Book club nightmare

jonno_2

Thanks for all your replies. My brother wrote to book club before xmas to cancel his membership, and I wrote to them on 17 jan, they ignored letters and still sent books.I have sent a letter to the manager by recorded delivery so i, ll see what happens. Would, nt it be nice if these club book people would at least communicate with their customers and try and solve any potential problems ?.

dougk_2

We had the same problems with a book club... the last one we received from the postman was dumped on the doorstep .... i simply threw it away.
When the invoice came i contacted the bookclub and ask for proof of delivery....they had none so i told them to a) cancel the invoice and b) told them that i was unprepared to order future books from them unless delivered by a method that could prove delivery and to close our account.
After about 6 months of complaining finally the account was closed. It cost a fortune in 0870 phone calls and they rarely replied to emails.

I have since found that the books can normally be purchased from "The works bookshops" for about half the price and no delivery!

Avoid all bookclubs you don't really get any bargains!

Lychee

Bossyboots wrote:

It sounds as though he is not notifying them that he does not want that month's "Editor's Choice". He has to be proactive in stopping the books, otherwise they will simply keep coming. If he has fulfilled his commitment he could simply cancel his membership. If he is not returning the form (as pointed out it would be on each months invoice/statement) then I am afraid he doesn't have a leg to stand on as the contracts for these clubs, as well as buying a certain amount, include you having to notify them that you do not want the editor's choice.

wish I had read and understood this properly:P I received an 'Editor's Choice' today and wanted to kick myself, I should have known that there was a bigger catch somewhere to joining the bookclub! First thing I did was reject the next month's 'editor's choice' then I had to arrange for collection at the cost of £3. I agree with dougk, avoid all bookclubs!

Sofa_Sogood

Lychee wrote:

wish I had read and understood this properly:P I received an 'Editor's Choice' today and wanted to kick myself, I should have known that there was a bigger catch somewhere to joining the bookclub! First thing I did was reject the next month's 'editor's choice' then I had to arrange for collection at the cost of £3. I agree with dougk, avoid all bookclubs!

I'd put it in writing too. They've a bad habit of ignoring e-mails. Even their own!

Luis

BOOK AND CD CLUBS ARE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL!

I had a nightmare about 12 years ago with Brittania which sounds very similar (refused to acknowledge cancellation, sent me cds I didn't want even when I had ticked the 'don't want it' box).

In the end I got a solicitor friend to write a big scary letter which also threatened them with 'Watchdog' and local press, and Presto! Account cancelled, fees waived etc.

I wouldn't touch them again with the proverbial.

Sofa_Sogood

Luis wrote:

BOOK AND CD CLUBS ARE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL!

I had a nightmare about 12 years ago with Brittania which sounds very similar (refused to acknowledge cancellation, sent me cds I didn't want even when I had ticked the 'don't want it' box).

In the end I got a solicitor friend to write a big scary letter which also threatened them with 'Watchdog' and local press, and Presto! Account cancelled, fees waived etc.

I wouldn't touch them again with the proverbial.

I'd put World Books at the top of the pile Luis, but I remember having hassle with Brittania many moons ago too. They never sent what you ordered, and the substitute was nothing like was it?

But I might take your advice about solicitors. I've got three of them in the family, so maybe one of them will sort out why I'm being charged by a debt collection agency for their fees - for a part order that I've been in dispute about since November.

There's only one I'd recommend and that's The Book People one, but I'm not sure everyone would agree with that either.

rushnowt

I can understand your frustration Jonno, I've had a similar experience with a book club myself TSP :mad: I also purchased the amount of books specified and wrote to cancel after this time, However each month I received a card with the editors choice and each month I would put a cross in it and send it back, but within a week or so the book would arrive I contacted TSP about this and the first time they said it was a mistake and to return the book, I told them as i hadnt ordered it they could collect it themselves, this went on for 3 months, until I finally got a letter from a debt collection agency regarding the outstanding money I supposedly owed, I wrote to them explaining what had happened with a copy of my letter I sent to TSP about the trouble I had with them and that the books had not been ordered and were ready to be collected anytime they wished.

I recieved no reply from TSP and the debt as been passed from one agency to another over the past 6 months. I refuse to pay for the cost of returning the books and they are still boxed awaiting collection. The problem is that my credit worthyness is obviously suffering because of the prats at TSP :mad: :mad:

Sofa_Sogood

Deep breaths rushnowt, I'm feeling your pain

Seriously though, has anyone ever tried to find an ISBN for some of these books? I couldn't find one when I tried to list one of the books to resell. (One I'd received early into the 'contract' but didn't have the sense to cancel or send back )

jonno_2

Despite my brother sending further letters to this book club, and me sending one by recorded delivery (which i checked and know they recieved ) they have continued to ignore.
They have just sent him a invoice for £26.78 saying that if payment is,nt made by return they will add a late payment charge of £4.50.
like you rushnowt he is concerned his good credit record is going to be in doubt just because of these ignorant people who cant be bothered to even try and communicate with people.
I am contacting Trading Standards who hopefully will try and solve this problem once and for all.
cheers
jonno

Sofa_Sogood

jonno wrote:

Despite my brother sending further letters to this book club, and me sending one by recorded delivery (which i checked and know they recieved ) they have continued to ignore.
They have just sent him a invoice for £26.78 saying that if payment is,nt made by return they will add a late payment charge of £4.50.
like you rushnowt he is concerned his good credit record is going to be in doubt just because of these ignorant people who cant be bothered to even try and communicate with people.
I am contacting Trading Standards who hopefully will try and solve this problem once and for all.
cheers
jonno

jonno? I sent an e-mail asking them to cancel/terminate everything. As far as I was concerned I'd fulfilled my contract, and as they weren't answering my e-mails, I asked my husband to sort it.

I found out he'd paid some debt collectors fees :mad: which I'm sure I wasn't liable for.

This is hard to believe for me, but last week they sent me another box of books (which I didn't even order or open - I hate the company so much they could even be free). I don't want their flaming books or letters anymore.

It's a bloody nightmare - but I'm determined that the books, and mails (not e-mails obviously), will be returned intact. I won't be beaten on this issue, and I won't involve solicitors if I can help it - despite them being 'free'.

I'll just urge everyone on this site, and elsewhere, to NOT use them as a way of buying cheap books. They're not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.

They're a disgrace and a nightmare.