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Reader's Digest

Brittany of Chesterfield, SC July 21, 2009

I won a sweepstake that was held on June 5, 2009. The amount won was 255,069. They had sent me a check for 4,321.96 that same day the letter was sent (June 23, 2009). In the letter, I was told to call either Peter G or Nancy B to activate my claim before I deposit the chech in my bank account because it was important. After I called him, I went to the bank(Founders Credit Union) with the check and cashed it, but since it was such a large amount there was an 11-day hold on it and it wouldn't be released until July 10, 2009.

After my 11-days were up, I went to the ATM to withdraw money, but I couldn't get any out. I then went inside and asked the teller about my 11-day hold and was it released today? They had informed me the check was conterfeited and none of the money was released. So,I went back to my house and called Peter back and told him everything the bank was telling me. All he was saying was the check is real, it's not counterfeited, and no bank in America should be holding a check for no 11-day period. The next day, I went back to the back to add money in my account and notice the 4,321.96 check was still there. I asked the teller why was the money still in my account if the check wasn't real? They told me since I had deposited it into my account, it would be a while before they could remove the money from my account. So, it's frozen in my account and I can't do nothing about it.

Ann of Dedham, MA July 15, 2009

I started receiving calls from them about 10 years ago asking if I was happy with my subscription which I never had. I tried calling the company to no avail and they stopped calling for awhile. Few years later started up again with the same questions, I just ignored. Now I am getting calls from a private name and private number, most recently last night at 9:30 pm stating that they were Reader's Digest and again asking if I was happy with my subscription. When I told the man that I did not have a subscription and started to ask him why he was calling me and why so late, he hung up on me. The calls have been coming again for about a month.

joan of Carmel by the Sea, CA July 13, 2009

I am a senior and can forget. I paid ck # 6606 July 15 08 for one year of Readers Digest. Rec another bill in August and forgot I had paid thru July 09. I again pd ck # 6616 August 25th 08 and when I realized I had, I assumed this would be then through July , 2010. 24.98 each ck. I just rec another bill for 24.98 and can't get through to resolve this.

Donald of Mechancisville, VA July 9, 2009

Received book in mail stating FREE. I did not order or want it in the frist place nothing is free.I tried to send it back worte on box return to sender do not want.This Great P.O. of ares return it to me stating I have to put 2.77 postage on it to return I never opened this package.Now am being built for a new book every two or three months.

Bethh of North Wales, PA July 1, 2009

Received a letter with letter head coming from Readers Digest from the Managing Director of Prize Award Dept. It stated I have won a lump sum payout from the Sweepstake Draw in amt. of 255,069.00 There was a check for enclosed for 4,780.04 drawn on BNY Mellon Trust of De. from the account of AIG Annuity Insurance Company. Before activating I am to call Peter G or Nancy B before depositing check. The check was to cover any charges required before I receive my lump sum of 255,069.00 and was forwarded by their licensed, bonded North American Agency.

The 888 # on the letter head did not even work from my area.. Called the number and when I mentioned scam, he kept hanging up on me or transferring me to a dead line.

Kathi of Chestnut Ridge, NY June 22, 2009

We had a subscription to Readers Digest magazine (RD). When the renewal offer came in the mail we did not return it as we had decided we would not renew the magazine. Then we got a bill for the renewal. No phone number or contact info was on the bill. From the web I called their customer care number.

Spoke with Jam who said she was in the Philippines. Jam said if the subscriber does not write to RD to cancel then RD does an auto renewal and bills you. When I pressed Jam she acknowledged that we had not asked for this auto renewal. Jam said she has canceled the subscription and we do not have to pay the bill.

The consequences are that it takes time to search out contact info for RD and to call to cancel a subsciption that we HAD NOT asked for. It feels like a deceptive practice for a major company like RD to be doing.

Sylvia of Mandeville, LA June 12, 2009

I continue to receive a past due bill of 25.97 for books I did not order. I have called, sent email, written on statement to cancel but I'm still receiving bills. I am sure their next step will be threaten me with collection action. I am paying their invoice to get rid of them and will never subscribe to their magazine again.

Scott of Needham, MA June 8, 2009

I get 2-3 phone calls per week from a "Readers' Digest" representative asking to discuss my subscription (which I do not and never had). I have asked repeatedly to be taken off the call list, but so far this request has been ignored.

Arthur of Des Plaiines, IL June 2, 2009

I have received a bill for 26.53 for a book entitled Mind Stretchers which I did not order.

Pablo of Norwalk, CA May 29, 2009

We have subscribed to the Readers Digest Magazine since the mid 1990's and had no problem with them until 2008 when we started receiving unsolicited books in the mail from The Readers Digest Book Processing Center in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a billing notice a few days later. My wife returned the books as we received them via the post office mail box thus we have no record of returning the books. She also wrote them a letter requesting they cease sending books. There is no phone number to call on any of their correspondence.

I then sent an e-mail to a customer service address I found on-line.I stated that I did not enter into any agreement with them to send me anything except the monthly magazine and to please cancel my subscription because I was not pleased with this unethical business practice in which they have chosen to engage in. D. Wells from Readers Digest customer service responded saying thee product I claimed to have returned had not reached their warehouse and in order to credit my account properly she requesting I give her the title of the product and the full name and address under which my account is listed. I took this as dealing with me in bad faith because How can I give her a title of the product when I had returned it unopened and my full name and address is reference on the Question reference number on my e-mail.

So I chose not to pay Reader Digest for the returned product and cancel my subscription. However yesterday, I received a threatening letter from them to turn the matter over to a collection agency and and post a derogatory against my credit. I Sent them a check for 48.50 for a book I sent back and multiple shipping and handling fees for trying to collect on their scam. I made a mistake I will return all of their magazines and books in the future (they will be back) via the post office clerk requesting a signature. This whole scheme is maddening how does big business get away with type of unethical behavior?

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