As far as paying the $17, what I would do, since I am a card carrying Ahole is write a check for $17.01 and hound them incessantly until I received my change.
As for the bulk mail that arrives in my box each day. If it has an envelope with prepaid postage included in the package I usaually seal it up and mail it back to them, with nothing in it. My cousin, on the other hand, who is prone to more malicious activity, sprays fox piss (can be found in hunting supply stores) in the envelope and sends the smelly thing back to them. Imagine sitting at your desk with a few of these piled around you.
Yeah, see, the people you really want to piss off are never even going to hear about those things. The ones who decided that you need 30 days to cancel crummy service are golfing at lunch and some poor single mother or student working his way through college is going to get the harrassment and wonder why she/he even bothered getting up this morning.
Generally your first line customer service person has no control over when his lunch is much less anything to do with your account. Once they’re off the phone they would probably agree with you had you not been such a jerk. But I mean jerk in the nicest way possible. Really.
I must cordially disagree with Bartwoman’s analysis, which would be correct if you had actually started receiving mysterious magazines, followed up by a bill.
In order to be in debt for services rendered, it appears to me there are two things you need - a service rendered, and consent to pay for the services. It’s mighty suspicious to me when a company’s bill can find your mailbox and their magazine can’t. And all other things aside, you can’t be on the hook for them unless they can produce a signed document or a tape recording of your agreement (the latter is something they often do when they sell you stuff over the phone).
In short, I have three words for you, and for Mr2001 for that matter:
Better Business Bureau. Take the letter down to them and arrest a scammer. The world will be a better place.
Well, I didn’t advise to pay only to respond. You’re right, it should be harder for them to collect on something without a signature. But usually tape recordings are for quality control, not regular sales. All I know is that the billing part of the company needs certain notification to clear up the problem - ie written notice, very common.
Obviously I don’t know the company in question and their specific rules. But having worked for companies that are notorious in some states (okay, it paid for my hubby’s college), I would be concerned about what they might do. Admittedly, requiring a written notice for something as small as a magazine subscription is overkill.
Is it really that tough to send back a little letter saying what was written online? I know it’s annoying but some companies will be buttheads and charge $300 for collection fees on a $20 account. Why risk it? When it comes up for review - ie if they go so far as to garnish wages, they’ll wonder why you didn’t respond to the account. Yes, that’s ridiculous.
I’ve seen lots of ridiculous things that were legal (at least in some states). Companies will do exactly what they can get away with such as a 39.9% revolving mortgage. No that wasn’t a typo. Can’t say the company. Also seen a collector go to someone’s wedding to collect a bill. No, not kidding. They thought he was a hero at the office. I mentioned I don’t do this anymore didn’t I?