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.
i would like to drop my membership as soon as possible! member #[protected] thank you margaret jones.
I received a movie i did not order .it may have been a movie of the week, but was in and out of hospitalin a 3 week period , but don't remember seeing it or ordering it. What do i do for return. Not opened.
Thank you,
William Hemke
Columbia house is charging me 100.70 for dvds i have not yet received.
Just like these other folks I was sent a video I did not join this club and they sent me a letter saying I owed them53.04 and I refuse to pay for something I did not order,the letter stated they had received my cancellation notice via e-mail and that I owed the the money. If i continue to hear from them I will turn it over to the better business bureau.
It is time folks started standing up and close down these places that try to rip off the people. The video I received was r-rated and I refuse to have that garbage in my home. Thank you for letting me state my view.
Shelby J Orten.
Re: ColumbiaHouse.com
I received an urgent message in the US postal mail stating that I had an outstanding past due bill of $54.88, for purchase I have never received, I do agree that when I purchased the internet, I was on a web-site that I did fill out several surveys, and did not by any means expect to order any of the items in question. Why in the world would I pay for something i never ever received, I tried to call your 1-800 # and was unable to speak to anyone. All i received was automated service. This I will take it further, again I am not going to pay for merchandise i have never received.
Eileen Aragon eileenhen@msn.com
They sent us these e-mail that the product is free, but all you have to do is pay for shipping and handling. Then you received a bill later that you have two more dvd remain and you are a member, and I have a bill for $52.50. I had problem like this in the past with them, so I would never think of becoming a member. They are a rip off.
I sent casino royal back. I did not want it. I will pay for the departed and pursuit of happiness. I'm also ordering the 4400 third season. After I've paid for these movies, I want to close my account.