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Reader's Digest

By Lucille Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 16, 2006
Reader's Digest is that little magazine you used to see on your grandmother's coffee table or read in your friendly, neighborhood dentist office. A lot of people, including your grandmother, are now upset with the magazine we all loved and trusted.

Reader's Digest Assoc Inc 1 Readers Digest Road Pleasantville, NY 10570-7001 Phone: (914) 238-1000 www.readersdigest.com Customer Service (800) 304-2807 Monday through Friday 8am to 11pm Saturday 8am to 8pm EST. rd.custhelp.com

Based on complaints sent to ConsumerAffairs.com, people are receiving invoices for Reader's Digest subscriptions they never ordered. These invoices simply arrive out of the blue and getting any information about the invoice or cancellation policy is proving very difficult.

Linda of Stow, OH writes, "I received a bill today for $9.98 when I never ordered anything". She said she looked for a phone number to call, but couldn't find one. She also went to the Reader's Digest website but the only option was to subscribe.

Ben of O'fallon, MO tells us that he received a bill for Reader's Digest and went on to say, "I have never read nor do I ever intend to read their magazine."

Some people just get a bill, but others get the magazine and then the bill arrives later. Thomas of Boise, ID wrote in to say, "A Readers Digest was delivered one day that I didn't order. A few days later a bill showed up." Thomas also mentioned how hard it was to cancel.

Readers Digest invoices sometime arrive in the form of a renewal.

Judy of Lucasville, OH said, "I have been receiving a bill from Readers Digest for a renewal." She said, "I have been receiving this [invoice] for a couple of months and tried to find a phone number to contact them, but one is not to be found anywhere on the statement. I have never subscribed to Readers Digest," she wrote in her complaint. She went on to say, "It states I have a 12-issue subscription but I have yet to receive a book."

And finally, Michael of Evergreen, CO actually ordered a subscription but wrote to tell us, "I ordered a Reader's Digest subscription at the advertised price of $10 per year in February of '06. I wrote a check on March 3, 2006. My April bank statement shows my check was cashed by Reader's Digest. I have been receiving my magazines monthly but have also received monthly Past Due notices saying I haven't paid for my subscription. These past due notices are irritating because there is neither a phone number nor an e-mail address where I can reach Reader's Digest's accounting department."

ConsumerAffairs.com received only one complaint about Readers Digest in 2005, however these new complaints started slowly in January 2006 and have multiplied over the last few months.

Obviously, based on the number of complaints to our mailbag this week, many people are asking the same question as Linda of Stow, OH, "Do you think this is how they have made their millions, from cheating good people?"

Victoria of New York, NY November 21, 2009

I am not a subscriber to RD, however they continuously send me books and "free gifts" which they later bill be for. I was infuriated to find a "Past Due" bill for a book I never heard of, and never received. The bill did not include any phone number, and I finally found the number by Googling the company.

The service representative eventually deleted these charges, but reading about the other complaints filed against RD, and seeing my similar experience, indicates to me that something is intrinsically wrong with their system or modus operandi.

Jane of Deerfield, IL November 21, 2009

Try to cancel a subscription to get CD's. Wrote that the service neeeds to be ended and the company still sends the CD's. Have to write refuse on the package at the post office to get a credit on the account. This has been going on for many months.

irene of ocean city, NJ November 6, 2009

This is the 2nd time I've had a problem with Reader's Digest. I stopped subscribing to them several years ago but they keep sending items & demanding payment with threats of hurting my credit. Today I received "Great American Songbook" with a thank you for your order & a bill for 23.51. Also included was a contest 21,000.00 customer-only cash prize. I want nothing to do with this company & never ordered anything from them in the past several years. Yet they enclosed a bill & either a dvd or cd(I did not open package)

The label on envelope of music is RDA Music Processing Center Dept 5555, Louisville, KY 40283-5555. Is there no way to stop a company from mailing products that are not ordered & then demanding payment. I have no telephone number to call and complain. I want them to take me off their "sucker" list. Please help. thanks

Joyce of Carver, MA November 4, 2009

I have been receiving this magazine for many years, however, as of late I keep receiing numerous bills from them. I sent two payments- one on 6/29/09 for 13.29 and one one 7/16/09 for 20.00. They are now billing me for an additional 27.96. I receive so many bills from them that I don't know where I stand anymore. The 20.00 payment was for 2 free gift subscriptions and the latest bill is for the same two gift subscriptions. I cannot find a web address or phone to call.

Marje of Nickerson , MN October 23, 2009

After many years, I am 83, i hate Readers Digest. Not for the content, but because of the terrible I can't find it! It is such a busy style, bgged down with advertising! I used to manage an advertising agency and I would never have allowed such sloppy layouts!

Nancy of Rancho Cordova, CA October 14, 2009

Received the "Papaya edition" of Mind Stretchers unsolicited. Paperowrk with shipment showed no price, gave, in fine print, hiding on the back, an address to contact if we did not want to receive additional products of this type (sorry - I think I tossed it). Well then along came the "violet" edition and today I received a bill for that. They did respond to my e-mail, but denied any fault. Said they would cancel the charge and send me a return label.

Mansour of Stoney creek, ON October 7, 2009

I am receiving items in the mail which I never ordered and I had end up sending them back.Today I went on their web site and checked the account number on the statement .They have billed me for hundreds of dollars.

Patricia of South Amboy, NJ October 7, 2009

I received a letter From Reader's Digest saying I won 119,000.00 and an enclosed check of 3,628.00. After reading other complaints smilar, I did not deposit this check but wanted to go on record so that no one else is scammed and mayby prevent them from losing their own money due to this scam.

Mr. of Bella Vista, AR October 1, 2009

I was offered a free book in connection with some kind of lottery, contest or whatever. Specified was my ability to cancel any future shipments, but keeping the book they would send. Shipped was "Mind Stretchers," a paperback volume, of puzzles. I don;t want further shipments, but the only phone number appearing on the ReadersDigest.com website is an 866 for Amazon.com, which denies a connection with Reader's Digest and claims inability to do anything about cancelling further shipments (or charges).

Linda of Sharon, VT October 1, 2009

Received a letter claiming I had won 65,000.00 a third place winner, in Readers Digest Sweepstakes, which I do enter some on line.Also included was a check in the amount of 3043.75 that I was to deposit in my bank account, to cover handling, insurance,duties and tax. As soon as they received back these fees I was to receive my winnings within 24hrs by FedEx. I do understan the they would stop payment on that check and I would me liable for that money.

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