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The reason for so many names listed in company/product name/business name is because there seem to be so many names and addresses affiliated with this scam.
Today (5/1/2013) I picked up a shipment that arrived at my apartment on 4/25/2013. I opened it and was thrilled to see four hardcover cookbooks: Homemade with Love ($27.50), Spanish Flavors ($29.95), At My Grandmother's Table ($24.99), and Little Jars Big Flavors ($21.95). I did not order any of these books. I thought perhaps they were gifted to me by someone, but no gift card was inside the box. I did find an invoice and reply form envelope, forwarding service requested, to "The Good Cook, Hanover, PA 17332" that had my name and address, a USPS tracking number, an account number, and a "Welcome to The Good Cook" membership statement. On it, it said "the selections will be sent unless we receive other instructions" with two more books listed below. There also was an invoice number, and a list of the four books I just received and their pub prices, and a column saying "Your Price: $4.00" which was for the enrollment offer. The subtotal was $4.00, Shipping and Handling was $11.71, tax was $1.30, but total due said "$0.00" and that the shipment had been charged to a Visa ending in 8027, which none of my cards or my family or friends have a card like that. It said "to update the credit/debit card on file, see reverse" and "Thank you for your enrollment. You have 2 more books to purchase to fulfill your commitment. You saved $100.39 on this shipment. Get $10 Cash Back! Go to RebateClaim.com" .. and "For Customer Service, call [protected], Web www.thegoodcook.com".
With no other clues as to why I received this, I looked online for help. Using search terms "the good cook hanover pa membership scam" I found this website:
Other similar complaints were made here:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=The+Good+Cook
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=BOMC
Each of the complaints involved Book of the Month Club (BOMC) in some form, and pointed to this address:
Company Address
The Good Cook® Book Club
Member Service Center
PO Box 916400
Rantoul IL [protected]
More searching got me similar results:
bomc.com redirects here:
http://www.bomcclub.com/
Company Address
Book-of-the-Month Club®
Member Service Center
PO Box 916400
Rantoul IL [protected]
This helpful user "Dr.Eric" had a very full list of other company names being used to perpetuate the scam:
#c672074
I am copying and pasting his BBB research here (note the number of alternate business names):
Business Contact and Profile
Name: Direct Brands, Inc.
Phone: [protected]
Address: 1225 South Market Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Business Category: Books-New, Book/Record/Tape Club, Internet Shopping Services, Mail Order & Catalog Shopping, Video Tapes & Discs-Dealers
Web Address:
www.insightoutbooks.com
http://www.ColumbiaHouse.com
www.bomc.com
www.bookplanetbookclub.com
BBB file opened:
January 01, 1979
Business started:
January 1960
Primary Contact:
Mr. Marcus Wilhelm (CEO)
Complaint Contact:
Ms. Brenda Stevens (Complaints)
Alternate Business Names
Architects & Designers Book Service
B M G Music
Behavioral Science Book Service
Bertelsmann Direct North America
Black Expressions
BMG
Book Planet
Book-of-the-Month-Club
Bookspan
Children's Book of the Month Club
Columbia House
Columbia House Video
Computer Books Direct
Crafter's Choice
Crossings Book Club
Discovery Channel Book Club
Doubleday Book Club
Doubleday large print
Early Childhood Teachers
Equestrians Edge
History Book Club
Home Style Books (Country Homes & Gardens)
Insightout Book Club
Library of Science
Library of Speech Pathology
Literary Guild
Literary Guild Select
Military Book Club
Mosaico Book Club
Mystery Guild Book Club
Nurse's Book Society
One Spirit Book Club
Outdoorsman's Edge
Outdoorsman's Edge Book Club
Quality Paperback Book Club
Rhapsody Books
Science Fiction Book Club
Scientific American Book Club
Smart Reader Rewards
Smartreaderrewards.com
Stephen King Library
The Columbia House Company
The Good Cook
The Literary Guild
YESSolutions
Your Music
zooba.com
-end of pasted material from user Dr.Eric-
According to other user complaints, apparently what I have to look forward to is more books and a bill, for some it mounted into the tens and hundreds of dollars. I am not inclined to call the customer service number, because then they'll have that on file and even if I ask to be placed on a do not call list, I'm sure they'll just turn around and sell or trade my information to someone else. For now I am registering this complaint here and another one on the USPS Postal Inspection Service website. This is mail fraud!
http://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx
Good luck to all the people dealing with this inconvenience.. these scammers are rotten, life-sucking people trying to rob others of their joy, not to mention time and money.
I don't understand.. Am I incorrect in thinking that calling them will get me on a call list for more scammers to use?
Oh never mind, "Brenda of Vatican City."
http://www.complaintsboard.com/profile-895745
I can see from your profile that this is all you do, is go to people's complaints and try to discredit them. I'll just ignore your comment above. My warning is out there for anyone who might appreciate it.. that's all that matters. For all I know, you're one of them. Good luck to you.
I understand that calling the customer service number would seem to be the logical place to start. Of course any unsuspecting innocent-minded person would think that would solve things. But as I have seen in other user complaints, they then have your phone number to associate with your account. They are just fishing for additional information. It also doesn't stop all the other associated businesses from perpetuating the scam.
If I can find a way to contact them without revealing any further information about myself, then I'll do it. Until then, again, the point of this post was to alert people that this mail fraud is happening. This company has a history of problems and class action suits, because they are committing a crime. They are sending false notices to people (to be followed by more shipments and future bills, some in the hundreds of dollars). This is directory solicitation.
I have joined several of those clubs over the years (about 14 years) and if understand how it works it's actually a great way to get books, Dvd's and CD's at good prices. I don't know why this person seemed to "have joined the club" involuntarily (maybe a friend submitted a subscription for him/her?) anyway, they never forced me to keep anything that I received by mistake (before when they would send it automatic shipmentes unless you respond to monthly card). If you know you did not place an order and you receive something you can write "refuse" in the box (without opening it) and returning to the post office, it won't cost you a penny.
I have a acquired a beautiful book collection by ordering thru these clubs. No, I don't work for them, I am a real customer. Good luck to you I hope you can find a better experience of these companies, I don't believe they are mail fraud. Have a great day.