ComplaintsforOptimum Reading Service

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I gave $60 (via Paypal/credit card) to an individual purporting to be selling magazine subscriptions to raise money for charitable organizations. I was later told that this is a known scam and the business is not legitimate, with a lack of accreditation and a history of complaints.

• Initial Complaint

  06/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Fraud/Scam sale of magazines on 03/14/2024. Person showed up at my home claiming to be supporting their program (criminal reform via sales/etc.) and sold me magazines. Never received them, their customer support is non-responsive/doesn't answer. I have the name, paypal account, and receipts from this sale.

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On 3/13/24 a young ******* American male, supposedly from ***********, knocked on my door telling me the sad story of his life and how he was trying to better himself by selling magazines door to door. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. He was very pushy and would not leave my property. I agreed to buy magazines just to get him to leave. Now I'm out $688. I called the number on my order form and left 2 messages. No one has called me back. I faxed a cancellation notice to the number listed on the order form within the 3 business day right to cancel as stated on the order form. I had no cash or checks with me. The salesperson told me I could pay with *****. The money ended up going to someone named ************************* - the sales person told me that was his supervisor. I tried contacting *****, they were unable to help. I requested the money be returned from ************************* on Venmo but of course she won't reply and I will probably never see my money again. Shame on you for praying on senior citizens! I am attaching the front and back of the order form with my cancellation on the back as well as my fax confirmation.

• Initial Complaint

  12/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I purchased a subscription for a magazine (*******************) through a young woman who stopped at my door step, telling me how she is trying to get her life together and demonstrate the capacity to work by selling magazines door to door. I paid her on the spot using 9/20/2023 by *****, received a receipt (#******) from the parent company: Optimum Reading Services, LLC, PO Box ************************************************, Tel # ************ and never received the subscription; I emailed them Nov 13, they responded that it "wasn't a scam" and I would be receiving my subscription soon--but a month later I still do not have it. I want the subscription or my $70 refunded.

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Optimum representatives are continuously knocking on my door at all hours of the day even at night trying to give us a win big deal or get us to switch back. No matter how many times we say we are not interested they keep coming back disturbing me while I work and coming at late hours of the evening. This is turning into harassment and I need to file a formal complaint

• Initial Complaint

  09/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Two salespeople came by my door yesterday pitching that they were recovering addicts that they were trying to raise points to help get their kids out of ****** care. I fell for it like others here and wrote out two checks for two magazine subscriptions to be given to local charities/programs in the area. After they had left, I realized that the fine print say "for-profit" and they had falsely told me that I could use this donation as tax deductible which wasn't the case. Then, I realized they didn't even fill out the receipt properly, included no name of the program that it would be donated to and put the wrong date of transaction on the receipt, the other chose not to write any date at all. The website is defunct, and quick ****** search made it clear that this was a scam. I went and sent my cancellation in since you only have 3 business days to do so via certified mail so no one can dispute that I didn't post-**** within three days and placed a stop payment on both of my checks within the first hour after the interaction. I'm very disappointed by this and thankfully have the entire interaction recorded with time stamps and dates if the company tries to dispute the date. Looking back on my recording, I realize their stories were inconsistent and they were really playing off the "it's my first time doing this" energy. I hope my stop payments are successful and the order is cancelled or I'll be reporting this to the local authorities. It's disheartening to see people take advantage of others like this.

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I was walking in the neighborhood in the belle *****/***********, ** area when I was approached by a young duo. A darkskin African American male and an African American female. The two claim to be single parents who are working for a foundation that helps inner city children get funding for books, magazines, etc. They are very friendly and personable. They have a very well thought out script and have it memorized to a tee. They will say they accept any form of payment and prefer Venmo. Once you send the money to the Venmo, they say it goes to one of their higher **** Once again, they bring up very personal things about life to make them seem more real, genuine, and authentic. They go all over the country to do this. There is no proof or validation of their boss that your payment will go to. They will also give you receipts. Not a legitimate business and very well disguised.On the receipt, it does give the option to mail it to their address and they will send you the full refund. I have done this, but I have not received any reply. They also have a phone number that no one answers and has a manipulative voicemail encouraging caller to make the right choice

• Initial Complaint

  04/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On Wednesday, April 26th 2023 I was scammed by this organization. Two women came to my door asking if I believe in second chances, then they engaged me in conversation about their history and how they are trying to make something better of their lives. They asked me if I could help them by subscribing to magazines, which they earn commission from. They said I could either subscribe to them for myself or as a charitable donation to women's shelters, DV shelters, children's hospitals, etc. I agreed to subscribe to one magazine for children to give as a gift, which cost $80 plus $20 "shipping." I sent a venmo payment to the seller's personal venmo account based on what I believed to be a real organization and real charity.

• Initial Complaint

  03/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Similar to other complaints:A person came to my door, very kind, but something was a little bit off mentally speaking. The conversation was hard to follow but essentially they claimed they were a part of a second chance organization, and that they got a portion of the commission on magazines that they sold. The prices of the magazines are not straightforward. The price total came out to $540. I felt like I did not have a choice and was strong armed into this sale. The sales tactics were unethical and unjust. I immediately felt like something was wrong not five minutes after I handed the salesman my check then I did some more research on this company and realized it was a scam. I try to perform the cancellation and call Customer ********************** . Nobody answered. They sold this to me on a Thursday (3/16/2023). Conveniently for them their customer ********************** phone hours were from Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern standard time so I could not contact anyone by phone within the three day cancellation window. Then I proceeded to contact them by fax listed on the receipt and the fax number is a fake. I have emailed them through the Better Business Bureau to also cancel my order and well see if we get a response. Either way I did call them and contacted them by phone and left a voicemail to cancel the order within the same day of the purchase. I called my bank to let them know that this was a scam. We will see if they attempt to cash the check. This is a scam do not buy from them. Their sales tactics are unjust and unethical. If they tend to collection, I will pursue legal action.

• Initial Complaint

  02/23/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I placed an order with Optimum Reading Services (ORS) on 11/17/21 for $280 under order # *****. I wrote check number 2013 for $280, which was cashed by Optimum Reading Services on Nov 24, 2021. However, I never received my order, which was for:24 Issues of ******************* 24 issues of *************** 24 issues of ******************** Given my order was placed during COVID, I assumed it was just an honest mistake. So I wanted to give ORS the benefit of the doubt. I called ************** and left voice mails with their customer ********************** department on several occasions (in 2022 and 2023) but have never received a call back. Only this month (Feb 2023) did I research the company on the BBB site and realize they have a history of not fulfilling orders, and now I'm wondering if they are a legitimate business or just out to scam people for their money.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩