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Great American Readers

Great American Readers review: this is fraud; no existing number to cancel!!! 71

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5:01 pm EST
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This company scams people into giving them a debit card number so that they can take out $49.90/month (Which they don't tell you) but instead say that they will be sending you a "gift certificate" to shop online for $1000. They twist things around like saying that you're getting this because you're in the military, so on and so forth. They don't mention that you will have over $900 balance for some magazines that they never send you. And no, they don't send you any gift certificates either. The number they provide to cancel has no live person at it. It is a voice recording and there is no way to leave a message to complain or cancel, it just hangs up.
Once they realize there is no payment coming out (Because people will file a claim with the bank on account of fraud), they call and that's when you can speak to a live person. They like to arrange "payment plans" and start bargaining with you! They absolutely refuse to cancel anything and say that you basically signed a contract. When asked if they are bbb accredited, they say yes. I've looked into it... They are not bbb accredited! They are rude, hang up on you, and bargain to get any type of payment.

If you were contacted by this company, make sure you don't fall for this scam. If you are already having trouble, try these steps:

* contact your bank - cancel payment and file a claim.
* file a police report
* report the fraud to bbb

Resolved

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

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71 comments
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Kareemjohnson
, US
Dec 08, 2015 11:13 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

About 15 minutes ago I received a call from these guys. They said that I had been selected to receive a $200.00 dollar gift card. They seemed to know everything about me except what they needed to know to start charging me. I had been scammed for $100.00 before so when he asked for my credit card number a red flag when off. When I asked him if they had a web site that I could sign up on he said NO. What legit company dosen't have a web site you can sign up on? I then looked them up "Great American Reader" and found nothing but scam reports and they had only one person rate them on the BBB site. Thank you guys for your reports. I know you guys saved me a very big headache...and a lot of money. If it smells like a rat it probably is. Legit companies don't call you and ask for your credit card number, after pumping you up with promises of a prize. Again, thanks a million and hopefully we can get these tricksters, and anyone like them, off the market.

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MARIA THERESA
Phoenix, US
Dec 01, 2009 4:58 pm EST

THEY ARE RIP OFFS AND NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!

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tvintrigued
, US
Jul 31, 2012 2:08 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

same here feel into trap but they now call themselves magazine warehouse and they had promised a diamond watch in return for a small payment of $2 per day but later on in the phone call they told me to repeat after then it was $32 per month for 16 month and i would get 3 yrs of magazine. I called the company and they said i could not cancel because they had a recording that i would agree to it and that the magazine were prepaid already so i can't cancel. If i don't pay the money i would would be charge a late fee that $22 extra late fee and they would get pple to get my money. Since i don't think i could get out of it i agreed to pay the $32 per month.
their number that i called them up is [protected] and their address is po box 11180- pompano beach fl, 33061

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alicia yanez
Romoland, US
Jan 04, 2012 9:47 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

omg i am a mother of 3 children and the ### that these ###en people have told me i like a stupid ### fell for it and gave them my debit card info and now not only do they take out $33.73 once but they do it two even sometI'mes three tI'mes in one month but when i try to call them no one ever answers the stupid phone but its funny how they always call from a different number every tI'me but when i ask to speak to a supervisor they put me on hold and supposevebly a supervisor comes on but they think I'm stupid because its the ### that called me the first tI'me just trying to disguise their voice so i tell them that i no its the same person and they hang up the phone and they don't call me back for like a day or two then again the same ### starts again but they also tell me that if i don't pay that it will go to collections and that they can garnish my income taxes but they are so full of ### !

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Edithh
Monroe, US
Oct 29, 2011 7:41 am EDT

I was scammed by this company, I am so embarrassed. I will cancel my debit card today. What recourse do consumers have against, I should have looked online at this company. Never again!

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Melissa Montgomery-Doster
Jefferson, US
Aug 30, 2011 3:24 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am still in this same damn boat as you. I changed my mind when I realized they were charging me $49.99 a month instead of the $16.00 a month they promised. I also only did this because they offered a $1, 000. shopping spree. I was pregnant and we needed new baby stuff, so that was perfect. I also added up the cost for what magazines I was getting with the price given and it was a good deal. Too bad, it was not really what they were planning on charging me. I had to close my checking account and open a new one. I contacted them and asked them to stop sending the magazines because I would no longer be paying for them. They said your stuck, you are in a contract and we want our money. IThey did record our conversation, but I wonder if the pary of that talk included when I ask them the price being $16.00 a month and they said yes. You know that they deleted that part of the taped conversation. We are all kindof in a screwed postion and our credit screwed up?

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nrs_89
Houston, US
Aug 25, 2011 11:51 pm EDT

I just got a bill in the mail of 780 bucks! I didn't even speak to these people on the phone, my husband did, and I am guessing they offered him some gift card. I called a rep at Great American Readers and we got into it. They told me it wasn't my fault I couldn't pay my bills. Why in the hell would I want 700 dollars worth of magazines. They told me they would never settle with me, ever! Also, that I just ruined my husbands credit. I took the liberty of calling all the magazines individually to cancel the subscriptions but they all said I had a contract under a third party and all I could do was suspend the magazines being sent to me but it wouldn't stop the bill from accruing. I am a parent and I cannot afford 700 worth of magazines. WE ARE ON THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY. I contacted the BBB a few minutes ago. Does it have to be the BBB by their office? According to the BBB, they are in their records but their addresses or "P.O" boxes don't match the one I have. Can I argue that they shouldn't be billing me if I am not recieving anymore magazines? Or does that even matter? Help!

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james vine
Lacombe, US
Aug 23, 2011 5:45 pm EDT

Iam going threw the same with them.I will call bbr

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Cat in the Box
, US
Jul 16, 2011 2:47 am EDT

Had same thing happen to my husband. He called to cancell within the 7 day period, and then more magazines started coming, MAGAZINES WE DIDN'T EVEN ORDER! Collection calls came from different reps every time. Best you can do is: call the [protected] # above to cancell, keep records of all calls you receive, get the telephone #'s that call you because they are all different. Also write a letter to the 3 credit bureaus, Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax, with advising them of the scam. IMPORTANT NOTE: Great American Readers Co is headquartered in MN..WRITE A COMPLAINT LETTER TO: MINNESOTA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AT: Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Consumer Services Division, 445 Minnesota Street at 1400 Bremer Tower, St. Paul, MN 55101. The more people that write to this office to complain, maybe something will be done. Also, write a letter to Great American Readers asking them to cease and desist and copy your famiy attorney on the letter. Take a copy of this letter and attach it to the letter you will send to the Minnesota Attorney General's office. and if you're like us, I saved all the magazines, and am now ready to meet with my local post master general at the Post office, and also have them intercede on my behalf. Remember, you can cancel the subscription, but you will still be receiving the harassing phone calls. The latest message we received on our vmail was: You must call us within 3 days or we will begin "involuntary" collection proceedings...Interesting concept, especially since we've cancelled our "alleged" subscription. Example, why would we have ordered a "Parents" magazine if we don't have children? or some of the other magazines they sent us that we never ever even asked for.? THIS SCAM OVER AT GREAT AMERICAN READERS HAS TO STOP, OH, AND A LITTLE SECRET---> THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE DO NOT CALL LAW. We placed ourselves on the National Do Not Call registry. ANYONE OUT THERE WANT TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT? LET ME KNOW, AND I'LL CONTACT OUR ATTORNEY! God Bless everyone, and share this information with everyone you know. GREAT AMERICAN READERS has to be STOPPED!

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Tina V
, US
Jun 28, 2011 3:35 pm EDT

How can i get them to cancel? Can i call the police on them becuase I am being harrassed?

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John325
, US
May 18, 2011 9:58 pm EDT

This scam is still going strong as of 2011. They are at it again. We were just called and were told we would get a $250 gift card and for 60 months you would get 5 magazines a month and pay just the postage and they will bill your credit card. Their phone number is [protected] BIG SCAM! They also said you would be in a million dollar drawing with 200 other people. When you refuse to give them your credit card number they hang up on you.

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IHateGreatAmericanReaders
Quinton, US
Apr 12, 2011 5:04 am EDT

Wow. I knew I wasn't going to be alone in having this type of horrible experience with these "people", but I never figured on their being this many like me. I was led to believe that I'd be receiving a pre-paid Visa or something similar, so I can buy quality products and buy things I can actually use or that I want. I had even gotten so far as to be resigned to having to shop a catalog site with inflated prices/values. But I never figured on what I found when I went to claim my certificate. The merchandise is garbage. The NASCAR stuff is between 4 and 5 years old, if not older. The garbage I saw on the catalog site is $5 and $10 gift exchange stuff, not stuff anyone with a brain would want to keep for themself. It looks like I'm going to have to pull some cash out until I can get a new card, since I have a Paypal account and debit card. Thankfully I just closed two out of state bank accounts and have what should be enough from them to be able to get by until I get my new PayPal card. I'm out something like $200 to $250, and I'm going to try and fight to get it back, but I'll probably end up having to consider it an expensive lesson learned.

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Katiadee13
Watervliet, US
Feb 28, 2011 10:05 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I don't know which state you live in, I live in NYS. I contacted Michigan's BBB (I think that's the state they are formed) and my Attorney General. They responded immediately. When I told Great American Readers about my plans, giving them one last chance they said, good luck. Well long story short, they contacted me, the head of the company, and revoked my subscription. A letter was sent in writing to my home and via email of the new agreement. Every time I get a magazine from now on I write, "Cancel, Do not want" or "RTS" something like that. I got them for about 3 months after. To make matters worse, look at that website for the $1000 gift card. They sell garbage. Good luck, start by contacting your states attorney general. You can get out of this.

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Melissa Montgomery-Doster
Jefferson, US
Feb 26, 2011 2:32 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I was contacted by them and fell for this scam. I was contacted by a salesman, Mark Hamlyn, telling me that I would get my choice of magazines for the low cost of $16.63 a month for 20 months and I would get 20 months free. I really did not want to buy the magazines, but he was very pushy about it. Then he offered me a $1, 000.00 online shopping spree for my order. I was six months pregnant at the time and it sounded not so bad considering that we needed stuff for our baby. I quickly totaled up the cost in total at the rate of the quoted $16.63 a month charges fo the 20 months and it didn't seem like a very bad deal, so against my better judgement, I agreed to this scam! I had doubts immediately afterwards, but put it out of my head. I noticed my checking account was dropping in balance quite a bit and checked my statements to realize that for the past three months, this company has been taking $50.00 automatically out of my account. I was charged a total of $150.00 in charges before I contacted my bank in which they advised me to close my account and open a new one in which they did not have the number. The following month when they tried to autodraft the $50.00 out of my account and realized it was rejected, they started calling me constantly and sending mail demanding the payments along with late fees and threats of ruining my credit. I contacted them as well in an attempt to try to clarify this matter. I asked them to please no longer send me the magazines because I was no longer interested in them and would not be paying them for the magazines. I was told tough because you agreed to the payments. I continually told them that those payments were not what I agreed to and even gave them the name of the rep I originally spoke to whom quoted a different price per month along with all the tracking and order numbers given. I tried to work something out to resolve this is a nice manner, but have been talked to and treated like trash and told that there was nothing at all I could do, because I am being held to the false agreement that they are billing me. I have threatened to contact a lawyer and the Better Business Bureau as well in attempts to make them back off, but have had no luck. Surely someone can help all of us trapped in this scam. As a result of this mess, I have been very stressed and upset throughout the last part of my pregnancy and they basically have endangered my child as a result. This should cost them something for trying to harm an unborn child by upsetting the mom to the point of my extreme stress level and worridness on how this will affect my family in the future!

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NX150
, US
Jan 27, 2011 12:15 am EST
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This also happened to me they called me saying I was chosen to receive 1000 dollar online shopping spree. I even asked them where I could use it and they told me anywhere. The only thing I had to do was pay for a magazine subscription which was 49$ a month i did the math and it added up to a total of 800$ to get 1000$ so it seemed ok. I went online and read how everyone else got scamed and how some poeple could not cancel their payments I was lucky and found out about it quickly.
I GOT OUT OF IT!
first i called them and told them that... Under the federal trade commission Form 103:notice to cancel contracts "colling off rule" -consumers have the right to cancel certain types of contracts within THREE days of signing following the day in which it was completed.
After cancelling the seller MUST refund the consumer for their money.

I told them all of this and must I say they were dumbfounded. So they cancelled the contract but they would not reimberse me for the first payment and when asked why they said because what we offer is a SERVICE and the effort all the people made have to be payed for...
-_- uhuu you dont say, I couldnt win so I called my bank canceled my card because I lost it and i told them that all payments that were made after monday were not made by me. So I was reimbersted so the money and it been over a month and not problems at all.

I hope this helped.

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Prado1127
Harleysville, US
Dec 29, 2010 5:51 pm EST

Hi my name is Mike and my brother order this using my credit card and they are telling me that I have to pay for it or it will go in my credit report. I sound similar to my brother and now they want me to pay 150 a month for 5 months. Please help!

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norvin vivas
Houston, US
Nov 29, 2010 6:12 pm EST

i agree with you this company "Great American reader's " should be stoped for scamming people that cant even afford that payment in this economy. I got scammed by this company that have workers that have an education of a 6th grader and i am really mad but i got a solution maybe they have sent you a letter that is saying " That they are going to file a fraud claim against you " if you ever got your money back from that card that you canceled it turns out they cant do anything just encourage them to take you to court most likely they wont the reasons why well we have all the things needed to take them down one thing is that they are impersonating a collector because that agency doesn't even exist at all! that is very illegal that reason that i know how come since both of them are different company's how do they know very well that name of the workers and this happened to me once they called he told me he was from the collecting agency and then tells me that his :co-worker: talked to me and i said how do you know her name and he just hanged up and then the magazines are only promotional magazines which in other terms means "free magazines " which come from the publisher so how the freaking way should we pay 49.90 for free magazines man i got so many proofs that can take that company down and turns out the address is fake they are not from bloomington they are Minneapolis
and dont worry guys who ever fell for this no life scam artist we are not in contract and after all that remember they said they were from "visa, master card, etc... they lied and its called impersonating as well so really this company is full of crap but to help you just say that you called the bbb, ftc, and your state general oh and the postal office scam office they will help you alot and tekll them you have a lawyer and demand them to go to court thats what i want to do so i need the help of everyone to to take this company down for once and for all so please send me by email or mail your story at Cosmeticos@live.com or norvin vivas at 11515 brookledge, Houston, TX 77099 and i promise i will help you get rid of this guys when you need my help

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Katiadee13
Watervliet, US
Sep 30, 2010 2:27 pm EDT
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I was told that I could cancel initially. I was hesitant at first, I said I am a student and I dont think that I can commit to something like this, Brad said, "well we wont be taking food off your table, we don't like when people cancel, but we can do it." $1000 shopping spree was a scam (as stated above). They called me today, I said I would like to cancel, I am a full time graduate student, Cori, a supervisor, told me it wasn't in their policy, I told her that I was told I could. She got angry and aggressive, I said I would like to speak with her supervisor, she told me she was as high as I could go. She then told me she would transfer me around the call center, they will all tell me the same thing. When I told her she was being rude, she continued to tell me that she was transferring me. I lost the call and called back. I spoke with Kim this time, Kim is a manager, I guess everyone there is some sort of management. Well she tried to work out a deal that stated that I would pay partial payment. I agreed for now. I then spent the day looking though boards and blogs and decided to contact, Direct Warehouse, NYS Attorney General, MIS Attorney General, and BBB. I returned the call to Kim and told her to cancel my subscription and that I am contacting these people. In a very snotty way Kim told me she was going to reverse everything she did today. I told her that would be fine. I am so over this

And NYS Attorney General's office said that I was in for the fight of my life! I cannot wait until this is over!

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Megan89
Spring, US
Sep 07, 2010 12:57 pm EDT
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I got scammed by this so called company, they told me I had 3 days to cancell my subscription TWO MONTHS after the fact, they never told me that before. They also called me again about a month after the first call claiming that it never went through and they needed my card number again. I knew it was a scam at the moment and refused to give them my card number again, I had already given it to them the first time they called. After that I assumed it was over because they claimed it never went though. Then I recieved a call today about owing them $900, when I told them they called a second time telling me it never went through they denied ever calling me. The man was rude and continued to say that they had sent me 5 magazines, which they never did. I recieved an ESPN magazine that wasn't even on the list of magazines they had given me! I have no idea what to do about this, but not answer their calls and close my bank account. I hope no one else gets scammed with this crap!

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dylanhol61
, US
Aug 24, 2010 6:18 pm EDT

this is a scam that i fell for too unfortunately. My advice is to call your states GA, and see if there is a law in your state that protects you from this. It helped me and they stopped calling me and they cancelled my account alltogether.
the customer service people are extremely rude, and they swear at you, insult you, and demand things. DO NOT GIVE IN to what they tell you what to do. There is a way out of this!

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ecj
poughkeepsie, US
Aug 15, 2010 3:02 am EDT

I ALSO GOT A CALL FROM THE SAME SCAM ARTIST.THEY LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I WON A $1000 SHOPPING SPREE.I WAS EXCITED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE USED THE MONEY TO GO SCHOOL SHOPPING FOR MY CHILDREN.I GAVE THEM MY DEBIT CARD INFORMATION.WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE ! WHEN I CALLED TO CANCEL I WILL ONLY GET A ANSWERING MACHINE.KARMA IS A [censor]!GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY AND THEY WILL GET THEIRS. NO ACT LIKE THIS GOES UNPUNISHED.THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE.WITH ALL THE MONEY THEY ARE STEALING FROM US THEY BETTER BE INVENTING A STATE OF THE ART COOLING SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY SURE ENOUGH GOING TO NEED IT WHILE THEY ARE IN HELL! LESSON LEARNED! I WILL NEVER GIVE OUT MY PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE.IT'S JUST TOO BAD IT TOOK THIS!AHH!

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Michelle-S
Altoona, US
Aug 12, 2010 1:29 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hello Everyone!

I received a call from Great American Readers today and right away I knew something was fishy. I spoke with Laurie Stark and she was telling me how I was specially selected to receive a $1, 000 gift certificate and I thought hmmm interesting. First of all "Laurie" was very unprofessional..not rude.. but she was telling me how she wished she had went to college and her life story like a give a rat's [censor] about her life. She sounded like a meth addict or someone who smokes like 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Anywho, she told me she was going to connect me to her "supervisor" and that NO ONE WOULD ASK FOR MY CREDIT CARD INFO.. I wasn't really interested in the deal in the first place, but I wanted to hear what the "supervisor" had to say. So, unlike a majority of you all who ended the conversation with one person, so that the "supervisor" could call you, she kept me on the line and directed me to him instantly. I guess he was readily available in their "call center"/living room and probably wanted to set me up instantly, so that I wouldn't have time to look up this scam-o-rific company...oops I meant to say "BBB accredited business" haha. But little do they know that me and my laptop are conjoined at the hip, so while the "supervisor" was spewing his [censor] in my ear..I was on BBB.ORG! Ok the chick Laurie told me the full name of the company was "American Readers" no "Great" in it whatsoever..I don't think it was a coincidence that she skipped the "great" part. Maybe she was trying to throw me off track so that I would see the reviews for that company instead of theirs, but the companies that came up either weren't bbb accredited and had no grade or had an F grade, so FAIL on that plan Laurie biotch. So, I asked the "supervisor" "how did you guys find me again?" and their was a long pause...so long that I thought he had hung up. Then I said hello and he explained the credit report [censor] blah blah blah.. He verified my address and stuff and said I would be able to cancel at any time. After awhile I got bored with the conversation and realized that I was wasting my cell phone minutes, so I hung up before he could even ask for my credit card info. Even if he had got to that point I would have never given him my card info NEVER NEVER NEVER. People got to understand to NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO TO PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW AND ESPECIALLY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER! That's one thing I learned from watching Dateline... And let me tell you if he would have gotten rude with me I would have chewed his [censor] up and made him call bbb on me..

Be safe people and go with your gut instinct...If it sounds to good to be true it usually is...

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rjaguar3
Nashville, US
Jul 27, 2010 10:40 am EDT
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Incidentally, some research on my part has indicated that Mr. Hanssen (who incidentally did not reply to my comment above which I e-mailed him) was lying about his business's history. He claims that Great American Readers has been in business for 35 years, but Minnesota incorporation records show that Great American Readers, LLC, was founded December 3, 2008 (Filing no. [protected]). Incidentally, the owner of GAR as listed by the BBB is another Mr. Hanssen, Peter to be exact, so take that as you will.

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Dan the Mann
Ralston, US
Jul 27, 2010 9:37 am EDT

RELIEF!
My spouse bought into this and it sounded fishy, so I started googling the company and what I found gave me goosebumps. I IMMEDIATELY cancelled the credit card that had already been charged and called the company directly to cancel. It took TWO WEEKS for the supervisor to call me back, by which time I already had the charge dispute ready to mail to my credit card company. All it needed was a stamp on the envelope, but I haven't had to send it yet.
After reading some boards like this I filed a complaint with the BBB. Then I did some further research on the "Statue of Frauds" in Nebraska (my state) and found that a VERBAL contract is not valid for amounts over $500 or periods more than a year. I added that information to my BBB complaint.
We had received a follow-up mailing with an agreement matching what was done over the phone. I wrote "REFUSED" all over it and mailed it back with a letter repeating what I had discovered about the statute of frauds.
When I tried to cancel on the phone they offered to change the plan to fewer subscriptions at a lower charge. Now I wonder if that would have placed it within the bounds of $500/1 year...
Aimee Peterson responded to the BBB that the account would be cancelled and the money refunded. I checked the cancelled credit card account, and indeed that money was returned.
Given their reputation for long-term bullying and harassment we'll see if this is really the end, but so far I'm feeling good about it.
My advice:
1. Act quickly.
2. Document every conversation
3. Be careful what you agree to.
4. DON'T SIGN ANYTHING.
Let's hope they're gone for good...

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james huber
Bentonville, US
Jul 27, 2010 7:39 am EDT

they got ne when i got it stoped they turn me over to collection i never did get any of the magazines i orignally ask for nor did iget the shopiong spree i am 63 white male they sent me prenting black business and lating
James Huber
Centerton arkansas

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rjaguar3
Nashville, US
Jul 13, 2010 3:52 pm EDT
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@trackstercraig

You should probably contact a real lawyer for advice. I forgot to mention that the UCC excerpt covers contracts for sale totaling more than $500. I don't know (and can't say) whether this would apply to your situation.

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trackstercraig
Columbia, US
Jul 13, 2010 3:35 pm EDT

I had a similar situation only it was with editor and chief review, my contract was within a year and nothing was in writing. What could I do about that.

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rjaguar3
Nashville, US
Jul 13, 2010 3:22 pm EDT
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer

@chrishanssen have you heard of the statute of frauds? Basically, at least in TN (where I usually reside), contracts that require more than 1 year to fulfill cannot be enforced unless they are in writing (Tenn. code 29-2-101(a)(5); see also UCC section 2 2-201(1)).

"but since they have each and everyone of you on tape the debt is legally yours. "

No it's not. See above.

"I know this company your talking about very well, and they dont cheat anyone...been in business for 35 years."

Can you forward a copy of the incorporation records of this company in the state in which they are incorporated?

"I have whiners like you every month cry foul and are told by the BBB and the AG office that you entered into a contract and legally owe that entire $1, 000!"

[citation needed] I find this especially hard to believe; seeing as AG's should know about the statute of frauds.

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chrishanssen
Eden Prairie, US
Jun 25, 2010 1:06 am EDT
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And I have to say one last thing after reading bird lady's post, let me know how hard the police laugh when you tell them you were scammed and they find out that you are on tape verifying your cc info and order confirmation...good luck with that lol! I have whiners like you every month cry foul and are told by the BBB and the AG office that you entered into a contract and legally owe that entire $1, 000! Which I have to say again if you do the math, you are getting a huge discount...

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chrishanssen
Eden Prairie, US
Jun 25, 2010 12:55 am EDT
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If anyone has questions or concerns please email me at chris.hanssen3@gmail.com, as this is not meant to be an agressive statement, but would love to go over details with any intelligent adult that feels they have been cheated. And if you have been scammed, I will help you in your fight to get your money back. I am in business to provide good customer service, and the only ones like me are still in business because we play by the rules...and I know this company your talking about very well, and they dont cheat anyone...been in business for 35 years.

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chrishanssen
Eden Prairie, US
Jun 25, 2010 12:47 am EDT
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I have to say I am amazed that such a large group of adults are so quick to cry like children about a decision they made. I am in the magazine business and I know for a fact that after the initial phone call, there is a second phone call that you are told is recorded for this exact reason. You are given a shopping spree as a gift with purchase, and that is fully explained. And as far as paying $1, 000 for magazines, yes thats true, but thats for 5 years of service on 5 mags a month of your choice...do the math compared to news stand price and thats an enormous savings. The only reason its 49.90/mo is because each payment covers 4 months of service so you get the billing out of the way in the first year and a half or so then you still get your magazine service for 3 and 1/2 years after that without another dollar paid. Furthermore, even if you want to ignore all these facts, how can any adult claim they were scammed when they willingly, TWICE, gave their banking info and card number and repeated out loud all of the information. And you cant argue with that because if anyone of you children could honestly say they never agreed to the service, you would have that company by the balls and would get money back plus some...but since they have each and everyone of you on tape the debt is legally yours. I simply dont care what you people think, but unless you can say your card number was stolen and you never agreed to anything, just shut your mouths and be a grown up! Or be more responsible and dont give your CREDIT CARD NUMBER OUT TO SOMEONE YOU DONT TRUST!

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gsmu
Bellaire, US
Jun 11, 2010 11:43 am EDT

Ok, I am freaking out. Samething just happen to me. she hung up on me when I tried to cancel. QUESTION, do they report you to a credit agency or not?

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rojoloco
, US
May 10, 2010 11:44 pm EDT

My wife fell for this scam. They told her it would be $50 for 5 years of magazines. She didn't realize they meant $50 per month for 20 months. She called to cancel but they told her that she was in a legally binding verbal contract and that she could not cancel. They then told her she could up her payments to be done faster as well as subscribe to more magazines to cut her payments in half. She upped her payment but refused the additional subscriptions. This is where I noticed it in our bank statement. She filled me in and I got involved. I immediately canceled the credit card. Thanks to this site, I called [protected]. I spoke to a woman named Melissa and in less than 5 minutes I had all the subscriptions canceled, a "do not send" order placed on any magazines that they might try to send me, and told me not to worry about the straggler issues we get because they were already in the system and we are not responsible for them. Great American Readers has threatened to send a collection agency after my wife. I told her if they call again to put me on the phone and I will go after them with everything I have. We are already out $250 and I plan on filing a complaint with the BBB tomorrow.

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KJK2010
Oblong, US
Apr 30, 2010 2:06 pm EDT

If you call that 800 number for the magazine warehouse directly in one of the comments up this page a little, you get to speak to a very nice woman (I don't recall her name, but she's nice.) who completely understands your situation and will cancel all of the magazine subscritptions that this Great American Readers ORDERS FOR YOU! I just called that magazine warehouse yesterday after I cancelled my debit card (about an hour after GAR scammed me) and they were very sympathetic and cancelled my magazine order from GAR and said that I wouldn't have to pay anything. The lady actually told me that my order wasn't even in the computer yet, but that she would note my call and cancel it immediately once they received it, so that I wouldn't be charged the shipping. They were really nice and it is a LEGIT WAY TO CANCEL IT YOURSELF...DO IT! Because 1 thing we've all learned from GAR/Blue Whale/whoever the he** they are is that they aren't going to cancel it for you!

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KJK2010
Oblong, US
Apr 29, 2010 1:23 pm EDT

Please don't fall for this company's scam phone calls! I am a 27 year old substitute teacher who can barely afford her bills and they called me and I fell for it! Luckily, it didn't set well with me that they wanted me to give them all of my information (including my debit card's security number) over the phone, and over my lunch break today I came back to Google and researched the company and found this website with all of the great advice about what to do if you fell for the scam! I called my bank immediately (like it had been less than an hour after I hung up with Lori Stock from Great American Readers!) and they told me that they would credit me back the $49.90 that had ALREADY been pulled from my account and then they would get me a new debit card within 2 weeks, so that they wouldn't end up charging me anymore money! Please please please do not fall for this! I'm just glad that I took care of it within an hour and that I shouldn't have to worry about it EVER again!
If you do fall for it, here's what you should do:
1. call your bank and CANCEL your account...have them stop payment to the Great American Readers and give you a REFUND, then ask for a new account and debit/credit card IMMEDIATELY!
2. report and file a complaint with the BBB online...very self-explanatory, but VERY NECESSARY!
3. anytime they call you after you have done these things, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY NEW INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEW ACCOUNT...they won't be able to access your new account and/or debit card without all of the numbers, exp. date, and sec. code off the back of your card.

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amandammg1
Bedford, US
Apr 16, 2010 4:35 pm EDT

I highly recomed filing a report with the Better Business Bureau. I did and got my money back plus two free magazine subscriptions. This all happend with in a week after i filed the complaint with the BBB. After you file someone from The Great American readers "coustomer service" department will call you and just play hard ball tell them what happend and what you want for all your trouble.

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Richardlee
305 rockhurst rd., US
Apr 16, 2010 12:50 pm EDT
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3-12-10
I to got a call about winning a shopping spree. And to get to order some magazines 39.90 for 20 months =$798.00. They told me I could cancel at any time. On 3-17-10 I got there paper work. So I called them To cancel. I got to talk to some first try. They told me that some one will call me about canceling the order. A few days later some called and was very rud telling me that could not cancel. I told them that I was told that I could cancel at time by lady I talk to frist time. Then he was said we have you recorded acceptting the order. I told O.K. then play the part where I was told I can cancel at any time. He just started saying that I could not cancel. Then I started saying CANCEL over and over again for a few min. then hang up. A week or so some one else called Stating that the company has paid up front for the magazines and I have to pay them by back. I told them how can they pay for magazines that I have ordered yet Because the day I got the oder from 3-17-10 I called and canceled. Again I just told him to just CANCEL over and over. then hang up. 4-14-10 I recived a call someone from this company. They telling me that I needed to place order for magazines and which ones did I want. I told him none and what part of cancel does this company understant. I told three of you folks the cancel. And the shopping spree company work charge as well 24.95 a month. and they wanted 5.95 to cancel after afew with this lady she said there will not be charge. 4-15-10 I called my credit card to make sure no charges are charged to my card. I found that 3-16-10 they charged 39.90 to my card. I told my credit card not to pay any thing more and to get my 39.90 back.

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E Helena, US
Mar 04, 2010 4:06 pm EST

I had the same experience and can't believe I fell for it. After I fell for it I found this sight and canceled my CC. I also want to thank all of you for the help especially a way to cancel. I called the number [protected]. and the lady was very nice and took care of it saying it is canceled and I should not be hearing any more of this. so if any of you still need to get these jerks off of you call that number.

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A way to cancell!!!
Houston , US
Feb 26, 2010 12:49 pm EST

I have also just experinced the same issues with these people. They are con artist and very rude. But too bad for them I found a way to get it all cancelled. I began calling the magazine companies on my own. I called ELLE, SHAPE, STAR, all the magazines they were sending me. Now after a little investigation i was able to get a number that connects you to a person that is not only extremely polite but willing to cancell the magazines. Just call [protected]. They were able to help and not once did they tell me no. They are the subscription direct. That who you need to call. And if they can't cancell one of the magazines there, they call the magazine companies for you and they cancell from there.

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gdiguna0880
, US
Feb 10, 2010 9:20 am EST

I was also scammed big time. I am a 19 year-old girl and they have my ssn, my debit card number, all of my personal information, etc. I have so far had to cancel my debit card, start an account on freecreditreport.com so they can monitor my credit to make sure nothing gets fishy. They are really good at what they do, first Samantha called me to tell me that I won a $1000.00 shopping spree online. Then her "supervisor" Mark called me to get the rest of my information and send me 5 magazines for 60 months at $3.83 a week for the first 40 months, but he assured me the last 20 months were on the house. I didn't pay attention really because I was so taken aback by the $1000.00, and I honestly never thought I would get scammed. The 3rd and last person to call me recorded my voice confirmation, I never got her name. The same day $49.90 was taken out of my account two days later I received zero information in the mail and more money was taken out of my account from this place in florida. I immediately canceled my card. They are such ###s. I called the number to try to get my money back and they said they couldn't cancel my account with them, but they could put my account on "hold", and the supervisor would call me back within 2-3 business days? What kind of BS is that? When does a supervisor take 2-3 business days to call back, shouldn't they be there when I call? I basically just had $100 taken from me.

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