mithsonian magazine - never ordered magazine but being dunned by collection agency

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on January 24, 2003:

From: Mary Kirpes [Email User] RE: Smithsonian magazine - never ordered magazine but being dunned by collection agency

Out of the blue I received a Smithsonian magazine, along with a couple of other magazines that I never ordered. I called each company and informed them that I did not order or want their magazines. Two of the magazines complied and took me off their lists. I never received another magazine from any of them, including Smithsonian.

Despite the fact that I was not getting the Smithsonian magazine I continued to get bills from them. I have called a couple of times, e-mailed them and sent them letters to stop billing me. I was told that it would be taken care of and that I would no longer get any bills from them.

Just this past week I received a letter from a collection co. telling me that I have not paid my Smithsonian bill and that they were going to report it to a credit agency. All this for a magazine that I neither ordered nor got more than one issue.

I have tried all I can to put a stop to their harassment, but I am at a loss as to what else I can do. I have perfect credit and do not want it ruined by some stupid magazine. My husband says to just pay the bill and I say "NO". Why should we be forced to pay for something we never got?