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Initial Complaint
10/20/2023
Complaint Type:
Delivery Issues
Status:
Resolved
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Received an unsolicited book and bill from Trusted Media Brands **** under the guise of Readers Digest (to which I subscribe). Package, which remains unopened, indicated free gift enclosed. Cover letter indicates otherwise - a bill for what is apparently a book in the unopened package. I did not order this book nor subscribe to any book delivery service. I do not intend to pay for this unsolicited book but will return it to sender if postage is provided. I also want to be removed from the mailing list of Trusted Media Brands **** I am coming directly to the BBB as I found through internet search that this has happened to many others with no recourse and also has been the subject of previous BBB complaints. The cover letter gives every indication that this is a Readers Digest product but the billing is from Trusted Media Brands, Inc. in ****** **. Thank you for your assistance.
Business response
10/25/2023
RE: ID ********
I write in response to your letter dated October 20, 2023, to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding regarding the complaint by the customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
On October 3, 2023, we received an order from the customer for a book in the Fiction Favorites-Select Editions book series. As stated in the offer, when ordering this book, the customer would automatically be enrolled to receive other books in the series approximately every 6-8 weeks with no obligation to buy and the option of canceling membership at any time. We shipped the book on October 13, 2023.
We have discontinued the customers enrollment in the series and cancelled any unpaid invoices for this series. The customer *** keep the book and should disregard any further invoices that *** be in process for that book.
We have also removed the customer from our promotional lists for new products. If the customer has received promotions by mail, it could take up to two months for these promotions to stop, since promotions are preprinted in advance. The customer should disregard any such promotions.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.

*****************************
Customer Service Center
Customer response
10/25/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

Sincerely,

***********************
Initial Complaint
10/10/2023
Complaint Type:
Customer Service Issues
Status:
Resolved
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
My magazine subscription was canceled in 2019 and I just found out that I was charged a yearly fee of approximately $25-35 through 2023. I'm currently waiting on bank statement for the exact amount.
Business response
11/14/2023
******** *** ****                                                            ******* ******                                                            ** *** ****                                                            ******* ** *****

Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan ********
****************************************************************

We received your inquiry regarding a subscription for ***** ****** ********* ID# ********, for Large Print Reader's Digest.

We have located an account for this customer with the email address provided, ************************* The name and address is listed as:

***** * ****** ***** ******** ********* **** ** *****

The gift subscription this customer ordered for ************************* included continuous service. The gift subscription renewals were processed on September 27, 2021, September 26, 2022, and October 2, 2023.

The gift subscription renewal that was processed on October 2, 2023, was cancelled on November 2, 2023, and a credit was processed to ***** ***** by her bank or credit card company.

We have removed this customers name from our auto renewal list and promotional lists.

We hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. We apologize for any disappointment the customer may have encountered with our company.

Please contact ** if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center

Cc ***** *****       **** ***************       *********** ** *****
Customer response
11/14/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

[Your Answer Here]
For some reason there is a 2nd complaint ID# for this complaint at #**********. Bank documents were uploaded to this complaint for payments taken from my account for a magazine subscription that WAS canceled in 2019. I spoke to a representative at Readers Digest a few months ago and was told that it was indeed cancelled in 2019 but a refund could not be issued because they had no record of the payments. So, as noted above, I send bank records for proof of payments made.
My bank credited my account for the 2023 payment of $30.96. I am still owed payments for 2020 and 2021. $30.96 and $24.98. Total due is $55.94.
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, youMusT answer the question above.

Sincerely,

***** *****

Business response
11/16/2023
******** *** ****                                                            ******* ******                                                            ** *** ****                                                            ******* ** *****

Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan ********
****************************************************************

We received your inquiry regarding a subscription for ***** ****** ********* ID# ********, for Large Print Reader's Digest.

We have processed a refund check for $55.94. ************** should allow up to three weeks for delivery.

We hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. We apologize for any disappointment the customer may have encountered with our company.

Please contact ** if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center

Cc ***** *****
      **** ***************
      **********, ** *****
Customer response
11/16/2023
Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved, as long as I receive my refund in a timely manner. I am still upset that I was taken advantage of and would hope that his does not happen to anyone else.

Sincerely,

***** *****
Initial Complaint
10/02/2023
Complaint Type:
Product Issues
Status:
Resolved
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
4/1/22 I subscribed to ******************* No more said magazine in 2023. Instead, I was sent Blooms and Blossoms to which I did not subscribe. I have received several statements for ****** and Blossoms to which I did not respond. I am not being threatened that Trusted Media Brands will turn this over to a collection agency. I did not subscribe to Blooms and Blossoms and do not owe this company.
Business response
10/02/2023
******* ** **** ****** ** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ********************* ***** ************************************* *** *********

I write in response to your letter dated October 2, 2023, regarding the complaint by this customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.

This customer had a subscription to Reminisce Extra which ceased publication, with the last issue printed being the December 2022/January 2023 issue. At the time we ceased printing Reminisce Extra, this customer had 13 issues remaining on his subscription with a value of $18.56. Prior to the ceasing of Reminisce Extra, we notified the customer that the magazine was ceasing publication and that in its place we would provide issues of Birds and *************** for the remainder of the subscription term. We have since cancelled his subscription to Birds and Blooms and processed a $18.56 refund for the transferred issues of Reminisce Extra.

The customer will need to allow ***** business days to receive the refund check.
The customers account was not sent to collection or reported to any credit reporting agency. The customers credit rating will not be affected.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer may have encountered with our company.

Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer **************
Customer response
10/02/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

Sincerely,

*********************
Initial Complaint
07/11/2023
Complaint Type:
Delivery Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I purchased a 2 year subscription to Reminiscence in the past. As of December 2022, they have discontinued that magazine and the parent company sent me a letter stating they would give me a 1 yr subscription to Reader&#**;s ******************. I did respond asking to pay the difference of another magazine. However nothing was replied back to me. As the months grew further along, I mailed them two more letters asking about my subscription that I hadn&#**;t received any magazine as of them. Of course I still haven&#**;t received anything from them.The address is: Reader&#**;s ******************* **** *** ***** ******* ************* Thank you for taking the time to read and look in to this matter.
Business response
07/12/2023
**** *** **** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** **************************************************************************** *** ** ********

Account #: *************

I write in response to your letter dated July 12, 2023, regarding the complaint from a customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.

Please be advised that the customers subscription to Readers Digest was cancelled and a refund of $8.57 was issued on December 20, 2022. The customer *** disregard any notices for this subscription that *** be in process.

*****************************
Customer **************
Initial Complaint
07/05/2023
Complaint Type:
Billing Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I received two books from Reader's Digest, each one had on the cover "open immediately-free book." Later I was billed for the books. I paid the bill of $33.25 on January 14th and requested no further books be sent. Today I received another book with a billing that makes no sense for $25.48. On the website, I'm being charged $37.69. Do not send me anymore books of any kind, and refund me the money I paid you for your false claims.
Business response
07/05/2023
**** ** **** ****** ** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ********************************** ***** *** ********** ** *****

RE: #********
I write in response to your letter dated July 5, 2023, regarding the complaint by this customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
On February 8, 2022, we received an order from the customer for a book in the Best of ********************** book series. As stated in the offer, when ordering this book,the customer would automatically be enrolled to preview other books in the series for a 30-day period with no obligation to buy and the option of canceling membership at any time. We shipped the book on February 24, 2022.
On September 21, 2022, we mailed an advance notice advising the customer of the next book in the series to be sent. That book was shipped on November 29, 2022,along with an invoice.
On May 3,2023, we mailed an advance notice advising the customer of the next book in the series to be sent. That book was shipped on June 28, 2023, along with an invoice.
We have discontinued the customers enrollment in the series and cancelled any unpaid invoices for this series. The customer *** keep the book and should disregard any further invoices that *** be in process for that book.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.

Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center
Initial Complaint
06/29/2023
Complaint Type:
Customer Service Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I used ****************** and order a blueprint for a work bench. My card was then used to withdraw thousands of dollars into a PayPal account. When I called Trusted Media Brands, the customer service rep was very rude and unapologetic. When I asked to speak to a supervisor (I was relatively calm, though angry) they proceeded to put me on hold, and I remain on hold now 2.5 hours later. Somehow my card information was stolen from this company, and not a single person will speak with me regarding it. I would like someone to discuss this with me.
Business response
07/13/2023
We had nothing to do with the Paypal withdrawal regarding your customer service experience. We do not offer Paypal as a checkout option on ******** at this time.
Sincerely,
***************************
Customer Service Center

Customer response
07/13/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

I believe you are misunderstanding my complaint I paid for a product with a debit card (brand new and unused) buying a blueprint from your Family Handyman website my card number was then used a day later to transfer money to a PayPal account meaning my cc number was compromised in your hands as a company the card was NOT used at any other location as it had been received that morning sealed and unused.

I have called and asked to be contacted by someone multiple times but am told corporate doesnt take calls

The information above is not a sufficient answer to the complaint filed

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

Sincerely,

***************************

Business response
07/17/2023
*******,

Thank you for letting us know about the miscommunication! We are so sorry youre experiencing this and want to make sure were doing everything we can to find answers for you.

I reached out to our e-Commerce team to check our cyber security and to see if there was any fraud detected in our system over the past few weeks. *** even made sure the team went down to the code level to see if anything looked out of place. If theres something inappropriate happening in our system, we want to know about it, and resolve it immediately!

However, upon doing all these safety checks, nothing untoward was discovered. Your order was reviewed extensively, and our defenses were not breached in any way. We cannot apologize enough for the frustration you must be feeling right now, and we want to help as much as possible.Unfortunately, theres nothing we can do on our end. Your best course of action is to cancel your debit card and report the fraud to your bank. Theyll be able to cancel any fraudulent charges and help prevent any further loss.

Again, we are so sorry about your experience. We wish you the best of luck and hope your bank can locate the true perpetrator.
Sincerely,

Customer Service Center
***************************
Initial Complaint
06/26/2023
Complaint Type:
Billing Issues
Status:
Resolved
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
My mother, acct #***********, received a notice dated 6/4/23 that an amount was due for $28.60 for a preview of "Laughter is the Best Medicine". She did not order this and asked for my help. The notice says Welcome New Book Series Customer. Thank you for placing your order with us. (no ordered was placed!) Furthermore it says if you decide, during the free-preview period, the product is not for you then cancel by emailing **************** at ******************** or write them by the end of the FREE preview period otherwise you'll PAY the invoice that accompanied this book or you'll automatically receive free 30 day previews and will be charged plus shipping and handling.This can't be legal. We never ordered this, we shouldn't have to cancel by a certain date or cancel at all when this wasn't our choice. And most maddening is they'll continue to send and bill for them. If it were me I'd cancel my subscription altogether. A company can't push their product on you and make you pay when you never wanted it in the first place. My mother is 85 and she is not really capable of doing all it takes to cancel or even understand what's going on. This is bait and switch at the highest level!
Business response
06/27/2023
**** *** **** ****** ** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ********************************** ***** *** ********** ** ***** *** *********

I write in response to your letter dated June 26, 2023, regarding the complaint by This customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
On February 8, 2023, we received an order from the customer for a book in the Laughter is the Best Medicine book series. As stated in the offer, when ordering this book, the customer would automatically be enrolled to receive other books in the series approximately every 3-4 months with no obligation to buy and the option of canceling membership at any time. We shipped the book on February 23, 2023.
The next book in the series was shipped to the customer on June 9, 2023, along with an invoice.
We have discontinued the customers enrollment in the series and cancelled any unpaid invoices for this series. The customer *** keep the book and should disregard any further invoices that *** be in process for that book.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.

Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center
Customer response
06/28/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

We are sure that this was not ordered by my mother. Please tell me if you have an order form that was filled out, that you can show me, or did you receive a phone call and from what number? My mother tells me everything she does and also writes it in her diary and there are no notes about this order. We double checked to see what she has received in the mail in the last months and all she has from you is "Laughter is the Best Medicine" and a free pamphlet on Home Remedies that came with it. In addition, she is not interested in anything like what the subscription is for and wouldn't ask for it. All she wants is her Reader's Digest. I'm surprised that this kind of thing happened with a respectable company as Reader's Digest.

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

Sincerely,

*************************

Business response
06/29/2023
**** *** **** ****** ** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ********************************** ***** *** ********** ** ***** *** *********

I write in response to your letter dated June 29, 2023, regarding the complaint by this customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
Enclosed is a copy of the order we received that began the book series of Laughter is the Best Medicine. As stated in the offer, when ordering this book, the customer would automatically be enrolled to receive other books in the series approximately every 3-4 months with no obligation to buy and the option of canceling membership at any time. We shipped the book on February 23, 2023.
The next book in the series was shipped to the customer on June 9, 2023, along with an invoice.
We have discontinued the customers enrollment in the series and cancelled any unpaid invoices for this series. There is no balance due. The customer *** keep the book and should disregard any further invoices that *** be in process for that book.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.   We apologize for any inconvenience that *** have been caused.

Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

***************************
Customer **************
Customer response
07/01/2023
Better Business Bureau:

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

Sincerely,

*************************
Initial Complaint
05/30/2023
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Not sure correct trusted media brands office that is responsible for my multiple magazines i receive. I am a subscriber to birds in bloom, food network, couple others I can't think of. Amazon is no longer managing those subscribers. So I am bombarded with numerous emails ( at least 10+ a day with all the choices of magazines that are offered from media brand. When I try to unsubcribe from them it is very confusing and unclear how to do this and this has gone on for weeks. I'm tired of trying to get them to stop. So I am seeking help from BBB. I very much appreciate your help in accomplishing this. Thank you for your time with this email. ***************************
Business response
05/30/2023
****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ********************* ***** ************************************* *** ** ********

I write in response to your letter dated May 30, 2023, regarding the complaint by this customer. I would like to provide some information out the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
This customer has a subscription to Birds and *************** that will expire with the June/July **** issue.
We have removed the customer from our promotional and email lists for new products. If the customer has received promotions by mail it could take up to two months for these promotions to stop, since promotions are preprinted in advance. If the customer has received promotions by email it could take up to 1 week for these promotions to stop The customer should disregard any such promotions.
This customer will need to contact the other companies regarding the other emails they are receiving.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer may have encountered with our company.

Please contact ** if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center
Initial Complaint
05/15/2023
Complaint Type:
Billing Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I enrolled in readers digest in the year 2017 for 10$. Their website didnt have any method to cancel and they kept on raising rates and charging my credit card for consent. The rate increased from 10$ to 35$ this year. For all the years they increased Billing and charged me without consent. I am looking for 7 years of 15$ per year refund. A total of 105$ if refund.
Business response
05/18/2023
*** *** **** ****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ******************************************************************************* *** ***********
I write in response to your letter dated May 15, 2023, regarding the customers complaint.

Please be advised that the automatic renewal subscription to Readers Digest was cancelled and a refund of $34.98 was issued on May 13, 2023, and a refund of $95.92 has also been issued on May 17, 2023. These refunds should appear in 1 to 2 credit card statements. Please disregard any notices for this subscription that *** be in process.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.

Please contact ** if we can be of further assistance.

*****************************
Customer **************
Initial Complaint
05/08/2023
Complaint Type:
Delivery Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I received a package in the mail yesterday clearly printed on the box OPEN NOW FREE GIFT ENCLOSED. Then when I open the letter glued to the package it enclosed an invoice stating I owed $33.73 for the book enclosed in the package. I did not order the book, and they know it, or they would not have to misrepresent the package as they did. I am an elderly widow of 81 years, and these scams must quit, as the return postages are great cutting into my meager food, and utility budget. Enclosed is photo evidence my son has taken of this scam they are playing on me.
Business response
05/09/2023
****** ******** ****** *********** ************** ****** ****************************** *************************************
RE: ID ********

I write in response to your letter dated May 8, 2023, regarding the complaint by this customer. I would like to provide some information about the customers order and clear up any misunderstanding.
On March 3, 2023, we received an order from the customer for a book in the ********************** Select Editions book series. As stated in the offer, when ordering this book, the customer would automatically be enrolled to receive other books in the series approximately every 6-8 weeks with no obligation to buy and the option of canceling membership at any time.We shipped the book on March 16, 2023.
The next book in the series was shipped to the customer on May 3, 2023, along with an invoice.
We have discontinued the customers enrollment in the series and cancelled any unpaid invoices for this series. The customer *** keep the book and should disregard any further invoices that *** be in process for that book.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding. I apologize for any disappointment the customer *** have encountered with our company.

Please contact ** if we can be of further assistance.

***********************
Customer Service Center

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