Reader's Digest Reviews

I'm getting annoyed with these people with high prices with books, dvds and cds. The highest price for 1 of the books is $69.96, the highest dvd price I've got is $79.98. Today, I got the demand for payment letter bill showing I owe them $317.41 that's including the administration fee is turns to $10. They also give you stuff you didn't order and also demand payment. I've seen people on YouTube going downhill from Reader's Digest bills giving us letters and repeating their crap. It's just a big rip off, it's like they don't care. If they did, then why are we pay so much for their stuff. These people should be stopped.

I do not understand why they are doing this. You tell them to cancel. We did not ask for these books. They called my Dad at home, he said okay. Did not understand what they fully wanted which is common for 80 year old. They kept sending these books and billing him. I called and cancelled 3 times on his behalf. He was on the phone with me. Returned all the books. 3 months later I get the books and bill again. I am not sure what Reader Digest have in mind, but it is taking so much time and effort to get them to stop. I am complaining to my state Attorney General office today. Because this is harassment. My family including cousins all canceled their subscription because the way they treated my parents. As much as we enjoyed reading the magazine, this was not worth it.

I have been dismayed for several years over the content of our beloved Reader's Digest. I even stopped subscribing for a while. Recently I have observed a marked improvement in content. It isn't the old condensed books we enjoyed so much, but it also isn't the flimsy stories about entertainers and their personal life. I am enjoying the practical advice we are once again receiving. I see some stories about real life and the heroes of today. I would prefer to not get my magazine filled with not-easy-to-pull-out card stock ads. Overall, I am still pleased with the return to some of the values of Reader's Digest. I am renewing today.

Every month, I'm once again dismayed at the content of my Reader's Digest magazine. It used to be such a good read, almost from cover to cover. Today I actually took the time to turn to the organizational page to read who is presently responsible for the pitiful volume in my hand. Then I sought to find an online place to share my thoughts and concerns. A Google search brought me here to Consumer Affairs.

I assumed that a company shouldn't send out products without receiving the payment, but I guess I was wrong. Exiting from the payment page didn't stop the RD from mailing me the items, which I didn't even open the boxes they came with. So I explained to them and asked for return labels. They sent me two return labels with a Canadian address, so I mailed two items back. But I have two more items and despite my 10+ requests, RD kept sending me US return labels, which were useless in Canada because I had to pay for the international shipping fee. So I mailed the rest two items to the same address I mailed to the first time. And I thought it's the end of the story. But I was wrong again, I received a bill notification for all four items yesterday. I really don't know what to do now. Can somebody give me some advice? Thank you.

They smartly send gifts and renew subscription without customer's intent and send bills. No services should be provided unless and until the customer asks for it. I have been forcefully made to shell out money for the books and gifts which I never wanted. I would never advise people to subscribe for RD. If you want to read, buy copies from the stand.

After collecting my data, and my credit card info, I was informed that I had purchased a Gift Subscription. I did not order a Gift subscription nor did I want one. I cancelled the order and requested proof of cancellation. So far I have not received proof.

Just looked at my bank account and saw unauthorized withdrawal. I called and was told I was on automatic renewal. Had received several notices about my subscription ending and was debating on whether I wanted the paper or digital edition. After this fraud, I will no longer be reading ANY form. And my refund will take one to two billing cycles, which is 7 to 10 business days. Basically, whenever they get around to it. It's not the money, it's the principle.

I registered about several years ago for the $5,000 daily giveaway Reader's Digest Contest. Honestly, they make it so difficult to enter. Every day they ask me to sign in, so I sign in with my email and passcode, then they say Hello to me - when I enter the daily code for the contest, they then tell me I have to sign in. I usually have to do this at least 10 times, but today I have signed in 18 times and they still will not let me enter the contest. I have been their customer for nearly 40 years but I am sick and tired of their incompetence and nonsense.

Ordered 2 books from them on July 29, 2013 for $29.95 each which I selected that I would pay upfront so I didn't have to pay any shipping or handling. I noticed that there wasn't a charge on my credit card and since I am unable to check the status of my order online - I call them on Aug 7. I call them and they had no information as to when it will be sent out. I call them again the following week and the woman on the phone advises me that they were switching warehouses so no books have been sent out. The company didn't even bother to send out an email stating that the books were on back order nor did the website say there was a back order. No further information on when it will be sent out.

I ordered and paid for a subscription 7 months ago and still have not received my magazines. I know I never will because when I called, they had no record of the order. I paid for this via a school fundraiser and received a confirmation notice about the subscription from the company. I figured because I went through the school, which went through the fundraising company, which went through Reader's Digest, that this was too many hoops to jump through to get my $20 back. But now I am furious since I ordered a subscription for my mom for Christmas 5 months ago and she still has not received a single magazine. I will be calling to check on this. Reader's Digest better get their act together. I love the magazine and want to read it, but I am afraid to pay money for it because twice in one year we have not gotten our magazines.

This happened to me also! My aunt bought me a 1-year-subscription. They sent me recently a "past due bill". I mean, it was clearly a 1-year agreement. Is there anything we can do?

On July 10, 2012, they cashed my check of $29.96. I did call them 3 different times and told me they were sorry and they will send my books. Now today, 4/5/2013, I called and demanded my money back. I hate this company.

I hate RD with a passion! Last spring, I took RD up on an offer to get one magazine free. If I didn't want the subscription, just write cancel on the bill. I did precisely that then I started to get billed for the selected book club for books I never received nor had agreed to buy into. Then, the threats of taking it to collections came. I wrote one letter and it didn't help. I wrote a second letter, this time sending it registered so it had to be signed for. In this letter, I clearly told them they had no proof that I agreed to join their club for condensed books, no proof that I had received any of them, and that they had no proof of my signature agreeing to anything!

I have experienced problems with Reader's Digest demanding money for products I returned or even worse, products I did not order in the first place. Recently, they claimed they do not have the returned item in their warehouse! How convenient. I told them if the returned item was lost in transit or if a warehouse worker did not record the return, that is their problem. They have the colossal nerve trying to scam innocent, hard working people.

Reader's Digest consistently sends me books that I never ordered and then require that I pay for them. There is no way for me to send the books back and again, I did not order them. What do I do?

I received a book in the mail that had free all over it. A month or so later I received another one that stated the same, free, except this one also had a free gift enclosed on the box; it was a cheap ink pen. A few weeks or a month later, I received an invoice (bill) saying I owed them $. I promptly wrote a letter stating that I did not order the book. I sent the book back - at my own expense, and I'm still receiving bills! The second bill they were threatening to turn over to collections. The latest bill was yesterday. I didn't even open it. I wrote return to sender, but I did write on the envelope stating the same things I mentioned above. There is no phone number to call, just an address. This is my second complaint online.

I got a one-year free subscription to Reader's Digest. Now, they are sending me books I didn't order. The first time, it said it was a "free gift." So I opened it. The second time, I assumed it was also free since I never ordered anything. Then I got a bill for $30! This was one of those mind stretchers books, one I could pick up from the magazine rack for $5. So I tried to fight it. I called them, emailed them, nothing. I got about four more notices and was in the process of buying a home, so I paid it. Then, another book comes. I refuse it this time, because their website says it will cancel the bill and future mailings when you do that. But guess what I received a month later? Another bill. So I tried to email them again. And I still have no response. I'm not paying this bill. I don't even have the book! I am so fed up with this company!

I just received a bill in the amount of $31.22 for volumes 4-12 of Reader's Digest Select Editions. Since I have never ordered anything from them or received a book, I wanted to call and clear this up. No phone number was provided so I had to look it up online. When I was finally able to speak to a human being, she stated (in a very heavy accent) that I had ordered and received a book in August. I assured her I had neither ordered nor received this book. She asked if I would be interested in continuing the series? Um, no! She let me know another book was on its way and would I consider keeping it and paying for it, again no!

I went to the internet to renew my Reader's Digest subscription and every site I went to have a different price from the one they sent me. There is no phone number anywhere on the statement to call them. Why don't they want anyone to call? I just wanted to renew. You used to get someone in the US. Now who knows where you call? They messed up my last renewal. I got one free for someone. They never renewed mine, just the free one. Where is the great customer service they used to have?

I received a letter from a Collections Department from Readers Digest! Charles ** claims I ordered a book which I never did or never even heard of, The River Bones Collection. They keep sending me magazines. I ordered a one-time subscription of their magazine. They keep billing me for other things I've ordered. They're obviously not keeping track of their records. I innocently go out for their sweepstakes that are for free supposedly. I get charged fro unrecognized objects that I never received or ordered. I keep refusing and returning their packages and other magazines to get a first time past due notice on something I never ordered and received and I definitely would not want. It's not of interest to me and I don't read books, once in a while magazines.

I currently subscribe to an RD periodical (The Family Handyman). Now, RD sent me a book unsolicited and is threatening to send my account to collection if I don't pay. I never received the book and never ordered it. I am going down the road of the Department of Consumer Protection and Better Business Bureau. Does anyone know if this is a Federal crime as they use the postal system to execute their scam? Also, while the individual scope is small ($30 per person), the total must be in the millions. Doesn't that along with interstate scope make this Racketeering (RICO) charge?

I was wrongly billed for an item I never requested or received. I have attached here a screenshot of the final portion of my chat online today with Eliza at Reader's Digest. Eliza told me that my name was on a sweepstakes entry form and that is how I got the book (which never arrived) and the invoice. I told her this sounds like the old telephone slamming scam where companies would put a letter of agency on the back of a sweepstakes form so that filling out the form would also allow them to switch your long distance carrier. After two years in that scam, I had a letter from the FCC thanking me for my help in shutting down a very large company performing these scams out of Florida. I wish I could help shut down those responsible for this stunt by Reader's Digest. Time will tell if they truly have removed this bogus invoice.

I have a bill from Reader's Digest for volumes 4-12, The Bungalow, for $31.65. I didn't order nor did I receive. After reading the reviews of all the other people this happened to, I need to know just what to do with this bill that is not my own. My bill doesn't have a phone number listed on the bill but has an address: Reader's Digest PO Box 25860, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-5860. Help me out here!

I entered a sweepstakes at their website and it said that no purchase was necessary. I clicked where it said, "If you'd prefer to just enter the sweepstakes, click here,” and I got charged anyway. I completed the entry procedure and immediately received a confirmation order for a product I didn't order for $31.96 plus $7.99 for shipping.

I tried calling Reader's Digest #800-304-2807 and could not get through. When I logged onto their website using the account number provided on the invoice, there was no such account number. When I tried to log on using my personal information, there was no recognition of my name and address either. Isn't this suspicious? I submitted an email to RD customer care support team on 9-6-12 asking them what was Vol 4-12 The Bungalow and why was I being billed for $30.71 for something that I did not order? An email auto-response said it will be answered within 24 hours.

Sometime in the second week of May 2012, we received a crossword puzzle-type book. On the front of the package in 2-inch bold letters, it said 'free gift'. There was no invoice in the package. Today, we received a past due billing of $27.98 for this book, which was never ordered! There is no phone number to call to resolve this issue. I went to the internet and found a list of 574 complaints against Reader's Digest for this same type of problem. We do not plan on sending money for this scam by Reader's Digest!

I had written a handwritten letter requesting for there to be no more of your products to be mailed to this address and it has not stopped. It seems like I receive more now that I have asked to be taken off the list. Please discontinue any further books, magazines, music or any other product you carry. Thank you for your cooperation.

Subscription was paid vide cheque no ** GPT Rs.519, drawn from Bank of Maharashtra Andheri West branch, which was debited on 28.11.11. However, I have received letter on April 12, stating that the payment is still outstanding. Please check and confirm receipt of the payment. I have received 4 issues of RD.

As a senior citizen living in the boonies, I started a subscription in November 2011. I received a bill which I paid in December for a great rate of $8.00 for one year. The check was cashed in December. Without receiving one issue, I started receiving renewal notices. I wrote two letters, including a copy of my cashed check which indicates my experience.

Notice of delinquency and books sent without consent: I paid by check on 3/28/12 the amount of $22.89. Also, I paid by check on 3/28/12 the amount of $30.56. I presumed it was for the last book I received, and I don't think I asked for the said book. Please, do not send me anything more.

I am trying to renew my subscription on my computer to save $5.00 off the $17.98 listed on the voucher. I have called your 800# about the problem, with no results. Each time I have tried to renew, I ended up on a service company site, not the Reader Digest site. They are offering $14.98. I want the $17.98 less $5.00 offer ($12.98). If this doesn't work, then I guess you do not want my business. I hope you will resolve the problem. You have my info above.

I keep receiving bills we didn’t order. Please stop sending these bills.

I agree with all the comments, it has also happened to me and is a work of evil people who are trying to make money at the expense of other people. It is ongoing and all complaints are good enough for the government to step up.

Unsolicited books, followed by a bill for $30.13. I wrote to them that I don't owe them anything. They acknowledged that letter but said I still owe the $30.13. I do not nor will I pay it.

I have been receiving magazines sent without any request by me, the abused customer. First, it was "OK" and now "Everyday with Rachel Ray." Why is this happening? I am not the only one when I go online. It is ubiquitous. Of course, I took my precious time to contact these people to no avail. Yes, OK stopped; but now the other. The post office should be forced to send these back without me paying postage, since they delivered them without my request. Let the perpetrators of fraud pay.

I received a collection notice for a book Reader's Digest sent me three months ago, that I never ordered or wanted. The package was marked "free gift" and there was no paperwork inside. It contained a cheaply printed paperback full of bad short stories. I just received the collection notice for $30.13 and I tried calling to complain, but the phone is always busy. Tonight I have spent most of my evening submitting complaints to the FTC, the Better Business Bureau, ABC news, Diane Sawyer, GMA and there will be others.

A box arrived saying "free gift" and had no other indication what it was. It was a crappy book of mediocre nonsense stories. The kind of crap people who watch the hallmark channel or soap operas would think was intelligent literature. I tossed it. There was no paperwork or info with it at all other than the "free" stamp on the box. Several weeks later, I got a bill for $30.93! In truth, the bill doesn't even state what its for. All it says is to "send payment" and enter some sweepstakes. I assume the bill is for that book but have no way to know. There is no contact information, no explanation of charges and no phone numbers or website listed. This is illegal. Furthermore, think of all the older people I'm sure they target with this who just pay things that they get bills for. The media needs to get involved. I am not paying it but do not know how to fix it.

I am the granddaughter of an elderly woman who does not have the ability to take care of her own finances. I have been fighting with Reader's Digest for 10 months over my grandmother's account. I find it very odd that Reader's Digest can send a bill stating that her subscription is due: "Please pay $13.98 for your subscription." In fact, her subscription was not due; they just added another year on her subscription. This is how an 88-year-old woman has a 4-year subscription to Reader's Digest. My grandmother may not even be alive in 4 years to read their magazine.

I had entered in 2012 sweepstakes and I had already passed in two stages and I am waiting for the third stage but they had not announced the final sweepstakes. So I request them to please reply a responsible mail to me about the final sweepstakes.

I received a package in October from Reader's Digest, which I did not order. I returned it two days later, through the Post Office. I received a letter today from a Charles ** in the collections department, stating I owed them $36.18 for two music CDs. There was a phone number to call, but all the lines have been busy for hours. I found out online that no one has ever been able to reach anyone on these numbers. I am very angry, because I have to spend my valuable time trying to correct this. They also stated that if they had not receive my check by Jan 31, 2012, it would affect my credit. Someone needs to stop them.

The bill was paid in full last July 2010 but I still keep getting payment notifications. I already spoke with their customer service department about this. I just don't want to receive anything from this company.

I am filing a complaint about the double billing practices of Reader's Digest and their preying on the elderly. My 86-year-old father has been getting bill after bill for subscriptions to Reader's Digest and has been paying all the bills. His subscription was effective until 2018. Also he paid bills in September 2011, October 2011,and December 2011 for 3 gift subscriptions that expired in 2012.

I paid the bill for account number **. I understand this was for the "Harbor Lights" music CD's, though that information was obviously and blatantly omitted from my last collection agency bill! First, I received a bill before Xmas for this product before I had even received the product itself! Then, some many days later, when this "Harbor Lights" eventually arrived in my mailbox, I simultaneously received a bill that same day with added interest for not paying the earlier bill, which stated something like, "Your product has been shipped. Pay up." I am not in the habit of paying for something I have not yet received, and I don't think most people are! I promptly paid with check, dated December 16, 2011, on Well’s Fargo Bank the day after I received the "Harbor Lights CD" order; however, I refused to pay additional interest for not paying the earlier bill from you for a product shipped but not yet received! I have now received a bill for a new balance of $74.46.

I have twice received books in the mail from Reader's Digest stating that it is free, but then I receive an invoice for the same items for $31. I never ordered any product from Reader's Digest nor have I requested any information. I am having a difficult time returning these items and would like to be removed from whatever list I am on. Furthermore, please do not add my email to any list. I will take legal and public action, if necessary.

Reader's Digest continually sends their books and correspondence to me and I have not ordered anything. I have sent the books back twice without even opening them and now 3 months later, I receive a bill in the amount of $67.95 which I do not owe. I have ordered nothing nor requested anything from them and I have returned all merchandise which they have mailed to me without my consent. I want them to remove me from their mailing lists and remove any bills as I have not ordered or kept any of their merchandise.

I am receiving bills for books and CDs that I have returned unopened. I have entered sweepstakes in the no gift envelope and still was shipped merchandise. I have ordered in the past and been happy with service but I will not deal with RD again! I will not pay this bill because I do not have the materials!

Upon receiving the December 2011 issue, I noticed and read an attached letter which began, "Dear Subscriber". The letter went on to explain that this issue was an extra big edition, in fact, an extra 77 pages bigger, and was full of Christmas stories, recipes, games, etc. Reader's Digest then went on to explain that they were sure that I (and all of the other subscribing customers) would be so thrilled with this edition, and that we would be happy with their decision to shorten our subscription by one month. I then checked my subscription expiry date, and noticed that instead of it expiring in June of 2012 it was now to expire in May of 2012.

It's impossible to stop any subscription with RD. I tried several times and they kept on sending. Then I paid because they threatened me. Same with the gifts: I did not order and they arrive. Then the bills arrived, lots of money. So I started paying but the bills kept on arriving. I am tired.

We keep receiving books we did not order and then get billed for them. There must be some way for this to be stopped as apparently they are doing this to millions of others.

I checked my mail this evening to find 3 issues of RD in my mail box (September, October, and November 2011). I had not ordered these. After calling the CS number provided on this page, I spoke with Jasmine who informed me that I was not responsible for the payment of these magazines as they were a free gift from Pro Flowers. I was also assured that after the free subscription had run out it would not need to be cancelled.

It's terrible. They keep sending me books and I keep mailing them back. I ordered one time and they won't quit! They say that I owe them money for a book I don't have. What should I do? I don't want to damage my credit due to notices they are sending me that I owe them.They disregard my request to not send me anymore books, CD's, free gifts, etc.

I received un-ordered books for which I was then billed. I am being dunned for payment.

My dad received a book that he never asked for and then started receiving bills for the book. He asked Reader's Digest for proof that he had asked for the book in the first place and never received a reply.

I started receiving Reader's Digest magazines in the mail, and after 3 or 4 magazines, I got a renewal notice from them. I have never subscribed to Reader's Digest. What worries me is that the renewal notice has a box that can be checked by anybody that would allow a free one year gift subscription to someone. There is also another box to check, it says, "Please bill me". This is very worrisome.

I am being billed for a book that I have not received nor do I want.

My husband (recovering from cancer) received a book, Puzzles etc., from Readers Digest. Said it was a gift, but I read the fine print and realized they are considering him a subscriber who will receive one of these books monthly.

Around mid-June this year, I received a bill for a book. This is what the bill said: "Thank you for your order and subscription." At the bottom, it showed this title: "Vol. 3-11 Safe Haven. Balance Due > $31.36". The box which contained the book when it came in said: "free gifts". It said "free" all over the box so I didn't think anything of it anymore. I get free samples and little gifts sent to me all the time because I donate and take surveys and whatnot. In this box, I found a plastic train tank, a pen, and a book. Like I said, I have had people send me things for free before so I thought nothing of it.

Without ordering anything, I received a box with the words written on it: Contents free. So, I opened it and found a Reader's Digest book, a sweepstakes card, and a "Portfolio Pamphlet" of eight pages explaining their sweepstakes. But then I found out I had been added to their book club. This information was buried within the pamphlet!

I got an email advertising a chance to enter sweepstakes. I clicked on the button to enter the sweepstakes. Then I got an order confirmation for a book I did not know I have ordered. There is no obvious mention of this book when the sweepstakes were entered.

I had a subscription to RD, which I cancelled several months ago. Today, I received a form to subscribe. My problem is the envelope in which it came--a normal white envelope with a bright orange box with black letters saying "ACCOUNT NOTICE".

I too started receiving magazines that neither my wife or I did subscribe to. I went to their website and found that they had a 20 issue subscription listed for me. I requested in an online form that the subscription be cancelled immediately!

Reader's Digest is using very deceptive practices on contests. When filling out a contest form, using only an e-mail address, they place an order for unrequested merchandise. I have subscribed to this magazine for over forty years and therefore, have an account. However, I don't appreciate unwanted merchandise being shipped to me. I will return whatever is sent to me. But I believe this practice should be looked into so it does not continue.

I received a bill for $9.95 for Reader's Digest subscription. I called the office and said that I never ordered this magazine. They then said that it was an online subscription with my 13-year-old daughter's email address. My daughter does not use her email without me present for anything other than school project research and she has never heard of Reader's Digest. I believe that they illegally obtained her email address for an unauthorized subscription. This is fraud.

Readers Digest sent me a bill for a book called, "The Scarecrow" by Michael ** that I didn't order.

They sent me a letter stating that on Oct 28 2010, I was one of three selected finalists. They enclosed a check to me for $4,990.50 for insurance and fees and they needed $3,000.00 more from my account to cover the other fees.

I received an unexpected package in the mail from Reader’s Digest. On the front was a "free gift". It was a puzzle book with a pen with no correspondence. About two weeks later, I received a bill in the mail for $26.67 for the said "free gift". I never ordered anything from them and never have done. I have sent them back the bill with a letter stating, “I didn’t order anything,” so now I am waiting for the reply.

They sent a book I didn't order and marked free on the outside with a bill for $31.00. I told them I didn't want this and now I get a past due bill.

I received a CD of crappy music in the mail from Readers Digest (some sort of sweepstakes). I never ordered it, and did not want it. So I wrote a note and sent the note back saying I did not want their crap. Now I received an invoice to pay for the Kenny Rogers collection CDs, which I did not order, do not want, and never received, and hope I do not receive (because I will throw that crap away). I looked up Reader's Digest on the internet to try to get a phone number for customer service, because my note that I sent went unheeded.

I have been subscribed to, on and off, the Reader's Digest magazine for years. Without fail, when my foreign language editions expire, they send me no notice thereof. I don't know where to send my check or when.The magazines (in French, German, Czech) simply stop coming and there I sit. The RD customer service is in India. They are friendly and polite, but nothing gets done. Please help. Thank you.

I came across a reader digest from a neighbor and saw some sweepstakes I'd like to enter online. I went to the website and entered. After that I started receiving the sweeps entry in my email box everyday. After many months of this, I found it to time consuming and basically a waste of my time so went to the link to opt out only to be sent to a page saying my session had timed out. This happened over and over.

I got a letter, inside Reader's Digest, saying that I won a draw on July 28th for $500k with claim number and actual looking check to deposit for $5k to activate winning and 11/6th truck with 500k, yadda yadda. It's another name on letter prize award admin ** with another tel ** The letter looks copied over many times with BBB, Walmart, k Sears, Target, Zellers, Macy's along bottom supposed to call back after depositing, etc. I didn't ask for personal information - opposite told me to be careful and don't give pin number out, etc.

I have being trying for hours to find a contact preferably toll-free number for Readers' Digest and have not as yet found one. I go to customer care and there is everything other than a telephone number. I tried Canada 411 and found a Quebec number. I would think that Readers' Digest would have a toll-free number, and/or a telephone number readily accessible for customers.

This is a company that continually uses negative opt out, unless you answer within certain time. You get magazines, books, CDs and DVDs sent to you that you never requested or enrolled for. If you refuse to accept the mailing, you still get billed for them. It takes repeated calls and letters to get them to stop billing you and returned merchandise is not acknowledged. I try to only order from companies that provide assurance that you have to clearly order an item, not ones where you have to tell them you don't want an item; I find legitimate because they provide postage paid return slips if you don't want or are unhappy with products.

Please look into my concern. I will not pay for somethings that I never receive. Thank you. The consequences are the money amount that was billed me for services not rendered.

I received 2 shipments of unordered select edition books. I never placed an order with Reader's Digest (RD) for anything. I have a 30-year policy of not buying anything that is associated with Reader's Digest. The invoice was $31.36, so I called RD's customer service and the agent wanted to argue with me saying that I ordered the books by using my email address. I then mentioned that there were hundreds of complaints like mine listed on the Consumer Affairs website. She relented and credited the amount and closed the account. Time will tell if this is resolved or not.

I want to be removed from their mailing list. The book I received was returned to RD but now receiving a bill past due. No order was placed. Please remove from future mailings.

I received a check for $4,98.50 which I was instructed to deposit in my bank account for the insurance payment on my $145,000.00 prize winning. I called the Bank PNC Bank in New Jersey, and Gieco Direct in Washington DC which both gave me the same answer this is a scam . All I know is now I have made 3 long distance calls but got the answer that I was looking for. Readers Digest shame on you for trying to Rip off consumers. I thought your magazine was quite good. Not anymore. I will not patronize Readers Digest ever again. I will also forward this on to others please be aware of this type of scam!

I received a bill from that I do not owe. I returned the book sent to me unopened. The post office gave me help to do it right! Please check the records. They will find the book returned. Also, they will learn that I won't pay for something I did not retain. Thank you. I have perfect credit which I intend to keep.

I too like all the other letters of complaint, received two books and two gifts and did not order the books. I would return them but I can not find an address that is not a PO box and or a phone number. I do not know why they are sending other than when you enter the contest they assume you have placed an order.

I keep getting billed for magazines I didn't order! And I want them to stop. My mom said I'm a minor and I shouldn't have did the surveys. I can send them back. They were never opened!

I received a "select edition" condensed book from Reader's Digest (why I do not know), which included some "bonus gifts." I promptly wrote "return to sender" on the box and sent it back. I am a book collector (rare and/or signed, generally first editions), a bibliophile if you will. I have no need or desire for "condensed books." Now I have received a bill for $30.71 for something first of all I did not request nor otherwise order and then "returned to sender." Why are they able to send these things one did not request and then have the temerity to bill you as if you ordered this material? I thought the company Reader's Digest was reputable.

I received a check in the mail for 4960.60 with a letter stating I won a prize drawing held on December 28, 2009. It told me to call this number and talk to Nicole to activate the check. By this point flags are up already, but for the fun of it I call. First Nicole was really rude, she just said yes I am a winner and asked me to put the check in the bank and call her tomorrow, then she hung up. So still having fun debunking it like I saw in one of the other comments about this same thing, I do a reverse look up on the phone numbers in the letter and find that it is to a cell phone in Vancouver.

I received a billing for $30.42 that is past due. This for Vol.3-10 Winter Garden. We did not order thisand do not want it. I have no use for this. We live in the Mohave Desert with no yard, just gravel and hot sun, not only not wanting it , but also never received it. This appears to be a scam. This could put a hit on the credit rating.

I also was sent a free gift with a sweepstake offer that looked pretty shady. I could not find a number to call tell them not to send me any more packages. In the meantime, I have received another package. Thank you to the person who found the phone number to call. I called and the guy insisted that I requested the books via an email which is patently false. He at first told me that I would still need to pay for the current book. After I told him I was sending it back with ‘Refused’ and ‘Unopened’, he relented and told me he would take off the charges. We'll see. No real consequences yet. It is just a hassle to have to deal with something I did not order in the first place!

I like Renata. We received reader's books without ordering them and for us. also there was no address or phone number but I found their customer service number and I want to share it with any of you out there who need it. It is ****. Call them first as they were very helpful and considerate and credited my account without hassle or having to bother returning the books I had not ordered.

Renata is 87 years old and is receiving books and tapes from Reader's digest she did not order. Some books she never received and is being billed for. She does not have a computer, so I am writing this on her behalf as none of your correspondence contains so much as a phone number or an address to where these items need to be returned to. Give us an address to send these books back and don't send anymore. Thank you.

I received a letter in the mail on July 15,2010. Claim Code: H3Q-Q10. I was a winner of the Dec. 28, 2009 sweepstakes drawing. $145,000.00 is the total prize entry claim code G75W-R10. A check for $4979.16 was the first payment. I called Wendy then deposited my check into my account on 7/16/2010. It cleared on 7/17/2010. On 7/23/2010 it was sent back to my bank. I am a single mom with no job and school loans. Everything is screwed up and I need it fixed ASAP. The police are after me, my account is over drawn, and they are going to take my school money to repay it. I have enough economic hardship, but this I cannot recover from.

I received a select edition and paid for it. I continue to get letters billing for another book that I never received and I'm now getting annoying collection letters. Consumer harassment!

Reader's Digest sent me two books I did not order and I've been charged $29.70. I want to know why? So what should I do?

We have now received and sent back four different CD's entitled "World's Most Beautiful Melodies". We never ordered these CD's and have no intention of paying for them. They never acknowledge the return of these CD's to them - they just keep sending and billing us for additional CD's and are now sending me dunning notices from a collection agency called NSA (North Shore Agency). This is a horrendous scam as they do not provide a telephone number to call. This scam has got to be stopped.

I am receiving a bill for $29.93 from Reader's Digest saying that I ordered a book, Vol. 3-10 Winter Garden and that my payment is late. I am confused because I do not remember ever indicating an order of this item. I wrote a letter to the company because they did not provide a telephone number for me to call and explained that until they send me evidence of my order request, they were to cease contacting me and to remove me from any further listings. I have not received a reply yet but I am concerned that this may affect my credit? I truly do not have any recollection of this order.

At our home address, we have received a select book, Winter Garden, in the name of Mr. Joel ** He did not order the book and does not live at our address. My husband, Melvin **, sent them today a check to cover his book as well as the book addressed to Mr. Joel **

Since January 2010, I have received two separate sweepstakes letters using the Reader’s Digest logo informing me of my winning a large amount of money in their sweepstakes. As I do enter the authentic Reader’s Digest sweeps, I opened the letters, which both enclosed checks for approximately $3,000 each. The check stock appears real and utilizes local banks logos with which I am familiar. However, the return stamp by the Postal Service showed a Canadian origin. After making photocopies of each item received, I drove to each bank and turned all documents over to the person in their Fraud Departments for their information.

The reason why I have cancelled all further association with Reader's Digest is due to my dissatisfaction of the non-compliance as per your advertising. I took out a subscription for my self in 2009 with the lure of getting a watch, which I still have not received.

I changed my Mother's RD subscription home address (by calling RD), to my home address. She was not reading RD, and the last 2 months, I have received the magazines. I also am getting prize vouchers, and sweepstakes envelopes to my address. I know RD sold my address to those ** sweepstakes companies. My mother got about 20 to 30 of them per day, and 5 times, she sent $20.00 to enter the sweepstakes. Therefore, that put her name and address on the sucker list. It's a pain in the butt.

My elderly receives hundreds of sweepstakes notices from shady companies with ties to Reader’s Digest. When she enters the contest, she unwilling ends up getting sent books she never requested nor never reads. She will refuse the books and send them back. She has paid for books several times and they never get their billing correct. I went online to again tell them how they continually scam customers and found out that she is in arrears from 2008! The current bill, which we paid for, is not even listed on the account. Continually, I’m being asked to pay for books not received that have been returned and for improper billing practices which could damage credit rating.

Reader's Digest is now operating under a blanket company called "Country Store" (countrystore.com). I sent them $88.90 for a purchase on 4/18/10 and have been waiting since then for delivery of the product. When I emailed customer service, Cathy ** (am sure a fake name) responded that I would have to wait until 5/11 for my merchandise as it was sent by parcel post. Of course, the mailman came and went today with no merchandise in site. I just want to warn other people away from Country Store. I found out that they are Reader's Digest, just up to another scam. Their parent company is "Reiman Publications". They ripped me off of $88.90. I have now filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Today, when I called Country Store at 1-800-, the customer service rep started to give me an address beginning with "3600" but then changed to "P.O. Box ***, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002." If anyone has further information, please let us all know. Thank you.

Special Edition Books were sent to me. I did not order and I am being billed for it. Could you please discontinue these books? I never entered a contest and never ordered these books.

I entered a contest. Later I received 3 books. I did not order these. Later I received a bill for $29.95. I do not want these books. I have not been able to contact Reader’s Digest about this matter. I don't fee I should pay for these books I did not order. I don't even like to read books. Should I send the books back? Will this ruin my credit if I don't pay for these books? I have been harassed with bills for about a few months threatening to send my name to a collection agency.

I had been receiving mail from Reader’s Digest. I would throw it away usually. But this time, I was bored so I open a letter from Reader’s Digest. I still have all documents. I received a check for $3.950, to deposit follow instructions to the call and give no one any info. So I take it to the bank of Cloverdale, ask them to check it out before a deposit. They deposit the check and put hold on it for remaining balance of $97 thousand. The check was to handle bank fees or I incurred for non-collectable funds and as the bank noted which is interesting.

I'm now trying to stop the massive amounts of bills and junk mail. They say she's paid in full through the end of this year. I've asked for the constant bills and junk mail 6-10/month to stop. They've told me the junk mail would stop w/in 3 months. I've written emails to them.

My grandmother has paid for a Reader's Digest subscription but customer service keeps saying she owes money. I also didn't realize that Reader's Digest emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy in Feb 2010. This is probably part of the problem. Grandmother's account has been debited but Reader's Digest says she still owes them money.

I am a subscriber of this magazine for the past 10-15 years. I was receiving the subscription regularly for these past years. Since last year, I was not getting the subscription regularly. I have paid all my dues and subscription money. Please don't send me the collection of books. I have not received the March 2010 Reader's Digest. Please send me the same as soon as possible. Also I have been receiving letters from your side to pay 699/- which I have paid by Check.

I ordered a free gift from Reader's Digest, their mystery books. One was sent and I decided I did not like them. I paid for the book, wrote cancel on the bill and did not expect anything more to be sent. Since that time, I have been sent two additional books and have returned them as refused. I did speak to someone after the second book was sent. They said that no more would be sent. I just want them to stop sending books to me. If they do not, I will tell them I will keep the books at their expense. I am concerned that they will ruin my credit.

My mother who is 83 has received many statements from Reader's Digest claiming she owes them money. They constantly send her so-called free books that she has not ordered or authorized. Below is an attachment of my emails to them.

First, please stop sending me junk mail from Publishers Clearing House! Second, I received 2 books from Reader's Digest, which said "Free" on the cover. Now, I get a bill for $29.65 for something I did not order.

I received an email to enter their sweepstakes. Immediately after entering, I received another email to confirm. Iopened it up and read that they were billing me $10.99. Now pardon me, I only entered a sweepstakes and it did say no purchase necessary to enter or win. Nowhere did I click to receive a subscription. I think this is not only wrong to do to people but that it is a definite scam. I immediately wrote them through their website as the email was a do not reply, and told them of our financial crisis and that I most certainly did not want to subscribe to anything and to please cancel. I have yet to receive a confirmation on this.

My daughter received a letter in the mail stating she had won $130,000 and received a check in the amount of $3900. Before depositing the check she was to call a certain phone number. She was told to get insurance for the money she would be receiving. The check looks legitimate, but she didn't enter any contest with Reader's Digest. Scam, right? Please get back with me on this asap. She is in a bad financial situation, and someone is trying to scam her.

Reader's Digest sent me a package in the mail that I didn't order, Blueberry Hill music CDs. Now, they have invoiced me for $75. I'll send CDs back ASAP but I don't see why I have to pay return postage for something I didn't order. I feel that Reader's Digest need to pick up the return postage. The quality of the music is not that good.

We received the unauthorized forwarded book "No More Brain Drain" from Reader's Digest in the timeframe of January 18, 2010. It was returned via USPS on January 26, 2010. To date the billing statement continues to show a balance of $42.75, the amount of the text. Furthermore, I cancelled our subscription to the Reader's Digest in October per Viacom. I'm truly disappointed in the company's policies and want them to take us off their mailing list for the book club as well as digest issues forwarded. I will buy a copy in the supermarket. We are retired seniors who are just getting by on our retirement and Social Security and don't need an extra payment for something we didn't want or order.

They have a sweepstakes that when you enter it you are also ordering a book. It is difficult to realize that you are going to receive a book and pay about $ 12.00. It's very deceptive.

I have just received another CD, which I did not order and which I do not want. I do not intend to pay for it or for any others that you may send. My wife mistakenly paid for two CDs that you sent previously but she understands that I do not want your products and she will not pay for further shipments. Please cancel the account stated above and do not contact me again. I am certain that I cancelled my subscription to RD, so please do not send me any more books or CDs. If more material is received, it is at your own risk because I will not pay for it.

I received a letter in the mail stating that I had won one hundred and thirty thousand dollars and I received a check for $3900.00. I called and they said that I had to put it in the bank and then call back after I had deposited it. I think that this is a scam because why would I have to deposit a check for expenses.

I received a document from Reader’s Digest. They informed me that I won a lotto that was held on November 30, 2009. I received a check for $2,450. They state that I need to deposit the check into my bank account and pay taxes and insurance for the money they are supposed to give me ($155,000). In order to activate the check of $2,450, I have to call the number before I deposit it in my bank account.

Free gifts were not free. I have always loved RD; however, new tricks such as the "3 free gifts" that were not free is not what I expect from RD. If I receive the so-called free gifts (3 they said I was entitled to), I am required to take a subscription to a product I never wanted in the first place, then I would have to cancel in order to stop the product I did not want.

I also had the same problem with the book I never ordered-- and the insultingly chintzy 'free' ** that was packaged with it. Unbelievable! I sent two written statements with the bill testifying that I did not order the books. I found the phone number on another website and got the issue resolved. I admit I was pretty stressed out thinking my credit was going to be ruined for some junk I never ordered—it seemed like extortion! I also agree with other posters that I get bills from them so often it’s hard to keep track of how many times I've paid them for my subscription!

I cannot find a phone number for Reader's Digest to tell them that I never ordered or received a book called Still Life for which they say I owe them $29.51.

I received their health book, checked it out, and then returned it. I have received a threatening turn-over-to-collection-agency letter.

I just received a bill from Reader's Digest for $29.65 for something I never received or ordered. It also states that I am entered to win money in a sweepstakes. I don't know if this is a scam or not, but I can't afford to pay for something I never received. They don't even say what it was that I supposedly owe the money for. What should I do?

They sent me a free book, then a bill. I paid it and told them to cancel and don't send me anymore of their free giveaways and then a bill. I just received another bill. If they send another book, I'm not returning it. I told them to cancel whatever made them send it in the first place. They are taking our address from our subscription and abusing it. I will not pay and will not send books back. I have given them notice in writing to stop.

I received an unsolicited Reader's Digest condensed book in the mail. I did not return it. Another book has come with a comment "New customer gift". I am refusing the 2nd book and am writing a letter refusing to pay the invoice for the unsolicited first book since there is no telephone number or contact numbers.

I sent in a sweepstakes entry that apparently also "joined" me to their "not a book club" Mind Stretchers. It plainly said no purchase was necessary. I have received a book but no customer service information, account number, and contact information at all for how to inform them that I do not want any books. If anything else comes in the mail, I plan to return to sender without opening it. I went online to try and find some contact information, and instead, I found lots of complaints where they have ripped other people off in the same or similar manner.

Reader's Digest started sending me books and "free gifts". I then got a bill for things I never ordered. I tried calling them, but there is no trace of a phone number in any of the paperwork they have sent. In these economically hard times, my family cannot afford to pay for items that are inconsequential and were not ordered.

This bill that we just received even has a surcharge of $1.75 for "postage, handling, and other expenses." No damage yet, but it creates anxiety on our part. We are a retired couple, and we do not even read the Reader's Digest very often. We only subscribed to it, because it was heavily discounted at that time. Now, I realized that it's becoming a scam just to get us in and bill us with whatever they want using some books delivered as an excuse.

It’s the same as many other complaints. My son Roy ** was subscribing to Readers Digest and had added me as his guest and paid the bills regularly. Unknowingly, I also subscribed and have been making the payments. I was only receiving one magazine and my son has just figured out I should be paid up through 2012. However, I keep getting bills and past due bills. Something must be done.

I received Reader's Digest last year. I was not sure when my subscription ran out, but when it did run out, I never renewed it and didn't want it anymore. They sent a couple issues after that and I just threw them out because I wasn't interested in them and didn't order them. Now I'm getting threatening notices from them that I owe $15.98, which is the special yearly bill. I don't want to renew it and don't want the magazine anymore. This is forcing me to take their magazine. I'm not paying it.

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 ** or Nancy ** to activate my claim before I deposit the check 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 counterfeit and none of the money was released.

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. A few years later, they 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. I consider this harassment and would like to know how it can be stopped.

I am a senior and can forget. I paid with check number ** on July 15, ‘08 for one year of Reader's Digest. I received another bill in August and forgot I had paid thru July ‘09. I again by check number ** on August 25, ‘08 and when I realized I had, I assumed this would be then through July 2010. It’s $24.98 each check. I just received another bill for $24.98 and can't get through to resolve this.

I received a book in my mail stating "Free". I did not order or want it in the first place. Nothing is free. I tried to send it back, wrote on the box "return to sender, do not want". This great Post Office of ours returned it to me, stating I have to put $2.77 postage on it to return. I never opened this package. Now I am being billed for a new book every two or three months.

I received a letter with letter head coming from Readers Digest from the managing director of the prize award department. It stated I have won a lump sum payout from the sweepstake draw in the amount of $255,069. There was an enclosed check for $4,780.04 drawn on BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware from the account of AIG Annuity Insurance Company. Before activating, I am to call Peter ** or Nancy ** 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 number on the letter head did not even work from my area. I called the number and when I mentioned scam, he kept hanging up on me or transferring me to a dead line.

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. I 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 subscription that we had not asked for. It feels like a deceptive practice for a major company like RD to be doing.

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 to threaten me with collection action. I am paying their invoice to get rid of them and will never subscribe to their magazine again.

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

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

In January of 2009, I received Volume 1 of a series of books from Reader's Digest in the mail. I wondered why I had received it as I hadn't ordered any books from them. I have a magazine subscription with them but that's it. I checked the package thoroughly for an invoice or membership agreement because I'm always a little suspicious of free gifts. There wasn't any paperwork included with the first book. In March of '09, I received Volume 2-09, The Brass Verdict. There still wasn't any paperwork with that shipment. Today, April 21, 2009, I received an invoice asking me if I have overlooked the payment of $29.01 I owe them. I called them. (There wasn't a number on the invoice. I had to look it up online 800-463-8820.) They said they would cancel my membership, any future shipments and credit the amount of $29.01 to my account.

I have never subscribed to Reader's Digest, but my elderly father has paid for me the magazine as a gift subscription for many years. Reader's Digest has sent me two copies of select edition books that I have never asked for, much less ever talked to anyone about at RD. Now I am receiving an invoice bill for $29 to pay and I do not have a job to pay this bill. If I do not pay it, they will send me to a collection agency, thus ruining my credit! How can this be legal? After reading all of the same complaints here, why is there not something being done about this scam?! My credit will be ruined and it should not be my fault!

They sent an e-mail that indicated I was eligible for a free gift, which was a book. I clicked on it and as soon as I read that although the first one was free, they would bill me for other books, so I closed out the email. I never answered a question to indicate to them I was willing to enter a contractual obligation to enter into their book club program. Nonetheless, about a week and a half later, I got a book from them, the same one they described as a free gift, Extraordinary Uses/Ordinary Things. And about a week after that, I got a bill for $43. Some free gift, huh? In their invoice, there are no telephone numbers for customer service. You have to look it up online. It is 800-463-8820. I am sending the book back to them after I get their pre-paid postage label. I talked to them, and they said they will send this to me and suspend my bill for a month. Reader's Digest book club is less than honest. Unsubscribe to any emails they send you and do not enter any of their contests!

Like most of the people whose stories I have read above, I also received a free book from RD. They also enclosed an invoice for this free book. Also, like most of the people above, there was no telephone number to call. I went to the RD website and attempted to click on Customer Service and Contact us. Both links did not work. I was finally able to find a telephone number on the website of Consumersaffairs.com. I paid for the book using that telephone number and my credit card. However, I have also cancelled that credit card so that they cannot use it again in the future. RD used to be a great company and I enjoyed reading their magazine but, after reading the comments above about their scam, I will no longer read or subscribe and any letters, books, magazines, etc, that are sent to me will be returned to them as Refused by Addressee. Let them pay the postage both ways. I am also keeping all the previous materials that they have sent and will resort to legal action if they persist.