American Publishers Services
Complaint 27424 Details

They called me in July, claiming to be a rewards program through Visa. They said that as a preferred customer, I had won a $1,000 online shopping spree giveaway. THEY ALREADY HAD MY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. They read it off to me, to make sure they had the right person. That is why I trusted them, I thought if they wanted to scam me, they could have already done it. I did not give them any information that they did not already have. They said things like "oh you shop on ebay? You're going to save so much money with this shopping spree", leading me to believe that I could use this 'online voucher' for any online purchase. All I had to do, was pay for shipping for one year on free magazines (4) that I was to receive every month for 3 years. Thats $1.50 per week OR $6 per month OR $72 per year. The payments were to be made monthly. I looked at what I was paying vs what I was getting.. $6 per month for 12 months ($72 total), and in return, I was getting 4 magazines per month for 3 years, as well as $1,000 worth of free online purchases. I agreed, because it would take care of school clothes for my little sister, which has been a struggle since our father passed. I agreed, and they promised that nothing would ever be taken out of my account without my verbal permission each time, they said it was in no way possible for them to even do that. I went on to tell them that to avoid any complication, I would be paying by chack which they agreed was best. It was the 14th, and we agreed for me to make my first payment on the 1st of the following month. They said "congrats, all you have to do is wait for the shopping spree in the mail and choose your 4 magazine on our website". The next day, I checked my bank account to see that my account was well over $100 in the negative- single handedly because of American Publisher's service LLC. They charged $19.95 to my account without my knowledge or consent, and a different company that I did not recognize had charged $4.95 to my account without my knowledge or consent. I had only about $10 in my account at that time- just enough to cover a small check I had out at the time. I didn't have the money to cover these charges, that's why I arranged to pay at the first of the following month. The $19.95 charge came through from A.P.S.LLC, overdrawing my account by about $10, causing me a $36 overdraft fee, putting me at about -$50. The $4.95 charge came from a company associated with American Publisher's, who American Publisher's gave my account number to and authorized them to charge the $4.95 for coupons that I never heard about and didn't want. This put my negative balance down another $4.95, plus another $36 overdraft charge. This puts my negative balance at about $90.00. Now, the check I had out before all this happened, it comes through after all the damage done by American Publisher's, and puts my negatuve balance down another $10, plus a third $36 overdraft charge. This puts my balance at about -$140, all because of American Publisher's service. I called to confront them, and tnis is what they said "the reason you only pay for one year is because we've consolidated your 3 years of payment into one year. We can't refund your money and we will not take care of your overdraft charges, if you don't like that plan, you can cancel. And as far as the other company, you shouldn't give out your card number if you don't want those kind of charges on your account". They actually told me that they're allowed to sell my information to other companies, and that's exactly what they did. I was going to cancel my account with them, I was in the process, and I thought to ask if it cost anything, and she said it cost about $200. She was going to let me cancel my account, knowing that it was because I was financially unstable and unable to pay these fees, and charge my account $200 without even telling me. If I wouldn't have asked that question last minute, I would have been $380 in the negative. I am a student, I live on financial aid, its barely enough to live (I have to live with my family who is also severely struggling financially), and I'm tring to help raise a child at the age of 21. These people have ruined my life. I have always had undamaged credit, and because of these scammers, have been turned over to collection agencies, because I have been unable to pay medical bills and dental bills, because of all the fees these people hqve caused me. I have had at least 2-6 overdraft fees per month since them (each are $36), because these people and whoever they decide to sell my information to take money off of my account whevener they feel like it. I have been unable to change my account numbers yet, because I would lose my financial assistance. Next month my card expires, and this will be over. But they have ruined my life. They have ruined my families live, who have had to help bail me out several time (they already struggle). For every five days the account is negative, they charge another $36, every 5 days until its at ot above zero. I have rolled over on many 'consecutive negative balance fees' as well as all the others. Not to mention, I didn't even get to use the $1,000 gift certificate. It was only valid on their website- nobody would want any of the cheap, no good items they have on that website- with maybe only 75 different junk items. I would have to pay for shipping which, on every item, cost more than the item was even worth. They scammed me. They have ruined my life. Its been 5 months worth of them taking my money, giving it away to other companies, overdraft fees, bouced checks because American publisher's always got there first. The least the could have done was wait for my authorization after all the trouble they created, but not once have they waited for my ok. I deal with the same rep who insists that it was an accidentk and that he will take care of it, and he will make sure it never happens again.. and every time its the same thing. They lie, they cheat, and they steal. I still haven't even seen all these magazines I ordered. I've seen 4, in 5 months time. They send those whenever they feel like it too. All that trouble, and I've gotten nothing in return: no help, no refunds, no apologies, no discounts, no shopping spree. A couple of cosmo's which believe me, I could have spent ten dollars at wal mart and saved myself half a grand or more. I really hope this reimbursement program works, this could turn my life around like you wouldn't believe. Anything close to getting me back on track after these monstersk would be so unbelievably appreciated. More than anything, I would like to see them shut down so they can't do to others what they've done to me. Thanks for this website, people should hear about what these scammers put people through.