- Report: #4299
Complaint Review: Charisma magazine - Palm Coast Florida
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Charisma magazine
P.O. Box 420234 (one of dozens) Palm Coast, 32142 Florida, U.S.A.
Phone:
1-800-829-3346 (one of fe
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Charisma magazine billing and ordering SCAM!!!!
This corporation is based in Palm Coast, FL (or so they say). I responded to a packet of cards sent in the mail for free services, discounts, etc. The Charisma magazine card states that all you have to do is send in the card and you will receive 3 free issues, no strings attached. I foolishly sent the card in and started receiving the magazine. Within a couple of weeks, the billings started. First, they were trying to nail me with a 12-month subscription. Subsequently, they sent several billings, each one getting more severe and threatening to ruin my credit rating, etc. The worst part of the whole matter is that this company claims the name of God himself. They claim to be based on Christian, biblical principles. Knowing what they have done, NOTHING could be further from the truth.
After responding faithfully to the last three letters, finally in the last letter I had to respond to the threats to ruin my credit. I told them I would sue to protect my credit and that they weren't getting a penny out of me.
Each letter they sent was started by saying that they hadn't received word from me. I came to find out that the return addresses and even the signed names on the letters were bogus. Finally, on the last letter sent, an 800 number was given to settle the matter (1-800-829-3346). I called the number only to get an insolent man who finally (reluctantly) scrapped the bogus account. I will see if that is true. I asked to speak with the person who "signed" the letter, only to have the man respond that all the names were bogus. If you are based on truth and Christian principles, WHAT'S TO HIDE!?!? He claimed the threats to ruin my credit wouldn't work because they didn't have my SSN. Why did they need to lie then?
The story doesn't end there. I have had two acquaintances get ripped off by them, too. One friend ordered an extension to a subscription, and Charisma sent double issues instead. When she tried to resolve the billing issues, she got the same run-around I did. Another friend tried to halt billing to no avail.
So-called "Christian" organizations that do not stand behind their product with all the clout of the words that spew from their mouth need to be held under the same harsh scrutiny the law gives fly-by-night companies and other scam-artists. They prey on the helpless, hopeless, needy, and destitute. Such should not be. I have nothing against Christians. In fact, I am one, but these kinds of shoddy business practices in the guise of the Lord need to be halted. They hurt real, tried-and-true Christians and give them a bad name.
After responding faithfully to the last three letters, finally in the last letter I had to respond to the threats to ruin my credit. I told them I would sue to protect my credit and that they weren't getting a penny out of me.
Each letter they sent was started by saying that they hadn't received word from me. I came to find out that the return addresses and even the signed names on the letters were bogus. Finally, on the last letter sent, an 800 number was given to settle the matter (1-800-829-3346). I called the number only to get an insolent man who finally (reluctantly) scrapped the bogus account. I will see if that is true. I asked to speak with the person who "signed" the letter, only to have the man respond that all the names were bogus. If you are based on truth and Christian principles, WHAT'S TO HIDE!?!? He claimed the threats to ruin my credit wouldn't work because they didn't have my SSN. Why did they need to lie then?
The story doesn't end there. I have had two acquaintances get ripped off by them, too. One friend ordered an extension to a subscription, and Charisma sent double issues instead. When she tried to resolve the billing issues, she got the same run-around I did. Another friend tried to halt billing to no avail.
So-called "Christian" organizations that do not stand behind their product with all the clout of the words that spew from their mouth need to be held under the same harsh scrutiny the law gives fly-by-night companies and other scam-artists. They prey on the helpless, hopeless, needy, and destitute. Such should not be. I have nothing against Christians. In fact, I am one, but these kinds of shoddy business practices in the guise of the Lord need to be halted. They hurt real, tried-and-true Christians and give them a bad name.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Larry
Lake Mary,Florida,
Apologise for any confusion
#2UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 11, 2002
First, I want to apologise for any confusion or problem that this caused you. It is not our intent to confuse, harm, inconvenience or mislead anyone. Second, From reading your comments it appears that you responsed to one of our "Three Free Issues" offer for Charisma magazine. This offer states that you can send for "Three Free Issues, if you like the magazine you can pay the invoice that will come in the mail. If you choose not to continue receiveing the magazine you can write "cancel" on the invoice, return it to us and keep the three free issues. This offer is used by may magazines in order to allow people to try the product. Third, We do not threaten people's credit or send information to credit reporting agencies. We do not communicate transactions with any organization outside of out company. If you choose not to pay the invoice, then we may tag your records to that you may not receive credit offers from "us" in the future. It is only internal to our company. Forth, I apologize you did not receive fast and accurate treatment and action when you contacted our 800 number. We contract our various services such as the 800 to ooutside companies. If you send me your account number I will be happy to contact them to ask why they did such a poor job handling your account. Our desire is to offer outstanding service and when that does not happen it is imparative that I find out the source of the problem so it can be fixed. Thanks for letting us know about this problem so we can address it. May I have your account number in order to communicate with the offending party. Fifth, the signatures on our correspondence are of actual employees of our company. We do not sign with "bogus" people signatures. The person you talked to on the phone was absolutely in error. With your account number I will be able to identify this person and rectify this. Sixth, I would be interested in hearing from the two acquantainces that you said had problems with our service as well. I will do what I can to recify this problem. Thank you fo allowing us to respond to you. I will do what I can to fix the situation and show you that we do value our customers, even those that choose not to stay with us and we will make every effort to make the situation right. Larry Bregel Strang Communications [email protected]
Larry
Lake Mary,Florida,
Apologise for any confusion
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 11, 2002
First, I want to apologise for any confusion or problem that this caused you. It is not our intent to confuse, harm, inconvenience or mislead anyone. Second, From reading your comments it appears that you responsed to one of our "Three Free Issues" offer for Charisma magazine. This offer states that you can send for "Three Free Issues, if you like the magazine you can pay the invoice that will come in the mail. If you choose not to continue receiveing the magazine you can write "cancel" on the invoice, return it to us and keep the three free issues. This offer is used by may magazines in order to allow people to try the product. Third, We do not threaten people's credit or send information to credit reporting agencies. We do not communicate transactions with any organization outside of out company. If you choose not to pay the invoice, then we may tag your records to that you may not receive credit offers from "us" in the future. It is only internal to our company. Forth, I apologize you did not receive fast and accurate treatment and action when you contacted our 800 number. We contract our various services such as the 800 to ooutside companies. If you send me your account number I will be happy to contact them to ask why they did such a poor job handling your account. Our desire is to offer outstanding service and when that does not happen it is imparative that I find out the source of the problem so it can be fixed. Thanks for letting us know about this problem so we can address it. May I have your account number in order to communicate with the offending party. Fifth, the signatures on our correspondence are of actual employees of our company. We do not sign with "bogus" people signatures. The person you talked to on the phone was absolutely in error. With your account number I will be able to identify this person and rectify this. Sixth, I would be interested in hearing from the two acquantainces that you said had problems with our service as well. I will do what I can to recify this problem. Thank you fo allowing us to respond to you. I will do what I can to fix the situation and show you that we do value our customers, even those that choose not to stay with us and we will make every effort to make the situation right. Larry Bregel Strang Communications [email protected]
Larry
Lake Mary,Florida,
Apologise for any confusion
#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 11, 2002
First, I want to apologise for any confusion or problem that this caused you. It is not our intent to confuse, harm, inconvenience or mislead anyone. Second, From reading your comments it appears that you responsed to one of our "Three Free Issues" offer for Charisma magazine. This offer states that you can send for "Three Free Issues, if you like the magazine you can pay the invoice that will come in the mail. If you choose not to continue receiveing the magazine you can write "cancel" on the invoice, return it to us and keep the three free issues. This offer is used by may magazines in order to allow people to try the product. Third, We do not threaten people's credit or send information to credit reporting agencies. We do not communicate transactions with any organization outside of out company. If you choose not to pay the invoice, then we may tag your records to that you may not receive credit offers from "us" in the future. It is only internal to our company. Forth, I apologize you did not receive fast and accurate treatment and action when you contacted our 800 number. We contract our various services such as the 800 to ooutside companies. If you send me your account number I will be happy to contact them to ask why they did such a poor job handling your account. Our desire is to offer outstanding service and when that does not happen it is imparative that I find out the source of the problem so it can be fixed. Thanks for letting us know about this problem so we can address it. May I have your account number in order to communicate with the offending party. Fifth, the signatures on our correspondence are of actual employees of our company. We do not sign with "bogus" people signatures. The person you talked to on the phone was absolutely in error. With your account number I will be able to identify this person and rectify this. Sixth, I would be interested in hearing from the two acquantainces that you said had problems with our service as well. I will do what I can to recify this problem. Thank you fo allowing us to respond to you. I will do what I can to fix the situation and show you that we do value our customers, even those that choose not to stay with us and we will make every effort to make the situation right. Larry Bregel Strang Communications [email protected]
Larry
Lake Mary,Florida,
Apologise for any confusion
#5UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 11, 2002
First, I want to apologise for any confusion or problem that this caused you. It is not our intent to confuse, harm, inconvenience or mislead anyone. Second, From reading your comments it appears that you responsed to one of our "Three Free Issues" offer for Charisma magazine. This offer states that you can send for "Three Free Issues, if you like the magazine you can pay the invoice that will come in the mail. If you choose not to continue receiveing the magazine you can write "cancel" on the invoice, return it to us and keep the three free issues. This offer is used by may magazines in order to allow people to try the product. Third, We do not threaten people's credit or send information to credit reporting agencies. We do not communicate transactions with any organization outside of out company. If you choose not to pay the invoice, then we may tag your records to that you may not receive credit offers from "us" in the future. It is only internal to our company. Forth, I apologize you did not receive fast and accurate treatment and action when you contacted our 800 number. We contract our various services such as the 800 to ooutside companies. If you send me your account number I will be happy to contact them to ask why they did such a poor job handling your account. Our desire is to offer outstanding service and when that does not happen it is imparative that I find out the source of the problem so it can be fixed. Thanks for letting us know about this problem so we can address it. May I have your account number in order to communicate with the offending party. Fifth, the signatures on our correspondence are of actual employees of our company. We do not sign with "bogus" people signatures. The person you talked to on the phone was absolutely in error. With your account number I will be able to identify this person and rectify this. Sixth, I would be interested in hearing from the two acquantainces that you said had problems with our service as well. I will do what I can to recify this problem. Thank you fo allowing us to respond to you. I will do what I can to fix the situation and show you that we do value our customers, even those that choose not to stay with us and we will make every effort to make the situation right. Larry Bregel Strang Communications [email protected]
