Rodney Palmer of New Gloucester is a deeply religious man who learned the hard way that not everyone draped in the trappings of faith can be trusted. His epiphany began at a Christian convention in Chula Vista, Calif., where his attention was drawn to a booth operated by Bible Tracks Mobile Ministry. What caught Rod’s eye was a sign reading, “The Living Word on CD only $19.99.” The display continued, “Hear The Word in the comfort of your car or home.”

Rod, a long-haul truck driver, had always wanted a recorded version of the Bible so he could take his studies on the road with him, and $19.99 seemed like a deal he couldn’t pass up. He engaged the booth operator in conversation, mostly about their shared faith, speaking little about merchandise itself.

The vendor said he had sold out the copies he brought with him, but he would put Rod’s Bible on CD in the mail for a shipping and handling fee of $5.95. Rod sensed the vendor as a man of true faith and assumed he was trustworthy. So he filled out an order form and paid by credit card. Then Rod did something that would later prove to be his salvation; he picked up three of Bible Tracks’ brochures for friends in his church back home in Maine.

Two weeks later, upon returning to his New Gloucester home, Rod found a package from Bible Tracks waiting for him. But the cover of the CD inside read “The Book of Genesis.” He assumed the rest of the Bible must be coming in a separate mailing. It was, but not as Rod expected. A month later, another package arrived, this time containing the “Book of Exodus” and a statement explaining that his credit card had been charged another $19.99 plus $5.95 shipping and handling. Oops. Bible Tracks was taking a page out of Time/Life’s book: Buy one and then we will send you installments each month for eternity.

Rod immediately called Bible Tracks, which explained that, unlike Time/Life, their order form did not contain a provision for stopping deliveries. He had agreed to buy the collection.

Experts agree the Bible contains 66 books, depending on the version. Multiply the monthly charge ($25.94, shipping and handling included) and you get a whopping total of $1,712.04. That’s a lot of Bible by anyone’s version. Good thing they didn’t charge by chapter (1,189) or verse (31,103).

Rod contacted COMBAT, reporting he had remarked to the vendor, “Wow, $19.99 for the Bible is an incredible deal!” The vendor had replied angelically, “We aren’t in it for the money, but to spread The Word.” COMBAT suspected “The Word” wasn’t all they were spreading. But Rod had not received a copy of the order form. He had no proof.

COMBAT contacted Bible Tracks, but the company was adamant that their order form stated what the purchase agreement involved and offered to send us a copy. Sure enough, in the tiniest of type appeared the words, “Buyer will receive monthly installments at the above rate until the entire collection is received.” Oy!

You are probably wondering how Rod could get out of this pickle of Biblical proportions, but you’ll have to wait until Part II next week. Hint, there’s a clue in the text above. Can you figure it out?

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded non-profit consumer organization. Individual membership $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04401.