American Choice Readers Ignored my threat to file a lawsuit and is ruining my credit! Great Falls Montana

I was called and told I won a $1000 online shopping spree, as were many people. I was told I had to purchase magasines in order to receive this so-called "shopping spree" and I agreed. (I later found this is illegal to do; you are required by law to tell the consumer there is no purchase necessary when winning something like that.)

They called to confirm that I was agreeing to purchase the magasines and told me they were recording the phone call. I wish I could have a copy of this phone call; when I called to cancel my subscription after NEVER receiving magasines or the internet-money, they told me I had three days to cancel and I'd passed those three days. I was never told there was a cancellation time period.

I threatened to file a lawsuit if they continued to charge my account, and the woman I talked to told me the man who confirmed my order didn't exist and ignored me when I told her I wanted them to cancel my order and take my name off of their list. (They'd given my credit card number to other businesses as well. Also illegal.) She said she would send something for me to get my credit card number erased from their system. I never received it.

They continued to charge my credit card and I finally had to call and have my credit card number changed. They reversed the charges and ACR never disputed the reversed charges. After I reversed the charges, I started to receive magasines! I tried to call, but could never contact anyone.

Today, a collections agency called to inform me America's Choice Readers wanted me to pay them for services I'd cancelled. I refused to make a payment of any sort and threatened a lawsuit once again. I was told if I didn't make a payment, it would have a negative effect on my credit.

I don't know what to do. I'm 19 years old and have never filed a lawsuit of any kind. Everything this company has done to me is not only unethical but absolutely illegal.

Verta
Minneapolis, Minnesota
U.S.A.