I responded to an introductory offer from Books Direct to receive some titles at a greatly reduced price. Acceptance of their offer would commit a customer to subscribe to four or five books a year at their listed price. The set of books duly arrived. After inspecting the titles I decided they were of no interest to me and I duly returned the parcel of books. Fine.
However, I kept receiving email offers and catalogs through the post from the bookseller. I try to reduce the amount of junk mail as much as possible, therefore I went online to have my name deleted from their data base. When I attempted to unsubscribe, the web page asked for a Membership Number. Since I didn’t have a membership number I did not complete the form. The emails and catalogs continued to arrive. I attempted to phone their offices but was unable to connect directly to a representative.
Since the only way to be removed from their data base was to provide a membership number I finally, in frustration, asked for one. That was when I fell into their carefully laid trap. It now appears that, as a member, I have committed myself to accepting their original offer. Which, of course, I did not. I went back to their website and completed the form to unsubscribe. That did not end the matter. I received a notice from a collection agency. Books Direct apparently want to charge me for terminating membership and, apparently, for the books I returned.
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