Atlantic Circulation, Mountville, PA - sent refund then stopped payment on refund check

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on July 10, 2002:

From: stygia [stygia AT iVillage.com]

RE: Atlantic Circulation, Mountville, PA - sent refund then stopped payment on refund check

I would like to issue a complaint against Atlantic Circulation, Inc. 2 College Ave P.O. Box 448, Mountville, PA 17554-0448. On 4-26-2002 a salesman for their company came to my door claiming to be a participant in a youth program that builds confidence and public speaking skills in the young people involved.

This turned out to be a lie used to get in the door. Once he was in my home and I had determined I could not afford to help the "kid" by buying a subscription, he would not leave until I gave him a check for a subscription. He claimed that he would still get half-credit for a subscription if I cancelled within 3 business days. I went ahead and signed up for the magazine and wrote a check. The cancellation was postmarked on the second business day after the transaction and was well within the stated legal time limit. The contract stated that my refund would be returned within 10 business days. It took over a month to receive the refund.

After I deposited it in my account, I was notified by my bank that Atlantic Circulation, Inc. had stopped payment on the check, and not only was I out the money I paid them, but I was also charged a fee by my bank for having the check returned. They did not send me any explanation why they stopped payment and getting through to them via phone has thus far, been impossible.

The most disturbing thing in all of this, however, is that I discovered that they are a member of the Better Business Bureau. All I want is my money back, and I intend to take legal action against them to get it. Ivalynn Crenshaw

stygia AT ivillage.com