OVERCHARGED For Newspaper - LIVID!

[Lucille1963]

DH and I have been trying to economize and we were talking to my mother about how much she pays for her newspaper. She said that she started on a promotional rate, but she asked to keep it and they let her.

We have been subscribing for 10 years and after the initial promotional rate we have just been paying the regular cost.

I have no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with is that we just went on line to check for any specials and we realized that we are paying $7.00 MORE than the regular, undiscounted rate.

I am royally ticked off.

I almost feel like its a good thing that the offices are closed until tomorrow morning.

Any ideas how I should word my complaint? I'm going to see what kind of records we have to see how long this has been going on.

Any thoughts would be very helpful.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

DH and I have been trying to economize and we were talking to my mother about how much she pays for her newspaper. She said that she started on a promotional rate, but she asked to keep it and they let her.

We have been subscribing for 10 years and after the initial promotional rate we have just been paying the regular cost.

I have no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with is that we just went on line to check for any specials and we realized that we are paying $7.00 MORE than the regular, undiscounted rate.

I am royally ticked off.

I almost feel like its a good thing that the offices are closed until tomorrow morning.

Any ideas how I should word my complaint? I'm going to see what kind of records we have to see how long this has been going on.

Any thoughts would be very helpful.

Sorry but I don't have any ideas about how to phrase your complaint. When I complained to my trash hauler's office staff, they weren't at all cooperative when I explained my neighbor was getting a much better rate as a new customer than I ever got and that I had never received a promotional rate but have been a longtime, loyal customer for several years.

On the other hand, I have a friend who cancels their newspaper subscription every few months after the initial promotion price expires and then calls them back (not sure when) and asks what their promotional rate is for a new subscription. It seems to always work for him.

Good luck tomorrow. Hope you get some satisfaction and a better deal.

 

[msmayor]

I think the most you should expect is a reduction in your rate on a going-forward basis to the rate you found.

There are SO many goods and services that have different pricing tiers; its up to us as consumers to be vigilant and check regularly to find the reductions and ask for them. We cannot expect a business to willingly do the work for us.

 

[PinkRhombus]

we just went on line to check for any specials and we realized that we are paying $7.00 MORE than the regular, undiscounted rate.

I'd call and ask them to explain themselves. You can ask a credit back to your account...may not get one, but I'd ask.

 

[ILoveKohls]

I would ask for a credit on the past months and if they don't, then I would ask for a few free months. I'm so sorry that happened to you. It reminds me of a news story I saw on airlines, where one person pays $700 for their seat and the person sitting next to them paid $200.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Most newspapers are hurting financially right now so they won't want to lose you as a customer. They may not offer you a refund but they might give you a discount going forward. Our neighbor wanted to cancel his service because he wasn't reading the paper much anymore. The agent on the phone pleaded with him to continue his subscription. He finally decided to take the 3-day weekend delivery (Fri, Sat, Sun) but give up the rest of the week. The agent gave him a discount on the 3-day rate to keep his business. Even though you're rightfully ticked off, I would approach the customer service person nicely and see where that gets you.

Speaking of subscriptions, I've been getting Good Housekeeping for over 20 years. When I get the renewal, it's always for the full price but I see offers in the magazine for much less. The offers never say they're for first-time subscribers only. So when I mail my payment, I rip a card out of the magazine and send it with a note saying "I want this rate." They've never refused.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Check your cable bill- I found they'd done something similar as well. It's annoying as all get out. So much for encouraging customer loyalty.

 

[Crystal824]

Sorry but I don't have any ideas about how to phrase your complaint. When I complained to my trash hauler's office staff, they weren't at all cooperative when I explained my neighbor was getting a much better rate as a new customer than I ever got and that I had never received a promotional rate but have been a longtime, loyal customer for several years.

On the other hand, I have a friend who cancels their newspaper subscription every few months after the initial promotion price expires and then calls them back (not sure when) and asks what their promotional rate is for a new subscription. It seems to always work for him.

Good luck tomorrow. Hope you get some satisfaction and a better deal.

We do this. We cancel for 3 months and then start again. I like getting the paper, but I really only read the headlines except for on Sunday. It just isn't worth it for me to pay the regular rate. During our "off" periods, we go buy the Sunday paper at the grocery store for coupons and reading.

 

[Starbrite]

I think the most you should expect is a reduction in your rate on a going-forward basis to the rate you found.

There are SO many goods and services that have different pricing tiers; its up to us as consumers to be vigilant and check regularly to find the reductions and ask for them. We cannot expect a business to willingly do the work for us.

 

[SandrA9810]

When I subscribed to the paper. I would do it at stands at like the fair, baseball games... that sort of thing. They would tell me the promo price and asked for how long I wanted the paper for. I've done CC payments and cash payments. At the end of my subscription that was pre paid, I'd recieve a letter asking if I would like to continue with a new payment or cancel with no payment. Sometimes I would get a few extra papers, but never charged for them.

Which reminds me... kari said I could get the paper once we moved into our place.

 

[powellrj]

The same thing happened to us and I called about it and was rudely told that was their policy, so I just cancelled right then. They never tried to get me to stay and have never tried to get me back. I guess I wasn't that important to them.

We have a subscription to another newspaper that we have had for over 30 years that I am getting ready to cancel. I love getting the newspaper, but I can't justify the cost anymore.

 

[jam217]

I agree with the other poster that at best you'll probably just get a better rate for your upcoming subscription and not past papers.

One of my co-workers always manages to get a discount but she's very diligent about when her subscription on the discount rate is ready expire because as soon as it expires, the regular rate kicks in. She marks it on her calendar, then calls and asks if they're offering any deals.

 

[SaraJayne]

Though I wouldn't be "livid" over $7, I'd call and nicely ask what can be done about the price differential.

Being friendly gets you a whole lot further than being demanding and angry.

 

[Kellydelly]

Though I wouldn't be "livid" over $7, I'd call and nicely ask what can be done about the price differential.

Being friendly gets you a whole lot further than being demanding and angry.

Good plan! We have had Netflix for years and the rental price has dropped from what we originally payed. They don't automatically just drop everyone's fees for current customers because of new price points.

 

[okeydokey]

When my yearly sub at the discount rate comes up for renewal I call to see if they will extend it. They always say no and I say to cancel the subscription. Within two weeks they call back and offer the promotional rate for another year.

 

[Nancyg56]

I forgot to renew my subscription. I was called and was offered a really good rate to renew. The CSR then told me that all I needed to do was call each time my subscription was up and ask for a promotional rate.

I would call and ask if it was possible to revise my rate, I would not ask for a credit or rebate but it never huts to ask for a rate reduction.

 

[dancin'girl]

Same thing happened to us with our newspaper subscription. We found out our neighbor's bill (for a 6 month subscription) was $25 less than ours. Asked around and it seemed that our rate was the highest. I called and they wouldn't do anything for me. Was told that was my rate. No explanation. So, I just cancelled it. I guessed that I would be receiving calls to re-subscribe, but no calls! Just like a pp said - I guess they didn't want me as a customer that badly! Which is too bad because I know our newspaper is hurting right now.

 

[Lucille1963]

Thank you for all of your thoughts.

The word LIVID came into place because I had no idea how long this has been going on. I have subscribed to this paper for 10 years and the only promo code was the original one.

I agree with all who said I should have been reading my bills closer.

I just called and immediately asked to speak to a supervisor. I explained my situation and she explained (in A LOT of words) that she would have to speak to the promotions department but she could give me TEN CENTS a week off what I am paying now. I explained (in not a lot a lot of words) that her offer was definitely not good enough. I have the all the bills going back 18 months (I wish I had more) that show the overcharge and in that time the quality of the paper has diminished significantly. She agreed to credit me the difference for those billing cycles and will have the promotions department contact me to negotiate the rate going forward.

I just hate the idea that the long term customers are being messed with. Like I said earlier I was fine with paying full price, just don't stick me for more!

Hopefully the Promotions Dept will have a nice, fair deal to offer. If not I'll let the credit run out cancel, and possibly renew with a promo. Or just subscribe to the NY Times so I can read some actual news for a change.


Thanks again Everyone!