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Newsmax Media review: Unauthorized subscription charge 58

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Author of the review
7:27 am EDT
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I ordered a free book from Newsmax, the requirement being I pay the postage and they send me several financial news letters free for 30 days to 90 days. I had a choice of subscribing to one or all of the news letters, accepting one or all of them beyond the free time and then being charged for a subscription(s), OR canceling, on one or all by using the cancel option, ( Remove from email list ), that came with every email they sent me, of which there were many. I used the ' Remove from email ' option on every one of the emails they sent me, over and over again. Now I get a credit card bill for $ 49.00 for a subscription to one of them, Newsmax* Franklin Report. I did not order it. I do not want it. I want it cancelled and the $ 49.00 charge refunded. Please Advise. Thank You, George C. Rietzel.

58 comments
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newsletters
Denham Springs, US
Nov 28, 2023 1:50 am EST

Please cancel all. Thanks!

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Lcoleman2255
Tamarac, US
Nov 25, 2023 10:06 pm EST
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I went toy home to watch Newsmax, to find out I no longer had Newsmax, and you now required a $4.99 a month subscription fee. After all the gains you mad on Fox(free), why would you cut off those of us who switched from Fox to NewsMax? lauracoleman2255@gmail.com is

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Janice Plante
Rector, US
Nov 25, 2023 5:08 pm EST

I subscribed for a one year ( 49.[protected] through my Roku channel. But, I can't access News a tv as it keeps asking that I subscribe for 1 month.

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Cisco Melone
, US
Nov 19, 2023 6:00 pm EST
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I subscribed to Newsmax Plus but I an unable to watch on either my Roku or Samsung Smart TV,

I would like to be able to watch Newsmax Plus on my TV.

How can I do that? An App is not available on either platform.

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Roy Roberts
, US
Nov 19, 2023 9:48 am EST
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I cannot use my Comcast there's no length on your page

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Chuck Loflin
, US
Nov 19, 2023 10:24 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

The rating is for the Howie Carr show, only. The show needs a soundman extremely badly. The callers can be heard but Mr. Carr speaks almost in a whisper. He most likely will not change, ergo, the suggestion for a soundman to solve, or make incremental changes all through the broadcast.

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Claude Brown
, US
Nov 20, 2023 2:55 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i'm sure there are hearing impaired viewers who need closed captioning.

i do not ! The closed captions move to fast for the average reading ability, the word to spelling transition is very poor ! It blocks the subject content and the crawler headlines !

please remove the closed captioning or make it an option !

loyal newsmax customer ! Thanks

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Suzon
hollis ok, US
Nov 13, 2023 8:03 am EST

Please bring back the regular scheduling of Newsmax, like Bob and Sharla on Wake Up America. I don't want to have to go to another news channel like Fox.

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Gary Bickerstaff
DuBois, US
Nov 13, 2023 8:14 pm EST

I received a charge to my bank account for $109.95 from Ultimate Wealth in West Palm Beach FL on 9/8/23. I did not order anything from this company & don’t know what it is for. Please advise.

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Sharon K. Spivey
, US
Nov 13, 2023 7:27 am EST

Today, my wife, Sharon Spivey, ordered Newsmax Plus TV; however, we cannot get Newmax Plus to show on our Visio Smart TV. We have tried to steam Newmax Plus, but nothing comes up. My wife paid for yearly subcription of $49.95 today.

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Chuck Loflin
, US
Nov 09, 2023 6:32 pm EST
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Smart man!

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Trump The Man
Mineral Wells, US
Nov 05, 2023 12:53 am EDT

At a very NEWSWORTHY and IMPORTANT moment in time, history, and current events, while the Ambassador was speaking at the UN and addressing the supporters of HAMS directly... this happened.

Your "I love to hear myself talk" staff, cut away, re-hashed old news, and just won't stop with their blah blah advise, and opinions..

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k l warzala
, US
Jun 29, 2023 5:04 pm EDT
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I didn't order any book and I've just been charged 42.95 What the hell is going on?

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Marcia Olfers
San Antonio, US
May 08, 2023 2:07 pm EDT

Please take that commercial off air.

Speak in ENGLISH. Put the commercial on the Spanish channels.

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Ladybug43
North Fond Du Lac, US
Feb 11, 2023 6:12 am EST

Please please please get a replacement for Barney Frank on Saturday morning. He argues in his debates but won't let anyone get a word in. He just won't shut up. You can't hear a thing. There is a much better person out there than him.

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LanceMeNot
, US
Oct 30, 2022 1:51 am EDT
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Since you are canceling Lura Logan, I will not ever watch you again. I'll find the truth else where.

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Ken723
, US
Oct 10, 2022 9:42 am EDT

Stop attacking Fox News especially Tucker Carlson and Sean H.. Fox news is the pioneer into the very corrupt dirty democrats. I watch both newsmax and fox news. . im not liking the attacks on Fox so please stop it or I'll unsubscribe from nresmax. I never heard Fox News say anything negative about Newsmax. Thank you.

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Ken723
, US
Sep 27, 2022 11:20 am EDT

If not for the tenacity of Fox News, we may never have known the truth about the dirty Democrat Russia involvement. Thanks Fox News for good honest coverage. Now, Newsmax, follow their lead. I'll continue to subscribe. Thank you.

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Joanna Molloy
, US
Nov 12, 2015 8:48 am EST
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I've been getting the "Heart Health Report" from them which gets automatically renewed each year. Today I wanted their free offer of Dr Crandall's book Fix It for the heart (having recently had a heart attack) I could only get it by ordering the health report that I am already getting. As I'm in the UK, it isn't easy to phone. This means I'm paying twice for something and the above emails about not being able to cancel have concerned me. I wonder too why such an eminent Cardiologist needs to use this form of advertising. I would really appreciate any comments on my problem.
Joannamolloy10@yahoo.co.uk

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oshngrl
Brooklyn, US
Jun 22, 2014 1:36 am EDT

I just finished reading "I know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou and in one of her chapters, she details the con artists she met as a teenager who were friends of her family and there was never a truer statement than this.

"IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CON A PERSON WHO ISN'T LOOKING TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING"

So I hope everyone enjoyed their "free" radio" because these con artists reeled you in like fish on a line.

I do feel sorry for you guys, I went through the same thing with "free" makeup"

There is no free ride when you give up your credit card information! BUYER beware!

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Jay L Martin
Knoxville, US
Jun 20, 2014 12:08 am EDT

I do not want the franklin prosperity report membership. I would like my 47.95 that you took out my checking account and do not charge me the 99.00 dollars .

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very cautious
, US
May 22, 2014 8:48 pm EDT

I noticed that the only positive comment here is from Maria34. I wonder if she works for NewsMax?

I read NewsMax's offer and was considering ordering one newsletter for $1.49. Glad I checked online for other comments. I now know I will not order. Thanks for reporting your experiences

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M. Tester
, US
Mar 30, 2014 9:42 am EDT

I cannot cancel The Franklin Prosperity Report membership. Did Newsmax, but I have not received any of the reports for the $1.97 and I sure do not want them to take any more money out of my personal account. Please cancel my accounts with the email address of old_wise1@hotmail.com NOW!

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sparkle1950
Callahan, US
Oct 24, 2013 7:17 am EDT
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Aside from the scam activity - did anyone find the book useful in obtaining benefits after 50?

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sparkle1950
Callahan, US
Oct 24, 2013 7:16 am EDT
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Did anyone actually find the book's information helpful in obtaining the benefits they advertise?

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iamweasel
, NZ
Oct 22, 2013 8:47 pm EDT

FULLY AGREE
They are still doing this in 2013. Not direct dial number so ppl outside the US cant contact them, email contact form does not go though since the postcode is not accepted nor the phone numbers from outside the US.
I have cancelled my credit card and requested my bank get my money refunded.
Hope someone else can learn from "our" collective mistakes. I did not discover this until I tried to find a direct dial number to contact the company and discovered this website. I will also be writing to the US Embassy here in NZ.
Rip off artists. Have also emailed the author of the report I stupidly subscribed to to tell them that NEWSMAX are sullying his name.

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S E Kérészy
, ES
Oct 24, 2012 7:39 am EDT

I wanted a book reporting on economic profiling as they saw it. I did not want any attached subscription. Just been onto my building society - having received a Franklin letter about billing me next month - at a "favourable" amount. I was rather phased by this. So I rang my building society in the UK (at present in Spain). They can't even stop the syphoning off. They will now have to change my card. From 2011 to October 2012 Newsmax have syphoned of 169.30 GBP I think this is criminal extortion. I had already intimated to Newsmax many months back that I as not interested - like water off a duck's back. Appalling! I tried cancelling via internet. Can'tg do it because I can't get past the limited 10 digit phone number requirement - they do not give enough space to record a European number. Really is criminal.

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Kevin Morrison
Lewiston, US
Jan 30, 2012 3:34 pm EST
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Well, I never signed up for the three month trial. I purchased a small paperback and as part of the deal I had to take what appeared to be a survey. It asked me to select the magazines I am interested in. I picked two that did look interesting but I did not know I was signing up for a trial.

Three months later however I became fully aware when my credit card was charged twice. The woman on the phone (both times) had no concern, no remorse for what had happened and in fact acted like this happens all the time.

Two weeks later and I am still waiting for a refund! Also I NEVER got any of these so called trial subscriptions!

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Lucky Lou
Hilo, US
Jan 22, 2012 12:57 am EST

The statement dated Aug 31, 2011 by Newsmax has a bald faced lie: It states that :"There is no obligation to subscribe to any of the 3 newsletters and there is no penalty for cancelling our newsletters before the trial period ends" . A notice came with the Aftershock book which clearly states (in bold print): "Please be aware that if you received a bonus gift item and if you choose to cancel your trial subscription before you receive our renewal notice, you will be charged full retail value of your bonus item. This policy is in place so that you can FULLY enjoy your FREE trial subscriptions". I found this rather chilling - the admonition that I had to wait and look at all three issues of the trial subscription, or else- so I made sure to mark cancel on the invoice when it arrived and mailed it back the same day. Guess what? My account was charged $49 anyway. These people are either hugely incompetent or crooks. If I didn't have to pay more postage I would send their stupid book back. Have refused the newsletters they have sent since then and will pursue some of the other suggestions by other writers. By the way, was not able to get through by phone when I tried.

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RejectsBottomFeeders
, US
Jan 11, 2012 7:34 am EST
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File complaint with Florida State Attorney's Office and State Attorney's Office in your home state.

Company information for complaint form is:

NEWSMEDIA
560 VILLAGE BLVD. STE 120
WEST PALM BEACH FL, [protected]
Phone number: [protected]

Maybe if enough people do that something will done about this company's practices.

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RejectsBottomFeeders
, US
Jan 10, 2012 10:58 pm EST
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DEAR NEWSMAx/MEDIA EMPLOYEE:(POSTING 8/30/2011)
YOU MUST BE THE SAME EMPLOYEE THAT "ACCIDENTLY" HUNG UP ON ME WHEN I TRIED TO CALL TO GET YOU PEOPLE TO STOP ANY FURTHUR CHARGES AGAINST MY CREDIT CARD. BTW YOUR INVOICES SHOULD OFFER THAT OPTION!
YOU MUST BE REALLY BUSY DOING YOUR "CUSTOMER SUPPORT" JOB, BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED BACK I GOT AN ANSWERING MACHINE.
IN MY OPINION YOUR PRACTICES DO HINGE ON THE EDGE OF CONSUMER FRAUD.
"ROTO SIGNING OF CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATIONS" IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?
IF PEOPLE REALLY LIKE YOUR NEWSLETTERS ETC. THEN THEY WILL TELL YOU AND CONTINUE YOUR SERVICES.
BUT THOSE OF US THAT DON'T LIKE YOUR SERVICES SHOULD BE ALLOWED THE SAME COURTESY(LOOK UP THE DEFINITION) OF STOPPING YOUR SERVICES!
IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AND SO MANY OTHERS ON THIS FORUM HAVE THEN DO WHAT I DID AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IT'S A SHAME THAT IN TODAY'S ECONOMY YOU STILL HAVE THE BOTTOM FEEDERS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF HARDWORKING AMERICANS.

Yes I'm yelling because they obviously can't hear people tell them No More! Plus big print because they can't read people telling them No More!

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Mina DeGarmo
Paulden, US
Nov 16, 2011 4:56 pm EST

I have filed a fraud report with my credit card company

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yeah_right
Columbus, US
Oct 28, 2011 7:56 pm EDT

To the newsmax employee, I had the same thing happen with the book aftershock. I wrote cancel on every invoice sent to me and newsmax still charged my credit card $99.00. I've used that little unscribe on emails numerous of times. I get the little notice that tells me I'll be removed. But, I still get the emails. Thank goodness for the spam filter, that's where they all go now. I am absolutely livid about the charge on my credit card and I'm going to do whatever I have to do in order to get it back. If it means contacting an attorney, even if I have to pay more for the attorney than what I'm being charged. Newsmax has to be stopped.

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Neil H.
Middletown, US
Oct 05, 2011 4:56 pm EDT

One more thing: when the Newsmax employee above says that " over 275, 000 people have taken us up on this unique opportunity over the last 18 months" -- I wonder how many of those people just don't check their credit card statements and so don't know they've paid the $49 or more. Lots of people, maybe even a majority, just never bother checking their statements. Some scams appear to bank on this. Several times over the years I've noticed my account charged (usually some small amount) by some company I've never heard of and certainly never did business with. In every such case I've simply called the credit card company and had the charge removed, and never heard anything more about it -- a sure sign the charge was nothing but an attempt at theft in the first place, an attempt that probably works much if not most of the time.

This book offer by Newsmax is not the same sort of theft, but is still a sleazy way to do business no matter how you look at it. I certainly wasn't aware when I ordered the "free book" (the $4.95 is for shipping) that once Newsmax had my credit card number they would go ahead and charge me for "reports" I didn't want and never ordered. The term "free trial" DOES NOT imply that you'll be automatically charged unless you mail back (at your own expense) the order form specifically saying you DON'T want the subscription. I have seen many free trials before, but never one like this.

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Neil H.
Middletown, US
Oct 05, 2011 4:18 pm EDT

I have just had the same experience with Newsmax as described by several others here, so the "trial subscription" scam is still going on. I called the [protected] number listed on my statement, and after several tries got to speak to an actual person. I was pretty irate about the whole thing when I spoke to the rep (Marilyn) and I cannot say my attitude or manner was friendly, but she said she was removing the $49 charge from my account "as we speak." Sometimes it pays to just go ahead and get angry about this sort of thing when making the complaint. I will check my account and if the refund doesn't show up within a couple of days I'll call the credit card number and request the charge be removed. My experience is that credit card companies are good about this as long as your complaint is legitimate.

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Newsmax
West Palm Beach, US
Aug 31, 2011 6:37 pm EDT

As an employee of Newsmax Media, Inc. I’m very familiar with the Aftershock offer.

In fact, over 275, 000 people have taken us up on this unique opportunity over the last 18 months.

The various comments made above are simply not true or are highly inaccurate. In fact, Newsmax has been an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau since 2000 and continues to demonstrate an A+ rating. We make every attempt to satisfy a customer complaint in a timely fashion.

If you would like to resolve any of your customer service issues, please call [protected] [Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm ET] or email us at customerservice@newsmax.com.

As part of this offer, customers pay $4.95 (the cost of the shipping and handling) and get the New York Times bestselling Aftershock book (a listing price of $27.95). The offer makes it clear to the customer that they get the free book and materials in exchange for agreeing to a trial subscription to 3 investment advisory letters.

There is no obligation to subscribe to any of the 3 newsletters and there is no penalty for canceling our newsletters before the trial period ends. There is an automatic renewal on these subscriptions if a person does not cancel them out.

And that is why one month before the trial period expires to each newsletter, we send the customer a renewal notice by US postal mail.

When a customer receives the renewal notice they can simply write “cancel” on the renewal letter and return it.

We really try to keep it simple.

In fact, all of this is disclosed on the order page located here: https://www.newsmaxstore.com/nm_mag/aftershock_2.cfm

And even if a person for some reason misses the renewal notice, we are happy to send a full refund of the unused portion of their subscription at any time.

Additionally, after a person orders they receive a confirmation website notice and email regarding our cancellation and renewal policies. This email includes all of our contact information.

And when the customer receives their book in the mail, an insert repeats how the trial subscription works and their right to cancel.

So we disclose our renewal policies on the order page, confirmation website, confirmation email, the Aftershock package you receive in the mail, and with renewal notices for each newsletter one month before the trial period expire.

We hope customers who take the free book will try out the newsletters for the trial period. We ask this in good faith in exchange for us sending the $28 book. However, if the customer doesn’t want to renew subscriptions, the book is theirs to keep at no additional cost.

The complaints above also claim we send out emails without permission. This is not accurate. We include a link to unsubscribe from any emails we send, which is in the email for easy use.

Also a customer may unsubscribe by calling our emailing our Customer Service Department. Our contact information is also included at the bottom of every email. And we strictly adhere to our Privacy Policy of NOT sharing your contact information with anyone.

Our Privacy Policy can be reviewed here:
http://www.moneynews.com/Privacy/

We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to resolve any issues you may have to your satisfaction and hope to hear from you soon.

Again, our phone number is [protected] and our email address is customerservice@newsmax.com

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vtmtnrob
Jericho, US
Aug 30, 2011 9:33 pm EDT

Newsmax is not a reputable company. The unsuscribe feature does not work.
They should be put out of business!

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CS1422
, US
Aug 09, 2011 12:36 am EDT

The same thing happened to me and they were able to resolve it. I would try to call their customer service department. (1.800.485.4350) I hope this helps!

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LillyLaValle
Somers illegal, US
Aug 04, 2011 5:56 pm EDT

I was considering ordering the free book, but I decided to check into whether people were having trouble canceling the newsletter subscriptions. From what I have read here I will not agree to the free trial of the newsletters. Oddly enough if you want to just read the book "Aftershock" I believe Newsmax itself is selling it for $2.95. I do have to say to the above posters though, there was no "fine print". It says flat out $49 will be charged in 30 days and $99 in 90 days. The fraudulent part is that they say you can cancel no problem, but apparently you can't. I will not take my chances.

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hornetfe
Navarre, US
May 07, 2011 7:40 pm EDT

I too was billed the customary $49.00+. BUT, fortunately within 2 days of noting the charge on my account, I contacted someone at the number shown next to the charge on my on-line account. It read: "NMX*FRANKLN PROSPER [protected] FL" I dialed the 888# and spoke with Stephanie, lodging my complaint. She was very helpful and after speaking with her supervisor told me that my account would be credited with 2-3 weeks. Time will tell but at least for the moment I feel accomodated.