The Toronto Star

Hello, this has happened to me twice before, and I see is a common issue with others. I also agreed to donate money to a young man who came to my door - I did not want a subscription, but he told me I could help him by donating the money and I would get a 1 month subscription and would be able to cancel any time. Obviously this is not the case, as I have tried to cancel and I am being told I am locked into a one year subscription and would have to pay the remainder of the year.

A boy named *** along with another girl came to my door about 10 days ago, claiming that they were looking for a sponsorship for his mechanical engineering course and they were from ***/***. They never mentioned the name of Toronto Star. I was supposed to contribute towards the scholarship only if I was willing to, based on the email I would receive. When he asked for credit card details, I mentioned that I was not willing to share such personal details; however he insisted me to share only the credit card number without the CVV so that no transactions can be made without my consent, and that they wanted to just ensure that the details belong to real people. I never received an email asking for my consent or with any details that he mentioned related to scholarships. Today I receive a newspaper from Toronto Star, and 27.30 CAD is deducted from my credit card. How is it that I am enrolled into a subscription without my permission, where I didn't even share my CVV? I called Toronto Star's customer care and informed that this subscription was without my consent, and they agreed for a refund of 20 bucks. I already canceled my credit card, since this is clearly ***. I need my 27.30 back. I do not want to pay for a newspaper that I didn't ask you to deliver. It is not about the 7 dollars, it is about fooling people to make profit, exploiting the genuine willingness people have to help/contribute to the society. I await a positive response on this.

My new address is *** avenue unit *** newcastle on. ***. I received my first delivery on nov 16 and then on 17,missed 18,19, rec 20, missed 21
on each missed day I spoke to a rep about the issue and was told they would call me back but that did not happen.
As this is delivered to a condo lobby I am not sure if I am not receiving delivery or someone is stealing the paper. I have proposed a different delivery location but it appears this is impossible as it has not happened. I am frustrated with the failure of the agents to contact me or let me call the driver .
I have been an extremely long time customer and would expect a better degree of customer satisfaction.
Phone is XXX-XXXX or cell at XXX-XXX-XXXX
I guess my next recourse will be to use social media or another news paper to try to get a response to my issue.

At the end of October or beginning of November, 2019 two young women, one named ***, order form *** came to our door asking for help in them getting a scholarship to study nursing at *** and for flight attendant at *** College by agreeing to a one-month subscription to The Toronto Star for Saturday delivery only at $10.00. I was told for sure it was ONLY for ONE month. They needed to get 50 people to sign up in order to qualify for a scholarship. When they left I was shocked to see I had been signed up for a 12 month subscription for Saturdays. I called the Star and was told to call them back when I receive my first paper which arrived today, November 14th a Thursday. When I spoke to *** at Customer Service today I was told I would be getting 7 day delivery at $27.30 per month!! On checking my credit card statement on line I found the charge already there. I told him I had never agreed to 7-day delivery only Saturday and it was only for one month. He agreed to change it to Saturday delivery but could do nothing to change the subscription from 12 months to 1 month. I find this very disturbing that the Star is gaining customers by forcing subscriptions on people. I explained to the two girls we already receive another paper and do not want the Star. I was willing to help the students but was entirely misled.

In the first half of June (I can't read the date on my copy of the receipt - possibly June 11) a woman named *** (***?) came to my door and offered me a subscription to the Toronto Star. I was adamant that I did not want the subscription. She told me that if she could get 50 people to sign up for a deal that COULD BE CANCELLED AT ANY TIME, she would receive a contribution to her nursing tuition at *** University. Because I was assured several times that the subscription could be cancelled at any time, I was eventually persuaded to sign up. I asked for the subscription to begin in early July as I was leaving on vacation. The paper began arriving 2 days later. On July 7, I phoned Toronto Star customer service and asked to cancel my subscription. I was told to email my copy of the order form to their circulation department. After at least a week I still had not received a reply so I phoned customer service again. I spoke to an agent who explained that I had signed an order form for a 12-month subscription. I told him I had been misled by the door-to-door salesperson. He said he would sort it out. Very shortly thereafter I stopped receiving the paper. However, I now see that I was charged on my credit card $27.30 on July 24 and August 21. Today I phoned customer service again and *** told me I have a commitment for a 12-month subscription and there is nothing on my file to suggest my commitment has been cancelled. *** says that she will listen to my previous conversation with customer service and phone me back. Regardless of what she discovers, I am very displeased about the misleading way I have been sold a subscription that I am not allowed to cancel without a $100 penalty.

The students who came to my home yesterday said they was gathering signatures for a petition that would get him a scholarship for a Science program at his school. Both students were male and looked about 12-14. They both had badges, the one doing all the talking had a picture on his - the shorter boy had no picture.

He said the Star subscription scholarship program was run through his school and that I would only be obligated to a 4-week, 1 month subscription at $5 per week. He claimed that I would not even have to call and cancel the subscription because the school would cancel it for me. I advised him that we do not read the paper nor do we need a paper but I would be happy to support the program with a donation. He said many people were doing this and that there was a box he could tick off that would indicate no paper to be delivered.

Unfortunately there were contractors working at my home yesterday, and because I am always willing to contribute to education I agreed to sign up not paying attention to what he was doing.

He filled out a form on a 3-ply sheet of paper, the top sheet was white - he wrote the number 1 in the first box emphasizing that it was only a "1" month subscription. I left to get my Credit Card and returned - he insisted that he would complete the payment section when I said that I would do it - so I let him. He proceeded to leave without giving me a copy of the receipt. I called him back and he then gave me a pink copy -***

After the contractors left last night I decided to look at the receipt. To my shock the number "1" had been changed to a check mark beside a 12 month, 7 day delivery subscription at $26 per month. There is NO box to indicate that I didn't want a paper, the sales person information is not filled out and I saw him filling information on the white sheet - none of the information he filled out seems to have carried over to this pink receipt.

I am very upset. I had to cancel my credit card for fear of fraud. I now have to spend quite a bit of time contacting all vendors of the pre-authorized debits I have coming off of that card and I spend 1/2 hour with the customer service office and they were *** and of NO HELP! One rep told me to wait until I received my first paper and then call to cancel. ***. It's like your team is trying to FORCE newspaper sales on people.

An indivdual identifying himself as *** (CREW ***) came to my door on Friday, June 7th. He indicated he was a high school student raising money through the sale of newspapers subscriptions. He indicated that I was signing up for a 1 month, non-renewing subscription for $8.00. I provided him with my credit card information on a white form that contained this information. The pink receipt he provided me had the numbers changed - adding a 2 behind the 1 - indicating a 12 month subscription and a 25.9 in front of the 8 - indicating I had agreed to pay $25.98 each month - there was also a check mark near a box at the bottom indicating a "recurring" payment. None of this information was on the form that I filled out. I have spoken to the circulation department at The Star and provided them with this information. I asked that they confirm that they are addressing the issue internally. They have assured me that they will, but wouldn't confirm what they intend to do - they are also making me call them when the papers start arriving to cancel my account, despite the fact that the issue is with their employee/contractor.
I spoke to *** about the issue and my card has been cancelled by their fraud department.

I young person knocked on my door and asked if I was interested in a free news paper delivery trial ***. The details progressed to the requirement to pay for the delivery of the The Star on a daily basis and that the trial could be cancelled at any time. In addition, the trial was also supporting the person obtain money for tuition. I provided details at my front door with the thought that the trial could be cancelled, and also help the individual. The papers started and in found I just did not have the time to read them. I rang to cancel the subscription and it was pointed out that I had signed on for a 12 month contract, and the lowest cost option was to maintain delivery of the weekend papers only.

We were approached by a salesman Dec. 2018, asking us to subscribe to the Toronto Star. He stated that he was student needing help with tuition, and if we could subscribe for a minimum of 2 months, we could then cancel with no penalty. Since then, we've called their customer service, and were told that our subscription couldn't be cancelled as we were locked in for a year. We are willing to pay for the 2 months subscription that we had agreed to, but would like to cancel our subscription and be reimbursed for the difference that we've already paid over and above that.

A student came to my door in February and said that he was trying to make money for his schooling.We wondered if I would buy a 30 day trial period of the Toronto Star and that he would come back at the end of the month to see I wanted to keep getting it.I said ok and gave him my debit card.I decided that I didn't want to keep getting it but he didn't come back.I called the Star and was told that I locked in to a 12 month contract.I really don't want this paper.

In January 2019 I was contacted by the Toronto Star regarding subscribing to the newspaper. I agreed to Saturday delivery and was told that it would commence on Sat. January 26, 2019. When the paper was not delivered, I contacted the Star to cancel the subscription. They advised that they had no record of a subscription. On February 13, 2019 my credit card was charged $15.93. I contacted the Star to complain, noting that I had not received any copies of the paper. Someone phoned me from the Star to advise that they would be issuing a refund. On February 26, 2019, I was issued a refund of $8.58. I contacted the Star again to ask why I had not received a full refund and noting that they still owed me $7.35. They did not respond so I contacted them again and they still did not respond.
Product_Or_Service: Saturday Toronto Star subscription
Order_Number: Subscription Account

While I was visiting the Toronto *** on Thursday, February 21, 2019, I had stopped by The Toronto Star booth. When I was there, a representative came up to me had said if I would like one of the gifts they were offering and that all I would have to do is sign up. After talking to him, he assured to me that I was signing up to a newsletter service that was only $0.99 for the first month and $16.00 (+ tax) for every month thereafter. At first, I told him I was hesitant because I don't really read the newspaper so I couldn't justify the cost but then he told me to try it out and that if I don't like it, I could cancel anytime. So I signed up and continues on throughout the show. The subscription number is XXXXXXXX and the representative name given to me was ***. On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, The Toronto Star had charged my credit card with a payment of $21.89 and this alarmed me because it was not what was advertised to me by the representative. So then I contacted customer service for The Toronto Star and after a few emails back and forth, they told me that even though their sales representative had misinformed me, I had to pay out the remaining amount of the subscription which totalled to $240.79. I had told them that I felt cheated and that it is disappointed that they allow sales representatives to *** to customers to garner a sale.

I was at the Toronto *** this past week with my family and I signed up for little freebies over at the booths. I was approached by a Toronto star representation who said that the Toronto Star was offering free 30 days trial of newspaper service, and you get a special discount for signing up. He also said there will be no charge if you choose not to continue. You can sign up and see how the service is and cancel within the 30 days period. So, thinking that it is risk free, I took the time to sign up.
When I went home and read the invoice, it turns out that they it was a fixed 1-year contract and that they would charge me $300 a year! I immediately called in their cancellation department and I was advised by the supervisor (call ref. OSH-GMXXXXX, name ***) that it is a binding contract and there is nothing they can do.
In essence, they trick you in signing up at and slap you with $300. I never expected such a reputable print organization to fall so low. ***. It's little wonder they are slow perishing away. I think it might have to do with *** sales practices.

I visited Toronto Star kiosk on 19th February 2019 at *** in Metro Toronto Convention Center. The representative from Toronto Star informed me about their ongoing promotion for the newspaper subscription. He mentioned that they book it for one year . I specifically asked him what is my option if I do not like the newspaper ? He mentioned that you can cancel it any time like any other product/service. He took my credit card details and asked me to sign a pink slip that he gave as an acknowledgement. He also mentioned Home delivery of news paper will start after 2 weeks, which was not mentioned anywhere in the pink slip. The delivery started from 28th Feb. I do not like the paper and today I called their circulation department to request cancellation of subscription. They said I have entered into a contract with them for 12 months as I signed their Pink Slip and therefore they will charge me for one complete year even if I cancelled my subscription today (i.e. after receiving 5 issues of the newspaper). Their representatives at 3 different levels( agent, floor supervisor and floor manager) were approched by me on phone and none of them was able to explain me why I need to continue paying for a product that I did not like. They kept on saying it is their management policy and their system will keep on charging and it will not allow to stop the payment being deducted. (The rep. who booked the subscription at kiosk never mentioned about free or subscribed trial.). The floor manager did not have my email address with him when I asked him to send me in writing what he was arguing with me (whereas it was there on the Pink slip which they call a contract).

I was browsing around the *** on February 24, 2018 in downtown Toronto with my family. I was approached by a sales representative at one of Toronto Star stands, saying I could receive a *** if I would subscribe on the spot. I said I already have 2 at home. He told me how much the monthly fee would be ($21 CAD). I specifically asked if I could cancel the next month or opt out at any point if I wasn't happy. The sales rep said yes, that it could be cancelled at any time. He then hurried me along, asking me to fill out the parts on a pink/yellow multi-slip form, with my information. I asked him again if I could only pay $21 CAD, and if I could cancel the next month, and he said YES and kept pointing for me to sign the sheet quickly. Today, February 27, 2018 I called to cancel and was told that I signed up for a year term and that I would have to pay the full amount to get out of the contract. ***. I want this contract terminated immediately as I was originally told I could do. Thank you for your assistance.

I was approached by a man in the *** in Stouffville on Christmas. I had my three kids with me and I was stressed. He offered me a *** Gift Card if I signed up for the newspaper. I told him that I'm too busy to read the paper and that I don't think I want it. My kids were pulling at me and I wanted to go. He was persistent and said I could try it for a couple of months and see if I liked it and I had nothing to lose and that he would give me a gift card that I could use for the groceries in my cart. He filled out a form and told me to sign. I recieved the Agreement in the mail several weeks later. I then realized I was being charged $16.68 plus 5% GST per month. I called and explained that I was misled and could not afford this. 3 people told me that I had signed and they could cancel but they would charge me $175 for the balance of the contract. ***. They took advantage of me, on Christmas. I feel I was targeted as someone who would "just sign" and misled and coerced with the promise of a gift card for "trying it out".

Subscribed to Toronto star at ***. Rep advised could be cancelled at any time. Called on October 1, 2018 and advised I wanted to cancel. Was advised that I was under a 1 year contract and if I cancelled would have to pay out contract term. Was further advised I could cancel in march of 2019. Continued with my obligation, not willingly. Called on February 7,2019 to cancel for March as I was advised to do in October. Was advised today that contract now ends in May. Seems to go on forever with these people. I want this contract terminated in March as I was originally advised. Thank you for your assistance.

I was shopping at the *** in Scarborough and was approached by a Toronto Star salesman offering me a $25 discount card that I could use to pay for groceries if I subscribe to the Star Saturday delivery. I specifically asked if I could cancel if not satisfied. The salesperson said I could after 1 month. When I called the Star to cancel I was told I had signed up for a year term and I had to pay the full year to get out of the contract. I feel misled and forced into a contract. They also said that the contract supercedes the salesmans word.

A salesman came to my door on the week of
Dec. 14th, selling the Star. He said he was a student, and that if I subscribed for 2 months, it would really help him with his schooling. I agreed to sign up for 2 months only. I called The Star's customer service approx.Jan. 8th, 2019, and was told that I was locked in a 12 month contract that couln't be cancelled, even though the "student" assured me that it was only for 2 months, otherwise I wouldn't have agreed to it, especially as a senior on a fixed pension.

I was shopping at the *** store in Toronto STOCKYARD Mall on Saturday December 29, 2018 and was approached by a Toronto Star salesman named ***, he offered me a $35 Gift card that I could use in the store if I subscribe to the Toronto Star for weekly or weekend delivery. His rate was written on a sheet as in $ 4.89 7 days delivery or $ 3.90 weekend only and assured me a delivery the next business day. I specifically asked the following questions
#1) I could cancel at any time or opt out if I was not satisfied. He said after being charged for the 1st month I could cancel at any time.
#2) Total of monthly charges - to which he replied $ 19.56 +Tax for 7 days delivery or $ 15.60 weekends + Tax
#3) Digital subscription - took my email and said he will email me the information to log in without further charges.

I Signed a pink sheet taking his word as a business bona fide proposal and left.

It has been a week and no newspaper has been delivered and Was charged on my CC $ 30.00 for a month.

Spoke to an agent via phone to cancel the subscription and was told that is a 12 month contract!! with no option to cancel and that I was liable for the remaining 11 months.