Carol Dodsworth from Belfast wrote Northeast COMBAT a letter telling us of her problem with Country Music magazine.

Dodsworth wrote in her letter, “Can you help me? I am so frustrated. I’ve tried to take care of this on my own with no luck. I sent a check for $47.94 to Country Music Magazine for a three-year subscription. I waited patiently, but six weeks came and went with no magazine. Finally when twelve weeks came around, I wrote a letter to Country Music Magazine explaining that I wanted my subscription delivered immediately or I wanted my money back.

“When I didn’t get a reply, I called them. The woman I spoke with told me that a refund in full would be sent to me within 30 days.

“[Naive as] I am, I believed her. When the thirty days were up, I called Country Music Magazine again. I was told that the magazine was no longer in print. Again, I asked for a refund. The lady I spoke with asked if I wanted to take the Country Weekly Magazine in place of Country Music Magazine. I said, no thank you, all I want is my $47.94 returned to me. She assured me the refund would be sent.

“When the refund still failed to arrive, I called the magazine three more times, each time I was told that the refund was on its way.

“The fourth time I called the phone had been disconnected. Can you folks at Northeast COMBAT help me get my refund?”

We wrote back and indicated to Dodsworth that we would do our best to get satisfaction. What we needed was proof of payment and any paperwork she received after payment. Mrs. Dodsworth sent us a copy of her money order and an invoice marked paid.

Our first step was to try calling the magazine just to make sure they were not in business. We also received the telephone disconnection message. Our next step was to find out the name and address of the publisher. Through the Internet, we found the publisher to be Associated Publishers of Brentwood, Mo.

A COMBAT caseworker wrote a letter to the president and CEO of Associated Publishers: “Northeast COMBAT, Maine’s advocate for consumer protection and better business practices is writing you on behalf of Maine consumer Carol Dodsworth.

“In June of this year, Carol Dodsworth paid $47.94 for a three-year subscription to Country Music Magazine. When it did not arrive in the allotted time, she wrote a letter requesting either the magazine or a refund in full. No reply was forthcoming. She then called Country Music Magazine and was told that a refund would be sent shortly. The refund never arrived.

“Carol Dodsworth then called your place of business and was told that the magazine was no longer being printed. In lieu of a refund, she was asked if she would be interested in taking the publication Country Weekly Magazine. Mrs. Dodsworth said that she was not interested and again requested a refund. The lady she spoke with then told our client that the refund would be sent out shortly. That day never came to pass. Enclosed you will find copies of both proof of payment and your invoice marked paid.

“At this time we are requesting that you refund $47.94 to Mrs. Dodsworth within the next 14 days following receipt of this letter with notification to Northeast COMBAT of the transaction. Then, and only then, will we drop the case.”

Exactly 14 days later we received a telephone call from Associated Publishers. They apologized for the delay in sending the refund and went on to say that a refund check in the amount of $47.94 was on its way to Dodsworth. Included was a note in which they thanked her for her patience.

A few days later we received a call from Dodsworth. She had received a refund check and expressed how grateful she was for our efforts. She went on to tell us that as frustrated as she had been over not receiving her refund, somehow she knew that Northeast COMBAT would be successful.

“I applaud you for being there to help people like me, who cannot seem to get businesses to pay attention to an individual consumer,” she noted.

We at Northeast COMBAT would like to note that 99 percent of businesses that we have to contact on behalf of Maine consumers are located out of state. Our experience has been that most Maine-based businesses have very high ethics and want their Maine consumers to be satisfied consumers.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit organization. For help, write to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.