johnlund Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 Some time ago I let a gift subscription to "Outdoor Photographer" (OP) lapse. I neither requested nor received any more issues, but OP gave my name to North Shore Agency collections (NSA), which made demands for payment of a "debt".<br/><br/> OP responded politely to my complaint, agreeing to contact NSA on my behalf. However, the weasel-worded communications left me suspicious that this was an intentional ploy to sell more subscriptions. I've been hesitant about posting this, but publishers should be "outed" for lending their names to this practice. (Google makes it clear that subscription shakedowns aren't a new phenomenon.) Has anyone else received similar treatment from OP or its <a href="http://www.wernerpublishing.com/">sister publications</a>, or perhaps my case just an isolated incident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobatkins Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 This sounds rather familiar. The same thing happened to me several years ago. I don't remember the exact details, but I think it was OP. There could be an archived thread on this lurking in the depths of photo.net somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Maybe it was deleted. I remember it took me quite a few rounds of email exchange to get the whole thing sorted out and I got several notices from the debt collection agency. I couldn't 100% positively swear it was Outdoor Photographer, but I'm pretty sure it was. It's one of the few magazines I used to subscribe to but cancelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodus Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 John, Thanks for the news. I won't subscribe to OP since at least two members here have the problem. Sorry about your situation. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_lee2 Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 It happened to me just a few months ago! I also let my subscription lapse, then suddenly got a notice from NSA. I called OP and told them about the situation, they then "cancelled" my subscription. If my credit rating gets hurt by this, I'm complaining to the BBB and my state's (CA) Dept. of Consumer Affairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_thompson Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 David, better yet apply for a loan and hope they turn you down. Then sue them for damage to your credit rating. I gave up on OP years ago their office was a real mess. I subscribed and sent a check for payment. They cashed it and claimed I never pay them. I had to get a copy of the canceled check and send it in to straighten it all out. Needless to say when that subscription expired I didn't renew it. I want nothing further to do with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlund Posted October 1, 2003 Author Share Posted October 1, 2003 David, OP told me that NSA doesn't report to the credit bureaus. Trying to pick the pockets of outgoing customers is downright sleazy. I'm betting that this fraudulent collection tactic violates or teeters on the edge of several federal and state statutes, but the hassle of enforcement/lawsuits isn't worth it, of course. Maybe a few complaints will shame publishers into better behavior. Thanks for responding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick_ginkowski Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 It is unlawful to engage in prohibited debt collection practices, including attempting to collect a nonexistant debt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subpopstar Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Read the renewal junk mail sent by OP closely. I just got renewal notices for another, non-photography magazine and noticed in fine print that unless one specifically cancelled their subscription, it would be automatically renewed and the receipent get billed. I thought that was pretty tricky. I wonder if OP is now trying a similar tactic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_moore Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 I'm an OP subscriber and somehow ended up with a subscription to Backpacker Magazine, a sister magazine. I've also received bills that I've tossed in the trash. I can only assume that they used some type of "negative checkoff" to claim I asked for a subscription (meaning they sent a notice that I would have had to reply negatively to in order to refuse the subscription). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e.j. Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 Sounds like a lot of overeaction. Any magazine bill, whether it comes from the publisher or an agency such as the case here need only be marked CANCELLED on it and the problem goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildography Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 About Outdoor Photographer magazine... I buy individual issues at the bookstore... too often, there are only 1 or 2 articles that I'm interested in... if there is a really good issue, I'll buy it; but I usually just read the one or two good articles at the bookstore. I used to subscribe to photography magazines, but I got tired of 70% of the magazine not being of interest to me... wildography Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_hohlfelder Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Not an isolated incident. I let my subscription lapse over the summer, and I just received my collections letter from North Shore Agency. The publisher of OP is : Werner Publishing Corporation 12121 Wilshire Blvd., 12th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90025-1176 The Office of the California Attorney General is: <http://ag.ca.gov/> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_davis Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm on hold at the moment, waiting to speak to Outdoor Photographer's collection agent, North Shore Agency, Inc. I just received a notice in the mail yesterday, to which I'm responding. Having paid for a one-year subscription back in February of 2007, and having received a dozen issues, I tossed every renewal solicitation I subsequently recieved, without responding. Now they want $14.97 or they're going to make my life miserable. I'm going to contact my state attorney general's office no matter how this unwinds. It may be common, but not in my experience. Shame on Outdoor Photographer. How desperate are they? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_davis Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Well, that was like expecting to lift a heavy bowling ball bag only to discover it's empty. After being on hold for about 15 minutes, a representative of North Shore Agency (Rochelle) came on the line, asked for some information with which to identify me, told me the Outdoor Photographer wants $14.97, and asked me to define my intentions. I told her I had paid for and received 12 issues, subsequently throwing every renewal solicitation in the trash, and she said: "No problem. I'll close this account. You shouldn't receive any further correspondence from us, but if you do, please disregard it." I'm still incensed that Outdoor Photogapher forced me to jump through this hoop. Stay tuned for my followup regarding my report to the state attoney general's office. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_davis Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I've filed my complaint with my state attorney general's office. I'll let you know if they respond with anything. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry2 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Kudos, its time someone stood up to these tactics..... Here is another tactic OP does.... they keep sending you magazines after your subscription expires....then, you decide to renew your subscription, say for 24 issues...you expect 24 months of magazines, but they deduct all the ones they sent you when your previous subscription expired, so you may only get 12 total, then they start the renewal process over again.... I find them so annoying, I may discontinue the magazine, specially after reading these posts.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
concerned_one Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 <p>Outdoor Photography Magazine and Digital Photography Magazine are one in the same.</p> <p>I ordered a 1 year subscription for my nephew, as a gift, and paid online. This was in January of 2010. So the subscription doesn't end until Feb/Mar of 2011!</p> <p>On April 14th, my bank account was billed AGAIN for that same subscription! I called my bank, because I didn't understand the charge, then realized it was from the photography magazine. I called the magazine and they said they would issue a credit. Back and forth trying to get the funds released and "Christine" at DPM says that we don't keep your CC info on file and your account is not set to renew, blah, blah, blah. So, I keep asking how did the order come in? Was it through the internet? She had my email and that was all and said it was an order - but had no other information. Well, someone is lying.....and it's not me!</p> <p>I am enraged to know that they can just go and charge me whenever they feel like it and now I must wait almost a week for them to issue a credit for a charge I NEVER AUTHORIZED! Now, I am changing my bank card because they have no way of reassuring me that this wont happen again. </p> <p>I would not recommend and NEVER will make another purchase from this scam of a company again. And plan on reporting the Attorney General.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuanxiao_li1 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 <p>Scam: Outdoor Photographer Subscriptions http://www.photographersubscriptions.com/. I'd paid on 2/13/2013. 2 months passed, I called Outdoor Photographer magazine customer service. I'd subscribe nothing. so it is a scam.<br> please do not subscribe from<br> http://www.photographersubscriptions.com/. they just collect money from you. so</p> <p>www.photographersubscriptions.com is scam</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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