Watch Out for Consumer Reports!

PapaPerk · Apr 3, 2014

In Dec I subscribed to an online consumer reports account for ONE month to research televisions. However I just noticed they have been charging me every month. I just called them and they will not refund my account! So I'm out $28.00 for nothing. I feel ripped off by a company that's supposed to help consumers.

So be careful signing up for any "deals" with this company. I will never use them again and have never found their information that helpful anyway.

JMER817 · Apr 3, 2014

It's not just them. Have to read the small print. That's why I have them send me a bill and pay by check more and more.

MoKelly · Apr 3, 2014

JMER817 said:
It's not just them. Have to read the small print. That's why I have them send me a bill and pay by check more and more.

Agree. Anytime you sign-up and allow automatic credit card charges or automatic withdrawal from an account, the company will keep billing until you make them stop.

By the way, signing up for one month just to get one issue you want seems like you were sort of kind of trying to take advantage of the company. They need to make a profit like everyone else.

MoKelly

PapaPerk · Apr 3, 2014

MoKelly said:
Agree. Anytime you sign-up and allow automatic credit card charges or automatic withdrawal from an account, the company will keep billing until you make them stop.

By the way, signing up for one month just to get one issue you want seems like you were sort of kind of trying to take advantage of the company. They need to make a profit like everyone else.

MoKelly

Incorrect. It was an online account. Not magazine. One month subscription. I saw no statement regarding reoccurring charges.

The reps in Yonkers, NY were misleading and very unhelpful.

So defend them all you would like. They did a very POOR job with this Consumer.

PapaPerk · Apr 3, 2014

Best reviews for most things are found online at Amazon, Edmunds, etc. Actual user reviews will be the demise of "Consumer" Reports.

J_J · Apr 3, 2014

If the subscription was paid by credit card, just refute the charges, and let the credit company do the research as to the contract.

Question is, why did you pay $28 for one month. That sounds like a long term subscripting.

Did they give you the option of cancelling after one month and did you forget to cancel?

You could cancel the card.

ttriff · Apr 3, 2014

Some Subscription-Based Services, at your option, may be billed either monthly or once annually. In order to provide you with uninterrupted service, most of our online Subscription-Based Services and print subscription products, like Consumer Reports and ShopSmart magazines (when purchased online) renew automatically at the end of the applicable subscription period at the rate then in effect. We alert you at the point of offer when a subscription product is offered on an auto-renewing basis. As explained below, CU will automatically charge your payment card for an auto-renewing subscription unless you cancel your subscription by going to your "My Account" page, logging in with your username and password, and then selecting "cancel subscription." The "My Account" page can be accessed through a link on the home page. Annual subscribers will be sent a reminder notice before the expiration of your subscription term that alerts you to the upcoming subscription renewal charge.

Pretty clear what the process is ....

brin · Apr 3, 2014

We signed up for their 30 day free trial and got some free books and even though we canceled in time according to their requirements ...we had to call them and had a hard time getting it canceled but we finally did....never again....

PapaPerk · Apr 3, 2014

brin said:
We signed up for their 30 day free trial and got some free books and even though we canceled in time according to their requirements ...we had to call them and had a hard time getting it canceled but we finally did....never again....

Thank u! I knew I was not the only one.

Bird · Apr 3, 2014

brin said:
We signed up for their 30 day free trial and got some free books and even though we canceled in time according to their requirements ...we had to call them and had a hard time getting it canceled but we finally did....never again....

Yep, me, too.

PapaPerk · Apr 3, 2014

Bird said:
Yep, me, too.

They wanna get those claws in ya!

Pixguy · Apr 3, 2014

When Direct-TV called me in January to tell me that they were giving me 2 free months of a few movie channels I asked, "and I have to call you to cancel at the end of the 60 days, right?"

of course, she said yes, to which I said No thanks, get lost!

ultrarunner · Apr 3, 2014

It's almost as bad as a scam...

Those free offers and introductory offers sometimes require more effort than it's worth to cancel...

As for Consumers... a lot of the teachers I know treat Consumer Reports as the bible when it comes to shopping.

All I know is that I own several of their can't recommend vehicles and have been nothing but pleased I did not listen.

The most reliable, fun and best at holding value is my Suzuki Samurai which Consumers killed with scathing reports.

/pine · Apr 3, 2014

Actual user reviews will be the demise of "Consumer" Reports.

yeah...about the same time frame as when the meek inherit the earth...
...if there were a lot less naive and gullible consumers, America would be in a much better place...
(replace "consumer" with 'voter' and the positive effect would exponentially greater...)
just sayin...

newbury · Apr 3, 2014

I value CR on most things, but as an adjunct to online research. Otherwise it would be like believing only Fox News or only MSNBC.

My problem with their automatic charging is about every time I'm about to cancel they come out with a bang up report on something which I had not expected to need and all of a sudden do need. This has happened about 6 times over the last 4 years, new hot water tank for a rental house, new tools for a son, vacuum SWMBO bought (w/o research) all of a sudden dies. I'd swear they have an inside informant. I'm a little suspicious of our Corgi. She keeps an eye on everything.

I just can't figure out how she reports back.

buckeyefarmer · Apr 3, 2014

I will never use siriusxm radio again, they did the same thing to me. I got it free for so many months with the car, extended it once when they made a really good offer, then I called and cancelled, they kept billing me. I had to go thru my credit card co. and got some back, but not all of it.

rekees4300 · Apr 3, 2014

Consumer Reports is okay except they often review stuff that is hard to find. Never had a billing problem with them.

Brad_Blazer · Apr 3, 2014

I had their magazine subscription for years. They are irrelevant to me now. Thank goodness for online reviews which, despite all of their flaws, seem 1000% more accurate than the CU "experts."

I always got a kick out of their high horse attitude including the "selling it" section. Their own magazines "free of outside advertisers" were stuffed with ads and the stiff cards that fall out advertising their own additional services all at a pretty steep price. The online sales behavior is par for the course. That self-serving bunch has never really been pro-consumer.

newbury · Apr 3, 2014

rekees4300 said:
Consumer Reports is okay except they often review stuff that is hard to find. Never had a billing problem with them.

It's not a problem if you understand what they are doing. And I'd expect someone subscribing to CR would READ the contract they are agreeing to.

But I guess that's like inspecting a tractor before you buy it.

PapaPerk · Apr 4, 2014

newbury said:
It's not a problem if you understand what they are doing. And I'd expect someone subscribing to CR would READ the contract they are agreeing to.

But I guess that's like inspecting a tractor before you buy it.

Ahhhh a know it all. Apparently you read Consumer Reports making you superior to all of us who have seen through their BS superiority complex. LOL!