Rodale, Inc.

Review: On 9/16/12 my mother ordered a book from Rodale and enclosed her check # [redacted] for $39.94 with the order. Rodale cashed the check and sent her the book. We have now received 3 past due bills including extra late fees. On January 15, 2013, after receiving the 2nd notice, I sent Rodale a letter stating that my mother ([redacted] had paid when she ordered the book and her check had been cashed. With the letter, I sent proof from our bank that the check had been paid on 10/2/12. I told them that I expected them to correct their records and remove my mother's name and our address from their data base. I also told them we did not want them to sell, trade or give our name or address to any other company and that, if we were bothered with this again, I would file a complaint with the Revdex.com. I returned the past due bill with my letter so they could get the right account. Today we have received the third past due notice requesting that my mother "live up to her part of the bargain by mailing a payment" and threatening to refer the account to a collection agency.Desired Settlement: I want them to send us a letter apologizing for their careless bookkeeping, stating that the billing has been corrected and that my mother does not owe them anything. I also want that letter to confirm that they have removed her name and our address from their data base and that they will not sell, trade or give our name or address to any other company. I do NOT want them to call our home number. If they wish to communicate other than the requested letter, they should do so at my e-mail address.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Review: On 11 March I was emailed regarding a new subscription to prevention magazine, which is owned and Operated by Rodale Inc. I have never accessed prevention.com nor did I solicit any interest anywhere regarding this company, or its products. The email contained my information, which I have never provided this company, and it also stated I owed the company $27.73

I was able to log onto their site and cancel this subscription, but it still states that I owe money for this subscription

Acct # [redacted]Desired Settlement: I think this business is unethically acquiring and preying on customers. I am clearly not the first to have gone through this problem. Just do a google search for "prevention magazine scam" or "rodale scam" and you will find various others over a period of years having the same thing happen to them.

I have never been a customer and never provided consent for this company to use my information.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: Then end result of being removed is the desired solution. However, it is important to note about the websites records indicating my use of their website are inaccurate. The first time I ever accessed their website was after receiving an email indicating I had ordered a subscription. Additionally the address that was supplied for the billing address [redacted] has not been my address for a number of years. Which indicates to me that somehow my personal credit information has been compromised and or solicited by the business. These actions may not be at the fault of prevention magazine or rodale. However, a simple google search of "prevention magazine scam" indicates there are more than just me that have had a situtation like this.

Regards,

Review: This complaint taken via phone by Revdex.com staff (ES): The consumer ordered a cookbook in November 2013. The consumer paid in full ($29.94). The consumer states that the company padded the box that the cookbook was in with an excessive amount of advertisements that the consumer did not request. The company has asked the consumer to pay $10 for shipping. The consumer has contacted the business about this matter. The consumer believes that had the advertisements not been included in the shipment, that the shipping cost would not have been as high. The company has not responded to the consumer's direct complaints.

Consumer's account #: [redacted]Desired Settlement: The consumer would like the shipping cost waived.

Business

Response:

January 24, 2014

Dear **. [redacted]:

In response to your email of January 23, 2014, regarding consumer [redacted], our records show an order for the book Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes was received on September 23, 2013, via a mailed in order card.

The price of this book stated on the order card was $31.95. For this type of promotion, Rodale does not base its postage and handling on the weight of the package. The standard shipping for this price point is $7.99. The total , of her order was $39.94. **. [redacted] paid $29.94.

As a customer courtesy, the outstanding balance of $10.00 was waived.

Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.

Sincerelv.

Review: I was offered a book preview in one of my emails. I have a previous version of the book and was interested. The book is called the ABS Diet. I purchased at the book store for less than $15. I was offered a 2 week preview for free and clicked on the link. I entered my email address and contact information. At the bottom of the page I read where the book will cost $59 and decided I did not want it. I never pressed submit. I pressed the back key on my computer. My information was still entered. I immediately sent an email and contacted the business by phone seconds later and told them exactly what happened. They told me that the order was already put in. The book arrived when I was not home and my oldest daughter opened it. I am now being sent letters of demand and this has gone to a collection agency. I've also received emails. The last letter I responded with a phone call and told the rep what happened. She told me she needed to discuss with a supervisor and came back to the phone and told me not to worry just to keep the book and I would not be sent any more correspondence requesting payment that it would be written off. I have received another email and now a letter from a collection agency. I would be more than happy to send this overpriced book back if I am sent the materials to mail it back. I discussed this on the phone with the last rep and she told me to just keep the book. I should not have to pay postage and for a mailer for something that I did not order. My credit is very good. I am a single mom with 3 children so this is definitely not about not wanting to pay my debt. I pay my debt in a timely manner. I pay my taxes and my tithes....I did not order this book. I did not press the submit button. There is no way my information should have been documented and this book should never have been sent to me. As I discussed with the Rodale rep if they send me materials and postage to send the book back I will be more than happy to do so. Their practices are extremely dishonest. This book is not worth $59. Yes it did come with some other materials that I could easily find online. The price was not mentioned in the email. It was not shown until I got to the bottom of the page where I typed my information. There is a reason for that. No one would be interested if they were up front about the price. Their practices are greedy and dishonest and I should not have to pay for that. I have received in my mail today a letter from a collection agency called [redacted] NY [redacted]. I got home from work and did some housework. Just opened my mail. I called this company and they are closed until Monday.Desired Settlement: Send me postage and materials to send this book back. Stop contacting me for payment. Stop sending me emails which I have cancelled and am still getting for other books. I am not interested in anything this company has to offer.

Business

Response:

May 9, 2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your email of May , 2014 regarding consumer [redacted], our records show an order for the book New Abs Diet Women BookDVD Set was received on December 16, 2013, via an internet order. Copies of the order form and confirmation email are enclosed.**. [redacted]order and bill have been cancelled and her account is at a zero balance. She should not receive any additional invoices for this book. She may keep the book or donate it to a local library. I am sorry that her calls to Customer Service were unsatisfactory and that she never received the return postage.**. [redacted]name and address have been removed from our Book Division promotional lists. A few more offers may be received because of items that have already been mailed or processed for mailing. Her name and address have also been added to our suppression file which will restrict it from being used for any postal mailings, email offers, telephone offers, or sent to any other company.Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Sincerely,

Review: I had paid for a 1-year gift subscription for the magazine and the publisher fulfilled the 1-year subscription request. Then, they charged an unauthorized renewal of the subscription. I called the 1-800 number listed on the credit card charge (###-###-####) and the line is "dead". No ringtone. I then called the public relations phone number listed for the company and the representative would not assist me - only to state that I need to call the same 800 number that does not ring through.Desired Settlement: Refund the unauthorized subscription charges of $26.97 immediately.

Business

Response:

Please see the attachment.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I was able to resolve the issue with their customer service representative via telephone.

Regards,

Review: As far as I know, my deceased wife, [redacted], always paid for her subsriptions to magazines up front. Please send me a copy of the original order form she sent you and I'll pay your bill. I am sending a copy of this to the Revdex.com.

Yours Truly,

(see hard copy online)Desired Settlement: Unspecified

Business

Response:

August 6, 2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your email of July 29, 2014, our records show a [redacted] magazine subscription order under the name [redacted] was received on January 24, 2014 via a mailed in order card. A copy of the order card is included.We do not show any payment received for this order. The subscription has been canceled and there is no money owed on the account.[redacted]’s name and address have been removed from our [redacted] promotional list. A few more offers may be received because of items that have already been mailed or processed for mailing. Her name and address have also been added to our suppression file which will restrict it from being used for any postal mailings, email offers, telephone offers or sent to any other company.Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Sincerely,Maggie S[redacted] Customer Service Manager

Roadie called me by phone selling a Womens Health and Wellness book for $29.95 saying they would send the book and bill me later. When the bill finally arrived I was billed $51.14. I called 2x and was told that they would revise the bill. They never did and I ended you paying other wise be sent to collection since they said I was past the time allowed for returning. This is the 2nd issue I have had with Rodale.

Review: Rodale INC sent a book (Dec. 2012), DIABETES BREAKTHROUGHS 2013, to my PO address which I did not order. I was out of town for several weeks before the book was picked up. I called Rodale and told them that I did not order the book. They said they would issue a return authorization but that took over a month to provide the packing slip and return authorization. Meanwhile, Rodale keeps sending a billing statements (at least 3 or 4). The book was returned in March. I called them on the phone after returning the book by mail and asked them to cease from sending billing statements. Yet they continue to send a billing statement in May for $39.94.

Account Number: [redacted] Order #: [redacted]Desired Settlement: Stop send me a billing statement for the book that was not ordered and subsequently returned.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

I returned the annual book as soon as possible (we had moved out of state so it took some time to reach me) but did not see where they acknowledge the return. Thank you for your help. I am glad to be removed from their mailing list and will not order from them again.

Review: I selected a free bicycle magazine from an offer on the Rodale Magazine website. Upon filling out a small inquiry on shipping information, I discovered that the offer asked for billing information as well. I declined the "free offer" and navigated out of the website. Several weeks had passed when I received a shipment. Opening the shipment I discovered that it was the calendar. I called to inquire on the receiving of this and was told that it was a free offer. I gladly expected the shipment. Several more weeks passed and I began receiving bills for my "account balance". I made several attempts via email and phone to dispute the charge. Customer service was unable to help me. I advised them that they should not offer a free product with intentions of billing the customer. After 2 to 3 months of refuting this bill I was recently notified that my account balance was turned over to a collection agency. I advised them that if this was not cleared, I would notify the Revdex.com. Thank you for taking my concern and complaint. I look forward to reaching a resolution soon. [redacted]Desired Settlement: Removal of my account balance from collection agency as well as relieved of all account balances due to false advertisement.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Review: Hello,

This is a common complaint regarding Rodale's advertising and billing practices. I subscribed to Runner's World Magazine (one of Rodale's publications) over 4 years ago at a different address. I properly canceled that subscription without any issue. Last week I received an email saying that my order from Rodale was received and they were shipping a book to my address of four years ago. I never placed this order and never contacted Rodale, as evidenced by the incorrect shipping address. This is blatant consumer fraud and ample incidents of this practice on the part of Rodale are well documented on numerous consumer protection websites.Desired Settlement: I would Rodale to discontinue this blatantly fraudulent practice with all consumers, however, I know that is not realistic. I would like complete and total removal from all of their mailing lists as well as cancellation of whatever bill they send me, as I will never receive the product and never ordered it to begin with.

Business

Response:

October 7, 2013

Dear [redacted]:

In response to your email of October 3, 2013, regarding consumer [redacted]. [redacted], our records show an order for Men’s Health magazine, and the book Eat This Not That! 2013, was received on September 25, 2013, via the Internet. A copy of the order page is enclosed.

The IP Address for this order is [redacted] and the email address is [redacted].

The Men’s Health magazine order was entered on **. [redacted]’s existing magazine account, which was initially created when he subscribed to Runner’s World magazine at his [redacted] address. This account also reflects two additional address changes which include his current address at [redacted].

Since **. [redacted] did not have a previous book account with any address change information, the book order was entered using the address on the Internet order.

The bill for the book Eat This Not That! 2013 and the Men’s Health magazine have been cancelled.

**. [redacted]s’s current name and address have been removed from our Runner’s World and Men’s Health magazine promotional lists. His previous name and address, used for the book order, was removed from our Book division promotional list. A few more offers may be received because of items that have already been mailed or processed for mailing. His name and all three addresses have also been added to our suppression file. Please allow up to 10 days for all email suppression requests and 3 to 4 weeks for all other suppression requests to be fully implemented.

Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.

RE acct #: [redacted]

Review: After several fruitless attempts to pay a bill on Rodale's website, and several requests made to Rodale for assistance, I was finally able to "suss out" my user details, and paid Rodale for a book, on 5-22-2013. I received an email from Rodale, confirming that payment, on 5-22-2013., the same day.

I have since received a notice, dated 5-28, on 6-11-2013, approximately 2 1/2 weeks AFTER the payment was made, stating that this payment wasn't received, and was being referred for collection!

Due to that fact that my requests for assistance in accessing my account went unanswered, I believe Rodale engages in such practices in order to be able to charge their customers late fees for late payment. The fact that they have apparently begun a 'collection' process in this case is outrageous.Desired Settlement: Despite the fact that Rodale has received close to 100 complaints regarding billing practices alone, the Revdex.com still rates this company as A+. Frankly, I don't expect much of anything from the Revdex.com or Rodale. What I would like is a letter of apology, but I'm not holding my breath.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: Rodale won't take me off of their email list for special offers. Customer service repeatedly leads me to their site, which then signs me up for more.

I've never purchased anything from this publisher, yet I am on their "Opt In" list and customer service keeps telling me to go to their website, "manage my email preferences," and when I do, I am opted in to more special offers and updates emails. Their "Uncheck All" in preferences is conveniently not working. Customer service has yet to explain this glitch to me or take me off their list.Desired Settlement: I would simply ask that they adhere to the law which allows email targets an "opt out" option. I am not seeking reimbursement as I have not purchased anything. Yet the time that I have wasted with customer service, going in circles, is stressful. So I would like my time back.

Business

Response:

September 4, 2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your email of August 28, 2014 regarding [redacted], [redacted]’s email address has been flagged as DO-NOT-EMAIL in our suppression system. This will remove her from all of our lists.I am sorry that her experience with customer service was unsatisfactory.Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Sincerely,Maggie SCustomer Service Manager

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

The response to complaint ID [redacted] is satisfactory to me and I applaud its resolution. Thank you so much for the time and diligence you've devoted to solving this matter, I am very impressed!

Thank you for all the great work that you do!

Review: Ordered a book called Total Health Turnaround, which I immediately returned when I got it, as it was not worth the money. I have provided them the tracking number, sent via USPS, and emailed them; however, they deleted my email w/o reading it and continue to send me bills for something I returned to them!Desired Settlement: CEASE & DESIST -- you got your lousy book back. It wasn't worth $44!

Business

Response:

October 2, 2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your email of September 26, 2014 regarding consumer [redacted], our records show an order for the book Total Health Turnaround was received on July 2, 2014, via a mailed in order card.The bill for Total Health Turnaround has been cancelled and the order has been marked as returned in our database.According to our records, there is no email or tracking number provided. I apologize that Customer Service was unable to meet your needs in your attempt to communicate with them.[redacted]s’ name and address have been removed from our Book Division promotional list. A few more offers may be received because of items that have already been mailed or processed for mailing. Her name and address have also been added to our suppression file which will restrict it from being used for any postal mailings, email offers, telephone offers or sent to any other company.Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Sincerely,Maggie SCustomer Service Manager

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: I began receiving a subscription to [redacted] Magazine without ordering, however my mother has ordered subscription for us before so we thought it was a gift. I then began receiving an invoice for the subscription. The invoice from July says, "Dear my name, We entered a subscription to [redacted] magazine in your name on 05/28/14. As of 06/26/14, we had not received your payment." I put the invoice in my shred box because I couldn't imagine a company entering a subscription in my name without my permission and it be my liability to pay. This week I received a threatening letter from [redacted] Creditors Bureau, Inc. claiming that the unpaid bill has been turned over to them for collection.Desired Settlement: I would like for the threatening collection letters to stop and I would like for this deceitful business practice to be ceased as surely it is illegal.

Business

Response:

October 14, 2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your letter of September 29, 2014 regarding consumer [redacted], our records show a one year [redacted] magazine subscription was entered for [redacted] on May 28, 2014 via a mailed in order card. A copy of the order card is included. Per his request, it was canceled on September 29, 2014. We also received a two year [redacted] magazine order on December 30, 2013. This order came through [redacted], the agency that contacted **. [redacted]. He already had a two year [redacted] subscription entered on December 6, 2013 that was paid in cash, so the [redacted] order extended his subscription through November 2017.We have cancelled the [redacted] subscription placed through [redacted]. The November 2015 issue will be the last he receives from the cash order. Any billing inquires need to be addressed through [redacted]. **. [redacted] can contact them at:[redacted], CA [redacted] Telephone: ###-###-####Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Sincerely,Maggie SCustomer Service Manager

Review: An item was delivered to my post office on 3/23/2013 that I did not order. On 2/21/2013, I was on a website looking at a product, hit a back button and received an email notification that I had ordered a product. I emailed [redacted] on 2/21/2013 at 2:35pm indicating I did not press an order button and wanted to cancel order [redacted]. I did not receive a response. A month after this, the postman left a notice that my package was at the post office with postage due of $3.43. Not knowing what this package was, I paid the postage due. It is the order I never received. I again tried to email rodale at the customer service email with no response. I am being billed close to $60.00 for an item that I never even ordered. I would return it but I don't want to pay any more money for something that I didn't want in the first place.Desired Settlement: I would like the order canceled and I would like to know how to return it without the expense being mine. At this point, the $3.43 is not even an issue.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and while I don't agree that an order was placed (I did not hit the button to complete the order, I hit the back button to exit the screen), I find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. They also do not seem to have any record of the two emails I sent regarding this order which I have copies of so I did try to rectify this immediately and again upon receiving the book. I did order Women's Health magazine and another book from Rodale and this was satisfactory. This was also the reason I opened this package in the first place, I thought it was the other book.

Regards,

Review: I ordered 2 books more than a month ago and I have not received them, I called last week and supposedly I would received the books last week and I am still waiting.

Horrible service.Desired Settlement: I ordered 2 books more than a month ago and I have not received them, I called last week and supposedly I would received the books last week and I am still waiting.

Horrible service.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Review: I am getting harassed by Rodale for an order I never placed. I received and sent back the book yet I am still being contacted to pay. I also see that it has been sent to collections. I have no intention of paying for something I never ordered and sent back. Also if this shows on my credit report I will pursue legal action.Desired Settlement: I request that Rodale stop contacting me and remove any charges. Also they will notify collections agency they sent bill to that it was in error and that no more collections should take place. They will also confirm in writing within the next 30 days that this will not be on my credit report.

Business

Response:

October 31, 2013

Dear **. [redacted]:

In response to your email of October 30, 2013, regarding consumer [redacted], our records show an order for the book Men’s Health Big Book of Exercise was received on April 6,2013, via the Internet. There were also two other orders received at this time, one for Men’s Health magazine and the other for Women’s Health magazine.

The IP Address for all three orders is [redacted] and the email address used is [redacted].

Our records do not show the receipt of the returned book. **. [redacted]’s account has been adjusted and the bill for the book Men’s Health Big Book of Exercise has been cancelled. His credit rating will not be affected in any way.

The Men’s Health magazine order was cancelled on May 1, 2013 and the Women’s Health magazine order was cancelled on May 23, 2013.

**. [redacted]’s name and address have been removed from our Book Division, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health promotional lists. A few more offers may be received because of items that have already been mailed or processed for mailing. His name and address have also been added to our suppression file which will restrict it from being used for any postal mailings, email offers, telephone offers, or sent to any other company.

Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.

Sincerely

?

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

Review: I canceled an Organic Gardening magazine subscription per Rodale's policy in March of this year, and still get dunned for the subscription. I canceled because they started billing me before I received anything.Desired Settlement: Same as above.

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Review: Their saying I still owe $21.31 , I WAS under the impression, I was ALL PAID UP. (My acct. balance is 0/& or nothing w/ them ). They added late charges to my acct. that should not exist!!Equalling $21.31 !!!:( Back 3 yrs. ago, they told me I was ALL PAID UP, then, unbeknownst to me, recently, last Thur.February 28th 2013, I get a bill in the mail, from their collection agency saying I owe $21.31!!:( I nolonger have a job, nor money to pay for this bill, that I WAS under the impression/s by Rodale books, I was ALL PAID UP on. )Desired Settlement: I just want them to leave me alone. ( They keep harressing me by calling me, & sending out their collection agency, bugging me on a bill $21.31, that I SHOULDN'T be billed for !!:(

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: I keep getting email's that I signed up for magazines . They keep asking for money . I did not even sign up for any magazines . I told them this and I keep getting more and more emails that I signed up and my magazines will be shipping soon .Desired Settlement: I want them to stop saying I ordered magazines and take me off the list

Business

Response:

Please see attachment

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,