PC Gamer Magazine Subscription

While everybody and their brother highly rates this magazine based on content, I must take the opportunity to bash the management and its advertising tactics.

When you surf across PC Gamers web site, you cannot help but be impressed--sharp graphic images, good organization, and very easy to use. (Don?t worry this review is not about the web-site.) Also contained on the website is a free offer. The offer is for a free issue of the magazine.

Exact details of this offer are as follows:

?If I'm pleased with PC Gamer, I'll send just $24.95 for 11 more issues and CDROM's (12 issues/CDROM's in all) -- that's a savings of over 70% off the cover price. I understand that I will be registered as a subscriber and if I am not fully satisfied I will return the invoice marked "cancel" and be under no further obligation. I'll have paid nothing, owe nothing, and the free issue is mine to keep!"

Sounds simple enough. So I signed up for the free issue and received it within 2 weeks.

After I received the magazine issue a billing notice came in the mail. The notice thanked me for my subscription and requested me to remit payment. Since I was not interested in the magazine, per the rules of the offer posted on PC Gamers web site, I returned the invoice with the words cancellation on it. That was four weeks ago.

Today, I received another notice in the mail. I thought it was very rude. It exactly states (even where bolded and underlined...sorry that tags for underlining are not working but they must be shown for accuracy):

?Your subscription payment is seriously overdue. We were forced to suspend service on your account. We did everything you asked, didn?t we? You asked us to send you PC Gamer. So we did. You asked us to bill you. We did that too. All we asked was that you pay your bill. But you didn?t. Why? If there is a problem, please let us know. We?ll do everything possible to fix the matter. Or, if you already mailed your payment, please accept our thanks. Your account will be credited and your subscription reinstated. Otherwise, we must hear from you- immediately! To protect you good credit status, mail your payment today!! John Barnes, Credit Manager?

I basically took offense to the fact that this letter stresses (through bolding and underlining) that I am negating my duties as a good faith consumer thus defaulting our contract. Of course some of you may say that PC Gamer did put in a caveat that says they will work with me to resolve any problems. But that does little good after the company accuses me, insults my net-worth, and threatens to damage my good credit status.

This company seems to use both the internet and the mail as the means to bully people into paying a one year subscription notice. It is exactly like a bait and switch you see at a sleazy car dealership. The company entices you to a free magazine, but somehow chooses to ignore the cancellation notice. Then they try to bully you into purchasing the whole subscription merely because they say that you violated the law and now its your responsibility to ?protect your good credit.?

Gestapo tactics all the way

So you may ask what I did. Well if you still want to read I sent the following letter with ANOTHER cancellation notice:

?Thank you for your inquiry about my account. I regret to inform you that I did not send in my subscription payment because I never subscribed to your service. I simply took part in your free trial. I previewed your magazine and decided that I was not fully satisfied with your product. Furthermore, upon your first subscription notice, I promptly returned the invoice with CANCEL written on it (per your web page instructions).

All I can say is one of two things happened. #1. My return notice was lost in the mail or #2, your staff was at fault at not processing the cancellation properly.

Either way I really do not appreciate the automated letter from your organization that insinuates that your company is not at fault for this incident and that I was in default of my ?agreement.? I could not be default in the agreement because I have only received one magazine. I ensure you that if another magazine comes to my address, I will mark it ?RETURN TO SENDER.?

So in GOOD FAITH, I am sending this cancellation notice, per the terms of your website AGAIN. I trust that you will ensure that this is processed properly. By the way, you owe me 33 cents for the additional stamp that I had to expend on your worthless company.?

We will see what happens with my relationship from here and I will keep you posted...

The Bottom Line:
I would not recommend dealing with this company on any level dealing with your money. Their lack of tactful operating practices has me fearful of their competence. Since they post their reviews on-line anyways, save your cash and review the new games and gaming technology for free on the web. You may save yourself some headache should your account ever be considered seriously overdue by no fault of your own.