Strategic Media

Review: My mother called me to inform me that I had started receiving issues of Essence Magazine @ her house which I NEVER ordered. I called Essence magazine and was informed that my order was placed through a company called Stategic Media. I have never heard of this company so it was impossible for me to have ever placed an order with them. I was informed by Essence magazine that they would NOT be able to cancel my order all they could do was suspend the service. I was given a phone # of ###-###-#### which seems to be someones cell phone. I have left numerous messages that have not been returned. I do not understand how this company even received my information since I have NEVER received any correspondence @ my mothers place of residence. I have done some research on this company and have noticed numerous complaints from several people regarding this same issue.Desired Settlement: I want an explanation as to how this company was able to obtain my contact information. I also want them to immediately remove me from any contact lists that they may have presently or in the future. I want them to immediately CANCEL this phony subscription with Essence magazine and any other publication they might have signed me up for.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Strategic Media LLC regarding complaint ID [redacted]

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

The customer is questioning why they are getting a subscription to Essence. Strategic Media and Essence Magazine did an online promotion with AshleyStewart.com in which a one-year BONUS subscription to Essence was included with a purchase of $25 or more. There is NO bill for the Essence subscription and it does NOT renew automatically. We did NOT get the customer's credit card or email address.

The program was promoted on the home page of AshleyStewart.com as well as each page of the user experience including the cart page. It clearly stated that it's a "bonus included with a purchase of $25 or more" and that they will never receive a bill for the subscription.

We will cancel this order for Essence for the customer referenced above.

Thank you.

Review: I have started receiving Cosmopolitan magazine on August **, 2013. I have never subscribed to this magazine. Today I've received second issue. I've contacted Cosmopolitan magazine to ask why I'm receiving their magazine and to cancel the subscription. The Customer service representative told me that this subscription was made by a third party. They've refused to cancel. I have never authorized or gave permission in any way to the above agency, Strategic Media LLC, to use my name and contact information to subscribe me for any magazines on my behalf. Strategic Media LLC have unlawfully used my private information against my will and knowledge.Desired Settlement: 1. I would like to know how this company have an access to my private information. 2. I would like to have my information permanently removed from their database. 3. I would like to have the Cosmopolitan subscription canceled immediately and no further billing.

Business

Response:

Hi [redacted], We only recently were forwarded by the Revdex.com a complaint you filed on 9/*/2013 regarding Cosmpolitan Magazine. First off I apologize for the delay in responding to you. Typically we respond to all Revdex.com complaints within a week. However the Revdex.com had incorrectly been forwarding these to a New York City address and we are located in Scarsdale, New York. We were only just made aware of the claim. I wanted to let you know that we did a special promotion with [redacted] at that time and included with the purchase was a bonus subscription to Cosmopolitan as a thank you for making a qualifying purchase. The subscription did not automatically renew. At no time did we ever have your credit card number. I checked with Cosmopolitan and it appears the subscription has either lapsed or was previously cancelled as it is no longer on file. We never received this Revdex.com complaint. We always answer all complaints within a week! So today on 3/**/15 I called the number on the complaint but the phone does not take incoming calls. Therefore I sent an email to [redacted]explaining how she got the Cosmopolitan subscription and assuring her that it had already been stopped. We apologized for the delay in getting back to her. Thank you. Should you have any remaining questions/concerns please feel free to contact me personally via email or the phone #s below. Thank you for your understanding.

Review: Hello. I am receiving a magazine I never ordered and I cannot get Essence to cancel because they said they cannot cancel except through StrategicMedia who NEVER answers their phone!Desired Settlement: Have them cancel my subscription and remove my contact information from their records FOREVER! I never gave them the ok to sign me up in the first place!

Business

Response:

Hi,I just spoke with [redacted] and explained how she received Essence as a bonus (no charge) with a qualifying online purchase. We have already put through the cancellation. She was going to email Revdex.com as well to let you know that her concerns have promptlybeen addressed. Thank you.

Review: Unbeknownst to me, Strategic Media LLC., has me listed as a subscriber to their magazines. Numerous calls to the customer service line, go unanswered. I have contacted customer service of "People" and "Essence" magazine. The company stated that they will suspend the subscription, but in order to fully cancel, I would have to contact Strategic Media LLC. So far, I have not been successful in contacting anyone from the company. I find it disturbing that Strategic has my personal info, as I have not requested such a service. I would like to be taken off any type of subscription immediately!Desired Settlement: I would like this unwanted subscription to be fully cancelled, and my information to be taken out of their system. Also,to include and explanation of services, as I do not know how the company has obtained my information.

Business

Response:

The business has responded. Please read below:#[redacted]We never received this complaint filed on 11/**/14 due to problems with Revdex.com sending complaints to the wrong Strategic Media at a different address. This customer started getting Essence in August 2014 with a qualifying web purchase. I spoke with her today (4/*/15) and explained how she got the subscription and she asked me to cancel it which we have done. Our database also shows she had a People subscription started in September 2014 which was cancelled 12/*/14. [redacted] seemed satisfied with our conversation and I answered all of her questions.

Business

Response:

We have researched the status of the customer below who filed a Revdex.com complaint with Strategic Media. The customer received two bonus one-year subscriptions (one for Essence, the other for People Magazine) for making a qualifying purchase at a site called [redacted] (please don't publish site name). This purchase happened last summer. The bonus was included as a special thank you for making a purchase and there was no charge for it and it will not autorenew and we never received the customer credit card at any time. This subscription was cancelled.

Review: About 1 year ago, I made a purchase in a clothing store and they offered 3 months subscription to three magazines , which I accepted for the three month periods only, I was assured that the magazine subscription would end after 3 months and that the magazine would contact me with a deal to potentially secure a yearly subscription. All of the magazine subscriptions stopped briefly. then I got a charge to my checking account from [redacted] magazine for a year subscription, which I did not authorize or request. I contacted [redacted] right away and told them to put the money back into my account that I had not requested a magazine subscription from them. My money was refunded and the magazine deliveries stopped for a while. Currently the [redacted] Magazines started to come to my home again. Again, I did not sign up for this magazine or any other magazine. Also, I have never since the prior issue mention above accepted any 3 months subscriptions for any magazine, as it was not worth the headache. I started to monitor my bank account to make sure that they did not again go into my account for subscriptions costs that have not been authorized. At this time I got a renewal reminder from [redacted] to renew my subscription, I found this interesting in that I can't renew a subscription that I did not have, so I wrote [redacted] and told them about my concerns, they responded that this Company Strategic Media had place this order for me and they provided me with the telephone number to contact this business. when I called them they were less than informative and could not tell me anything, other than they would find my name and cancel the subscription. Again for the record, I never requested a subscription from any magazine, I don't have time for pleasure reading and refuse the spend the money to do so, so clearly would not have ordered any magazines. They gave me no information as to why they have been placing orders for magazines on my behalf when I have never asked them to do so. I want to know why they are doing this and where they got my information from, Their actions are not authorized or approved by me, they are not to act on my behalf in any regarding magazine or otherwise. I have on today cancelled my debit card and have asked my Credit Union to flag any subscription requests that might come through on my behalf. This task of just trying to find out why this company has my information and are freely using it and I have no knowledge of them at all. For the record I do not want any magazines, through any business period, not this one or anyone else for that matter. If there is a magazine that I want I am capable of subscribing without any assistance from Strategic Media LLC. I want to know where they got my personal information from and what other magazines have they signed me up for particularly since I never signed up for anything. I think that this companies action a questionable at bestDesired Settlement: I want to know were they got my personal information from. I do not ever want this company acting on my behalf for magazines, I want my money back for any funds taken for [redacted] and any other magazine that they have entered a subscription on my behalf, this company does not have that authority and has never been granted that authority to take any of my funds for a magazine subscription. I want them to stay away from me and my money and never act in this matter on my behalf ever again

Business

Response:

Hi,I spoke with [redacted] (#[redacted]) today regarding the subscriptions issues outlined below. She is concerned about a [redacted] Magazine subscription she received after signing up for a trial offer with her credit card at an [redacted] Store. We do NOT manage this program. I gave her the name of the correct agent and asked that she speak to them to clear this matter up. That said, we do show two subscriptions to [redacted] on file through our agency for [redacted] at the address below. Our subscriptions for [redacted] were bonus subscriptions at NO cost whatsoever received for making a qualifying purchase at two women's clothing sites which [redacted] was familiar with. She wants to keep our [redacted] subscriptions and I assured her that they do not automatically bill at the end of the period.

Review: I started receiving a subscription to a magazine that I did not order (Essence magazine). Their subscription department told me that I a purchase I had made online triggered the subscription, and that I would have to contact Strategic Media in order to cancel the subscription. I phoned and left a message but have not heard back.Desired Settlement: I want the subscription to Essence cancelled. I want to know what online purchase triggered the subscription. I want Strategic Media to never automatically subscribe me to anything ever again.

Business

Response:

You received a bonus subscription to Essence as a thank you for making a qualifying purchase on a women's fashion website. The bonus was promoted on the home page and each page of the user experience including the cart page with an ability to opt-out. We apologize that you didn't see that feature. We did not get your credit card number or email address and you will not be billed ever for the bonus. We have put through a cancellation - please allow a month for it to take effect.

Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: I have been trying to contact them directly to cancel a subscription to Sports illustrated. Various phone numbers to them has only gotten voice messages, and recordings, and there's no option to cancel a subscription. The website has no useful selections. Another company gave me the name Strategic Media. I have gone to their website, and sent them a complaint on their web subscription site which is the only one with a contact option. I requested their help. I did not hear back today having only just submitted the message.

My major complaint is about the inability to contact anybody, and the inadequacy of their sites with anything to do except for purchasing subscriptions.Desired Settlement: Cancel the subscription.

Business

Response:

The business has responded. See below: We never received this Revdex.com complaint. We always answer all complaints within a week! So today on 3/**/15 I called the number on the complaint and spoke with [redacted]. I explained the status of his subscription and he asked us to cancel. There are 11 issues left in the subscription and we are processing a cancel request today. He may still receive another issue before the cancellation takes effect. We apologized for the delay in getting back to him. He seemed satisfied with the conversation and said that we had addressed his needs fully. Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: I never subscribed to Money Magazine. I have never received even a single Money Magazine. But today I received a "Second Renewal Notice" for a subscription I never ordered. I never, by the way, received a "First Renewal Notice". I simply want my "account" closed with no further communication from Money Magazine or Strategic Media. I have no idea why I am in their system with an account number. I never subscribe to magazines here at the church. I have to believe that Strategic Media LLC is pulling some sort of scam to ensnare me to "renew" a subscription I never had and then bill me for it.

I did call Money Magazine and although the "subscription" is through Stategic Media LLC, their customer service representative said he would terminate my "subscription" effective immediately. And then 5 minutes later I got an email from Money Magazine stating that they "will suspend and automatically resume delivery of my MONEY subscription". Huh? Automatically resume delivery? I wanted it cancelled. Terminated. I surely hope now that I do not receive a bill for my "renewal". :(Desired Settlement: Have them stop contact me. Have them remove my name/account.

Business

Response:

Hi,[redacted] received a bonus subscription to Money (one year) at no additional cost whatsoever for making a qualifying purchase on a site that sells business/office supplies. The bonus offer was promoted in several locations and there is no bill ever for the thank you bonus which was included with the purchase. Sounds like he received an early renewal notice to extend his subscription. As per his request we have asked the Publisher to cancel his subscription immediately however if a mailing label has already been printed or an issue is in the mail he may still receive one or two more issues.Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I absolutely DID NOT subscribe to Money magazine, nor did I authorize a subscription, despite what they are claiming. And they claim that their promotional offer was visible in multiple areas? No way! Never have I seen nor accepted an invitation for a no-cost subscription. I am very careful when visiting website relative to accepting these so-called promotions because I detest them. This is a blatant attempt by Money magazine to "subscribe" me at no cost and then coerce me to pay for a renewal. I demand that Money magazine provide non-refutable proof that I authorized this so-called subscription. The bottom line is that I never asked to subscribe and never authorized a subscription. So, if I had been subscribed since 09/**, then why have I NEVER received an issue? Not even one. And the address on the SECOND RENEWAL NOTICE is my correct mailing address, so there is absolutely NO explanation as to why I never NEVER received any issues. Smells of a marketing scam. And why was this the SECOND renewal notice. I never received a FIRST renewal notice. Money magazine should be ashamed.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Hi -See email below sent to [redacted] today on this matter. This was sent after trying to reach him by phone and leaving a detailed voice message. I left my personal phone and email should he have any further questions. His subscription has been cancelled and the matter should now be resolved.[redacted]Dear [redacted],My name is [redacted] and I the [redacted] of Strategic Media, LLC. I just tried to reach you via telephone and left a voice message. Reaching out now via email.We did do a promotion with xxxx.com in which a one-year bonus subscription to Money was included with a purchase. It was promoted on the home page and cart pages though it sounds like you did not see it. In researching this further the subscription began on 10/*/14 and 9 issues were apparently sent to you though you never received them. We checked with the publisher and with the post office and there were no undeliverable issues returned so to be honest we are all at a loss as to why you never received any issues. You should have. And since you didn’t get the issues you were probably even more confused when you got an advanced renewal opportunity from Money. The good news is we cancelled the subscription on 5/**/15 and any advanced renewal notices should stop shortly.Rest assured that at no time were you billed for this subscription. It was a bonus subscription with NO bill included with your Restockit purchase to thank you for your patronage. As you got toward the end of the bonus period Money sent out a letter hoping that you would want to continue at your own cost but you were never under any obligation to do so. Your email and credit card info were never shared with us or Money magazine at any time.Hopefully this has answered any outstanding questions you may have. Feel free to call/email me at any time. My personal contact info is below.Best,

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: This company subscribe me to essence without my permission. Don't know where they get my name and address. Don't know what credit card they have illegally stolen. Essence and this company is running a scam. Please stop these two company. Essence can not cancel my subscription if I'm the account holder. I would like to unsubscribe to Essence and my name and address to be remove from this company and Essence.Desired Settlement: Remove all my information from their record.

Business

Response:

The customer is questioning why they are getting a subscription to Essence. Strategic Media and Essence Magazine did an online promotion with [redacted] in which a one-year BONUS subscription to Essence was included with a purchase of $25 or more. There is NO bill for the Essence subscription and it does NOT renew automatically. We did NOT get the customer's credit card or email address.

The program is promoted on the home page of [redacted] as well as each page of the user experience including the cart page. It clearly states that it's a "bonus included with a purchase of $25 or more" and that they will never receive a bill for the subscription.

We will cancel this order for Essence for the customer referenced above.

Thank you.

Review: I cashed in points on [redacted] for a Cooking Light® Magazine 1-Year (12 issues) Digital Subscription on January *, 2015. On January *, 2015, I received an email from Cooking Light with a confirmation that my digital edition is now active. I followed their instructions very carefully but could not get access to my subscription, as there was no account number associated with my subscription. The email said to call Cooking Light for help, so I did. Cooking Light said there was an issue with processing my account and instructed me to contact Strategic Media LLC regarding this. I filled a Customer Service form out on their website and was told that I would be contacted within 1 business day. After several days of silence, I found their customer service email address ([redacted]) on the Revdex.com's website and contacted them through there. That message also said to allow 1 business day to respond to my email request. 5 days later, I still have not been contacted by Strategic Media, LLC. and I still have no Cooking Light subscription. It is virtually impossible to get in contact with anyone from that company to help resolve my issue.Desired Settlement: I would like them to process my customer service request and activate my Cooking Light subscription. Strategic Media, LLC should also revisit its customer service policies, as it seems that there are many complaints filed against them on the Revdex.com's website with similar issues of lack of customer service.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: I have received two issues of Sports Illustrated in the past two weeks. I have not subscribed to SI and do not want these magazines.

I went to SI's website and learned that the subscription was initiated by Strategic Media, LLC. No information on payment status was available, however, the subscription was for one year. I have not done any business nor was I contacted by Strategic Media regarding subscribing to SI.Desired Settlement: I want my subscription to Sports Illustrated to be discontinued. Also, I want Strategic Media, LLC to refrain from entering subscriptions to magazines and periodicals in my name. Lastly, I want Strategic Media to remove my personal information from their databases.

Business

Response:

The business has responded. Please read below:#[redacted] filed a complaint on 3/*/15. We show we processed a bonus subscription for Sports Illustrated on 2/**/15. Today 4/*/15 we cancelled the subscription and attempted to reach him by phone but he was not available. I did leave a detailed voicemail explaining how he got the subscription (a bonus with a qualifying purchase - no charge, no credit card or email passed to us). Told him we cancelled the subscription and left my personal phone # should he have any remaining questions.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: Unknown to me, this company signed me up for magazine subscriptions to People magazine and many other magazines. I have no interest in the magazines and didn't authorize these subscriptions. I tried to cancel both of them through their respective web sites and phone calls, but they informed me that since the subscriptions were initiated by Strategic Media LLC that they would need to cancel them. I called this company which only gave an option of voice mail. I never order any magazines since 2009 and I'm very alarmed at how this company has my name and address and was able to process this without my permission. Please help me! In the meantime, issues from magazines keep arriving in my mail. I remove the subscription information for shredding from the magazine and they go promptly into the recycle bin.Desired Settlement: I demand that Strategic Media LLC cancel both ALL of the magazine subscriptions placed in my name and remove any trace of my personal information from their database so this sort of thing can't happen again!

Business

Response:

The business has responded. Please read below:We never received this Revdex.com complaint. We always answer all complaints within a week! So today on 3/**/15 I called the number on the complaint but the number was a work # so I left no message. Instead I sent an email directly to the claimaint explaining how she got People magazine and letting her know that her subscription was cancelled as of 3/**/15. I left my email and phone # if she has any remaining questions/concerns.Thank you.Hi [redacted]We only recently were forwarded by the Revdex.com a complaint you filed on 8/*/2014 regarding People Magazine. First off I apologize for the delay in responding to you. Typically we respond to all Revdex.com complaints within a week. However the Revdex.com had incorrectly been forwarding these to a New York City address and we are located in Scarsdale, New York. We were only just made aware of the claim. I wanted to let you know that we did a special promotion with [redacted] at that time and included with the purchase was a bonus subscription to People as a thank you for making a qualifyingpurchase. The subscription did not automatically renew. At no time did we ever have your credit card number. We cancelled the subscription on 3/**/15. Should you have any remaining questions/concerns please feel free to contact me personally via email or the phone #s below.

Review: I received a magazine ([redacted]) that I did not order and so, wanted to cancel. When I contacted the [redacted] subscription department directly, I learned that 'my' subscription is being managed by the third-party subscription service, Strategic Media LLC, so [redacted] was unable to cancel it. I have never dealt with Strategic Media LLC, nor did I initiate any sort of contact with them. The only way to cancel the subscription is to call an [redacted]-number, which incurs charges for the caller (on a mobile device). Also, calling their number, even to cancel a subscription, makes it appear that the consumer initiated contact, which will then invalidate any complaint the consumer may have later.Desired Settlement: Cancellation of the magazine subscription and a refund.

Business

Response:

Hi,I tried to call [redacted] on 8/**/15 (left a message) and again this morning. Since I was unable to reach her by phone I went ahead and sent her an email explaining how she got People and of course letting her know it can be cancelled if she wishes. At no time was there a charge for People and it does not automatically renew. Below is the body of the email I sent to [redacted] today. Thank you.Hi [redacted],My name is Marti S[redacted] and I’m the President of Strategic Media. I tried to reach you by phone last evening and a few minutes ago as well to respond to your Revdex.com complaint below. We did a program with a website called [redacted] in which they gave their customers a bonus (no additional charge!) subscription to [redacted] with a qualifying purchase. There is no cost ever for the one-year subscription and it does not automatically renew! We never got your credit card or email address - just your mailing address to send the bonus subscription which was a thank you from [redacted] for your patronage. The promotion was on the home page and the cart page but apparently you didn’t see it. Most people can’t believe they are getting a year of People which is so expensive for just making a purchase on [redacted] but I can assure you this is a bonafide program and there are no hidden charges or strings.If you do not want your [redacted] subscription please let me know and I will be happy to cancel it for you. Otherwise please enjoy it.Feel free to call me directly should you have any questions.Thank you,

Review: Unknown to me, this company signed me up for a magazine subscription to Seventeen magazine. I have no interest in the magazines and didn't authorize this subscription. Upon getting my first issue I called Seventeen magazine to cancel my unauthorized subscription on 10/**/14 at 1800. Was told that a third party had set it up for me, Strategic Media and given their contact number ###-###-####. Called but unable to reach anyone. Looked their businesses up on Revdex.com and found numerous similar complaints for both sets of Strategic Media associated with magazines. So lodged one of my own as this is not the first time they've done this unauthorized subscription set-up. I'm very alarmed at how this company has my name and address and was able to process a subscription without my permission. Please help me! In the meantime, issues from the magazine will go promptly into the recycle bin.Desired Settlement: I demand that Strategic Media LLC cancel any and all magazine subscriptions they have placed in my name and remove any trace of my personal information from their database so this sort of thing can't happen again! I want all no bills for these unauthorized subscriptions.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding Strategic Media, LLC has been resolved.

(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

Sincerely,

Review: I am receiving Essence magazine which I never subscribed nor requested. This magazine is not even geared towards my ethnicity as I am not [redacted]. I contacted Essence and was told I needed to contact Strategic Media LLC to rectify this. I emailed Strategic Media and have not yet received a response.Desired Settlement: I want Essence to be notified to stop the unordered and never wanted nor subscribed magazines from being delivered to my home and I want my name and information deleted from Strategic Media's mailing lists.

Business

Response:

A one-year bonus subscription to Essence was included as a thank you for making a qualifying purchase at a women's ecommerce site. At no time was there a bill for this and the complainants credit card and email were never shared with the Essence or with our company. As requested we have put through a cancellation. I tried to reach the complainant by phone but she was not available so I left a detailed message including my direct line should she have any additional questions or concerns we may address. Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.I was impressed with Strategic Media as the company's president personally called me and informed me of how and why I was receiving the magazine subscription. After reviewing my records I would like to apologize to this company. I have been the victim of fraudulent magazine subscriptions in the past and had it damage my credit and feared the same thing was happening again. However this is not the case with Strategic Media. I apologize for the mistake.

Sincerely,

Review: Today I received Cosmopolitan Magazine which I did not order. When I called their subscription department they told me that Strategic Media ordered it for me. I have no interest in this magazine nor this company and resent that this was done without my approval.Desired Settlement: I have cancelled with Cosmo but want this company to confirm that and also that they will never use my contact information again.

Business

Response:

The business has responded. Please read below: We never received this Revdex.com complaint. We always answer all complaints within a week! This subscription to Cosmopolitan was included at no additional cost with an online purchase back in 2013. The subscription was already cancelled. Tried to call customer but the number given was a work #. No further action required. We apologize for the delay in responding to this complaint. Thank you.

Review: I am filing a complaint regarding Strategic Media, LLC in hopes that the Revdex.com will be able to investigate what, in my view, are unethical business practices being employed by this company. I did not authorize Strategic Media, LLC, nor anyone else, to order a subscription to Fast Company magazine in my name. My address and name are printed on each magazine-cover shipping label, though I have never filled out a single form to subscribe to the magazine. Indeed, I had not heard of this publication before and have absolutely no interest in receiving it.

Though I never subscribed, I have now received a *renewal* billing notice. They could conceivably decide to turn this bill over to a collection agency, an action that would unjustly jeopardize my hard-earned, excellent credit rating. This company apparently believes that they have the right to exercise completely unauthorized power, making decisions for uninterested consumers and, quite probably, spreading individuals' personal info to an untold number of other, unknown parties for various purposes, as well.

More than a decade ago, I made a conscious decision to stop subscribing to ALL magazines in order to prevent my name from landing on such lists. Now, unbeknownst to me, out of the blue, this company, of which I had never even heard, has very effectively reversed my decision, and I do not appreciate that AT ALL.Desired Settlement: I want the subscription in my name to Fast Company magazine cancelled immediately, with all of my personal information purged from their databases and lists, including any that are destined to be sold to other companies for marketing or any other purposes.

Business

Response:

[redacted] received Fast Company for making a qualifying purchase on a business supplies website. There was no charge for the subscription and it did not automatically renew and her credit card and email address were not shared with the publisher or with Strategic Media. Her subscription was processed by us on 5/**/14. We put through a cancellation on 4/*/15.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: I continue to get magazines sent to me that I did not subscribe to. When I contact the magazine they indicate that the subscription was placed through Strategic Media LLC. I have not authorized Strategic Media LLC to issue subscriptions in my name. This is the second time in the last month I have been issued a subscription by this company and I have asked them to permanently remove my name from their list and prohibit any other magazines from being issued in my name.Desired Settlement: Please remove me from any mailing list and all magazine mailing list. I should not be billed for something I did NOT order.

Business

Response:

Hi,[redacted] received a bonus subscription to both InStyle and People when making a qualifying purchase on an ecommerce women's apparel site.On December ** we cancelled both subscriptions and added her to our Do Not Promote list as well. Just as an FYI (and I left [redacted] a voice mail with full details today) the subscriptions were included as a thank you bonus for making a qualifying purchase and there was NO bill ever and NO auto renew. I left the complainant a voice message that included my personal phone number if she has any additional questions. Thank you.

Review: I have been getting Essence magazines sent to my home address when I NEVER subscribed to them in the first place. I go online and I see that an order was placed in my name dating back to January. I also noticed that the subscription ends in 2015. This subscription needs to end now!Desired Settlement: Please remove my name from this magazine subscription, and remove my name from anything related to Strategic Media, LLC. And I hope that no money was taken from my account.

Business

Response:

Customer inquiring regarding a subscription to Essence. That was included as a bonus with an online purchase and there is no bill for it and it does not renew automatically; we never collected their credit card or email address. We will email the customer directly and have cancelled her order.

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: This company some how got my information and placed an order with a magazine in my name. I've never heard of this company, I did not order the magazine, and I am not paying for it. I did not give them my contact info as my name is even spelled incorrectly. don't know how they got my information but since I did not place the order the magazine company will not cancel it. The magazine company told me to contact the company who placed the order. They had to tell me the name of the company since I had no idea who it was. I have tried several time both by phone, I left a message because no one answered, and by email, I've sent several, they contacted me back once asking for my address so they can figure this out and haven't heard anything back.Desired Settlement: I want them to cancel the subscription they placed in my name and to never place another order in my name again. I also want to know how they got my contact info.

Business

Response:

Hi,

The customer below received a bonus subscription to Essence with a qualifying online purchase at no additional cost whatsoever. She emailed us on 8/**/14 requesting to cancel.

We responded on 8/**/14 asking for her mailing address so we could process the cancellation. The subscription was cancelled on 8/**/14 and I emailed the complainant today privately and included a PDF with proof of the cancellation dated 8/**/14 from our system.

Also should note that the address we had for Essence in our system for this order was not the same as the complainant originally supplied.

Nonetheless the subscription has been cancelled.

Thank you.