Associated Publishers Network magazine renewal complaints
March 7, 2014
Associated Publishers Network
(866) 437-7897
850 S Boulder Hwy Ste 355, Henderson, NV 89015-7564
BBB
has received a volume and pattern of complaints regarding billing and
collection, delivery, refund or exchange, and sales practice issues.
According
to consumer complaints, magazine subscription renewal notices are received from
Associated Publishers Network (APN), also know as United Publisher's Clearing
House, National Magazine Services, Orbital Publishing, and Publisher's Billing
Exchange.
Complainants
state they send in payment for renewal of their subscriptions to various
magazines, such as Wall Street Journal, The Economist, New Yorker Magazine, and
the Times, however, the magazines are not received.
When
consumers contact the magazine companies, directly, to check on their
subscription they are informed that payment was never received.
Complainants
indicate that phone calls and emails sent to APN are generally ignored.
Complainants
also state that The Economist, New Yorker Magazine, the Times and Wall Street
Journal all claim no affiliation with APN.
APN's
typical response states, in part, "Magazine publishers have created the
agency sale system for the sale of subscriptions. The publisher contracts with
clearinghouses. Under these contracts, the clearinghouse is authorized to sell
subscriptions. The clearing house then permits thousands of third parties, such
as Associated Publishers Network, to sell subscriptions, which are then "cleared"
through the clearinghouse. These third parties have no direct contract with the
publisher and their identities are unknown to the publisher.
Offers
are sent out periodically and are marketing pieces only. We merely send out
offers as stated plainly on each offer and no one is obligated to
respond."
Additional
responses from APN usually state that it takes 6-12 weeks for delivery.
BBB
has informed the company of the volume and pattern of complaints and asked that
the company address the issue.
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MSN Money: Is your subscription renewal notice real? By Mitch
Lipka
Better Business Bureau issues warning about widespread fake
subscription renewal scam after the New York Times and Wall Street Journal
complain.
If you get a subscription renewal, make sure who you're
really paying before you send the check out. After getting peppered with
complaints from magazine subscribers, and learning of complaints lodged by the
publishers of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, the Better Business
Bureau on Thursday issued
a warning to consumers about phony subscription renewals.
The BBB is warning about a Nevada-based operation called Associated
Publishers Network. The company has generated 112 complaints just in the
past year, the BBB said. The complaints are coming from all around the country.
[…]
If you get a renewal notice, check when your subscription
really expires by looking at the actual subscription label or contacting the
publisher directly. If it is time to renew, do it directly through the
publisher or by using a notice directly attached to your magazine.
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Federal Trade Commission
FTC Complaint Assistant
Welcome! Complaints from consumers help us detect patterns
of fraud and abuse. The FTC would like to know more about your complaint and
the Complaint Assistant will help guide you. To use the Complaint Assistant:
Choose a complaint category on the right. If you can't find
a match select "Other". Answer a few questions related to your
complaint. Tell us what happened in your own words.
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U.S. Postal Inspection Service
File a Complaint
Report these issues to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online:
Mail
fraud (may include scams or
deceptive ads via the mail, or postage fraud)
Mail theft (mail you failed to receive but should have, or
that you received with the contents missing)
If you believe you’re a victim of fraud related to the U.S.
Mail, including mailed sweepstakes, lotteries, on-line auctions, work-at-home
scams or chain letters, report your concern to the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service as mail
fraud.
All information is voluntary, but the more you provide, the
more likely it is that we can help you. We may share your information with
other agencies if it comes under their jurisdiction. See the Privacy Act
Statement for more details. This site uses secure methods to transfer
data.
The Postal Inspection Service will contact you only if more
information is needed. We gather data on mail-related crime to determine
whether a violation has occurred. While we can’t guarantee we can recover lost
money or items, your information can help alert Postal Inspectors to problem
areas and possibly prevent others from being victimized. Inspectors base their
investigations on the number, substance and pattern of complaints. We ask you
to keep all original documents related to your complaint.
Mail correspondence to this address:
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE CENTER
ATTN: MAIL FRAUD
433 W HARRISON STREET ROOM 3255
CHICAGO IL 60699-3255
