WARNING!!! Regarding Free Mag Subscriptions

[sonicworld]

Check your credit card statements closely. I signed up for a couple of these "so called free magazine subscriptions" over the past 12 months from posts on this forum (one over 11 months ago). I NEVER submitted any credit card info when ordering yet somehow they obtained my CC account info and recently back charged me list price rates for the subs. The ones in question are Playboy at $29.97 and Sony Playstation at $49.97. I will, ofcourse, be disputing these charges as I never authorized them.

 

[PicPop]

that's scary..how they can get ur cc info?

 

[VaG]

So how did they steal your card number if you didn't give it to them?

 

[iluvdeal]

Anyone else remember signing up for those two mags? Maybe you just forgot you filled out your CC info? I make it a point not to sign up for free subscriptions that require CC info.

 

[Dolemite69]

did you put in the 4111********* visa override code for credit card number? And they somehow obtained your REAL credit card number? Let us know how this happened!


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***Roenick Rules***

 

[sonicworld]

The only way I can think of these guys getting my cc # is from their "on file" records. Both were charged from the same subscription house (the vendor phone numbers on my cc statement were identical for both charges). Perhaps they were able to finally locate the cc # from a past subscription transaction (remember I stated one was from over 11 months ago). I don't have the answers folks, and I'm NOT trying to unduly panic anyone. Just a HEADS UP!

 

[Lucky]

eh, sorry but I highly doubt that if you didnt give them your CC info that they would charge you. Just my .02!

 

[IW]

I had THREE charges appear a couple of months ago. About 3 months short of 12 months after I "bit" on a "near-free" subscription deal. I contested all 3 charges as well as went through a telephone tree nonsense to try to cancel the subscriptions.

Nothing like warning you that they're going to continue the subscription before asking.

My credit card company had no problem removing the charges and notifying the "merchant." I suspect this is a common situation.

 

[BarneyFife]

I bet you gave out your credit card information and you forgot. There is no way that they can find out your credit card number and charge you.

 

[858diver]

Where did the "free" magazine offer come from? If it was at the end of an online transaction, they simply provided your contact and cc information (read the fine print) from your purchase.

 

[dentalboy]

maybe they have a way of getting your cookieinfo of your cc, and they stole it from your computer?

 

[Tom61]

Are you sure they didn't call and ask someone else at your house, and then they gave them it?

 

[lesch2k]

what some companies (CC companies) do is offer free subscriptions and then charge you later

they never say they are affiliated with your CC when offering you the subscription, this is probablly what happened to you.

 

[markrb]

I guess the safest route would be to give a fake first name.
You can always get a yahoo or hotmail account under the fake first name.
This way there is no way possible to get any info on you and if they try and charge
you can always contest saying there is no such person.

Mark

 

[dKYguy23]

or better yet do what I do for these "Free Mags" (some want to charge with no notice if you dont call and cancel after a year, read fine print).



http://www.fatshoe.com under your dogs name. Fatshoe is a secured net Visa card, they give you a CC# exp etc everything you need for online. NO CHARGE and you never have to put a dime into it, although you can if you want.


Bottom line, if it's "free" NEVER give your CC#

 

[Devistater]

I was just looking at the fatshoe members agreement. They charge a surcharge of $2.50 to add money to the account, they also now only allow you to add money to the account during business hours. M-F 7am-10pm EST. They also charge you $2.50 to get a card, and $2.50 each time you get a new number, AND they have a maintence fee of $4.00 if you dont do anything with the account for 4 months.

In addition, and this is the killer:


<< Also, because your fatshoe card is an off-line debit card, under certain circumstances it is possible for you to charge amounts that exceed your fatshoe account balance ("Overdraft"). In such circumstances, we will hold you liable for such Overdrafts and any associated fees that we may charge >>


So, if you use this for anything that has a reaccuring charge, or those mag subscriptions they can still charge you even if you have nothing in the account.

 

[ktg]

I too found charges for Playboy, PSM (two separate charges for that one), and one other I can't remember on this months VISA statement. Called the magazine service and they quickly agreed to credit me---but to be safe I still have to write to VISA about the expected credits so I dont get socked with various awful penalties when I "neglect" to pay for those things this month.

Usually this magazine firm sends a postcard warning about the impending charges, and I quickly call and cancel the subscription before the renewal kicks in. The fact that other posters here have a story similar to mine leads me to believe the mag company didn't send any postcards this time. Hmmm. ... oversight, computer error, or "let's see if they pay for these without reading their bill"? You be the judge...

 

[dxpaap]

thanks for the warning, I signed up for the free 1 year sports illistrated - but got nervious when saw all gthe other free mags.

I be on the lookout, I'm sure their plan is to slip this charge in, knowing that a certin % of people will just pay it. But it will backfire on this hot deals group !

We are all to frugal to not check out statements each month

 

[psxQ]

The only way they could have charged to your CC was you provided to them, otherwise for them getting it elsewhere and charging without authorization would constitute fraud and the entity that supplied to them such information would also be liable.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Heh, I feel sorry for anyone with a "Michael Superman" name All my free magazine subscriptions come in like that
-- mrcodedude

 

[MontyBurns]

First of all, I don't buy that they somehow "found out your credit card number" without you giving it to them.

Second, unless you have the shadiest of credit-card issuers, simply dispute the charge and you'll never pay a penny. This is a no-brainer.

If this company really DID somehow hire a private investigator for the purpose of obtaining your credit-card number and ripping you off, then, well, a warning doesn't do much good, since there's nothing we can do to protect ourselves.

 

[StaR2002]

I was charged too, but luckly I found that out while I was checking for credit card bill online. They didn't ship out my first paid issues yet. So I was able to get a full return for 2 mags....

 

[Cooljt1]

well, i uhhh have no credit card so if they somehow give me a bill with a credit card number i will just laugh

 

[Piblokto]

Magazine companies roll over if you call them and complain. I've had about 5 subscriptions "accidentally" charged or billed to me. Each time, I just call and tell 'em I didn't sign up for a paid subscription and they've always immediately credited my account or stopped billing me. They deal in such volumes they figure it's not worth it to fight someone who cares...

 

[wiredspider]

yea they just magically got your credit card info.... why not just use a webcertificate number or paypal number for them, keep like $5 or so in there so they can't really charge you.