Big Sky Periodicials

Kate of Spring Arbor, MI March 10, 2008

I got a call from this magazine company today. They seemed friendly enough and were offering a magazine subscription. I actually thought they were PCH, since I had just (stupidly) decided to enter in their contest. The whole thing sounded fishy after a while and I considered hanging up several times, but I didn't. I got off the phone and went to check my credit balance and found that they'd tried to withdraw 49.81. Red flag! I called my card company and they told me they couldn't do anything until the transaction went through, which I guess makes sense. Luckily, my card company will let me refute the claim, but I'm terrified that by the time the transaction goes through, they'll tell me I can't change it or cancel.

I'm a college student and I'm getting married in a year and a half. I do NOT have this kind of money to spend on scams-- or on legal fees.

Wendi of Dale City, VA February 15, 2008

I received a phone call about a magazine subscription offer and a free prize that I had won. I knew that my husband was looking for a new magazine to read so I figured I will get him a subscription. I got all this great stuff like a new watch and three other magazines. I asked a few questions and never really got an answer or was told that when the supervisor called me back to verify my info that they could answer my questions...so stupid me gave them my card info and waited for the next call from the supervisor. As I stood in my kitchen and thought about it, I decided that I really didn't want the subscription. Twenty minutes later, not days but minutes, when the supervisor called to verify, I told her that I had changed my mind and that I wanted to cancel. She informed me that I couldn't cancel. In turn I told her that I was. She told me that they had already paid my subscription in full. I said that I was surprised that they had sent the money that quickly and that if she would give me the numbers of the magazines, I would be happy to call them and cancel them immediately and am sure they wouldn't be charged. She wouldn't and couldn't give me the numbers. So as things got heated in our conversation, she decided that she didn't have to speak to me anymore and hung up.

I proceeded to call the credit card company and inform them of what I had done and that I had verbally attempted to cancel and that it wouldn't be accepted. I had looked information up on the internet (this site) and found that it was a scam. They stopped the payment and appointed an investigator to find out what was going on with this company. As I have read some of the stories, I see that they said to some people that they couldn't cancel because the time line to cancel was missed. I hope they aren't going to say that I missed it. I only waited 20 minutes to realize that I had made a mistake.

I am still waiting to see what comes of this.

Hiram of West Memphis, AR December 22, 2007

I ordered a credit card. The next day Magazine Source called offering me some magazines. At first everything was going well until I got a strange phone call. My caller i.d. said unknown caller and I answered. They hung up. Next thing I know, I started getting double of the same magazines I ordered from Magazine Source. I later found out that Big Sky Periodicals was charging magazines to my credit card along with Magazine Source. Only difference was Magazine spelled my name slightly differently than Big Sky did.

Access Credit Management, a collection agency from my credit card company, sued me for 1266 for magazines from Big Sky that I did not order. I canceled my credit card to stop them from charging more money.

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.