American Publishers Services
Complaint 4362 Details

I received a phone call saying I had won a $1000.00 online shopping spree from visa; along with it I was receiving 6 magazine subscriptions. All I had to do was cover the shipping for the magazines which would be around $3/month. All they needed was to verify my credit card was still active but in no way were they going to charge my card. I told them specifically that they were not authorized to charge my card at any time. They were very convincing telling me that I was not making a purchase and that they did not need the verification code on the back of my card which they would need in order to charge my card. Later that night I checked my online banking and had a charge pending on my account for $49.50 from Magazines in Morristown TN. I immediately called my bank and had them close my card. My bank was unable to dispute the charge since it was still pending. My bank informed me after I told them what had happen that sometimes hotels and companies do verify accounts in this way and the charges will fall off. They advised me to keep checking my account and if the charge goes through to call and dispute the charge. About a week later I received a letter from American Publishers Service LLC stating that I was still entitled to my $1000.00 online shopping spree but I would have to pay processing fees and shipping on each item ranging from $1.95 to $29.95 and up. The letter also stated that I had signed up for their magazine services which I would have to make payments on monthly. The letter then goes on to say "payments amount to $49.90 per month for 20 months. The total payments is $998.00. In the event you choose to cancel after seven days from the date of this letter, but prior to completing your 20 payments, a termination fee in the amount of 80% of the total unpaid balance of 20 payments will apply." I had been watching my account and the charge had not gone through. On the 8th of July the charge came up on my account for $49.90. The letter was dated 6/30/2011, it was postmarked in Knoxville TN on July 2nd, I did not receive it until July 6th. Once the company charged my account it was already past the 7 days. I called my bank and disputed the charge, I am still waiting to find out if it will be accepted or not. I called the number provided in the letter and asked to speak to a manager. The managers name I spoke with was Angela Smith (a bit to common) and I informed her that I never signed up for anything like I was receiving and that they never had permission to charge my card. Angela told me that they did not charge my card at the time I gave them my information, they simply verified it was still active. I then informed her that it was charged because I closed the card that evening and there is no way she would have been able to charge it on a later date. Angela then told me that they did not receive the money until the 8th, I informed her that any time a charge is made to a card it goes through an authorization process which takes some time and I was sure she was aware of this process. She then told me I spoke with Stephanie and Holly and "requested" their services. At this point I lost my cool and began telling her how I never ever agreed to pay $998.00 for magazines and that I was receiving a $1000.00 shopping spree which I had "won," along with my winnings I was receiving 6 magazines for FREE and all I had to pay was around $3/month. I again informed her that they never had permission to charge my card. Angela politely said that it sounds like I don't want their services at all, and she would simply cancel my account. I agreed with her that I did not want ANY of their services. Angela then informed me of the termination fee, I did not allow her to finish and I told her that they were not going to get ANY of my money and I was going to take this as far as I had to too make sure they didn't. Angela said she did not want me to get upset and said she was just going to cancel the account and waive the termination fee. I told her thank you and we greeted each other to have a nice day. I still want to bring this company down because I know that I am not the only person who fell for their scam, and sadly I am positive they are getting away with it often or they would not have people answering the phones. Please let me know what I can do to help. It makes me sick how they manipulate and take advantage of people calling and saying they won a sweepstakes. How many people enter sweepstakes every day? I am sure it is millions so it is not far-fetched to be a winner.