Complain about a product or service

Columbia House

Donna of Apopka, FL May 5, 2009

It would seem Columbia House has one set of rules for other customers and a different set for me..when I first joined they forced me to complain to the Attorney General because they refused to adhere to their own agreement...I won and they were forced to send me the rest of my intro package prior to my paying..they tried to force me to prepay for my intro package..I refused and the AG sided with me..now it seems they are bound and determined to make my membership a living hell...

I placed my first order I was forced to reorder because they refused to ship out my first order..they finally did and the one set that would count as 1 toward my obligation arrived heavily damaged..I informed them of the damage I might add the shipping box was undamaged yet the cd case was smashed beyond repair and the discs were scratched, I believe this set was damaged prior to shipping and sent on purpose why else would the set be damaged, but the shipping box not be..

I was sent two different emails the first said to "send it back" and the second said to "throw it away"..I find it funny I was sent a damaged set and of course it was the set that would count as my first obligation purchase..the cost was removed from my balance..I still owe for the rest of the order a mere 24.96...I placed more orders and was shocked when none of them were shipped..3 were not yet released when I placed my order..however one has since become available, but has not shipped..

to their credit they did ship me a replacement title for one from my intro package that was no longer available..of course that one they cannot bill me for in any way so it does not count toward my obligation nor does the one title I was sent..get the picture? They are sending me titles that do NOT count toward my obligation, but holding out on sending the ones that do!! They ignore my email complaints that is until I start sending in complaints elsewhere!!I was shocked when I received a note saying until I pay off my balance I might add that is NOT past due nor was it past due when I placed my other orders..I spoke with a customer of theirs online who said he "placed orders totaling almost 300 BEFORE they sent him such a notice!!" It seems the rules are different for me then for other customers and if this is the way they want it to be then I will take my business and money elsewhere..I usually buy up to 5 dvds every two weeks, but if that's not good enough for them then they can kiss my money and my ass goodbye..

Tashina of Fargo, ND May 5, 2009

I signed up for a free trial and after receiving the promotional DVDs I was to agree to buy 4 more within a set time. That part was okay with me until I call my bank and found out that they charged 25.94 to my account for the Director's Pick DVD which gets sent if you do not reply and say NO Thanks to their email (which I have yet to receive to let me know they will be billing my account).

What makes it worse is that this has happened when I have not had enough money in my bank account so I am not only charged the Director's Pick DVD price of an outstanding 25.94 but also an NSF fee from my bank in the amount of 35, meaning I am basically paying over 60 for a DVD I dont want just because I did not reply to their email (again, I have not received one) as the lady explained very rudely to me over the phone. Now, I have to buy 2 more DVD's to finish out the contract or they'll bill me 75! Even though some movies are only 5!

Again today they charged my account 25.94 for a Directors Pick DVD I dont want but when I went to MY ACCOUNT on their website, it does not show which movie I am being charged for or even that the charge exists under MY ACCOUNT, but it shows on my bank account! Why would they charge me 75 for cancelling the account because she said it would pay for the last DVDs, which like I said some are only 5. I check my emails on a regular basis and havent found any from Columbia House telling me to say "yes" or "no" to the DVD's.

Harish of Milford, CT May 3, 2009

I signed up for an introductory membership with Columbia but they have now started charging me for DVD's i never even ordered or recieved. They do not seem to have a helpline number present on their website and now i learn i have a membership committment to purchase 5 DVD's. Even so, sending any title if i have not responded is fraud. Please let me know if there is a way out of this mess.

My Debit card is being charged without my consent nor am i getting any service. 50 has already been charged to my account and am not sure how much more will follow.

Angaleia of Columbia, SC April 24, 2009

Someone ordered DVDs in my name off of some post card or something that was sent to an address that I have never lived at. Now I find out that I have 106.00 charge placed on me credit and have no idea from what come to find out it is Columbia House and I have never ordered anything from them. Beware. I call the company to find out how this happened and why they are not making sure of the persons identity before they allow items to be ordered, they claimed that an application was filled out and a credit card was given if that was the case then why wasn't the credit card given charged for the balance?

It obvious that they are liars and could care less about verifying the identity of these orders. I am so pissed and when I called them I was treated rudly and told they do not have any information regarding my account and that they never had my social well.... how the heck did it get placed on my credit report? it is truly unfair to place charges someones credit without first making sure they are the person who acquired the debt.

Pamela of The Pas, MB April 22, 2009

I also have received today a letter from RecoverCorp.Inc in regards to an apparent account that I have with Columbia House stating that I owe 91.06. I have not subscribed to Columbia House so why am I getting this bill. I have never, at any point, received any mailings from Columbia House (nor have I received product) So what is this bill about!

When I tried to contact Columbia House I received a voice mail stating that my account had been turned over to collections and to contact RecoverCorp. Guess what?? Answering machine (voice mail there also). Any suggestions on how others got this straightened out for themselves?

Lisa of Covington, GA April 14, 2009

Lisa of Covington GA (04/14/09)
About eight years ago I join Columbia House DVD Club. I spent over 600 (within the first three years) on various movies and had no problems with overbilling or refusal to accept returns on Director Selection that I had not declined in time. So, nearly three years ago I accepted an unsolicited call to join the Columbia House TV club. They sent me my introductory offer and I paid the special price and all was well. Until. My husband was diagnosed with cancer. It turned out to be terminal. I cared for him during his final days. I did not have time to look at DVDs.

Several months after he passed, I received a letter from Columbia House stating that since I had failed to complete my obligation by the deadline, they were billing my credit card for 99.76 and were including four certificates and a special catalog to order from. Well, I looked through the catalog. The catalog only had movies. I did not join a movie club. This was supposed to be for TV shows. I contacted their customer service and explained what happened. I was told that that was too bad but I had failed in my obligation and the contract was final. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was connected to Trenton. I asked if I could get my money back or the TV shows that I was really interested in. He told me that since I had not made my choices in a timely manner I was stuck. This was said with a very cavalier and smug manner.

The financial consequences to me are that not only am I out nearly 100 dollars with no product to show for it; but, my credit card was charged just two days before statement closing. Not expecting any charges I did not visit my account (I only used this card for subscriptions). By the time I received the letter from Columbia House my credit card payment was overdue (this charge was the only charge on the card) costing me 19.00.

By the time I made contact with Columbia House and found out just how callus they are the due date was just passed costing me another 19.00. I do not have much in the way of a pension from my late husbands job. In fact it does not quite cover my monthly expenses. The 140.00 plus finance charges (must not forget those) represent almost two months worth of groceries (I eat cheap). As for the emotional consequences, well, those are incalulable.

Charlette of Detroit, MI April 9, 2009

Charlette of Detroit MI (04/09/09)
Bad customer service, receiving DVD's that I didn't order, multiple billings for the same product. Not getting credit for payments that I have already made.  It's just a big hassle to deal with this after several attempts to get them straight I just finally cancelled my membership!

Tom of Waukesha, WI April 8, 2009

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