March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Mysterious magazine subscription

Going back in our files we found a case which came into our office in December 1988 from John F. Small of Houlton who was having trouble getting a corrected magazine subscription fram The Sporting News of Marion, Ohio.

Small wrote that on July 26, 1988, he sent a check in the amount of $22.89 to the magazine. His subscription was supposed to run for 42 weeks.

On the weeks of Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, he received two copies of the magazine. On the weeks of Sept. 5, 12, 19, and 26; the weeks of Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; and the weeks of Nov. 21 and 28, Small received one issue each week. No issues arrived on Nov. 7 or 14. After the week of Nov. 28, no further magazines arrived.

Despite the fact that Small contacted the business, he told us, “There had been nothing but confusion and double talk from The Sporting News when I contacted them. I did get a letter from Preston Daniels, representating The Sporting News correspondence department, on Nov. 7. He told me they would resume service shortly.

“This did not happen,” Small wrote. “I would like my money back if the business does not intend to honor the subscription.”

On Jan. 3 a COMBAT caseworker wrote to Small telling him, “We certainly can understand your frustration with The Sporting News and would be glad to intervene with them in your behalf. COMBAT will need a copy of both the front and back of your canceled check for $22.89. What we can do after you get back to us is ask for a refund in full or a full year’s subscription starting with the next issue that you receive. If you prefer a different solution, please advise us.”

Following the receipt of both sides of the canceled check that Small sent us, we wrote to The Sporting News on Jan. 10, 1989, explaining the problem Small was having with the subscription. We then wrote, “We strongly suggest that you send Small a full refund of $22.89 within the next 14 days, or a full year’s subscription to your magazine with notification to Small and Northeast COMBAT of your intentions….”

We then wrote to Small, sending him a copy of the letter t we had written to the business, asking him to let us know by Jan. 3 whether or not he had received satisfaction as a result of our correspondence to The Sporting News.

When we had not heard from either Small or The Sporting News by Feb. 16, we wrote to him asking if he had received either the magazine or a refund from the business.

Five days later Small wrote, “In answer to your letter of Feb. 16, I have received complete satisfaction from The Sporting News. I have received my first copy of the magazine on Feb. 17, with the promise of 42 issues. They are treating it as a completely new subscription, which is OK by me. It is nice to see that senior citizens have a good friend in Northeast COMBAT.”

Consumer Forum is a collaborative effort of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT. Send your questions to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. COMBAT is a membership organization with basic dues of $10 a year. For membership information and a free copy of the COMBAT newsletter, write to the above address. Please enclose a large, stamped, self-addressed envelope.


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