Pacific Coast Clearing Services Scam magazine sales Gig Harbor Washington

Started out as an innocent college freshman trying to help out another "college" student trying to make some cash. My daughter, at school in California was taken in by a sales pitch from a door-to-door magazine salesman.

Call her ignorant, naive, or whatever, but she thought she would help this guy out. So her and her roommates decided to get a one (1) year subscription from this person. After the sales pitch, they signed on the dotted line and gave the guy a credit card number for payment. As it turns out, she signed, THEN he filled out the sales receipt. After agreeing to a one (1) year subscription for $26, the "sales" person actually marked off a three (3) year subscription for $78. Ok, a college kid didn't read the fine print prior to signing. She was relying on the honesty of the "sales" person.

The night she bought the subscription, she then noticed the wrong amount and the wrong length of the subscription. She then called the number on the back of the sales receipt as it said she had three (3) days to cancel, that's after the salesperson told her she had ten (10) days to cancel. On first call, she received a recorded message that "all representatives are currently busy, please call back tomorrow." Then the phone automatically hung up. She called for five (5) days before she actually got a live person to answer the phone and, of course, they told her that it was to late to cancel as it was past the three days. They said that she signed a legally binding contract and she was obligated to pay and that they (the company) could do nothing about it.

This is a great scam for the company because all they have to do is say that the salesman was not trained that way and they don't advocate this type of sales tactic. What a load. If a company doesn't have any control of their "sales" staff, they should not be in business or at least pay the consequences for their shady sales tactics. My belief is the company knows full well what is happening. I did a google search and found bunches of complaints about this company throughout the country. Many were by different states Attorney Generals.

Long story short, the great mis-fortune for this company is that they happen to be in our home town. We were able to track them down and confront them. Prior to entering their office, my wife called the number on the back of the receipt and got the same automated message and hang up. As she entered the office, she noticed all of the office staff sitting at their desk doing who know what, but none of them were on the phone. Only after several rude and snide remarks from the worker bee that "greeted" us, did we threaten (not really a threat as we have followed thru) to go to the local police department, Better Business Bureau, and County Prosecutors office, as well as the State Attorney General, did they relent.

We are one of the (I'm certain) very fortunate few that were able to re-coup payment from this company. Had we not been located in their town, I'm sure we would not have been able to do this.

The life lesson learned for my college freshman is never, never, NEVER buy anything from any door-to-door sales people.

Chas.
Gig Harbor, Washington
U.S.A.