If you are a magazine subscriber, beware of a renewal that comes from PBC

[question everything]

Yes, it will have the name of your magazine and will look like it came from it. But if you can remember or find what you paid previously, you will realize that this invoice is 80%!! higher.

Second, if you will bother to read the fine prints behind the note, you will find that PBC "as an agent, we do not necessarily have a direct relationship with the publishers or publications that we offer."

Third, it says to "allow 6 to 12 weeks for delivery to start."

This is how I found about the scam. It was getting close to the renewal date and I was surprised to get renewal notices from the real magazine. Then was upset that the expiration date on the magazine mailing label was not changed. And then I checked the regular subscription price and found out the huge difference in what I paid PBC.

Last, after complaining, I've heard from the magazine telling me that PBC is not them and suggested I read the back of the invoice..

The expiration date finally changed.. 12 weeks after they received the payment.. Meaning that the magazine finally was paid, with the PBC pocketing the difference.

That's capitalism for you, commented my spouse.

Urggg..

[Renew Deal]

1. Is PBC short for something?

[question everything]

2. Publishers Billing Center

Did not alarmed me as I thought, wrongly, obviously, that it did represent the magazine.

[bemildred]

3. Yep, and apparently this is not considered fraud. nt

[Cleita]

7. No it isn't but I got one of those companies to back down when I reported them to the BBB.

So they know what they are doing is crooked even if legal.

[bemildred]

9. +1.

Annoying though it is, you have to do that.

[hlthe2b]

4. There are lots of scams like that... they subscribe you dirt cheap the first year

with you just paying the processing fee, but what you are really doing (if you can find a magnifier that powerful to read the fine print) is authorizing auto-payment to re-up the subscription when it expires. And, yes, you can easily find a charge for lots of $$

It is a wonder anyone subscribes to magazines any more, but if you do, check it out... Probably better to pay more going directly through the magazine's publisher.

[Cleita]

5. I got into a to a to do with one of those companies (there are several).

Always check with the mag, like on their website, before paying the bill. It turns out most don't even know this is going on.

[question everything]

6. I know. Have been subscribing for many years

and for some reason, was almost year end and I just grabbed it. I think that it looked like the real thing. Of course!

[uppityperson]

8. I got National Geographic once, paid when got the renewal notice, then got another and paid. When

the 3rd one showed up I thought "wait! what?" and dug out my records. A quick call and they said I was paid up 2 1/2 yrs in advance and that I didn't need to pay when they sent out renewal notices as they didn't mean anything. argh