Is everyone out looking to scam you?

[S. C.]

Last week we had a water holding tank leak and flooded half the basement. Called the company since it was still under warranty. They called back, confirmed it was still under warranty and set up a day to install new tank. After they installed it THEN they said the warranty did not cover labor and said we owe them $180, they were here less than an hour. I feel they should have told us before they installed the new tank that labor was not covered. Dh and his brother could of done it themselves.

 

[SandrA9810]

When I finally signed up with the Orlando sentinal, I did a prepaid subscription with cash. There was no credit card on file for continued billing. Even after my 12 weeks were up, I still received the paper. About a month or so later, they started calling asking for the money for the extra papers. I said, I paid cash for 12 weeks. It's not my fault you kept dropping them off on my doorstep.
I did another 12 week subscription, again paid with cash upfront. For like 2 months afterwards I kept getting calls from them wanting me to continue. I said fine, you want to mail it to me out in California, I'll sign up for it. Then the guy says "sorry we can't do that". I told him, "then stop calling me".

When I disconnected the cable service, it was a month to month basis. I gave them a forwarding address to Texas, since I was here at the time, for the final bill. For three months afterwards I kept getting calls to sign up again. I said I cancelled the service and gave you a texas address, and right now I'm in California... so if you offer service here I'll think about signing up again.
I hardly answer my phone for unknown numbers these days, and haven't paid attention to see if they're still calling me.

 

[phred52]

Mine is a little different but still the same premise. We have dental insurance. Not the best but still dental insurance. For the kids we pay 20% out of pocket for cleanings and fillings, basically all work. So we go for our 6 month checkup and after our cleanings they say I owe $250. I said, "for what!!!" They said my insurance only pays for one flouride treatment per year and they did a second treatment so I have to pay 100%. With 3 kids that is $120 of the bill and the balance was the 20% from cleanings. I am still furious and not sure how to proceed. I did not pay for the flouride but I know they want that money. We need to go back and I am putting it off and thinking of switching dentists. Anyone else have this type of experience at the dentist?

Happened to us, too. I went in and calmly talked with the office manager face to face. They did knock something off. I asked for our files to be marked to do NOTHING without first asking mom or dad. No x-rays, no fluoride, no nothing but cleaning and exam. I also prepped the kids to refuse the obvious (x-rays). For years they would come out and explain everything before I did or did NOT okay it. As it should be as far as I'm concerned!

Once they did some dental x-ray on me that wasn't covered because it was sooner than 3 years since the last.... like one month shy. I've learned to be vocal asking if this or that is covered and how much!

 

[tripplanner2]

Happened to us, too. I went in and calmly talked with the office manager face to face. They did knock something off. I asked for our files to be marked to do NOTHING without first asking mom or dad. No x-rays, no fluoride, no nothing but cleaning and exam. I also prepped the kids to refuse the obvious (x-rays). For years they would come out and explain everything before I did or did NOT okay it. As it should be as far as I'm concerned!

Once they did some dental x-ray on me that wasn't covered because it was sooner than 3 years since the last.... like one month shy. I've learned to be vocal asking if this or that is covered and how much!

I tried to stay as calm as possible but I was very upset. Not nasty or anything, I was actually on the verge of tears. I just felt so scammed. They moved into a new office which is beautiful and has great video games and all but I really don't want to pay for all that. I was happy before with the small office and smaller bills. I have to make sure I am way more on top of them and make sure the kids ask for mom before they do anything.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Here's one - I got a renewal recently for a magazine that I was planning on not renewing. On the outside once it said "Past due". No it's not. I don't plan on renewing. Nothing I have it past due! Another time it said something like "final notice". Don't make it look like I "owe" something. It's a renewal notice - not a real bill.

I had this happen to me. I kept getting past due notices, with rude letters stating that I owed them money. It was really annoying. I didn't want the magazine renewed. I ended up going online to find their website to unsubscribe to the magazine. Their excuse was all subscriptions were Auto renewal.

 

[Swimalie]

I had this happen to me. I kept getting past due notices, with rude letters stating that I owed them money. It was really annoying. I didn't want the magazine renewed. I ended up going online to find their website to unsubscribe to the magazine. Their excuse was all subscriptions were Auto renewal.

How frustrating!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I thought the same thing when every month, I would get a renewal card with my Reader's Digest magazine. This would happen literally every month (still does), including the month after I had sent in a payment to renew it. I think that they are one of the leading offenders for this practice.

Reader's Digest has an offer where you get one gift subscription free with one paid subscription, so a friend and I take turns paying. This was her year, and the subscriptions just started in May? I'm already getting pitches to renew my subscription and give one free as a gift.

 

[SDSorority]

For the past year we have been receiving a magazine put out by our local newspaper. We never ordered it but it just started showing up. Last week DH (the subscription to the paper is in his name) got a bill for this magazine. I called this morning and told them we never ordered this. She said it was free for a year but now you need to pay for it.

I could see it if the bill said would you like to order this but it said amount due. So of course I told her to cancel it. How many people will just see this bill and pay it?????

We had this happen as well. AND got a notice that they would turn it over to a collection agency if I didn't pay. So, I paid because I'm a weenie. But the next bill I get, I'm writing CANCEL and sending it right back.

 

[marie1203]

I never pay even $1 if I don't know from what it is.

 

[hambirg]

Last week we had a water holding tank leak and flooded half the basement. Called the company since it was still under warranty. They called back, confirmed it was still under warranty and set up a day to install new tank. After they installed it THEN they said the warranty did not cover labor and said we owe them $180, they were here less than an hour. I feel they should have told us before they installed the new tank that labor was not covered. Dh and his brother could of done it themselves.

Check into this, because I think, depending on the state, they have to give you a written estimate. You are still probably liable because if they did the work and that's not covered by the warranty you still have to pay them. But $180 is unreasonable.

Btw. . .it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a friend or neighbor call that same company and ask what they charge to come out, plus the labor rate. Some companies just charge an hourly rate, but some have a service fee just for coming out too. Find out what theirs really is, as oppose to what they just decided to charge you with out letting you know up front.

 

[tinkermom23]

Similar thing but not magazines.
Last weeks Slumberland ad had twin size beds really low. We need 2 so I went in and looked around. Sales person showed me "best deal they have" and the cheapest was almost $300. I pull out the ad and asked about those. "Oh, those are bad, worse than a futon mattress, you don't want them, actually we don't even have them in the store because they are so bad. We can maybe order them for you but they aren't good at all "
Then why advertise them? To get me in the store. Aghhh!!!

 

[S. C.]

Check into this, because I think, depending on the state, they have to give you a written estimate. You are still probably liable because if they did the work and that's not covered by the warranty you still have to pay them. But $180 is unreasonable.

Btw. . .it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a friend or neighbor call that same company and ask what they charge to come out, plus the labor rate. Some companies just charge an hourly rate, but some have a service fee just for coming out too. Find out what theirs really is, as oppose to what they just decided to charge you with out letting you know up front.

Thank you for the info. Good idea about having someone call about the rates, we also felt $180 was unreasonable.

DH told them he would not sign the paper when they handed it to him and asked him to sign. The guy then said 'well, labor is not covered, we can take a check'. DH told him to mail it to us. At the time we figured when the bill comes in we would take it up with the owner.