NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS   RESOURCES  
Small Claims Guide   Class Actions   Lemon Laws   FAQ   Newsletters  


Complain about a product or service

Automotive    Education    Employment    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Pets    Shopping    Travel   



NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

No Exit? Consumer Finds Way Out of Columbia House

Music, book, DVD clubs a petty but persistent annoyance





By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

March 27, 2008

Columbia House
No Exit? Consumer Finds Way Out of Columbia House
Consumers Find It Hard To Leave Columbia House
Columbia House Settles Do Not Call Charges
Columbia House "Surveys" Trap the Unwary
Negative Option: When No Means Yes
---
Columbia House Complaints

Unauthorized charges and negative option marketing traps continue to plague consumers, judging by the number of complaints received at ConsumerAffairs.com. One company in particular, Columbia House, seems to get under consumers' skin, producing 41 complaints in the last 30 days.

Will, of Locust Grove, Georgia, says he has no idea how he became a member of Columbia House, but now says he is receiving a steady stream of DVDs … and bills.

"I cancelled my account, but nothing happens," he told us.com. "You can't call and talk to anyone. I fear they are going to ruin my good credit for something I never signed up for."

Columbia House is one of the oldest "record of the month" clubs in the U.S., offering its members inexpensive CDs or DVDs in exchange for an ongoing commitment to keep buying its products.

Book and record clubs like Columbia House pioneered "negative option" marketing, where a lack of response from a consumer is taken as "implied consent." But while some negative option plans are well-run, many others are questionable.

Some consumers, like George of San Diego, are convinced Columbia House is trying to avoid them when they call to cancel or complain.

"I quit this lousy club approximately six months ago," he said. "Today they charged my credit card $27.84. Trying to contact them has proven fruitless, as they have endless voice mail that won't connect you to a live person."

A consumer named Kent, from Fargo, North Dakota, found a way to get through the voice mail maze. By doing a little online research, he learned that Columbia House was purchased last year by a multi-national conglomerate, BMG Direct.

"If you can't get through to Columbia House, you can get through to the new owners, who need to hear about these complaints" he told ConsumerAffairs.com. "So everyone should call up the 'parent company' and give them a piece of your mind. Unlike the secretive Columbia House, their phone lines are wide open."

BMG Direct, part of Bertelsmann AG, is a privately held company located at 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Their telephone number is (212)930-4531 and their fax number is (212)930-4526. They can be found online at www.bmgdistribution.com.

But don't commit that to stone. The new CEO of Bertelsmann AG, Europe's largest media company, has made it clear he plans to unload some of the company's less profitable units, including its U.S. book, music and DVD clubs.

In fact, Hartmut Ostrowski confirmed in recent published reports that the company might unload all of Direct Group, which oversees consumer buying clubs in about 20 other countries.

More Scam Alerts ...

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.



Asterpix

CONSUMER NEWS

SAFETY RECALLS

LATEST RATES

PRINT, ETC.

Print This

Email This


FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!

MOST-VIEWED PAGES

NEW COMPLAINTS

Hey there! ConsumerAffairs.com is using Twitter.
Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch throughout the day. Join today to start receiving ConsumerAffairs.com's updates.

Back to the top |

Advertisement


Custom Search
AUTOMOTIVE
• Dealers
• Manufacturers
• Service
• Extended Warranties
• Lemon Laws
• Recalls
• Tires
• Transporters

FAMILY
• Aging
• Children, Parenting
• Recalls
• Dating
• Education
• Entertainment
• Pets
• Weddings
FINANCE
• Annuities
• Banks
• Credit Cards
• Debt Collection
• Debt Counseling
• Insurance
• Investing
• Loans
• Mortgages
• Payday Loans
• Student Loans
• Tax Prep

HEALTH
• Doctors
• Drugs, Pharmacies
• Health Clubs
• Hearing Care
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Nutrition, Diets
• Vision Care
• Weight Loss
HOMEOWNERS & RENTERS
• Appliances
• Cookware
• Furniture
• Home Improvements
• Lawn & Garden
• Movers
• Pools & Spas
• Realtors, Rental Agents
• Recalls
• Utilities

ELECTRONICS
• Cable TV/DBS
• Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Home Electronics
• Internet Access
• Local Phone Service
• Long Distance
• VoIP
SHOPPING
• In-Home
• Online
• Retail Stores
• Sporting Goods
• Supermarkets
• Telemarketers

TRAVEL
• Airlines
• Bus Lines
• Car Rental
• Cruises
• Hotels
• Travel Agents
• Trains

RESOURCES
• Class Actions
• Complaint Form
• Small Claims Guide
• Lemon Laws
CONSUMER NEWS
• Latest News
• Automotive
• Telecom
• Financial
• Health
• Homeowners
• Scams
• Seniors
• Travel
• More ...

RECALLS
• Automotive
• Children's Products
• Drugs
• Food
• Household Products
• Sporting Goods

ABOUT US
• FAQ
• Privacy Policy
• Advertise With Us
• Newsroom
• Syndication
• Terms of Use

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.