Burnsville, Minnesota – May 20, 2014– Better
Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning
subscribers of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) to be aware of
phone calls and mailed notices regarding subscription renewals from United
Publishers Network, a company which operates under several different names and
is based out Medford, Oregon. This business has been given a rating of F, the
lowest rating possible, by BBB of Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington.
MSPBJ has advised their subscribers – via email –
that they have no relationship with United Publishers Network and that the
company is not authorized to offer their subscriptions. In that email, they
also note that United Publishers Network’s prices are far higher than theirs.
According
to BBB’s Business Review for United Publishers Network, there have been 885
complaints filed against them in the last three years. BBB of Alaska, Oregon
and Western Washington reports that United Publishers Network has resolved most
of those complaints; however, that BBB has “recognized a pattern of complaints
from consumers regarding improper billing and collection practices. Consumers allege
they receive bills from this company for magazines they currently have
subscriptions for, implying it is time for renewal. However consumers claim the
subscriptions are not expired, nor did they originally order through this
company.”
Narrative text in United Publishers Network’s BBB
Business Review goes on to say, “Consumers further allege the company's
renewal advertisement states it has the lowest renewal fee, but consumers find
that renewing directly through their magazine's publisher costs less. Consumers
also claim the company charges a $20 processing fee to cancel renewals.” BBB
notes the mailing sent by United Publishers Network regarding Minneapolis/St.
Paul Business Journal reads, “…by acting now, you can lock in at one of our
lowest rates.”
“Based on the Business Review maintained for United
Publishers Network by BBB of Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington, it’s very
clear this is how this company operates,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO
of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “They attempt to profit from confusion.
We ourselves (BBB) received this renewal notice.”
BBB
contacted the company and inquired about MSPBJ’s statement that United
Publishers Network was not authorized to offer their subscriptions. The
individual who answered the phone stated that they contract with magazine
clearinghouses that are authorized to offer subscriptions.
MSPBJ
advises people who have received calls or letters from United Publishers
Network to ignore them or to file complaints with BBB (bbb.org) and/or the Minnesota
Attorney General’s Office. They advise subscribers and potential subscribers
alike that renewal notices and subscription offers from MSPBJ will always
display an official logo and ask that payments be sent to their customer
service center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For any and all questions regarding renewal of subscriptions to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, company representatives can be contacted directly at 1-866-853-3661.
