Hearst Communications review: receiving threating letters & bill for a magazine I never order or received 10

super frustrating - these magazines are not clear at all. I received a 'final notice' bill and was confused bc i thought i had cancelled/paid and was not delinquent...no answers to emails etc and no way to call until i found this info above...yes, the [protected] WORKS! i called and the lady was able to tell me it was set as 'auto renew' and they were unable to renew so they sent the 'final notice' letter - since i didn't respond they cancelled the renewal. A pretty unfair way to get someone to renew. Anyhow - i recommend others call the number listed if they have issues.

I received good housekeeping and saw a hair removal system GH gave a good summary of and said price was $295.00 (Iluminage precise Touch) I went to company web site and product was (450.00). So disappointed in GH. Get your facts straighy

I keep getting the same letter. Telling me I owe them money for a subscription I NEVER turned-in. I signed-up for some free House Beautiful magazine and it immediately pointed me to a page to plug-in my credit card information. Obviously, I didnʻt input anything and for the past 6 months I keep getting letters. The problem I have found is that there is NO where on the website to contact ANYONE in customer service! SOOO I tried emailing the editor- the only contact information I could find. NO RESPONSE. (Of course.) QUITE ANNOYED.

Avoid Hearst Magazines! Their tactics prey on innocent people.

I completely agree with your complaint and believe it's justified for us to step up and take legal action against them. I recently entered in a Good Housekeeping sweepstakes, completely unaware of the fact that by doing so, I would subject myself to an automatic subscription to their magazine as well. Upon checking my e-mail a couple minutes later, I realized that I had unwittingly subscribed - they never asked for my credit card information (now that I look back on it, that might have been too suspicious seeing as how it's a sweepstakes entry page), so I'm predicting they'll start sending me letters if I sit back and take their abusive scamming ways. I tried to cancel online, but when I tried to cancel my subscription through Heart Magazine, the site directed me to a blank page that had 'error' in its url. Frustrated, I turned to Good Housekeeping to try to resolve my problem.. but I couldn't even log in! When I pressed 'forgot my password', they only refreshed the current sign up information, with no way to access my account, much less cancel the issues before the billing is initiated. Simply sickening tactics which I have never before witnessed from ANY other magazine.
Bottom line - I would HIGHLY recommend staying away from Hearst AND Good Housekeeping magazines, as they are only seeking another subscriber at any cost. Even if that means risking their reputation and degrading their honest values in order to achieve that.. pathetic, I know.

Deal direct with the magazine...whichever one it is...thats my advice after this GL Valk tried to scam me.
In my case it was Good Housekeeping with whom I dealt direct.
SBF Colorado

I called the number listed above...[protected]...it was for Esquire but I asked them if they had me intheir system for any other subscriptions. She took my address and confirmed my "RedBook" subscription that was set to expire on March 2010. I told her I did not want to renew the subscription and that it was actually given as a gift that I never wanted anyway! She mentioned it wasn't set up in the system as a gift and that is why I was recieving the renewal notice.

Well, this renewal notice is a crock! I explained to her that it had no phone number to call to inquire about it and it was written in a threatening manor.

"We must advise you that your order for the Redbook remains unpaid and is now past due. To avoid services interruption plaease pay you invoice amount of $10.00 now."
Also noted on it in big letters is "THIRD NOTICE"

As a computer savy person I googled this G.L Valk guy and found numerous sites that state the same type of letter, although others were asking for much more money. The bottom line is, ThIS IS WRONG! They are threatening people to pay for subscriptions that aren't even renewed yet.

When I questioned the subscription she told me that my previous "gift from my aunt" subscription is set to end on March 2010. At that point I stated that I wanted to cancel it immediately and why was I being told on this notice that I was past due?
She immediately brushed me off and apologized quickly and moved on with closing out the account and quickly got off the phone.

I am very frustrated and angry about this. Luckily I was able to look into this and get my situation resolved (hopefully), as I do not want this to hurt my credit. But an unsuspecting elderly person or someone who just didn't know how to look this website up would be screwed into either paying what they asked for or harrassed into collections!

BOTTOM LINE - CALL [protected]

* Regardless what Magazine they say they are handling, ask them if they have your address in the system.
* When they pull you up, ask them to read to you when your subscription expires and tell them you want to cancel it.
* Hopefully they will get the point as people continue to do this and stop sending such manipulative deceitful letters to innocent people.

Hope that helps. Now I was to call NBC10 Investigates to find out if they can look into this more! I am pissed.

My 17 year old daughter is also receiving the same letter of threat. Rather upsetting for the young lady...which in turn upsets her Mother!
This is truly a nasty way to do business and perhaps attempt to intimidate into another subscription. Certainly means no more magazine orders from Hearst or of the Cosmo Magazine if they chose to conduct their business in such a deceptive manner. Shame on them.

Ms Anderson, please dont fret. Google this problem and you will see many many people have the same problem. Disregard the notice, find a number online, Here are two i found, [protected] and [protected], now mind you, I did not try the numbers so sorry if they are wrong. I am reading it is very difficult to get the subscription cancelled in writing, but calling and telling them you will report them to Attorney General of your state or FTC that might help. HOpe this helps.

Also, last entry, whats up with your spelling and your comment?

MRS ADNESRON, I AM COFNUSED ON A FEW PONIT'S HERE WHICH I HPOE TO CALRIFY FARELY EASLY THRU THE FOLOWING LINE OF QESTONING::, , FISTR OF ALL, WRER U ABLE TO TRAICE MR G L VALK TO COMPLABTSOARD IN SOME MANER OR FASHON?

IF SO I HPOE THAT U R ABLE TOO PROCESUTE THSI GETLENAM TO THE FURHTEST ESTENT OF THE LAW1!11 AND THTA U WLIL KEEP US ALL POTSED ON ANY & ALL DELEVOPMNETS, , AS THER IS NO DOUT IN MY MIDN THAT IT EFECTS US ON DEPELY PERNOSAL LEVEL ONE & ALL

IF NOT MS ASNDERSO MAY I ASK WHY IT IS THAT U HALF TAKNE IT UPON URSELF TO BRNIG THSI PALTRICULRA STIUATON TO OUR ATENTON?

TO MY NOLEGE I HALF NOT BEN INLOVLVED WIHT GOD HOSELEKPNIG MAGASINE FOR QITE SOME TMIE NOW, ,

MY BSET REGRADS

BLESINGS

Dr M A CARNARVORO