So, earlier in the year I decided to try a one-year subscription to Car and Driver magazine, ’cause I bought it a few times at the magazine stand and I liked it. So I signed up online.
Within a few months, I started getting notices in the mail about my subscription ending soon (or so it appeared). I checked online, and all was well, I was good until April of 2012. So why am I getting notices about my subscription ending? Online support didn’t answer that question.
Today, I get a letter with big arrows around it, and “third notice” underlining it, in big, important, threatening text. I look online and I’m still good until April, so what the hell is going on? Well, lets talk to a human.
Easier said than done. Looking online, all of the references for support are email or snail mail. No phone numbers. I dug for 20 minutes or so, and finally came across the answers.com wiki which actually had…*gasp*…a phone number! So I called, and of course got a lousy IVR. I kept saying, “operator”, until it finally sent me to a human being.
A very nice girl explained that the letter was just a promotion, and that my subsription was not being cancelled. I asked then, why the letter gave no indication of this, and she insisted that my actual cancel date was on the letter. Damned if I can find it. The letter says,
ATT: MICHAEL SOULIER. IN case you didn’t realize it, the end of your subscription is quickly approaching. And without your renewal instructions, there’s not much we can do.
We just want to confirm the continuation of your subscription while our
discounted rates
are still in effect.
To avoid missing even one fabulous issue of CAR AND DRIVER, you must act quickly. Simply complete the Account Renewal form above and return it in this envelope we’ve provided. The regular Canadian subscription price includes postage and handling plus GST/HST (registration no. *********).
So please return your renewal instructions before the cut-off date. Thank you.
** THIRD NOTICE **
Now, I’m no expert, but I don’t think that I can be blamed for interpreting this as anything but a notice of the end of my subscription. Draw your own conclusions.
Lets just say that I won’t be renewing. I have no time or patience for this nonsense, and I don’t reward this behaviour, or have any desire to have anything to do with a company that goes to such lengths to not provide a phone number.
