer for Hearst Magazines is making appearances on TV to hype her book "Love Rules!" No love in the tactics of this company, but then it is Hearst. Why am I not surprised? I have "returned to sender" the invoice that came in the mail. I will do the same with the one magazine I received. Force them to pay the postage again and again and they may stop. They continue to harass me on e-mail. I have canceled every newsletter from HGTV! Seems no one is trustworthy these days, but it is Hearst!

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Brian Shae
, US
Jun 09, 2018 11:14 am EDT

I have entered this sweepstakes every year and never had a problem. And now I too have been hit with a mysterious subscription order at the very end of the sweeps. Odd thing is We only need to enter our email eddy after first signup. I always unchecked all at that time. Hearst is the problem but Hgtv shares responsibility of guarding end users on their website. If hgtv supports the dark side of the web then this is my last year.

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Carrie Bockelie Asplund
, US
Mar 08, 2018 9:22 am EST

I cant find a phone number to call and cancel! can someone help me?

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Serendipitee
, US
May 26, 2018 10:21 am EDT

[protected], [protected]

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Alice Abiera
, US
Nov 17, 2017 1:50 pm EST

HGTV also sent me an invoice for magazines that I never ordered. I did enter the OASIS 20017 Seepstakes after which I was invoiced for thier magazines. Scamming anyone into buying their magazines is a low thing to do,

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Tim O'Rourke
, US
Oct 06, 2017 9:35 am EDT

Thanks for the customer service number since I got the same email about paying for a subscription to HDTV Magazine I never ordered. I made cancellation rather unpleasant since they were wasting my time. I must have missed some check box when I signed up for the sweepstakes but they should have had a popup box confirming the subscription. Really pissed me off. Thanks for the posting this as it saved me a lot of time.

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pssixsix
, US
Oct 05, 2017 8:58 am EDT

This was a pure scam which should come as no surprise considering papa Hearst was not the most honest of guys, why would his company be any different? And to those of you making excuses for them or blaming those who missed unclicking a button...I will repeat this: I did not enter the contest! I did not agree to anything (accidentally or otherwise) because I did not enter the contest! However(!) and here's the scam: I DID CLICK ON THE CONTEST PAGE VIA EMAIL AND READ ABOUT IT (ONLY!) That alone was enough for them to try and con me out of $15. I would cheerfully pay $15 for a magazine I want but this is not one of them (nor do I want Klan Kountry, The Catheter Review or Miss Skinhead in case Hearst Publications is reading this!) From now on I'll read their mags @ the dentist. No more Hearst magazines in my home unless someone gives it to me. Good thinking Hearst Communications if your goal was to lose as many customers as possible you're a success. Cheers.

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Yunggy
, US
Sep 16, 2017 8:42 pm EDT

Do not pay it or put your credit card in it, its a scam guys

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JanieLee
, US
Sep 15, 2017 4:35 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am receiving the same invoices. I couldn't remember requesting this magazine at all until I read all of your posts. The only contact information on the statement is pay.hgtvmag.com and looks very generic. Nothing like the HGTV web page. They have disappointed me terribly. Thought I had been hacked. The statement as well looks very generic. Like it has been photo copied. Also, NO phone number. Guess they learned something after yrs of scamming...If it wasn't for so many of you here noting it I would have known. Sad.

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Engela Edwards
, US
Jul 12, 2017 1:08 pm EDT

July 2017. Unwittingly subscribed to their HGTV magazine by entering their contest. Thank to this website, I was able to call the Hurst Magazine customer service # [protected]), and tell them not to send the magazine! I didn't want to subscribe to anything, so I'm pretty sure I unchecked everything! I've been entering this contest for years. I will be Leary of this company in the future.

Their email payment invoice, did not have the option to unsubscribe, and it said that the magazine would continue after the first year. I signed into their website, and still no option to unsubscribe or correct the error, only the option to pay.

Thankful for the number provided here on the Complaints Board website Hurst Mag customer service # [protected]). They said they would cancel the subscription.

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schwabbie
, US
Jun 29, 2017 1:18 pm EDT

This might be a scam unrelated to HGTV magazine. I got the same email saying I owed $18 for the subscription, so I went directly to the HGTV website (I never click on links in an email I am not expecting) and found the HGTV magazines 800 number there. When I called them and they do not have me or my email in their system at all. The woman told me to call back if I do actually receive the magazine in the mail.

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Getagrip5
, US
Apr 18, 2017 7:50 pm EDT

It's not a scammer if you people would actually read the sweepstakes you would have seen the box to opt out of the mag. Subscription, but no you people don't read you just enter your information and then cry scam. Learn to read and you wouldn't have this issue of a unwanted subscription.

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Lauralm1
, US
Mar 28, 2017 5:42 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I too received an invoice for a subscription I never ordered. Left a nasty post on the HGTV Facebook page. Also called custom service to complain. Hopefully this will be the last invoice they send me. Makes me not want to be part of the HGTV family. What a scam and so disappointed in HGTV.

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##%%a2b3
, US
Mar 26, 2017 4:23 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Would love to see less property brothers. Like their show but it dominates MOST of the HGTV air time. Can you please spread all the shows more evenly?

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Marietta Shelton Litke
, US
Sep 04, 2016 1:33 pm EDT

Same thing, I received a bill and email, what a scam for a network to stoop to just for money. Their reputation is ruined. I will not go near another entry contest situation again. I have also unsubscribed to HGTV, do not want anymore unsolicited products.

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BA_0000
, US
Jun 14, 2016 10:37 pm EDT

Received a similar invoice via the email I used to enter an HGTV and DIY sweepstakes. Completely deceitful practice, especially for those not tech/google savvy enough to look for the phone number or website. Found the link online to cancel. Hope this is helpful for others, too.
https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/HR/HGT/cancel_reasons.jsp?lsid=61670032486010589&vid=1&cds_mag_code=HGT&cds_to_id=cancel

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ARFarmer64
, US
Apr 01, 2016 12:59 pm EDT

I received email, and invoice in the mail requesting payment, although I was unaware of subscribing to the HGTV publication. I called the 800 number provided above and a rep very cordially stop the subscription and deleted the charge.

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iwantaphonenumber
, US
Mar 25, 2016 7:13 am EDT

Can We file a class action suit? I too am victim of this scam!
First I received numerous emails telling me my bill was due for HGTV magazine I ordered which I never ordered!
Now I am getting bills in mail for $18.00
There is no phone number to contact this bogus company
yes I did enter the HGTV sweepstakes to win the Dream home
which I will never do again
this is the outcome of me entering a sweepstakes free... you can enter twice a day i think
anyway.. does anyone know how i can get in touch. I have tried to email them back to no avail
this is causing me stress that I cannot contact anyone! for this reason they should be punished legally

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Grana
, US
Mar 17, 2016 12:23 pm EDT

I never ordered HGTV magazine, but got a bill for it!

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Grana
, US
Mar 17, 2016 12:22 pm EDT

I never ordered this, but got a bill.

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Reviewer71948
,
Jan 31, 2016 5:14 pm EST

I have received an $18 invoice indicating that I ordered the hgtv magazine.
I have not ordered anything form hgtv but enrolled in a sweepstakes .

I've alerted the hgtv website mad waiting for the response,

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rcjblessed
, US
Mar 10, 2016 1:24 pm EST

I entered a sweepstakes and I got a bill for HGTV mag. I did not order it and I do not want it I tried contacting them by phone but there was no answer to the phone which was on another page... I guess I have been scammed too but I am not paying any money and am sending the invoice back to say I did not order and cancel it.. I did not order.

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Jackie Sterling Jones
, US
Feb 27, 2016 7:42 am EST

My husband received an email as he turned his phone on this morning 2/27/16 thanking him for ordering & stating he owed HGTV for a magazine subscription. He never ordered this magazine. He had been entering the 2016 Dream Home give away until the cutoff on 2/18/16 & then out of the blue 9 days later receives an invoice via email. REALLY? He attempted to contact customer service thanks to the phone #'s provided in this forum but they aren't opened yet.

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bornKnoble
, US
Feb 08, 2016 2:47 pm EST

I received an invoice today for a subscription I did not order. One and only one magazine arrived a few days ago and I wondered why. I thought it might be some kind of promotion - didn't even look at it. There is no phone number listed on the invoice - only instructions to pay!

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uniterruptured
, US
Nov 28, 2015 9:08 pm EST

SCAMMERS! Oh Yesss here we go: I did not order the magazine either. I received an invoice suggesting that I had ordered the magazine, and I was told that payment was due now! "Thank you for your subscription to HGTV Magazine" "Prompt payment will ensure uninterrupted service to your magazine" What magazine? never received one copy. Uninterrupted? poor elderly people who goes for this SCAM or anyone else for that matter.

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Rick Davis
, US
Nov 27, 2015 12:22 pm EST

Thank you, OJE I just used the link you provided in your 11th of March, 2014 comment! It worked for me today 11, 27, 2015. The page said that the subscription is canceled. I hope it is, but we will see...

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Reviewer33828
,
Oct 31, 2015 7:26 am EDT

I have received two bills now for a magazine I did not order. I get nothing in the mail or over the internet. How dare they demand payment for something I did not order and do not get. I want off their mailing list immediately!

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Diane Conant
, US
Oct 30, 2015 9:55 am EDT

I had a subscription for hgtv. All was good until I received a payment on my credit card for $34.97. I thought this was high. I went to their Web site where they offer subscriptions for $19.99. Way to show customer appreciation. I can only imagine how many people just let it go not realizing they are being duped. Reputation is everything. They blew it with me. I called hgtv told them what happened. She just said ok I am taking it off. That's it. Didn't even try to change it to $19.99 for me, no apology either. Bad business there.

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OhSoMad
, US
Oct 26, 2015 10:33 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

So this is why I just got the "Invoice" from HGTV ! What a bunch of crap, there was no where saying I was signing up for a subscription when entering their BlogCabin Sweepstakes and a couple others. True criminals, I believe we need to file a lawsuit.

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tinamarie225
mt.washington, US
Jan 13, 2014 4:59 pm EST

Didn't want magazine...now they keep billing me and threatenedcollections..
I sent notification I didn't want magazine...
Want the magazine to stop and bills to stop

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Mary Steckler
Louisville, US
Apr 08, 2015 10:26 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Ordered and paid for subscription to HGTV magazine and have not received one magazine.

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joseph scott
Las Vegas, US
Apr 04, 2015 11:25 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

entered sweepstakes received bill for magazine I never ordered.486a3