Synapse Group, Inc., New Sub Magazines Magazine Rip Off Stamford Connecticut

I subscribed for two magazines, "Food and Wine" and "Travel + Leisure" through a promotion of this company's about a year ago. I noticed a $29 charge for the renewal of one of the magazines on my credit card, and received no notification about renewing the magazine at any time prior to the charge.

I called various numbers that can be found online related to the Synapse Group, and all led to a voice automated phone system with no options to speak directly to an operator. I followed the advice from above, and pressed "0" as many times as needed to finally speak to an operator (probably about five or six, each time the voice assuring me that there would be a 'long wait on hold' and that it's quicker to go through the recorded prompts). I was only on hold for about a minute before finally being able to speak with a representative of the company.

I explained to the person on the line that I was not notified that these renewal charges would be posted to my account, and that I would like to cancel the subscriptions for both magazines and would like the $29 refunded back to my account. The operator did have prompts that she had to go through, offering me six more months' worth of issues for only $2, even balking at my stern "no thanks" and telling me that it was foolish to pass up on such a good offer. I finally had her cancel both subscriptions (at least that's what I was told), and she stated that I should be receiving a refund on my card within 72 business hours. She then tried to hurry me off the line, asking if that was all she could do for me. I had to ask for a confirmation number for the transaction, as it was not volunteered at the end of the call. Hopefully within these '72 business hours' it all sorts itself out. Not a pleasant company to have to deal with again.

I too received a letter with a number to call to cancel my subscription to Cosmo Girl subscription. When I called it, it was just a recording saying that I just call a number (# starting with 10-.... something-I think that is international. Not sure though-They say it will cost you $5.90 for the call). Right away I went to the internet and found this Ripoff Report. I tried what the poster suggested but it did NOT work. Then I found the number to Cosmo Girl magazine and got a number from them (as well as verifying that Cosmo Girl remove me from any other promotions). When I called the number given to me, I went through an automated system and successfully canceled my subscription (at least it better be). I got a confirmation number and the voice said I would not receive any charges to my account.

I advise all who do this to WRITE DOWN THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER for proof and also the date and time of the request. This is the number I called... 1-877-210-0582.
Good Luck!

After much frustration over the Synapse Group and my inability to cancel the magazine trials I went straight to one of the magazines.....Entertainment Weekly. I called their customer service department and after being told by two of their representatives that there was no problem with the Synapse and/or New Sub Magazine I had to bully my way past customer service to get to a person in charge. It took me two tries with two different reps to finally get to talk to someone in charge at Entertainment Weekly. When I explained the situation with Synapse/New Sub Magazine the woman I spoke with was able to help me. She told me that when I called the (800) number provided by Synapse, to just keep pressing the 0 button over and over again and I would eventually get to a live person.

It worked and I was able to cancel all three of my trials and I got a cancellation number. I also advised my credit card company to not let any other charges go through from these people. Still, the person I eventually talked to at Synapse/New Sub Magazine insisted that they do tell callers how to reach a live person but that is a lie....they do not! They must think the callers are idiots. I told this person that I called back four separate times and chose a different option everytime and not once did I hear any type of choice on the automated system to reach a live person. Be careful of this group! If you can't get help with them go straight to the magazine that you are trying to cancel and get them to help you. I also advised Entertainment Weekly that they are using a fraudulant company to market free trials of their magazine. They had no idea of all the fraud reports on this marketing company.

The most ridiculous thing was that when I finally got a live person at Synapse/New Sub Magazine and told the customer service rep to cancel all of my trials she actually tried to offer me other trials! Unbelievable! I practically had to scream at her to stop with the offers.....why would I accept another offer when I spent the entire day trying to cancel the offers I already had.

This company is ripping people off. I accepted a free subscription to one of the magazines and paid a $2.00 charge for the processing but I found another charge for $5.90 on my credit card statement. I am disbuting that charge with my credit card company. Whatever you do, do not use a debit card with these people! They are liars and theives and I will still be reporting them to the CT Attorney General.