Magazine Scam

[BarryBobPosthole]

Two magazines showed up in my mail box that neither Julie nor I ordered or accepted in any deals. The two mags are ESPN and Maxim. We've had this happen before with ESPN and we'll get a few free months and then a bill. Which we'll then have someone we can respond to in order to ancel. I'm almost positive its related to some retail purchase but neither of us can recall anything of any significance except for Best Buy. I sent them an email and got a call back within hours from a local guy and he swears Best Buy used to do that but hasn't since 2008.

So how the EFF do you tell from a subscription label who the heck is publishing it and sending it to you?

This is pissing me off.

BKB

[Buckrub]

http://www.ehow.com/how_7650627_stop-unsolicited-magazine-subscriptions.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_7830198_read-magazine-address-label.html

[Fido]

I am getting Playboy and I didn't subscribe too it. Asked my family and they didn't do it. One thing I noticed is that it's not as good as the ones we had years ago!

[airbud7]

Its "Bush" fault...hehehe...

[HideHunter]

I've gotten a free subscription to "Predator" magazine for two years. I'm guessing it comes from the outfit I bought my calls from. No bill as of yet.

[Thumper]

Send 'em to Ticboy to line his litterbox. ;)

I used to get a few mags from time to time that I never ordered. I heard someplace that magazine publishers make their money from the advertising, not so much via subscriptions. BUT, the more active subscriptions they have, the more they can get from their advertisers due to their circulation numbers. So, they look for any excuse to add a name to their subscription list. I never received a bill for the one's I used to receive, but if I had, I wouldn't have been obligated to pay for them anydamnway. Here's some good info on that.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise

I think it's only a scam if they send you a bill. Many times when you order something on line, mixed in with all the gobblety-gook fine print is a paragraph asking permission to share your info. The box is usually already checked "yes". Make SURE you uncheck that box. ;)