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CB Movies Columbia House / Edge Line Ventures Was tricked into a Columbia House membership, which still haunts me four years late
Columbia House / Edge Line Ventures

Columbia House / Edge Line Ventures review: Was tricked into a Columbia House membership, which still haunts me four years late 87

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Author of the review
8:23 am EDT
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

I, like many others, was tricked into a Columbia House membership, which still haunts me four years later. After I learned I had to decline their "director's choice" DVDs every three weeks, under penalty of being billed for something I wanted nothing to do with, I began looking for ways to cancel my membership. Needless to say, the company's customer service is a gauntlet designed to keep angry "customers" (a company like this has victims, not customers) at bay. With sites like consumeraffairs and compaintsboard alone you could fill a bookshelf with complaints of false advertising, extortion, harassment, and so on. Thus I gave up on trying to cancel my membership, and dutifully declined my DVDs every three weeks until the cutoff date, the point at which I would be billed for any unfulfilled membership buying requirements. This was when I began getting harassing, sometimes multi-daily, calls from NRA (National Recovery Agency) and more recently the Takhar Group. I have chosen to not dignify these immoral attack-dogs by answering their calls. This was all well and good, but in the meantime this could be damaging my credit and is certainly a nuisance at the very least. Worst of all, I have to experience this slow-motion implosion from the inside, and watch as others get trapped in the web of Direct Brands Inc and BookSpan, and all they encompass. When I think about it, it is clear that the crooks who started these parent companies had no intention fo being in business for the long run. It is perhaps the farthest thing from a "sustainable business model" I've ever had the horror of knowing. The intentionality is clear: They wanted to make a little money off their DVD, book, CD, etc. sales and an exponential fortune off late fees and whatever their collection henchmen could squeeze. To prey on the ignorant, unwilling, and stupid; how sad a company of people that would think to unleash this and call it "business." I hope this is a learning experience for those caught in the wake of this corruption, and a hearty push towards more consumer-centric legal precedents - such that we may prevent future reincarnations of this beast.

87 comments
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michael
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May 14, 2008 5:48 pm EDT

i'm pissed at your company!

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michael
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May 14, 2008 5:45 pm EDT

where are my dvd's? sence iv'e moved from Md. I have not receved any but i am being charged for them!

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Josie Reynolds
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May 14, 2008 12:09 pm EDT

I agree on my bill that I have just recieved after sending back 5 others because they were duplicates and I see that they were credited (thank-you). But, now I would like for you to please take me off of the directors selection. Even though I will still be buying dvd's from your co. Also, please continue to send me the books of selection.
By the way, I will be sending my coupons for this promotion package that I have agreed on. So it will be three coupons for 3 free dvd's not over $21.99 per dvd.
Please send me an email if I am not correct on something here.

Thank-You,
J.R.Reynolds

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Mindy Painter
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May 12, 2008 5:53 pm EDT

I ordered two childrens movies at a cheap price and now I am gettting bills for $40.00. I did not order these movies that they say I owe. I would even rent much less buy them. I do not wish for the hassarassment from this company. There is not even a person to speak with about this issue and that is not very business like. I want this matter resolved and quick. I will not do business with online again. I feel that it is a scam...

Mindy 5/12/08

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Kenneth Wright
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May 07, 2008 3:56 pm EDT

Your charges of $11.96 I will not pay, because I did not receive a bill and this is not first time you tried to put a late payment to my account, their fore, not only I'm not paying for not receiving for something that I never receive. And I 'm cancling my account.
#[protected]
047554 $1.99
047568 $1.99
048000 $1.99
047566 $1.99
LATE PAYMENT $3.00

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Cheryl Landis
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May 07, 2008 12:34 pm EDT

I've wrote "please cancel my subsription for the past two months" to my avail. I need to cancel for financial purposes. I've receieved great service and would sign back up in the future.
Please honor my request. Thank you.

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hugo dirks
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May 05, 2008 11:37 am EDT

i never joined any club, i don't watch movies, and i'm not gonna pay this bill, don't sent any more movies or bills. i;m gonna throw this movies you sent me in the trash, and any more you might send, hugo dirks

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joseph trumbull
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May 05, 2008 8:58 am EDT

i paid $128.70 for videos i did not order. i tried to contact somebody by phone but only gave ordering and pay options. to pay $128.70 for two movies i did not order is a ripoff. is there somebody i can talk too at columbia house?

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Eric Gadsden
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May 04, 2008 3:33 pm EDT

To Whom it may concern:

This is in reference to Account # [protected]. I cancelled my membership over 6months ago if not longer. Everytime I receive a movie a send it back, now I have received a bill for $86.82, in which I did not receive. This to me is nothing but a scam, you send out movies, that I have never ordered, I keep sending them back and just keep sending them. Now you want to bill me, for something I've never ordered or received. I am asking that you do not send me anything else, and that you clear this balance from my name.

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JENNIFER ALONSO
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May 03, 2008 5:34 pm EDT

I signed up for COLUMBIA HOUSE over the internet, i recieved my first shipment that i was alright with but now every time i check my bank account they are taking money out of it for some movie. I did not want that because you never know when they're going to take money out for a movie i didn't even get yet and didn't order.Next thing you know i'll be overdrawn and paying for it because they doing they don't have my permission to do . I also tried to call and there is absolutely no way to speak with anyone, it is ridiculous.

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Juanita G. Supan
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Apr 13, 2008 3:39 pm EDT

I have been billed for $35.41 for two dvd's which I have not received. The company says they were shipped on March 19th and it may take 4 weeks. I will not pay for something which I have not received.
Juanita G. Supan.

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Angelina McCoy
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Apr 09, 2008 5:29 pm EDT

I4 Angelina have gotton 3 dvd in less than week i have paid for 1 already, and another payment wil ll sent 4/11/08. I will have full fill my oblgation, please cancel ok. Dont send any more dvds. Whenever i write and ask to cancel it nevre happens thanks again angelina mccoy.

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carolyn horton
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Apr 08, 2008 6:11 pm EDT

I have sent back an order they said I ordered. They say they are going to turn me in t a credit agency. They said I would get the cd's for one price and they charged me the whole price for all of them.

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jean glazer
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Apr 07, 2008 8:48 pm EDT

i just got a bill for a move or or music im not shure its says it late but i never receaved a bill or item. if you could let me know what i can do i dont whont to pay for something i never received. thank you jean.

acc. #[protected]

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william peck
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Apr 07, 2008 11:55 am EDT

I have never signed up for anything from your company and resent you sending me a billing for a balance of$119.85. I have no idea what sort of scam you are perpetrating. I want no part of your scheme and refuse to send this amount.acfdb

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julie bishop
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Apr 06, 2008 9:09 am EDT

I ordered several dvd's online and received partial shipments for weeks, when they all finally arrived, they had duplicated my order. I returned the duplicates, but I have not received notice they received them and they continue to bill me for the entire duplicated order

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isela enriquez
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Mar 28, 2008 2:22 pm EDT

i want to close my account iwould like you to take me off the directors selection please.

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Mary Valenti
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Mar 24, 2008 2:21 pm EDT

I have fulfilled my obligation of your dvd club, and I want you to stop sending me any further order submission requests !
I dont want to recieve anything further from your company...

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TRACY MOORE
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Mar 20, 2008 10:11 am EDT

I HAVE BEEN DISPUTING THIS ISSUE SINCE LAST WEEK! I DONT OWE THEM 25.94 BECAUSE FOR ON I DIDNT PLACE THE ORDER AND TWO I HAVENT RECEIVED NO ORDER FROM THEM AND I WOULD LIKE FOR MY CARD TO BE CREDITED BACK ASAP!

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B. Hambly
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Feb 26, 2008 6:28 am EST

I am severely angry. I thought I cancelled my membership but you guys continue to send unwanted, over priced movies. I told you to quit just charging my credit card. You continue to do so. This is ridiculous. You are not authorized to charge my credit card. I will take legal action if necessary. I have never physically signed anything. I know my legal rights. I have talked to several attorneys already. My next step is to cancel my credit card if one more charge is made. If you continue to send unwanted items after that, you will never receive your money. I am tired of wasting my time with this poorly run company. I would never recommend this company to my worst enemy. ab822

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Darryl M. Aldrow
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Feb 23, 2008 3:32 pm EST

Yeah you charged my card for things I never authorized, $28.02! I don't know why you did this but I demand you put my money back and rectify this matter! A person contacted me a while back for some discounts and I told him I wasn't interested! In fact told him to cancel my membership that I did not want to hear from you! But you dropped the ball and continue to contact me via E-mails and are charging my card with bogus charges! Leave me alone!

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Arturo Diaz
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Feb 19, 2008 2:57 pm EST

les mando este email por el motivo de tratar un asunto del bill yo mande pagar las selecciones que recibimos no se si yo quede a deber mas de esas selecciones por que mandamos pagar como $22 dolares y algo de las dos selecciones que me quedan por comprar todavia tengo hasta octubre del 2008 y las quiero comprar emos tratado de comunicarme por telefono pero no e podido mi numero es [protected] gracias

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Belinda Harrell
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Feb 05, 2008 8:52 am EST

ALSO PLEASE CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP AS OF 2/5/2008 THANK YOU.

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Belinda Harrell
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Feb 05, 2008 8:49 am EST

I HAVE RECEIVE A BILL FROM YOU THE MOVIES ON THE BILL I DID NOT ORDER I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOK INTO IT BUT I HAD DEATH IN MY FAMILYI DID NOT ORDER THOSE MOVIES PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO YOU MAY E-MAIL THANK YOU BELINDA HARRELL.

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chryle velardo
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Jan 30, 2008 11:10 am EST

I am tird of retuning dvd's to Columbia House that I did not order and that I not only cancelled on line, but throug the mail. I do not appreciate automatic billing to my credit card for items I refused as soon as I received notification of sdelection I checked hebox of "Don't Send Selection"...on-line it was verified that refusal was on file and the next thing I know I am getting sent & being billed for this DVD. Reading the emails from others, I can see I'm not the only one experiencing this problem. Obviously your Company needs to adhere to sound and ethical business practices. I spoke with George or (Jorge) at office 3512 on 01/30/08 @1:38 est and was advsied send back return to sender. He further advised he was removing my credit card to be automatically billed *in future will bill as I order.

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E. A. CREASAP
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Jan 15, 2008 9:24 pm EST

I canceled my account last month via snail mail, I wrote on your order card to cancel, guess what I got today some more of your junk mail that I dont want. cancel my account NOW or I will report you to the Better Business Bureau.

I am not going to order any thing from you and am tired of wasting my postage, trying to cancel my account. And DONT send me any DVDs that I dont order, like you have a bad habit of doing because they will be returned to you!

Also dont e mail me any thing because I will report it as spam..

It's a shame you dont have people there to service your customers, lets see what BBB can do with this ...

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bertha rubio
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Jan 15, 2008 4:58 pm EST

I AM UPSET BECAUSE THEIR DID NOT SEND ANYTHING AND THEIR STILL ARE SENDING ME BILLS WITH A PAST DUE AND I"VE BEEN CALLING COSTUMER SERVICE AND ITS JUST A MACHINE.PLEASE CHECK MY ACCOUNT# [protected] AND SEE THAT YOU HAVE'NT SEND 048081, 047251, 048305 , ERASE IT FROM MY ACCOUNT.

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Deanna Crockett
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Jan 14, 2008 9:05 am EST

I was sent a introductory package for review. After reviewing the info. I returned the whole package with my intention NOT to join. Since that time I have received mailings to order DVD's {I did not order} , and I have received repeated billings for the RETURNED package. I would like this straightened out ASAP, before I contact Consumer Protection. I also plan to resign from BMG Music.

Deanna Crocket
136 Conantville Road
Mansfield Center, CT 06250

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gail ann rugenstein
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Jan 07, 2008 6:05 am EST

I did not order this dvd and want to talk to a customer service person ASAP!

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jason smith
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Jan 04, 2008 7:43 am EST

I would like you to take me off the directors selection please.

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Charlie Hall
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Jan 02, 2008 11:45 am EST

I am upset with the Service Alert sent. My wife had written the check for $5.00 but was put in the hospital before it got mailed.
Since then she sent the $5.00 ck #3587 and also check #3641 ($3.00). She tried to clear up this mess when she got home. She called you company and was told that she would be able to get DVD numbers from the catalogue sent when I was enrolled on line. We never have received the catalogue or anything else recording enrollent. She told them in the office that she was sending the $5.00 anyway. Then she sent in the $3.00.
Now you sent a Service Alert and said that you are reporting to the consumer reporting agency. I don't feel that it's out fault and don't feel that the 7 years on my record is fair. With it is another $3.00 late charge.
We are holding off the last $3.00 until you get this mess cleaned up and send us a note telling us what you have done about it.
We had Columbia House records for many years and never had any trouble.

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Frank Jainlett
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Dec 27, 2007 3:12 pm EST

I jsut Need for you people to stop sending Me them Threatning Letters. Or I will have No Choice but to give this matter to My Company Legle Department. Yes I am the Owner of Dee Son's Plumbing and I do not Make Threats. Your actions will bring on My REACTION. Try Me.

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Mavis Norman
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Dec 11, 2007 11:25 am EST

I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR ANY DVD AND I RECEIVED ONE TODAY IN THE MAIL I DO NOT INTEND TO PAY FOR IT AS I DID NOT AGREE TO PURCHASES ANY DVD NOR WANT TO. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS. YOU MAY DO WHAT YOU WANT BUT I AM NOT RETUNING IT AND PAYING TO DO SO AS I SAID I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR ANY DVDS THEIR HAS TO BE SOME MISTAKE ON YUR PART.
SINCERELY MRS. NORMAN.

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irwinmann
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Dec 05, 2007 3:39 pm EST

i get abill for 123.37 of which i never ordered these.
sent everyone of these back.
these people are a pain in the butt.

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Mary E Carter
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Nov 06, 2007 2:30 pm EST

I been trying for some time since 2006 " Are we there yet" that was change to the NewHoneymooners 06 version (Called [protected] Now I am missing King Kong that I sent the / and of $22, Deal (the BEST EVER and SAVES me alot) I called several times receiving an BUZZ acknowledgment cellular/ and (outside phone ) Public Phone I been having problem with my POBox 1056 of Identity their of CLCrowe and Prisisllia Andre that I contacted the IRS and Rantoul Police In both cases received complaint number In spite of doing this they continue with other avenue(s) that I called about some dealing funds obtain Illegally There was other in which they gotten hold unknown reasons to an open Resident postal box in Andre's Name / Carter Written Return to sender #[protected] Misiing (Too Juvinle/ Kin Refused) # # 288616 #817217 TRANSFORMERS / later order straying fund wise now **MEC.

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Rodney Spencer
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Nov 03, 2007 10:35 am EDT

Please cancell my membership as of now 11/3/07. Acc no. [protected] Do not send any more DVD's They will be returned to you at your expense.

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PAULETTE BUSGITH
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Oct 10, 2007 7:57 am EDT

I REVISER A LETTER SAYING OWNING THEM $111.90 WHICH I DID'NT REVISER NOTHING FROM THEM. I TRY CALLING THEM BUT THERE WAS NO PHONE NUMBER SO I COULD TALK TO SO ONE THEY ALSO SAY THEY GONNA SEND ME TO COLLECTION AGENCY.

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Mrs. Lois M. Scannell
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Oct 01, 2007 7:10 am EDT

I will no longer order videos from your company again. I had trouble with you people in the past about sending me videos that I did not order and end up paying money out of my pocket to send it back to you. I was under the impression that you had me listed not to send movies unless I requested them. I do not want Directors Selection. I want to cancel my subscription and I am sending back the video that I did not order. You people are complete rip-offs.

I will continue to buy my videos from Wal-Mart.

Lois Scannell
81 Cross St.
Methuen, Mass. 01844

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jeff sayers
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Sep 25, 2007 6:24 pm EDT

I want to close my account with this company. I am tired of wasting stamps & $ to return your order cards.

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Mike Norton
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Sep 19, 2007 2:16 pm EDT

About two weeks ago I cancelled my membership [protected].
I continue to receive product that I didn't order and don't want. The order form says you will ship and bill unless I return the order form. Please cancel my account and do not send anyore product.
PS I am not sure this is just being registered as a comment or will be directed to someone who will take action. In any case I am not returning any form and will not pay for anything you send

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