Lack of Integrity in Hearst Magazine Marketing Update

About a year and half ago I posted on Hearst Magazines sending me a fake collections letter.  I used it as an example of unethical marketing.  I also used it as an example of how unethical marketing programs are going be uncovered and publicized via the Internet. 

I was reviewing my web traffic reports and found that my original post continues to be one of my most popular posts in terms of visits and page views.  The traffic all comes from search engines.  The post page has a Google page rank of 3 and it shows up in the top 10  search results for a variety of 3 and 3+ search terms related to Hearst Magazines. 

Since traffic to this post continues to grow my guess is Hearst is still using unethical marketing practices.  This is unfortunate.  While they may be gaining short term revenue from their tactics, I continue to believe they are hurting themselves and in the long run they will feel the impact.  Whether or not Hearst cares to admit and/or recognize it, marketing transparency is here to stay and unethical business practice will increasingly be exposed. 

Comments

[Sherry Carpenter]

Yes, They are STILL running this 'scam'. My sister called me in a panic, a bill was being sent to collections.... for a magazine that was a gift from ME! I called Hearst as I was furious, they told me they didn't understand how she could have gotten "so confused".

I immediately Googled it after hanging up the phone... guess what my sister's letter said? You got it! "Your delinquent account with us has been brought to my attention for collection. "Subscription Suspended for Non-Payment", that's what our records reflect."

I will NEVER order another Hearst publication, and will ensure that none of my family or friends do either. This unethical behavior is inexcusable. Isn't there anything that can be done?!

[Steve]

I recently tried to get a response from Hearst on this topic. So they have not responded to my emails or phone calls. I'm going to keep trying.

Steve

[ann beveridge]

I have terrible terrible with the hearst corporation. I have been harrassed for 2 years from this company. I am fed up! They probably have gotten millions from people thinkig that the bills were ligit. Thinking that they were amiss in making payment. I will not spend another dime on postage defending myself to that crooked company. A.B. PA.

[ann beveridge]

What hurts the mostis that I believe I did pay them twice for some of the magazines until I started checking my bank account. I got wise to them and believe me it is useless to write back and try to reason with them. They totally ignore you. Why? They want to rob from you!!! They need to be investigated . I was so relieved to know that others had this same problem. A.M.B FROM PA. AGAIN

[dlab]

Yes. I got here b/c Hearst magazines is still sending out that retarded letter. Your initial post on this stuff was literally the first Google result when I typed "hearst magazines cancel subscription", so at the very least you are much better at SEO than those guys. Screw them.

[Jane McAlister]

12-15-08
Just today my 89 year old Mother rec'd a letter from Hearst Magazines Subscription Svc Dept PO Box 7186, Red Oak, Iowa 51591 signed by a G L Valk, Credit/Collections Mgr speaking of her delinquent acct & subscription suspended for non-payment. This for Good Housekeeping which expires Dec 09 (they agreed to bill later) My parents have magazines that expire up until Aug, 2012. They give no phone # but I will be writing them also. Many magazines (I have a collection of statements) are taking advantage of elderly people that always pay their bills. This practice is infuriating and wicked. I hope someone from Hearst and any other companies that have taken advantage of my parents get a handle on this soon.

[bbdk]

So, how do you contact them via e-mail? I have written them twice and sent an e-mail. My mom has been dead since March and in a nursing home 6 months prior to that. I got the same letter saying my mom was delinquent in paying her subscription-it'll take more than that to get her to pay. But I am tired of hearing from G.L. Valk. I wanted to change her address to "HEAVEN" and see if they mailed it there. At least it might stop it from coming to my house.

[eric in ny]

800 888 5400

[eric in ny]

I used the number a few moments ago and it connected to Hearst customer service with a recorded service that stated the hours for the business.

I plan to call back in the daytime.
//
This company should be shutdown...now.

[Brian]

My wife received a bill for Redbook, to which she had never subsribed. I called the number Eric in ny listed above and it led to Esquire customer service (also published by Hearst). The operator there said she'd cancel the subscription and that we would not owe anything. She also gave the number for Redbook as 800-888-0008. I asked her to send a confirmation of cancellation by mail, which she said she would do.

[Kristy Geron]

I also just got a letter from Hearst for a
Redbook subscription that I have tried to cancel twice by sending them back a renewal invoice with "cancel this subscription" written on it. I spoke with Rhonda at Esquire at the 800-888-5400 number above and she said it automatically renewed and they didn't get either of my cancellations. Funny, I sent them back to them in their own envelope...I told her this better not go on my credit or the attorney general will be contacted. She said they have an inbound collections department and that they don't have a social to link it to, so they can't report on anyone's credit. I told her if I got one more letter, I would be contacting the attorney general about them. She said "it's cancelled". I said ok. We'll see!

[Tina Roach]

thank you kristy for the info on the credit reporting, never thought of that. I have a Senior client who does not understand that they cannot post that on her credit. Also threaten them with the FTC Federal Trade Commission. Also get her name and time you called and tell her that you cancelled with her and if you get another notice she will also be added to your complaint for the FTC. Also tell her YOU will be recording that call, and ask if she minds. That should help in cancelling the order too. Try logging into your personal account and opting out of Auto renewal. Dont know if that will work. I only tell you these things, because so far I am not personally plagued with this problem, only a friend. I would love to hear back from you on this post to see what has transpired for you. Thanks

[real verzekering]

This report looks interesting however I don't have a right kind of comment on this issue.

[Gabe]

800 888 5400

This number worked for me. I talked to customer service for Esquire and told them about the same issues about being delinquent and Subscription Suspended for Non-Payment. I told them i did not renew subscription and I wantd this stopped. They said it would be stopped and no payment will be required and a letter will be mailed to me reguarding the cancellation.
Thanks for keeping this post active because it sure helped me.

[gina mchan]

I have just called the 800 number and spoke to Jill, I told her I did not order Good Housekeeping,and this was the second billing I had recieved. She said she would cancel it, I told her if I recieved another bill I would contact my attorney. She said it was cancelled as we speak.

[Angel]

04/20/09
Over the past two months I've gotten two subscription letters and one collections letter from Hearst after requesting online one free copy of House Beautiful. The practices Hearst uses are harassment, not to mention incredibly wasteful. As a business practice it is unconscionable.

[Janet]

When you enter a contest, even if you check to NO box,you still end up with a subscription you don't want. This has happened before and they would not respond to e-mails or written notices sent back in their own envelopes. What a scam!

[v Alcocer]

I just filed a complaint to the FTC. there is a form that you can fillup, this is the third time I asked them to stop the suscription but today again got the letter that if I don;t pay I will go to collections

[Teedonna]

Hearst customer service call 800 846 4020
Dec 2009 - BE ASHAMED BECAUSE THIS IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO SCAMMING PEOPLE WITH OUT CROSSING THAT VERY THIN LINE

In or around Dec 2008 I signed up for an Oprah Magazine subscription. In Sept 2009 I was planning an extended trip overseas. Upon my returned in Nov 2009 I found my mail box full of letters from the Hearst Magazine Subscription Services. These letters took on a form of a collection notice stating that I was delinquent and I had been placed in collections. I was immediately upset by the letters which also claimed my credit would be affected. I tried to locate a phone number on any of the notices so I could call and clarify why I was being threatened like this. After looking over the letters and the bill I realized there was no contact phone numbers so I proceeded to the web but after a 20 minute search I was only able to obtain the corporate headquarters’ phone number. I called and spoke to Sandy Good who gave me a customer service number to call 800 846 4020. After I was finally able to get through I was transferred to a woman named Candy #ID 3859. Once I understood that I was being threatened over a future subscription payment I expressed my dismay over the way this was being handle, I was surprised when Candy tried to shield the practice. So I asked to speak with a Supervisor. I spoke to Supervisor Shauna, (no ID#) in Iowa who was obviously trained in depth to defend this unethical marketing practice. I simple told her that due to the way this was handled and how upsetting I found these letters I did not want to renew my subscription and I did not want to receive any more letters and I wanted a complaint log about these marketing practices. How frustrating this was…I always pay my bills and here we are in a time where every ones credit is being threatened and I had to deal with threatening letters over a new Magazine subscription, I hadn't even received yet. What really bothered me was when I said I am sure Oprah would not be happy about these practices they informed me that Oprah approved these practices and the letters were sent out, with her company’s approval. I bet that Oprah would be appalled by such practices especially since people like me are loyal to her vision. What kind of marketing is this anyway? Obviously our corporations still haven’t learned anything through these hard times… Fast money using any means possible is not the way to sustain a good company. Oprah take a look and see how things are being handled and realize in the long run how this practice is hurting your readers and in the long run will end up hurting your magazine.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mumin Eyupoglu

[Marc Mercer]

ESPN, Outside Magazine, Car and Driver and Esquire do business with Jason W. Ellsworth, a Montana magazine scammer with a ten year history. He has had about six corporate shells. I think that the magazines have to take responsibility for this. If I can track the guy down with a few Google Searches, I find it hard to believe that they do not know who they are doing business with. I outed Ellsworth got my money back--by outing him on social media and doing a bit of SEO on reports of his misconduct. I am a social media tool and it is a powerful tool for getting through to these people. I am now going after the magazines and Hearst is on the list.

http://tinyurl.com/yctynbd