Complain about a product or service

Columbia House

Ken of West Sacramento, CA March 21, 2006

Ken of West Sacramento, CA (03/21/06)
I enrolled online in a membership in the Columbia House movie club last fall. After 2-3 months, and receiving continued advertisements, I ordered via US mail. The US mail order was delivered within 6-8 weeks. Then within days, the original online order was received. There were some duplicates in the online order.

I called Columbia House and the rep said he would send a postage paid return label and a form for selecting replacement movies.  He told me to include a letter explaining the return and replacements requested. I agreed to keep BOTH accounts open. The postage paid label arrived, I completed the replacement request form and included a letter.

2-3 months have gone by. I’ve called many times. They’ve emailed me many times saying I returned all of the introductory offer (I had not). They said I had a credit (I do not, I’d paid both original introductory invoices).

Today I received 2 movies (2 of those I’d requested to be replaced) with a bill (I’ve already paid for them) and a note saying for credit reasons the other 2 movies could not be sent.  Columbia House owes me two more replacement movies at NO charge. The company is impossible to deal with!

Christina of Hayward, CA March 14, 2006

Christina of Hayward, CA (03/14/06)
I am a member of the Columbia House DVD Club. When I originally joined, I purchased the required DVD's and received my free ones - everything was fine. I would browse on-line at new movies, and use the site to decline featured DVD's.

Then, in February, I could no longer get to my account on the website.  I received a statement for 25.53, explaining that I had not kept my commitment and needed to pay the amount "due on contract" or further action would be taken.

I thought my obligation had already been met, and now can't even view my account to see for myself. The phone number is automated and I have yet to speak to anyone about this matter.

Joseph of Lake Worth, FL March 14, 2006

Joseph of Lake Worth, FL (03/14/06)
I have called on several different days, at different times of the day, but it is impossible to speak to a live person to voice a complaint or correct a problem with this company.

I do not wish to be charged late fees for DVDs that I have not received.

Asim of Astoria, NY March 13, 2006

Asim of Astoria, NY (03/13/06)
Columbia House deliberately charged my account a 3.00 late fee because of a 0.03 credit I had with them. In other words, they owed me three-cents, and charged me a late fee on top of money that THEY owed to me. The bill came to 2.97, so because of the 0.03 credit, that I supposedly owed to them AFTER the late fee, was LESS than the late fee itself.

Then they said they told the Credit Bureau so my credit is in jeopardy.

Bill of El Cajon, CA March 13, 2006

Bill of El Cajon, CA (03/13/06)
I am the victim of fraud and scam by Columbia House DVD Club. I opened an account with them on 12/1/03 and agreed to buy 4 selections at regular club price within the next three years. Besides cancelling my account early, they are charging me for a dvd that I neither ordered nor received. Additionally, I fulfilled my commitment to them with my last order and verified, on their website, that my account was in good standing. The information provided on the website confirmed my records that I had no more dvds to buy, and I had about 20.00 in "Fun Cash", a sort of rebate program to be used toward other purchases.

However, now they are saying that I did not fulfill my commitment and are charging me 23.53 for "Due on Contract". Additionally, they are charging me 26.75 for a dvd that I never ordered nor received and they cancelled my account so that I cannot log in via the web to check account.

I have tried calling their customer service number but I cannot get through to a person. They are threatening to send this information to the National Consumer Reporting Service and this will then affect my credit rating.

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