Follow
Share

I've been receiving five different magazines that my mother-in-law subscribed to. We started receiving their mail here at our house after they were put into a nursing home several years ago. She has Alzheimer’s and is unable to read. At first I thought they would just stop coming on their own when she didn’t renew them but I’m beginning to think she’s on an auto renewal program. She was not able to make good decisions for several years before her NH placement. These aren’t even magazines I think she would read. Men’s muscle, Elle, car and driver ... anyway they go straight in the recycle bin. But they are going to slowly drain her account. Any ideas how to stop?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

27 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
I had a terrible time with this. I followed the instructions for the online process and met with a dead end. I tried a few times and it was the same each time. Calling is a joke as I was on hold forever. Finally I googled it and found a more direct phone number. If you are using a credit card you can also call them. There is no need for it to be this difficult, ordering magazines takes just seconds. If I ever order magazines again I will pay by check ,but this left such a bad taste in my mouth it's doubtful I ever will.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
There s information in the magazine. The initial pages, tiny print, with publisher information. Usually an email address to cancel. Also check the mailing address label.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
OPen the magazine. It will say in a small print paragraph on the front couple pages or back couple pages who to send address changes to (postmaster). Find the address and write them. Tell them to stop the subscription.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Do you have credit card statements? If they auto renew on a credit card, there might be a phone number you can call to get them to stop. It might be a 3rd party (not the magazine themselves) that she's signed up with.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Another tip - If the magazine business has an email address that you can locate or a website, contact them to "opt out" of auto renewal subscriptions.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Magazine companies will trick the subscriber by sending notice that their subscription is about to expire, when it is not the case AT ALL. This is a scam that these companies use to garner more business (add on months or years to your existing subscription). As the auto renewal is no doubt tied into her financial institution, inform them to not have the auto deduct out of checking account. Also, write to the magazine and cancel out.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Most magazine subscriptions are sold on a plan called a "negative option." That means that unless you specifically opt to stop the subscription, you will continue getting it basically forever (or until the credit card they are using expires!)
Somewhere in the magazine, there will be information as to how to communicate about your subscription, and possibly a phone number. Have the magazine label in front of you when you call to unsubscribe so that you can read off the number of her subscription. Some magazines offer a refund for unused issues; others don't. But at least they'll stop coming.
Just an aside: For whatever reason, most magazines published in the USA have their subscriptions managed by companies in the small town of Red Oak, IA. I've always found that so interesting. Just shows what a town (or a small business) can do if it finds a niche market and provides what is needed.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I stop mine by sending a letter cancelling subscription. Also, have the bank deny payment. Put them on notice.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Contact the magazine subscription department by phone and by mail to stop the subscriptions.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Set up new bank acct & cancel all cards. There are prob more being drafted than you know. This should be first thing done by any legal guardian or poa when moved to nursing care. These companies will agree to cancel over the phone and don’t. Save yourself the trouble.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Calling separate magazines may not work. My sister, years ago, got stuck with this problem. Its a scam. They call and tell you that they can give u a good price on 5 subcriptions at, lets say $20 a month. Sounds good but you are actually paying more than an individual subscription. 240 ÷ by 5 = 48 a year. At the time you could get a subscription for $20 a year. My sister had to call the scammer because that who was receiving the money. They told her it was a five year obligation. If she wanted to cancel she had to pay the balance due.

If this is being withdrawn from a bank account, ask the bank if the withdrawal can be stopped. If credit card, freeze it so no more charges can be made. Make credit card aware that the card is not to be used.

Hope someone has POA to be able to do this.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Look at the label the next time you get one. It will tell you when the subscription will end. The problem with magazines and renewals is they usually send out renewal letters long before the expiration date. People don't pay attention and send more money so the expiration date gets bumped another year or two. I keep a log now of the ones my mom gets, when they will end and throw out all the renewal prompts that she gets about every other month in the mail. Before I did this, she had some that had an expiration date a couple of years in the future. She still hands me the renewal letters and says she wants to keep it coming. I check the log and toss if not close to the real renewal date.

After you check the end date, go online to the magazine and cancel the subscription or remove the auto renewal info. Eventually it will come to an end, but you'll still get letters on a regular basis to renew.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
First of all, do not renew them or send any money if you get a renewal notice. Second, in the front of the magazines, there should be an address you can write to and ask them to stop sending them. If they keep coming and are paid for a certain time and you don't want them, they won't give you a refund. Just pass them on to someone who might like to see them or drop them off in a public place. Just do NOT pay anyone who wants money from you.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Every charge on your mothers credit card statement has the phone number of the vendor on it. If it doesn't the bank can give you that information. You can call and cancel that way.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Inside the magazine, or if you just google the name of the magazine and customer service you should get some contact info. You will need info on the mailing label or insert for them to identify the subscription and tell you the source of payment and what's set up. If these renewals are happening via a credit card in her name, you can also notify the credit card company to not allow any transactions from the source. You may have to say you are she:-) or provide documentation of being POA which will get more complicated.

Some libraries have a box for "take what you want" and you could leave those unwanted issues there for someone to enjoy...
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Closing/cancelling her credit card is the fastest, easiest thing to do. Don't make more work for yourself than necessary.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
I had to do this with automatic magazine gifts that dad sent every year to family. I found the customer service number in his copy, I then called them and explained that while we loved getting them dad had Alzheimer’s and needed the money for his care. The representative was very helpful and understanding, I even offered to send my POA to the company so they would have the information and no one would get a hard time from putting in the cancellation of this automatic renewal. Instead of an automatic renewal he received mail asking if he would like to renew the subscription.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
If you have POA on your mother-in-law you need to make the cancellation request in writing and put a date on the letter and keep a copy for yourself or write up the letter and have the POA sign it, and you keep a copy. Then you will need to place a stop payment on her checking account if they are automatically taking out of her checking. If it doesn't stop you can threaten that your attorney will be in contact with them and that a letter was sent dated so and so to have whatever magazine requested to have it cancelled. If it doesn't stop you will have to close her current checking account and reopen a new one. Just don't close her old one and notify her pension and/or Social Security of new account. Once those items are going to new account then close the old one. If it is a credit card again you will need to notify them that you sent a cancellation letter on so and so date and have them either credit you back and have them go after the magazine company if they are unable to do that, have them give her a new credit card with a new number and close the old one. The credit card company may want you to provide to them a copy of your cancellation letter, so they know you really did notify them. You will have to make sure she doesn't give this number to someone else. Since she is already in a nursing home I would put a low amount like $50 or $100 on them. She may not even know how to use the cards anymore. However, you might want to keep the card if you should have to buy something for her like medication, clothes, etc., so you have proof along with receipts for Medicaid. I know it is a hassle and a lot of work. Wish you the best.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Hello, Call the magazine subscription services. The info is usually inside the first couple of pages of the magazine. Tell them to discontinue the subscription & do not renew anymore. If this does not stop it go to the bank where the renewal charges are taking money and ask for help. You might have to even close the account and open a new one. Once they don't get paid anymore its amazing how fast they will stop. If your family member entered into a binding contract on these subscriptions you may need legal advice. Consult a elder law attorney. Good luck
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
You can contest each of the charges for each magazine and that will probably put an end to it but it requires some work. Or report fraud activity or her credit cards as stolen so that those accounts are closed immediately. Does she even need a credit card? If not I'd ditch it completely. One less thing to have to worry about.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
Automatic Renewal will never stop unless told to do so and as long as they're being paid for.

You have to call each one to cancel.

If after making the cancelation call, they keep sending them, then
Close the source where the magazines are getting pd from.

If it's on a Credit Card just conveniently lose the card and once they reissue a new card, no automatic payments will be on it at all.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report
R
Riverdale Apr 2020
Yes best idea. I had to do this several times. Either report card lost or cancel it if there is assurance there is no need for one.
(4)
Report
See 1 more reply
Call each magazine directly so you can track back to see where the charge is coming from and turn it off.
Until then, maybe a local nursing home or other facility or agency would enjoy receiving magazines? Someone might even pick them up.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
Call the credit card/bank company, explain and get charges reversed. A lot easier and faster than trying to get the magazines to stop. Ask also how far back they can credit you--might as well ask just in case...
See if you can get yourself added to the card or account as a non-charging authorized user. Think that is the wording. That lets you take care of these kinds of issues, get the bill emailed to you if you wish, yet won't raise issues that you were using the card.
I also made changes to the cable subscription for my mother and saved nearly $2K/year.
I'm sure there will be a reward in heaven for all the work we are doing for our parents. It's not likely to come here on earth!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
I googled the magazine and then tried entering the label. I did get one cancelled. But they said “ contact the agent to end billing” I wrote them an email and am awaiting a response. One down, several more to go.. but I am a little angry because I have a feeling this was some kind of scam that takes advantage of the elderly. As far as who is in charge of their finances that’s a whole other can of worms. Let me just say this... plan ahead . It’s been a stinkin hassle for years.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
MsRandall avatar
M
MsRandall Apr 2020
This is something that is prevalent not only in magazines but in many other subsciption services. You set to automatic renew, a few send you notices but most don't. I have found that my online bank statement usally give me enough information to track down who to contact. I check my statement daily and call the same day, Almost all all have been willing to reverse the charges. I agree with you, I am in my 70's I have made a list of all the accounts for my children,
(4)
Report
Who handles her accounts? They need to watch the charges, and when the charge comes in, call the card company and get it removed.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
SorrynotSorry, first check the mailing labels on the front of the magazines to see exactly when the subscription expires.     It may be that they're for several years, in which case you would have to cancel them specifically.

Some of these backhanded outfits, as LeaLonnie wrote, do use tactics to kind of trick someone into agreeing to automatic renewals.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
Yes......contact the magazines directly (Google the name of the mag and 'customer service phone') and tell them you want the subscriptions stopped immediately. If you can figure out which credit card or better yet, debit card MIL is using for the renewals, simply call the bank and tell them you don't authorize further withdrawals for the magazines. Get HER on the phone if necessary. Who is her financial POA? That person should be able to make all the necessary changes to these subscriptions.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

Recent Questions


Popular Questions


Related Questions

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter