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United Readers Service

United Readers Service review: fraud 14

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Author of the review
5:10 pm EDT
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

I was given fraudulent information regarding a sweepstakes to be drawn on 10/2/08. I only subscribed to this offer beacause of that information. Since then I have been called by a Readers Source and tricked ( by them giving me a lot of my information, asking for verification on certain things). I called the number on my paperwork for Readers Service (regarding the Sweepstakes) afterward. I was told there was no drawing until mid 2009. I was also told there are other companies "pretending to be them". A Mr Black told me that they have lawyers working on this problem. I asked to be removed from this subscription service and was told they would not do that, ever. I started receiving calls, well over 50, for the rest of the day 10/1/08. They have continued to harrass me since then. Now there is a $49.98 charge on my bank account, which has started bouncing all of my other expenditures. Mr
Black called today 10/6/08, giving me incorrect account # and info. He also said HE called the "other service" and told them to leave me alone.
HELLOOOOO! What happened to the lawyers?These different "services" are connected (sharing account info, linked to harrass after I asked to cancel this mess) Now this is bank fraud.

14 comments
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Albert Lam
Oct 08, 2008 9:22 pm EDT

I agree with you; I have my own story.

I have somewhat the same experience, except the ones who called me were Nationwide Reader Service. They persuaded me to purchase a subscription to some magazines (I didn't even want to subscribe for 5, I only wanted 2-3), for $16.xx but apparently I heard them wrong, and it was actually $60.xx. However, since I was a preferred customer (even though it had only been a week) they lowered it to $49.xx. But that was my fault, I guess.

About a month after I subscribed, I started getting a ton of calls from magazine companies (only around 15 per day). They all said that they were my magazine subscription company, and due to some error, they were having trouble sending out my magazines and asked me to reconfirm my info. And since I'm so stupid, I gave it to them... After all these charges started showing up on my credit card, I managed to cancel most of them, but I was stuck with America's Elite media (I made a verbal contract to this one), which makes another monthly $49.xx on my credit card. Like you, I'm sure that all these different services are sharing my account info.

After I canceled most of those magazines, I got a lot less calls, maybe once every week. Today, Reader's Source called me. Before I hung up on them, they told me that I keep getting these calls because I refuse to update my account info with them. I told them that they weren't the company I subscribed from, and they said that they had changed their name. I asked, and they said that Nationwide Reader Service is part of them. Once it's morning, I plan to confirm this with Nationwide Reader service. So I gave them a verbal contract again, before I looked up their name online... But this time I asked a question, and the recording got the answer too: "You have 30 days to cancel."

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Concerned
Nov 04, 2008 10:32 pm EST

Hello,

I have an interesting situation. Maybe someone can offer advice. I work for a magazine company. It's one of the ones listed above, but I will not specifically name which one as jobs are hard to find these days and I can't risk losing mine. Rest assured, I don't do sales.

I started my job fairly recently, and a few days ago, I noticed a charge on my bank account from Readers Source. I have don't even know who they are. I have never, ever ordered magazines as I have no interest in them. I just don't know what's going on, and am alarmed and suspicous.

I have so far been unable to find a phone number for Readers Source. Does anyone have their number?

Thanks.

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Brian Vogel
Nov 05, 2008 7:57 pm EST

I once did get magazines from readers source and it was paid off. I still am getting phone calls from this number and each time I tell them I did not order any magazines. I get the same as everyone else that they are going to send it to collections, they say that because I closed the credit card they once had. My favorite thing to do is laugh and tell them you can't squeeze blood from a turnip, then they hang up.
Tonight my wife answered the phone and told "Manny" that I did not order any magazines. He was not nice and decided to tell her some things which I will not say. She then hung up on him.
Going back to last month, I received a call that I still had payments left to pay. Same story with the pay now or collections...I spoke with the persons manager finally and she said they would cancal anything they have in their system.
I was given this number [protected] to call to verify that everything had been cancelled. The lady I spoke to at that number was nice and verified everything was cancelled along with my number removed so they would not call me any longer but I'm still getting the calls.

You can try the [protected] number and see what they can do for you.

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Jenny W
Nov 06, 2008 11:04 am EST

I am having the same problems! I too have been having unauthorized drafts from my checking account; twice over the last 6 weeks. This has got to stop! I have already contacted my bank to make them aware if this problem. I did MANY years ago purchase a mag subscription from a "Readers Source" company but have paid them off long ago. Does anyone else have any other advice?

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Shannon Toohey
Nov 18, 2008 7:05 pm EST

I recently got a call from them. I didn't agree to any service or give them my credit card information - they never even asked me to. She mentioned it then asked my age and job and said thank you and goodbye.

I'm still contacting them to be sure I wasn't signed up for something that I don't want to be

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Cecilia
US
Dec 06, 2008 2:34 pm EST

Hi kept getting calls from a phone number that I don't have on my cell so I decided to call them today to find out who it was (I'm a curious person). It was from the "United Reader's Service" the person I talked to said that they were calling me because I was one of the finalists for the sweepstakes they were sponsoring for the major credit card companies. She said they were given a list of names of the finalists so they could call them on behalf of the credit card companies and my name was one of them. She went on and on about the prizes but I kept questioning her... I asked her what benefit they got out of this, she said that they work with the credit card companies and for this case they were helping them contact the finalist and at the same time she was given they right to offer an amazing magazine promotion to the finalists... She was having a hard time convincing me so she said to me that by taking this "amazing magazine promotion" they were sending me within a week a diamond watch... I said WOW you guys have so much money that you don't know what to do with it and you are just going crazy giving all these nice gifts away... I said I want to work there (of course I was being sarcastic)... I told her I will think about it... then I called my credit card companies to ask them about this and they told me they are not running any type of sweepstakes and have not contacted at all this company. I called them back and I requested to talk to the same person I had talked to and asked her to remove my name and phone number from their database. I told her that they were just scamming people... She kept saying they were BBB accredited... I told her they are several complaints about the company. She even had the guts to try to convince me. I told her if she didn't remove my name and phone number from the list and I f I got call from them again they'll be in big trouble.

Be careful everyone because once you accept the magazine offer you are obligated to a 4 year commitment!... they don't tell you this right away but she was stupid enough to tell me that one of the reasons why people get so upset is because they want to cancel after a month, a week, or so but they can't because when they accept the promotion one of the requirements is a 4 year commitment (I’m not sure if this requirement is very clear to people or if its buried somewhere in small font). I think I gave her a headache... If you ever have a problem with them don't think twice and go to the better business bureau website and file a complaint (http://us.bbb.org) The phone # they kept calling me from is [protected]. Good Luck!

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mike
La Fayette, US
Dec 22, 2008 9:15 pm EST

I am going through one now with Readers source and they got my wifes Cell number and calling harrasing. I closed the card they used. They got it a few years ago when my wife signed up. They renewed for $1430.00 for 5 years plan at 39.75 a month. This was done because they asked how she wanted to pay for the subscription they told her they were signing her up for and she hung up. Hanging up on the means to them it is OK to charge me how ever you want. The only reason they didn't take it all at once was they probably tried and found they couldn't because of the limit at one time that was set for the card.
I got them to cancel everything and have it in 2 different letters from 2 of the names they use. Now the person calling seems to be fraud and has the number of the closed account. Seems he triedto use the card and now is dumb enough to try to get my wife to give him another number. Please go file with the FTC so enough people can send these people away and get us a settlement against this company. [redacted] is growing.

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FloralChick
White Lake, US
Jan 27, 2009 6:23 pm EST

I too was SCAMMED into this ridiculous scheme of theirs. They promised they would send things and never did multiple times. Finally after years of paying them my contract was up and I was FREE of them... or so I thought. About a year after I paid them off I received a notice in the mail. This is what it said:

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Thank you for allowing us to serve all of your magazine needs. Your original service plan is PAID IN FULL and we appreciate the way your service was always handled in a timely manner. Although you may have time left on your current service, we value you as a customer and as part of your original service agreement we will be extending your service for the small amount of: $14.95 per Month

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE WILL HANDLE YOUR ACCOUNT AS BEFORE, ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. THE FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE PROCESSED WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS UNLESS YOU NOTIFY US BY MAIL OR PHONE BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 THAT YOU DO NOT WISH TO EXTEND YOUR SERVICE. ONCE YOUR EXTENDED SERVICE BEGINS YOU MAY STOP THE EXTENDED SERVICE AT ANY TIME SIMPLY BY NOTIFYING US, Readers Source at [protected].
...
(payment options)
...

Sincerly,
Karen Stephens
Readers Source
[protected]

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I was LIVID! I called several times but as usual I am NEVER able to get through on that line. I promptly wrote a letter stating that if they DARED to charge me for any service that I would be getting a lawyer! Well they have yet to bill my account, but now I am receiving every single crappy magazine available! So now I am threatening harassment!

The address on the letter was

Readers Source
P.O. Box 1144
Mission, KS 66222

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Jannail
Huntington Lake, US
Aug 18, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

WoW,
I also got a call from these company called readers source or readers services. Every time I get a call from them they somehow know my name and my address. The first time they called it was some guy who sounded very excited, it was his first day he said. After the survey he told me I had won some watch and FREE magazines. I of course do not believe in such a thing as FREE. I kept listening then that guy told me that i would talk to a supervisor to get my information. The supervisor somehow answer in a second, which really was suspicious. She told me I had won a diamond watch and something else, then she asked me to give her my credit card number. OF COURSE I DID NOT. I told her I wasn't able to find it and hung up. Then I get this calls saying that my account has been paid for them and that I need to pay $1000 dollars in a year. I asked the guy to cancel my account and he said he couldn't do it. I was very mad and also frustrated he told me he had my information, but was not able to give it to me for security reasons. I know it is a scam, but I really would like to know if they do have my credit card number.

Is there anyone here with the same problem?
I would like to know if there is a way to report this company?
It is very frustrating to get this kind of calls!

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Maria R
US
Jan 07, 2010 10:34 am EST

I just received a call from a debt collection company claiming that I owe for magazines from United Readers Service from 2006. They claim that I ordered a woman's package that was around $499 and now I owe $1000 for not paying for the magazines. I have not gotten any magazines from this company and now they say they are going to sue me for the money. They gave me an account number, so I went to the United Readers website and cannot pull out any information. My husband started cursing in the background while I was on the phone with them. They cannot give me any information except that I owe the money. I refused to give them a dime unless they can show me what I ordered! I guess I will be getting sued!

Any solutions?

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Crysglene
US
Feb 20, 2010 11:13 am EST

I TOO WAS SCAMMED BY UNITED READERS SERVICE, I FELL FOR THE HUGE SWEEPSTAKES GIMIC AND SIGNED UP, AFTER 2 YEARS OF FORTY DOLLARS A MONTH I WROTE AND VERBALLY CANCELLED MY SUBCRIPTION AND THEY SAID OH WELL YOU CANT CANCEL, I TOLD THEM U ONLY HAVE A VERBAL AGREEMENT AND NO CONTRACT IS AIRTIGHT, I ASKED IF SHE WOULD SEND ME A PHYSICAL COPY OF MY "AGREEMENT" AND SHE SAID SHE COULDNT DO THAT SO I TOLD HER IF COULDNT GET ME A COPY OF THE RECORDING THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANOTHER CENT. SO THEY KEPT HARRASSING ME AND CALLING FOR ME TO MAKE A PAYMENT I TOLD THEM EVERYTIME AND TOLD TWO "SUPERVISORS" I WAS NO LONGER GOING TO HAND OVER MONEY AND IF THEY CONTINUED TO CALL AND HARRASS ME I WOULD CONTACT A LAWYER AND PRESS CHARGES AND SHE BLUNTLY TOLD ME THE CALLS WOULD NOY STOP. AFTER THAT THEY BEGAN TO CALL ME WITH THIER NUMBER BLOCKED! EVERY DAY FOR THREE MONTHS FROM 8 OCLOCK AT NIGHT TO WEEKENDS AT 9 AM, IM FURIOUS BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, IVE SENT MAGAZINES BACK AND MADE A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT THEM, ALSO SPOKE WITH A STATE JUDGE WHO SAID DONT GIVE THEM ANYTHING, BUT THE LAST BILL THEY SENT SAID TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATLY TO AVOID HAVING THE BILL COLLECTION AGENCY TAKE IT OVER! HELP!

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Boocasper25
Greenbrier, US
Mar 09, 2010 9:37 pm EST

Watch out United Readers Service is now going by a different name. They are going by Relaible Readers Service when infact they are United Readers Service. I have written a letter to the President, Vice President of URS and I also wrote a letter to BBB, FTC and US postal service letting them all know what type of company this is. They suckered me into this scam too but I am fighting back. I just sent off the letters today and will follow up once I find out what happens. I wrote them saying to cancel my subscription because they had mislead me and lied to me regarding this mag. offer. My lawyer said that because they didn't let me know up front that they have a cancelation policy and because they failed to send me anything in writing then they don't have a leg to stand on. They have violated the telemarketing law by failing to disclose important information ragarding their company. I am fighting back and you should too. I sent the letter to the OH BBB because that is where the company is based out of. They still have the united readers service website and now the new reliable service website looks the exact same (with a few changes to the home page). I pointed this out in my letter to these people as well. Help get this company closed down write BBB today!

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heather04
US
Jun 21, 2010 10:33 pm EDT

yes i was to contacted from the united readers service inc about me being enterd into a contest and what sounded like a good deal on a magazine for only 40 dollors a mouth. so i did it but i asked her if i could cancel at anytime before agreeing to it and she said yes so i went thougth with it. well about a year with them i didnt any longer want to be reciving anymore magazines from them so i called to cancel well the girl was very rude and told me that i could not cancel and that i had agreed to it and they have it on recording. well i know i didnt record anything with them. well she told me that i couldnt cancel that i was in agreement to say with them for four years and there was no way i could cancel. well i know that the person i talked to in the beging to me that i could cancel at any time. well i told her that id like to hear the tape and she said she couldnt do it well i told her that if she cant let me hear my voice agreeing to it them she aint getting another dime out of me. so i have changed my banking account so they cant get any money from me.. this company needs to be shut down and not aloud to fraud anybody anymore

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Sarah6633
Toledo, US
Nov 28, 2010 5:11 pm EST

URS IS a scam. I happen to know the people that run this company, and I can tell you that 100%, no questions about it - this is a MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME. They have a F rating with the BBB and constantly need to change the name of the company in order to "keep it legit.". Do not fall for this scam! The owners have friends in high places - they pay to make their problems go away! Complaints won't help - this is an organized crime ring.

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    +1 (888) 369-7323
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    PO Box 771747, Lakewood, Ohio, 44107-0067, United States
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