Readers Digest (Yes again)

ST*

Those annoying f*ckers have sent me letters advising that I owe them for a magazine (32.95e), which I never ordered or received. I'd throw it in the bin with the rest of the cr@p they've ever sent me, but they are threatening legal action, in turn damaging my credit rating. Wtf?

I'm not seeking legal advice, but if anyone has had similar dealings with them, please let me know, and what the outcome was.

Thanks,

Thirdfox

(hypothetically of course) (not legal advice) - you should ask them to give you evidence of you purchasing their magazine. Perhaps someone used your credit card fraudulently?

(It seems like you may have agreed (somewhere) to receive these magazines, of course it could all be a big mistake )

ST*

Thirdfox wrote:

(hypothetically of course) (not legal advice) - you should ask them to give you evidence of you purchasing their magazine. Perhaps someone used your credit card fraudulently?
(It seems like you may have agreed (somewhere) to receive these magazines, of course it could all be a big mistake )

It is a big mistake alright! we get enough cr@p in our letter boxes these days.. So there was no credit card transaction either. Previous letters from them state it was a book I didn't pay for, this time they are calling it a magazine

Anyway, I'll get in touch with them and will ask for 'proof of purchase', but it amazes me how they can get away with badgering people like this.

Thanks!

Lplated

(Also not legal advice) If someone sends you something in the post, not at your request, say a 'free sample', you're under no obligation to pay for it, but must, at their request, return said sample, once they cover the cost of returning the sample. If they don't stump up the cost of postage, you dont' have to post it back to them, although one should wait a 'reasonable' period before destroying item to give them the chance of sending you the cost of postage.

In this Readers Digest example, I would be more worried about the possible damage to my credit rating, and in particular the reference to previous monies owed. You can check your rating (for about a fiver or so), any time, with the Irish Credit Bureau.

Agree that the first thing to do is contact them by post, setting out your problem, and see what response you get.

mikemac

I used to have this problem with Britannia Music Company. Not sure if they're still around, they were fairly well known a few years ago.

How it worked was you got 5 free cds at the start. You then had to commit to buying one cd a month from their catalogue. If you didn't chose one you got the Editors choice whcih could be anything.

Halfway through the contract I filled a survey asking me to list my favourite 10 bands. So they sent me cd's from all 10 over the next few weeks.
The accompanying letter stated if I didn't want them I had 10 ten days to send them back, otherwise I'd have to pay. It was a waste as I often got cd's that I already owned. Example: I bought Stereophonics cd and listed them as one of my favourite bands. They then send me a cd I already own and demand I pay.


But by the time I got them the 10 days deadline was passed as they were coming from the UK and I was away in college during the week.
I refused to pay as I never ordered them. I eventually paid up when as I got threatening letters from debt collectors.

Only found out later that as they were unsolicited goods I was under no obligation to pay. I'd say a lot of people will pay once they recieve threatening legal letter as it can be quite scary.

It certainly had me worried as I was only a student at the time and to be honest I was terrified of all of the legal jargon on these letters. I make sure I know my rights now.

seamus

Reader's Digest cannot damage your credit rating.

macfran

A few years ago I succumbed to their advertising and subscribed to the magazine for a year. Then I was getting the same magazine delivered twice to my address with a slight variation on the wording of the area and looking for another subscription.

Of course I was among the last few to win this amazing amount of money and when you return this special privileged entry you should buy a book or shoes or something to be in the priorty position.

So I wanted out.. and about last November I sent them a registered letter stating that I no longer wanted any correspondence from them and any mail I received would be treated as junk mail and returned to them.

I never got any more junk from them but my husband recieved a magazine in Feb so it was sent back unopened and marked as unwanted junk mail, and have had nothing since.

Oryx

<snip>, a kids book company based in Cork also send unsolicited goods. You get part one of a twenty part series with 7 days or so to send back if you dont want it. It took about 6 requests to be removed from their database.

Maximilian

Inertia selling, as this is called is specifically outlawed in the Sale of Goods Act - Section 47

Its a criminal offence.

If it were me, I'd just ignore them. If they somehow were to damage my credit rating, I'd sue them for defamation & enjoy it.

Perhaps you could write a letter of complaint to:
The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA)
4 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 402 5500 Fax: (01) 402 5501
Consumer enquiries: Tel: (01) 402 5555
Lo-Call: 1890 220 229
Email: odca@entemp.ie

cc it to the bastards while you're at it.

Good luck.

ST*

Maximilian wrote:

If they somehow were to damage my credit rating, I'd sue them for defamation & enjoy it.

Well they aren't going to get a cent out of me, and I'm more than happy to sue for dafamation. I was just so annoyed, I've better things to be doing than dealing with this lot. And considering I've never bought a thing from them...

KatieK wrote:

<snip>, a kids book company based in Cork also send unsolicited goods.

Oh yes. This crowd offer you free childrens books. Then they just starting sending you things with an invoice attached, in the hope that you can't be arsed posting them back etc.

Thanks everyone for the info

Victor

Did you ever sign up to their free 4 editions and then start to get billed (the Time Magazine special)?

RainyDay

The good news is that by refusing to pay, you can be pretty certain that they won't send you their dodgy offers in future.

manana

I see a lot of problems internationally with Readers Digest invoices! There is a common thread here. Be warned! I got an invoice though I'd never ordered - only enquired online. I'd bought 2 issues already in the shops so didn't want them. Asked them to start the sub from a certain date. I got a double invoice and then a debt collector's letter after a while - despite RD saying it was all their fault. I paid the sub to the debtors but find that they added the penalty costs to it! Advice above about ODCA good. Don't go near RD is my advice!

Delancey

I thought Readers Digest ( UK/ Ireland ) had ceased trading/publication ?

coylemj

Delancey wrote: »

I thought Readers Digest ( UK/ Ireland ) had ceased trading/publication ?

Then may they rest in peace, alongside this 5 year old thread.

manana

they got into financial difficulties and it seems someone has bought the brand and it is now trading as usual. The invoicing problems haven't gone away though!