Possible scam?

I just received a bill for $14.95, saying "Thank you for your subscription to 'California Gardener' magazine."

There's no way I would subscribe to "California Gardener" when I'm leaving California, so I'm suspicious.

Have you been shopping at Armstrong Nursery lately? It's a magazine that they put out, I picked up a free issue one time I was there because I though oh cool, a gardening mag that I don't already subscribe to, but it was really light on actual info and struck me as being more of an ad for Armstrong. But if you're on their mailing list then maybe they got mixed up or something. Either way I wouldn't pay the bill.

Have you called them?

Typical of so many magazines nowadays. They send out bills worded as though you had subscribed, then hope you, or whoever pays the bills will think it is legit. Fie on them!!

They also send renewal notices when you already are subscribing and make you think your subscription has run out...so you renew and this happens a couple of times and you have to check back and see that you're by now covered for the next 6 years! I don't know if this is done purposely or if there are various magazine brokers soliciting you who don't know or care that you have a current subscription.

I hate those too, anytime I get one I never send it in until I check and see when my subscription actually expires. I think they must run into a lot of people who never bother to renew, so they figure they better remind you 500 times.

It took me awhile to catch on...I'm usually busy and not the most orderly person, so when they'd send me a renewal notice, I'd renew....I'm probably set til I die now. I need a manager.

This message was edited May 1, 2007 3:17 PM

You're leaving Sebastopol Zuzu? I looked around in some of your threads but found no mention of it. Where ya headed?

I'm moving to Florida this year, Stella.

When I get a 'bill' or any kind of offer from a business, magazine, credit card company etc and it has a postage paid envelope inside I just stuff the envelope with their ads (nothing with my name on it) and all the scrap paper I can find and send it back to them. I am tempted to tape the envelope to a box filled with yard waste and send that, but, it is too much work.By Post Office Rules you can tape those envelopes to bricks and the Post Office will deliver them. I know I am just one person trying to put a stop to junk mail, but, I am doing what I can.

I LOVE it! You've just enlisted me. I'm going to do the same.