Trusted Media Brands, Inc.

When PCH offered Readers Digest I accepted with a note to them to start the subscription when my present one was finished. Similarly, when I wrote the check to pay for it I specified the date to start is as September of 2020. Today I received a second copy of this month's Digest ! Can't anyone there read? If you can't get it right, cancel that second subscription and refund my money or correct this SNAFU. Hank Drews, Stillwater, MN

Review: I have spent almost 2 years asking for a complementary subscription to be discontinued.

Multiple times assured it would stop. Then a second Health magazine also starts arriving. I asked again that both be stopped. Assured it would stop .

Now 3 month again and still coming. The address was pulled from a physic[redacted] directory in NB but instead is my home. I throw every one, out a wasteful disgrace to environment. A waste to your company.If we move it would appear these will just keep coming.Its very difficult to imagine a process so difficult to unsubscribe a product delivery that is not wanted.

Calling and sending notes to editorial board just goes round and round. Calls direct just get a we can,t find you or I have a note to subscription to stop and it doesn,t. Then the "sale " of the address to another magazine not requested. These were established to go to an office or waitng room. This is neither and they just don,t get it.

Either way one should be able to very effectively and compleltey have the ability to unsubscribe. I,m not kidding there are emails from well over a year to this effect .Desired Settlement: Stop the subscriptions and review your unsubscribe process.

Business

Response:

Tell us why here...

Our [redacted] office has left a message with the customer to explain the situation. Her name has been removed from the list.

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,

[redacted] I was contacted by the [redacted] branch.She is trying to resolve the issue once again. As yet there is no satisfactory conclusion until my subscription is removed from their database. This really pertains to the [redacted] office as far as I can see. Almost 2 years in the making to get a subscription stopped permanently! No satisfactory unsubscribe location on RD website or internally unless you are a personal payer to subscription. So how many business or complimentary copies floating out there to recycle bins. that are not required.?

Review: Taste of Home offered a FREE COPY of there magazine. I received the FREE COPY. Then I got a bill in the mail telling me I needed to pay for a 1 year subscription. I did not order a subscription just the FREE COPY. This is wrong and they are taking advantage of people. Also then threatening to turn it over to a credit and collections department. Not cool.

Product_Or_Service: magazine

Account_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

I would like Taste of Home to be contacted and made aware of false advertising and that they are taking advantage of people and threatening to take them to a collections department. They cant do that.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s recent complaint regarding the subscription for the Taste of Home magazine was forwarded here for my attention. Please accept my apology on behalf of Taste of Home for any concern or inconvenience she may have been caused.

Review: Account open with out my permission or authorization don't know how my information was stolen and put on account here's a account #403878 under my name [redacted]

I did call and Report I did not open account. I just don't what a bad credit report for something that's not mine.Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

Call Company find out how it gets stolen information and put on accounts for billing.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s complaint was forwarded to my attention.On February 23, 2016, an unpaid order for a one year subscription to Taste of Home was received via the Internet from [redacted]. The offer to enter the sweepstakes for the All Clad Cookware AND order a trial subscription was accepted. By accepting the offer, he agreed to receive a free issue of the Taste of Home magazine and a one year subscription for $10.00. Instructions for cancelling the trial subscription were included in the offer. (see highlighted area in attachment) The email included the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes only without ordering the magazine subscription. (see circled area on the attachment)On March 14, 2016 an email was received at our processing center requesting that the order be cancelled. The order was cancelled at that time. The Feb/March 2016 and April/May 2016 issues were sent. Mr. [redacted] can keep those with our compliments. He should ignore any bills that may cross in the mail. His credit will not be affected.I hope this helps clear up any misunderstandings there may have been regarding the offer received. Again, I would like to apologize for the disappointments Mr. [redacted] has encountered with our company.Sincerely,[redacted]Customer CareTaste of Home

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: Back in April (?) 2014 I submitted a little card from a magazine to order a small (8" by 5 1/2") magazine with recipes and tear out cards within it. About 3 weeks later a full sized magazine arrived that I thought was junk mail and threw it away. Later, I received an invoice in the mail for the magazine I had ordered that (I thought) never came. It wasn't until weeks later that I realized the magazine had been sent in a different, much larger, format (the one I mis-took for junk mail and threw away). By the way, I ordered the smaller version so I could slip it in my purse. Since I never received another copy, I didn't pay the bill since most reputable companies allow one complementary copy of magazine in most cases. Today, after only receiving one copy, I received a letter saying I'm going to collections. It states in the letter "we've kept our part of the bargin" Misrepresentative isn't part of the bargin and only one copy has been received. I feel this is a con for me to pay $12.00 for what I don't want. It's a con because I don't want the product but because I have excellent credit will pay the bill online. BUYER BEWARE. I do expect a full refund for this hassle and I appreciate Revdex.com helping me out with this matter.

Account_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Refund

Full refund

Business

Response:

Review: They will not stop sending me forum emails after many phone call requests. They have blocked me from trying to remove my name from their forums.

I had signed up for 3 email forums many months ago. I have tried and tried to remove my name from their forum emails. Nothing works.

It is Taste of Home Community Forums. The particular forums are:

Healthy Living Group

Healthy Choices

Cooking Hints and Tips

My email address is: [redacted]

At first I sent emails to be removed and all were ignored..none were ever answered.

I have made phone calls (at least 4) and received promises that they would stop sending emails but they are still coming...an average of 30 or more a day.

This has been going on for nearly 5 months, maybe longer. I simply want them to stop flooding my email with emails I have requested repeatedly to have stopped.

I cannot find any way to stop/block these unwanted emails.Desired Settlement: I simply want them to stop sending me any and all email.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s complaint regarding the receipt of Taste of Home Community Forum emails was forwarded to my attention. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Review: Approximately a few months ago I received a book titled, The Family Handyman, from the business. I did not request the book in any form or manner. It came most unexpected. I was billed $25.98, which included $5.99 for shipping and handling. I was informed I could return it, but then I would have to go to the post office, which is not close, and spend at least $5.99, if the return shipping cost is the same as the billing amount, to return a book I did not order nor desire.This weekend I received a statement to pay the business $25.98 and in the back it said, "Thank you for placing the order with us", which I did not do.I am reporting this matter because I do not appreciate having to be subjected to this type of sales practice, which I consider highly unethical. My request to the Revdex.com is if the company wants their book back, which is in the original package unopened, they can make arrangements to have the book picked up from our home.Desired Settlement: My request to the Revdex.com is if the company wants their book back, which is in the original package unopened, they can make arrangements to have the book picked up from our home.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s recent inquiry concerning the book 2012 Family Handyman Annual has been received and forwarded to my attention. I would like to start by apologizing for the disappointments he has encountered with our company.

Review: I received a bill for a magazine subscription that I did not order: 'Birds and Blooms'.Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

I do not want and did not order this magazine and I want the so-called subscription canceled. And for the billing and harassment stopped.

Business

Response:

Review: My mother has being living in a health care facility since July. In November she started receiving Taste of Home magazine along with a bill. I have tried returning the magazines and bills with "Return to Sender" written on the label and that has not worked. I have tried to locate a phone number to call them but have not been successful. I am not sure why they started sending these to her because she could not have ordered them.

Product_Or_Service: Taste of Home Magazine

Order_Number: [redacted] Account_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

Please remove my mother's name from your calling, billing and mailing lists and cancel whatever subscription you think you have for her. I would like them to stop this immediately. We are not asking for a settlement, just remove her or cancel her from their records. Thank you.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s complaint was forwarded to my attention.

Review: 4-23-14 - received postcard stating that I was "picked to receive" a free June issue of [redacted] magazine and a free booklet on backyard birding and further stating that "There's no risk or obligation to buy". 5-17-14 - Before I even received the magazine or booklet, a [redacted], subscription services, via form letter, was asking for $13 payment. 6-3-14 - received free issue. Soon after, got another request for $12 payment. Decided I did not want to subscribe. 6-26-14 - received a "summary of account" for $13 payment. 8-1-14 - another $13 request for payment. 9-8-14 - received invoice for "Payment Past Due". 10-15-14 - got a letter stating "you requested a subscription", "we sent the magazine on the good faith and understanding that I would honor the invoice and pay it promptly", "we kept our part of the bargain", and if I don't pay immediately, they will "turn my account over to their credit and collection dept". I did not "request a subscription", only to receive a free issue with no obligation to buy. They never sent another issue. Their part of "the bargain" was to send an issue for me to look at, "FREE", with "NO OBLIGATION TO BUY". If they didn't get any response, it should be clear that I looked at their product and didn't want to subscribe. This method of trying to increase readership borders on an unfair and deceptive act or practice. State and federal statutes prohibit this. So disappointing.

Product_Or_Service: DID NOT PURCHASE ANY PRODUCTDesired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Other (requires explanation)

1) Post on Revdex.com website so others are aware of this magazine "offer".2) Tell Birds & Bloom to stop their "free" "no obligation to buy" offers via postcard if they are not going to honor such offer and go after people to pay if they don't respond to their offer. Very disturbing.

Business

Response:

Review: I order two of their books called "Recipes Across America. One was order by mistake, because, it took two months to receive an e-mail conforming by order. When I finally receive the books, I took one back to the post office unopened and had them to return the book. Then about two weeks later, I received another one of their books "Recipes Across America" which I did open the box and on the shipping paper in the box, I showed that I was charged for three of their books. I sent the book back for which I paid for. I have written them one letter about two weeks ago, explaining that I've sent two books back and that I do not owe them anything. I did not receive an response. I receive another bill stating that If I they did not receive payment by November 30 that they would try further collections measures. I wrote them another letter explaining again about the book, and that I was going to file an complaint with the Revdex.com and that if this bill was sent to an collections agency and against by credit, that I would sue their company. I feel that it is not the Taste of Home Company themselves, but, the Book Marketing Services that they have selling their cookbooks. I love their magazines and their recipes, but, I will never order another one of their books anymore. I am not exactly for sure about the first two dates were, so, they may be wrong.Desired Settlement: I want them to quit sending me a bill, because, I am not paying 24.99 for a book that I do not owe for. And that the Taste of Home Company needs to check with their book marketing services and to see how they are doing their customers.

Business

Response:

Review: Two months ago I started getting this magazine. I didn't order it and I can't find a phone number to call to cancel it.Desired Settlement: I would like them to cancel sending me these magazines. I didn't order them.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s complaint regarding her Reader’s Digest magazine subscription was forwarded here to my attention. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

In the Sept/Oct 2013 issue of "Taste of Home" magazine, in a recipe for Marinated Chicken Wings, there is a picture that appears to misrepresent the finished product. It has a coloration not possible from the ingredients, & appears to have been blackened or grilled in some fashion.

The finished recipe in no way, shape, or form, resembles the finished dish.

Review: I received an unsolicited book from Birds and Bloom (Reiman Publications) with an accompanying bill. I called their customer service (###-###-####) and with some difficulty had them send a return shipping label. I returned the book shortly after receiving the label. Subsequently, I have received several dunning bills and have been told my name "has been placed on a list of delinquent accounts." !!!! Please help me to put this irresponsible company on notice that this practice is fraudulent, preys on the elderly and stop the dunning bills. The company has many addresses and many complaints on line. How can this practice be eliminated? Thanks in advance, [redacted]

Product_Or_Service: none

Order_Number: none

Account_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: No settlement requested - for

Stop the bills!!! Stop the fraudulent practice!!!

Consumer

Response:

I do want to accept the response from Reiman Publications but wanted to say the following.

Review: From: [redacted]

Date: Thu, Jun 27, 2013 at 8:30 PM

Subject: Taste of Home Books

To: [redacted]

Re: 2013 TASTE OF HOME ANNUAL

2012 COMFORT FOOD DIET ANNUAL

Dear Sir or Madam:

The two above books came into my home - and after three days were shipped back to the company. This was within the allotted time to view the books. The company has been sending me bills every month asking for payment. I have been filling in "I returned these books" and mailed the invoices back to the Canadian billing (payment) address which is:

BOOK MARKETING SERVICES

PO BOX 935 STN MAIN

MARKHAM ON L3P 0G8

The Canadian payment address is:

TASTE OF HOME BOOKS

PO BOX 2150 STN MAIN

NIAGARA FALLS, ON L2E 7L5

The US address is:

I sent a registered letter to the US address stating I had returned the 2 above books. They obviously got it because the letter has not been returned to myself nor has the post office sent me anything stating the letter could not be claimed. This cost me over $30.00 to do this. The last invoice they sent stated it would go into the hands of the collections department. I sent the books back and now they also want me to pay for them. I feel I am being bullied into paying for something I returned. I want no further books from them. It has left me with a bad experience with Taste of Home books.

I don't want my $30.44 back, I just want them to stop harassing me. If they search through their US warehouse, they will probably find the books.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

[redacted]Desired Settlement: I don't want my $30.44 back, I just want them to stop harassing me. If they search through their US warehouse, they will probably find the books.

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s recent complaint regarding the returned books 2013 Taste of Home Annual and 2012 Comfort Food Diet was forwarded here for my attention. Please accept my apology, on behalf of Taste of Home Books, for any concern or inconvenience she may have been caused.

Reiman's media group, through deceptive billing practices, is preying on senior citizens who feel they must pay a "5th invoice" sent to collections when in fact they have ordered nothing after receiving a supposedly free magazine.

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 email them on August 21 in which no one to this day has replied to me asking them if the order has been sent out yet. I called them for a 4th time and the woman I spoke to was quite pleasant and told me that the books had been sent out on August 15th and that I should expect them near the end of August. Today is August 29 and I call them for a 5th time because I still have not received the books I ordered now over a month ago. The woman I spoke to on the phone today was extremely rude, I know that I am a frustrated customer but her responses to me were quite snotty. I said to her that I don't think my credit card was charged when I ordered the books, because there was a deal that if you paid upfront you wouldn't have to pay s&h. So she advised me that my credit card was charged on aug 17. So I check my account online and I see there was a charge for $31 so I said to her that they haven't charged me for both books. She then tells me that they only sent me one book and I said but I ordered two... The digest diet and the digest diet cookbook and she said that she only sees that I ordered the first one. So, now I'm obviously frustrated because its been a month and I still haven't received my books plus if I had to reorder the cookbook would I be waiting another month and a half to receive it? Then I bring up the fact that online on their readersdigeststore.com that I am looking at the book I ordered and its now saying its $14.00 but I had paid $29.95 for mine. She did put me on hold to see what she could do but came back to the phone and said $14.00 is the American price, $29.95 is the Canadian price. Which is absolutely ridiculous considering that American and Canadian exchange rate is basically par. I advised her that once I receive the book that I will be sending it back for a full refund and that it was my first time shopping at reader's digest and that I will NEVER order from them again. Their customer service is the pits and you have to wait forever to receive an order... Still waiting on mine, I believe I have to wait another 2 weeks even though a month has already passed.

Review: THEY CHARGED MY CREDIT CARD FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT ORDER. I CALLED, THEY CANCELLED, BUT WILL NOT STATE I WILL GET A REFUND. TWO CHARGES FOR $24.99.

THE CHARGES WERE ON 9/17/14 FOR $24.99 (READERS DIGEST) THEN AGAIN ON 8/15/14 BY FAMILY HAND FOR $24.99 AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME ####-###-#### AND THEY CLAIM I ORDER SOMETHING, NOT SURE WHAT, WHEN I ORDERED A NUTRI-BULLET. I DID NOT APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL PURCHASE, I WOULDN'T, MY HUSBANDS PLANT CLOSED AND OUR INCOME HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED. I ONLY ORDER THE BULLET TO TRY TO LOWER MY BLOOD SUGAR. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST. HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS?? I AM 63 YRS. AND CANNOT AFFORD CHARGES LIKE THIS.Desired Settlement: I AM ONLY SEEKING A REFUND OF $49.98 BACK ON MY CARD A.S.A.P. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM TWICE AND I AM ALSO GONNA TRY TO E-MAIL THEM AT AN ADDRESS I GOT FROM THEIR C/S. THEY STILL WILL NOT PROMISE TO REFUND MY MONEY. I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD STOP THIS CREDIT CARD VIOLATION. A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT CHECK CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT CHARGES ARE ON THEIR ACCT. AND JUST PAY IT. I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR MONTH AND JUST DISCOVERED THE CHARGES AFTER REVIEWING MY STATEMENTS. THANK YOU

Business

Response:

[redacted]’s complaint regarding the credit card charges for Family Handyman and Reader’s Digest magazines was forwarded to my attention.

Review: Requested a free copy of Taste of Home magazine with the understanding that I was not obligated to purchase a subscription. When I received the free copy, I decided the online subscription I already used was sufficient. I wrote "cancel" across the bill and sent it back. Did this at least 2 times. Thought the issue was taken care of as I didn't receive a bill in April, however, I found the bill today by accident. It stated that if I didn't pay the bill within the next 15 days, it would be sent to Taste of Homes "credit and collection department". Having just resolved some issues with my credit rating, I was extremely concerned with the fact that this bill was being sent to a credit and collection department. When I called I was left on hold for several minutes to wait for a supervisor who finally told me that credit and collection department is internal and does not go outside of the company. This upset me even more; how many people have gone ahead and sent in payment thinking their account would be sent to a collection agency if they did not? Seems to me this practice preys on people.Desired Settlement: I want a hardcopy statement from Taste of Home that this account was not and will never be sent to an outside collection agency or reported on my credit report. I also believe Taste of Home needs to rephrase their letters to stop trying to fraudulently get people to pay for subscriptions. This type of practice of trying to get people to pay by insinuating nonpayment of a "gift" issue will be sent to collections is very deceiving. I am assuming that the company ignored my requests to cancel bi

Business

Response:

Review: Fraud. Birds & Blooms has sent an invoice to my wife requesting payment for a subscription that we did not order for a produce we have not received.

Product_Or_Service: Magazine

Account_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: No further contact by the busi

As described above the services and products stated in the invoice we're never received and never requested. The bill should be voided and no contact provided except to state that the bill has been voided.

Business

Response: