Great American Readers
Complaint 205661 Details

This company is attempting to take $1000 without authorization. They refused to cancel the "service."
Great American Readers contacted me in early January of 2013. They claimed that my name had been drawn to win a $250 gift card. This company was supposedly affiliated with Wal-Mart.com and the gift card was for a website call eOutlets.com. Along with the card, I was to receive 5 different magazine subscriptions of my choice, for 60 months. They told me that I would pay $39.90 to cover the first 25 months, the remaining 35 being free. I was under the impression that I owed one payment of $39.90. About a week later, I received an "order confirmation" in the mail. The magazines listed were not what I chose, to begin with. Second of all, it stated that I was to pay $39.90 per month for 25 months. That's $1,000 for magazines! I promptly called the phone number they had contacted me with. It was disconnected. I called the number listed on the confirmation that they sent me. There was no answer so I left a message asking to speak to a representative. On January 22nd, 2013 the company withdrew $39.90 from my account. We had originally agreed upon the payment being withdrawn on February 5,2013. They still had not contacted me, and each time I called I got the recording. I sent them a /different number (Personal Information Removed). I explained to them that I would not be able to make the payments, and I needed to cancel the services. They told me that it was impossible, the order had already been processed. I explained again that I was unable to make the payments, and I did not sign anything agreeing to pay such an amount. I was told that I had agreed to pay the full amount via the previous call, and it had been recorded. It was a legal verbal agreement. I told him that I was given the impression that I only had to make one payment, not 25. He told me he could change the payments, and give me a lower installment plan. This too I refused. I told him that I refused to make the payments. He informed me that if I did not make them, "the same thing would happen as if I did not pay any other bill." Finally, I hung up. This is a complete scam.