Subscriber Services Inc.
Complaint 145254 Details

Approximately one month ago I was contacted by cell phone regarding receiving a $250 gift certificate for Walmart. After calling the number back, they mentioned a five-year contract to receive 5-6 magazines of my choice per month in order to receive the gift certificate. I told them that was too long so they shortened the time to two years at $17.27 per month. I really wanted the magazines and thought everything was okay until I received a letter from the company which only listed one of the magazines I wanted with a list of other magazines I could choose --none of which I wanted. The letter also stated I was to allow 60 to 120 days to get the new service, yet, they had charged my account for the first payment before I had even gotten off the phone with them. Then I received the so-called gift certificate (which was not a gift certificate, but a VOUCHER) which stated on the back, in very small print, that in order to redeem the $250 gift voucher, I would have to spend $100 per month for 10 months at a Walmart store using a major credit card, send in receipts and a stamped self-addressed envelope by certified mail for each of the 10 months to receive $25 per month. That was the deal-breaker for me -- to have to pay for the magazines AND spend $1,000 of my money and all that aggravation to receive $25 per months for 10 months!!! PLEASE!

When I called the company to cancel I was told I could not do so because thay had me on tape agreeing to their terms. I told them in no uncertain terms they would not see another penny of mine. I immediately called my bank to inform them of the matter and was told by them to cancel the card and they would issue a new one.

The company called today to complain about no longer being able to collect. I told them why and they said it will be sent to collections. I told them good luck with that. Have sent lstters to my state's Atty General's office and the FTC.

It's not so much the $17.27 as it is the scam! I wonder if Walmart and the other places they use even know they are using their names to perpetrate this gift certicate scam.