JJ wrote:
>
> Kate Connally wrote:
>
> > JJ wrote:
> > >
> > > A couple of months ago Cook's Illustrated sent me a book I
> > > did not request (Best Recipe: Baking Illustrated). I called them
> > > and got a label from them to ship it back, which I did. I just
> > > got a past due invoice yesterday.
> > >
> > > Though I will be calling them on Tuesday, I'm a bit peeved
> > > about this process I have to go through.
> > >
> > > Has anyone else received a book from them, unrequested?
> >
> > You should have just kept the book, notifying them
> > that you were doing so, that is was unsolicited, and
> > that you were not obligated to pay for it and not to
> > send any bills. Since it takes a while to stop the
> > billing process, you may still have received some but
> > you could just throw them out. I do this sort of
> > thing all the time.
> > Kate
>
> Well I called this morning and they said I had "zero" balance.
> So it seems I'm off the books.
>
> So you've been successful with notifying them that
> you were keeping the book? Perhaps next time I'll
> give it a try. I'm not sure if they have my credit card
> number on file. Generally I pay by check...

Don't ever use a credit card for anything like that.
I bought a cd from a tv ad. Didn't notice the fine
print on the tv screen. When I called they said something
about subscribing to more cd's. I told them I was not
interested - I just wanted the cd advertised on tv and
that there was nothing in the ad about getting a whole
series of cd's so they should just send me the one they
advertized and then cancel my "membership". Well, I used
a credit card and I ended up being charged for additional
cd's that they sent me and I kept because I had specifically
told them not to send me anything but the one I ordered.
Since they were sending these others I kept them. I even
called them and told them I was not going to return them
since I didn't order them. Well, in spite of the fact
that I had only authorized them to charge my account for
the first cd they "illegally" continued to charge me.
I didn't notice for a while. After several months I checked
my account (I had not used it in several months and so I
didn't think to look at the bills - just paid my usual
payment) and here were all these charges for the additional
cd's. I got the credit card company to remove the charges.
So, if I ever buy anythig from tv again - very unlikely -
I will send a check. Sheesh. However, this whole thing
never had any adverse effect on my credit. I since
have bought a new car and gotten a Home Depot credit card
among other things.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?