Bill Gates Collection Agency

[Izret101]

I orderd 2 "risk free" issues of OXM about 4 months ago. I got a bill asking me to subscribe, got a red bill telling me i was on a delinquent payment list, today i got a leter that said i was going to be forewarded to a collection agancy if i did not pay by 11/09/2004. I have had no way left to contact them anywhere and the official site has no way either.

[Zimbacca]

Wow that sucks.  You gonna pay the bill or flee the country?

[Izret101]

I just sent them an email. I found an adress that should work, all the rest were editors and staff. Basically i asked them why i was recieving a letter collecting money for "risk free" trial issues, then told them how i am to young to have credit card or checks to pay them. (I also said i dont have a bank account but that was a lie i have had one for about 8 years with $5.63 in it.)
I am not to worried about it. I should have learned my lesson by now. I had the same problem with Game Pro, Nintendo Power, OPM, and PC World.
Actually OPM only sent me a letter with the price it would cost to continue the subscription. Nintendo Power did the same thing Game Pro sent me letters saying that i was forewared to the DELINQUENT PAYMENT FILES (as they put it in the letter) and PC World I called when i got the first subscrription letter so that got cleared up in about 20 minutes.

I might have gotten the subscription if it wasnt $25.95.
I will stick with good ol' Tips & Tricks for 19.95 and less.

[Izret101]

 Well i just got a letter from that collection agency today. I can't get to them by phone because they closed at 4. So i will call tomorrow.

Arrr your in law how does this work out?
I can't write OXM a check to purchase this subscription that i can't sign up for because i have no bank account, credit/debit cards, check book. So in turn the collection agency is going to make my nonexistant credit bad.

[Arrrhalomynn]

Well, I'm in Dutch law. That's something very different from American law.
The last thing I'd do if I were you is give in and pay them. Just keep bitching. They can threaten you all they want, they basically don't stand a chance. And they probably know that, seeing how aggressive they act.
I would read through the original 'risk free' thing again. It might have something you read over.

[Izret101]

I was inforned by Tynstar that he had a similair problem with another company. I guess it says you have to contact them and say you do not want a subscription after you get your 2 issues.
I guess i would be in the clear again since there was no email adress or phone number to contact OXM about this problem. All they gave me was the mailing adress for the check.
At least i can talk to this collection agencey and see if they can straighten it out. If not i will ask for the number to contact someone at OXM.

[Izret101]

I just got off the phone with the collection agency. It was a phone directory. I went thru it obviously.
I didn't get to talk to anyone though. But i pushed the button saying i never odered this subscription and it said that the publisher would be notified. That seemd way to easy so i expect i will be getting a few more letters before this actually gets solved.