National Magazine Exchange ripoff fraudulent notification of $1,000,000.winnings after being asked to be removed from list Clearwater Florida

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of REAL rip-off sweepstakes out there. ANY that requires you to give up some of your hard-earned csh to join is definitely a rip-off. The NME sweepstakes is just like Publishers clearinghouse. They are a magazine sales company hired by that list of 300 magazines to sell them. They send out those mailers to entice you to call.

It is OBVIOUSLY nothing that says you have already won! give me a break. To think so reflects your intelligence. This company would not get any calls if they said call for good prices on magazine subscriptions(although most of the people crying here are probably the kind attracted to anything that says good prices, or free) Most are upset because they feel duped. If they could read the mailer, it clearly states what its about.

I called, spoke with Carol and kindly would not purchase magazines. They said my name was enterd. I know the odds are astronomical but hey, it cost me approx 3minutes to do so. Unlike reading this gargantuan posting which has amused me for almost an hour!

Maybe people think they prey on the less wise people of our society. Maybe so. Always remember, Buyer Beware. I am neither sick, elderly, infirm, or a juvenile. If anything I should complain about all of the time this report has cost me, but it was quite amusing, kind of like watching Jerry Springer, it boosts my self-esteem

I AM AN EMPLOYEE AND FIRST OF ALL GOOD LUCK FINDING MR. HANES. FIRSTLY CAUSE ITS MS. HANES AND SECONDLY SHE NO LONGER WORKS FOR THE COMPANY AND SEEING AS WE TAKE 20000 CALLS A DAY IM SURE THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HER SO MOST LIKELY YOU WILL NOT FIND HER. IF YOU WANT TO FIND SOME ONE CONTACT BILL HOOD WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY (AND IM SURE YOU CAN FIND HIS INFO) SECONDLY YES THE MAIL PEICE IS VERY DECEPTIVE IN THE WAY N WHICH IT IS WRITTEN BUT NO WHERE ON IT DOES IT SAY YOU ARE ALREADY A WINNER. THE WAY WE GET YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IS THAT WE RECEIVE CUSTOMER LISTS FROM PLACES SUCH AS, IF YOU FILLED OUT INFO FOR SWEEPSTAKES AT GROCERY STORES OR MALLS IN WHICH YOU COULD WIN A TRIP TO THE SPA OR A VACATION AND SO ON. THERE IS GOING TO BE A WINNER AND IF YOU GAVE THEM YOUR ID NUMBER YOU ARE ENTERED, THE WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON DEC 28 2007.
i KNOW YOU PROBABLY THINK I'M SATAN FOR WORKING FOR THIS COMPANY BUT IT REALLY ISN'T BAD AS LONG AS WHEN YOU CALL IN YOUR FIRM ABOUT NOT WANTING MAGAZINES WE ARE HARMLESS OHH AND TIP FOR THE FUTURE IF YOU CALL IN AGAIN JUST TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES WHEN THEY ASK IF YOU CARRY A CREDIT CARD NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE CALL SAY NO AND SAY YOU DON'T CARRY A DEBIT CARD ALSO RIGHT AFTER THAT YOU WILL BE SENT TO AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WHERE YOUR FREE TO HANG UP SORRY EVERY ONE.

Charles you are a real jerk. I just noticed all these ridiculous postings you have made. The truth is that NME is an aggressive predatory pushy magazine sales company. And then there is the matter of the FTC fine of $535,000 that NME paid ? and don't babble that it wasn't your script and that it wasn't magazines. NME sells lots of products including magazines. FACT - NME USED THE SCRIPT REGARDLESS OF WHO WROTE IT and people got RIPPED OFF - you can not deny that - which is why NME got fined by the FTC

And the mags are not such a good deal. I won't bore people with the endless details as to why. And don't you babble about how people can change the mags. The publishers are not going to pay you a $5 bonus to push a bonus mag and then let the caller cancel and change to a non bonus mag. You know what I am talking about.

And by the way a lot of people do care about what happened to Chuck D. NME burns through up to 4000 employees a year - people QUIT when then figure out what an awful place NME is.

Click .......... get it

Charles you are a real jerk. I just noticed all these ridiculous postings you have made. The truth is that NME is an aggressive predatory pushy magazine sales company. And then there is the matter of the FTC fine of $535,000 that NME paid ? and don't babble that it wasn't your script and that it wasn't magazines. NME sells lots of products including magazines. FACT - NME USED THE SCRIPT REGARDLESS OF WHO WROTE IT and people got RIPPED OFF - you can not deny that - which is why NME got fined by the FTC

And the mags are not such a good deal. I won't bore people with the endless details as to why. And don't you babble about how people can change the mags. The publishers are not going to pay you a $5 bonus to push a bonus mag and then let the caller cancel and change to a non bonus mag. You know what I am talking about.

And by the way a lot of people do care about what happened to Chuck D. NME burns through up to 4000 employees a year - people QUIT when then figure out what an awful place NME is.

Click .......... get it

Charles you are a real jerk. I just noticed all these ridiculous postings you have made. The truth is that NME is an aggressive predatory pushy magazine sales company. And then there is the matter of the FTC fine of $535,000 that NME paid ? and don't babble that it wasn't your script and that it wasn't magazines. NME sells lots of products including magazines. FACT - NME USED THE SCRIPT REGARDLESS OF WHO WROTE IT and people got RIPPED OFF - you can not deny that - which is why NME got fined by the FTC

And the mags are not such a good deal. I won't bore people with the endless details as to why. And don't you babble about how people can change the mags. The publishers are not going to pay you a $5 bonus to push a bonus mag and then let the caller cancel and change to a non bonus mag. You know what I am talking about.

And by the way a lot of people do care about what happened to Chuck D. NME burns through up to 4000 employees a year - people QUIT when then figure out what an awful place NME is.

Click .......... get it

Thank goodness I read this. I got mail today which is Odd.. How these people got my name I have no clue.. A Important notice comes to me in a urgent pink envelope has important mail written all over it Says... OFFICIALL NOTICE.. is signed by hand.. I'm thinking OH NO.. Jury duty, bills, even had to strip at the side ..FRONT PAGE....

WE ARE TRYING TO REACH YOU REGARDING YOUR
$2,100,000.00 id#

SINCERELY PAT HAINES, SALES REPRESENTATIVE

EXPIRATION NOTICE: WE MUST HEAR FROM YOU BY THE DEALINE ON THE FRONT OF THIS MAILER.oTHERWISE YOUR ID WILL EXPIRE.

I turn it over and in small writting, in all the ect ect


You have not yet won. No Purchase is necessary, Your entry must be received by the date specified elsewhere in this offer by 11:59opm (et) on 12/15/2007 whichever is sooner..

On down...
Winner selection... Winners will be determined in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received on or about 12/28/2007 by a independent judging organization whose decisions are final..

I just thought ok this is a scam come online and make sure...

Chuck in the above posting you stated I will stop the day the company returns to the practices and policies it had when it was founded. When it becomes again the company that I once worked for. Or has its doors shut, voluntarily or involuntarily. Not before. That is my choice Charles and my business.

Chuck have they returned to those practices and policies? Chuck have the doors shut?
Chuck is it too soon for you to leave??? Is Charles really part of management?

I think charles is a trip if he makes $41,000 a year as a trainer why is he infavor of a union? Huh? I t is really hard for them to realize that some people are doing this for fairness and justice not greed as charles likes to think money is not everything justice for all is If specail data is allowed to get away with this other companies will also if you go to the american workers web site you will see it is a plan for high turnover call centers which of course special data is "All that is necessary for evil to florish is for good men to do nothing "Do something sign a union card help bring justice to special data processing

Aparantly Charles you have appointed yourself moderator, content judge and censor of this site. In case you didn't read it, the letter from Betty was directed to me, so at the very least you should mind your own business.

This site is a forum for those who have issues with this company for whatever reason. If the editors of this website deem letters to be inappropriate, they will not publish them. Get it Charles? It's their site, so do not presume to lecture us. You don't like it, too d**n bad. Hire your own webmaster and start your own site, then you can make your own rules.

As to my animosity towards the company, if you are so curious about it ask Sam Salvo or Robert Moravek or Ron Kirkhoff over in verification they will tell you all about it. Dan DeGregorio over in transition will not only give you my reasons, but also my background. Honestly Charles I couldn't care less if you believe what I write or not, little man.

I will stop the day the company returns to the practices and policies it had when it was founded. When it becomes again the company that I once worked for. Or has its doors shut, voluntarily or involuntarily. Not before. That is my choice Charles and my business. Until then, this is only ONE of several forums that I use to achieve that end, they will verify that also.

Now I am truly sorry if I am frustrating you in your efforts to provide spin control for Bill Hood.

Incidentally, I have always been the first one to say that the magazine deal is a good one. It is their methods and ethical practices that are flawed. They have also used many different price points over the last 20 or so years, including $2.29 per week for a five year package which equals out to $595.40. You should have known that also. See Charles, you don't even know that much about the company you are so ardently defending, well Bill always did value loyal lap dogs, for a little while at least.

As to their honesty, a Half Million Dollar fine from the FTC and the Federal Courts speak volumes about that subject. If SDP is one of the best companies out there, Lord help Tampa Bay.

Chuck you are ruining this website! Quit posting about how your were wrong, and "how SDP fired you for no reason what-so-ever."

Its becoming stupid, why hold so much animosity? I serouly doubt they walked by and asked you to pick a number between 1-100 and because you picked 10 they fired you?

This webite is about rip-off and its a tool for consumers, no one cares what happened to you. Frankly most of it is mostlikely lies.

I personally am for the "Union" not because its so horrible here, but because I am greedy, same reason you all want the union. SDP is one of the best employers out there, try working for Publix or Taco Bell, and well see if you make 41k/yr like I do.

And for the LAST TIME people need to learn to follow direction and POST thier own Rip-Off reports.

Nothing SDP says or does is anywhere close to the "grey" area. Our scipt is VERY clear and forces the consumer to understand what we have to offer. The only reason people want to cancle is because they do not have the capital to accept such an AWESOME deal.

Its possible to get 8 Magazines for almost 11 cents an issue. Just get a bunch of weekly magazines.

Nothing consumber is unethical either, there is NO false or mis-representation. Its is IMPOSSIBLE to get charges $700+ like april claimes. Imossible! The Max they you can get charge is like $200 for 4 whole years. And you dont Have to take it for 4 years either, there are many options.

Now only post here is you are rebuttling the orginal poster. If you have any other conserns MAKE YOUR ON REPORT.

Chuck you are ruining this website! Quit posting about how your were wrong, and "how SDP fired you for no reason what-so-ever."

Its becoming stupid, why hold so much animosity? I serouly doubt they walked by and asked you to pick a number between 1-100 and because you picked 10 they fired you?

This webite is about rip-off and its a tool for consumers, no one cares what happened to you. Frankly most of it is mostlikely lies.

I personally am for the "Union" not because its so horrible here, but because I am greedy, same reason you all want the union. SDP is one of the best employers out there, try working for Publix or Taco Bell, and well see if you make 41k/yr like I do.

And for the LAST TIME people need to learn to follow direction and POST thier own Rip-Off reports.

Nothing SDP says or does is anywhere close to the "grey" area. Our scipt is VERY clear and forces the consumer to understand what we have to offer. The only reason people want to cancle is because they do not have the capital to accept such an AWESOME deal.

Its possible to get 8 Magazines for almost 11 cents an issue. Just get a bunch of weekly magazines.

Nothing consumber is unethical either, there is NO false or mis-representation. Its is IMPOSSIBLE to get charges $700+ like april claimes. Imossible! The Max they you can get charge is like $200 for 4 whole years. And you dont Have to take it for 4 years either, there are many options.

Now only post here is you are rebuttling the orginal poster. If you have any other conserns MAKE YOUR ON REPORT.

Chuck you are ruining this website! Quit posting about how your were wrong, and "how SDP fired you for no reason what-so-ever."

Its becoming stupid, why hold so much animosity? I serouly doubt they walked by and asked you to pick a number between 1-100 and because you picked 10 they fired you?

This webite is about rip-off and its a tool for consumers, no one cares what happened to you. Frankly most of it is mostlikely lies.

I personally am for the "Union" not because its so horrible here, but because I am greedy, same reason you all want the union. SDP is one of the best employers out there, try working for Publix or Taco Bell, and well see if you make 41k/yr like I do.

And for the LAST TIME people need to learn to follow direction and POST thier own Rip-Off reports.

Nothing SDP says or does is anywhere close to the "grey" area. Our scipt is VERY clear and forces the consumer to understand what we have to offer. The only reason people want to cancle is because they do not have the capital to accept such an AWESOME deal.

Its possible to get 8 Magazines for almost 11 cents an issue. Just get a bunch of weekly magazines.

Nothing consumber is unethical either, there is NO false or mis-representation. Its is IMPOSSIBLE to get charges $700+ like april claimes. Imossible! The Max they you can get charge is like $200 for 4 whole years. And you dont Have to take it for 4 years either, there are many options.

Now only post here is you are rebuttling the orginal poster. If you have any other conserns MAKE YOUR ON REPORT.

On August 25, 2003 a letter of intent was filed in the HR office of SDP to unionize the workforce at SDP. Meetings, rallys and picnicks were held to recruit supporters, hold an election and give the employees a voice in their own futures.

Tracts were posted on the employee bullatin board to spread the word, to explain how to put the union in place and why it was needed. I PERSONALLY stood outside the building sweating my a*s off in the sun, battleing security and being photographed by Senior Management (Robert Moravek) while handing out leaflets and standing with a union I could not EVER join...why couldn't I join you ask? Because all this happened FOUR MONTHS after I was terminated. When all this was going on aside from a few brave souls such as Eileen, Jeff, Karen, LaVonne, William and a few others, where were the other employees? Hiding under their desks quaking in fear of losing their precious telemarketing jobs (as if they are hard to find in Tampa Bay) and sucking up to Bill Hood and the rest of Management while they put up literature telling all of you how much they love and respect you and a Union was disruptive and unnecessary...you all bought into it and now you are reaping the consequences of your collective cowardace, lazieness and apathy.

The wolf is now collecting his due as is the nature of the wolf. The sheep are being slaughtered as is the fate of sheep everywhere, the employees had a choice...and they chose. I have no sympathy for you now. If you can still organize, do it for your own sakes. An unorganized workforce in the state of Florida has virtually no rights, employers such as Bill Hood know this and they will use you, abuse you and discard you. Why? Because there are even more idiots out there to replace you who are more than willing to put up with the same treatment for even less pay and benefits, and Bill knows it.

Happy Holidays.

Hello old friend Well they did it again to us Special Data just cancelled our insurance it will end December 30 right after christmas it was a nice gift from them .They are experts at spin control they actually tried to con us into believing they were doing us a favor now we have much more control yea right we are losing major medical and having 2 supllments instead one called american workers and the other a Aflac supplement how dare they we have people working with cancer treatments our good employees are leaving in droves Please people while there is still a chance sign a union card Friday I had to hug crying people in the middle of chemo Shame on them

My conclusion:

N.M.E - Unethical: yes
Illegal: no
employees: just trying to make a living

consumers - stupid: no
careless: yes
want $1million: who doesn't?


After all the dust has settled, here is the ultimate question:

Has anyone who has called N.M.E, either with or without purchasing a subscription, ever been award the grand-winning $1million? It is understood that the grand prize money is awarded in annual payments, but is there any documentation showing that an actual consumer has won the $1million sweepstakes.

If so, can anyone provide this information?

Number one, Posting the request to have your name taken of "the LIST" on this forum will do absolutly nothing, SDP DBA NME does not look at this site, at all. Beside you give absolutly no information on who you are so, its impossible anyway :).

Two, If you want to be removed there are two [2] ways to do it. One, call in give your ID number to the person who answers and ask to be removed, boom done. And two, if you look at the back of the mail piece it had an Opt-out line to call, I personally haven't called or know where or what that does, but its the opt-out line.

As for your "Brutal/Primitive" We're located at: 16120 U.S. Nineteen North, Clearwater, Florida, 33764-9085.

And if you still need help: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=US&addtohistory=&searchtype=address&cat=&address=16120%20Us%20Highway%2019%20N&city=Clearwater&state=FL&zipcode=33764%2d6862&search=%20%20Search%20%20&searchtab=address

And Junta, did you actually get the magazines? If so, How many months? How many total? Did you get the watch/free gift? Your suppost to post a rip-off. But I fail to see one.

To Charles,

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, I'm funny. Its all fun and games until $h!t hits the fan. Now I had already emailed you guys to get me off the list and hopefully you guys would comply and I had paid my 67.08 to ya'll and hopefully I will no longer be subscribed to your magazines. You want me to keep you posted about my attacks? Perhaps you haven't notice not to underestimate your opponents correct? Anyhow, once again, I would appriciate it if NME can remove me from their list for good. I'm not gonna do the attack in a civil way, its more like a what people called "Brutal" way or "Primitive". *Yawn* how many markings were on the butt stock of my weapon before I set my foot off of that sorry ar$e country? 5 was it? I'm already looking for 6 plus.

Your Funny, but keep us posted on your attack, what your doing and how its going.

And for everyone else, Its like getting a free lotto ticket, all you have to do is stand in the line at the store next to the candy and mags, if you dont want the candy or mags dont get 'em. But if you see the deal grab them while there cheep :)

Well, I got one of these famous Million doller notices. So I looked it up online and found this website. Thanks to everyone who has been so constructive about figuring out what the deal is with this business. Well, after reading many of the posts, I decided to call NME. I called the number they gave me and the lady that answered was able to give me a number for their Customer Service Department. I called that number and asked them to remove me from their list. They were very kind and courteous and obviously get calls to have names taken off the list all the time. If you wish to call them up and ask to be removed, here is their Customer Service Number (800-235-3623). Now I just have to wait to make sure I am off the list, and probably check my phone bill to make sure that they didnt forward me to a 1-900 number when I called customer support.

It just seems to me that a company is hoping aboard the greed wave, and trying to take advantage of the fact that we all are greedy. I can't fault them, Hell if given the chance I'd probably do it myself. But if you have questions about this sort of stuff, its best to investigate... then call. Thanks everyone for your help!

Since I had done my stupidity on this, I'm going to wait and see what happens. If it turns out as a rip off like everyone else had said, then I'm going to plan an immediate attack. The way how I will solve this from big coporations who follows John D. Rockefellers ways instead of Andrew Carnegie, I will do whatever it takes out of my last ounce of breath or blood to destroy this company completely! Yeah, its a free country to have Capitalism run but doing unethical things is a NO GO! I had served this country inorder to protect morons and slimely bastards like them but now its WAR, I would care less if I turn this into a blood bath.

Since I had done my stupidity on this, I'm going to wait and see what happens. If it turns out as a rip off like everyone else had said, then I'm going to plan an immediate attack. The way how I will solve this from big coporations who follows John D. Rockefellers ways instead of Andrew Carnegie, I will do whatever it takes out of my last ounce of breath or blood to destroy this company completely! Yeah, its a free country to have Capitalism run but doing unethical things is a NO GO! I had served this country inorder to protect morons and slimely bastards like them but now its WAR, I would care less if I turn this into a blood bath.

Since I had done my stupidity on this, I'm going to wait and see what happens. If it turns out as a rip off like everyone else had said, then I'm going to plan an immediate attack. The way how I will solve this from big coporations who follows John D. Rockefellers ways instead of Andrew Carnegie, I will do whatever it takes out of my last ounce of breath or blood to destroy this company completely! Yeah, its a free country to have Capitalism run but doing unethical things is a NO GO! I had served this country inorder to protect morons and slimely bastards like them but now its WAR, I would care less if I turn this into a blood bath.

Since I had done my stupidity on this, I'm going to wait and see what happens. If it turns out as a rip off like everyone else had said, then I'm going to plan an immediate attack. The way how I will solve this from big coporations who follows John D. Rockefellers ways instead of Andrew Carnegie, I will do whatever it takes out of my last ounce of breath or blood to destroy this company completely! Yeah, its a free country to have Capitalism run but doing unethical things is a NO GO! I had served this country inorder to protect morons and slimely bastards like them but now its WAR, I would care less if I turn this into a blood bath.

Congratulations on your sucessful transaction with One Switch. They operate under a slightly different set of rules than the sweepstakes division. One Switch is a seperate profit center which went into operation in March of 2002. I participated in the creation of that department and was with it through its "infancy".

Special Data has a 5 year contract which they were granted in September of 2002 after a trial run to see how the operation worked out. SDP contracted with the United States Postal Service and a company called Imagitas who puts out advertising on the USPS website and the various fliers and mailers at each of the postal centers around the country. All the scripts, rebuttals etc had to be approved by the USPS and Imagitas prior to implementation which is what made One Switch the one squeeky clean operation within SDP. For example when a customer asked if they could cancel the answer was "YES" without all the evasion, hedging, tap dancing and weasel words used in the sweepstakes end of the business.

In fact the One Switch division always kept well clear of the sweepstakes and never even mentioned it to anyone. Nor did they participate in the "upsells" for which they so reciently received such a hefty fine from the FTC. They recruted the best SSA's and Verifiers for this program, compensated them very well (with the PROMISE of never reducing said compensation) and transfered ALL of your magazines regardless of SDP carrying them or not.

We were given a bright well maintained work area to operate in, new computers with 19 inch flat panel screens and there was joy in the department. We impressed the USPS and Imagitas and got the contract. The ink wasn't even dry when we were moved out of our working area into the usual dingy cramped quarters upstairs. The computers and flat panels were doled out to management and we returned to the usual cataract inducing 13 inch CRT's, they implemented their usual draconian conversion expectations, cut our pay almost in half and insulted our intelligence by expecting us to thank them for it.

They are probably the most arrogant, ignorant group of collective lying management bastards in Tampa Bay. When they got through with us, they turned the screws on the customers going from their one or two rebuttals to their customary badgering of four or five, not transfering magazines they didn't carry and introducing the upsell to w***e out your phone numbers and increase their profits.

In other words they went from a customer service mode to a sales mode and you all went again from clients to targets. But not to worry, the customers are still treated like gold compared to the employees, (who had an opportunity to organize, but were too stupid, cowardly or lazy to seize the opportunity)who are treated like dirt. Am I glad to be out of there? You bet I am. I was terminated when they attempted to retaliate against me for going to the State Attorney General and blowing the whistle on the sweepstakes activities. As to the company's honesty, they're probably a bit more honest now after a Half Million Dollar judgement against them by the FTC with the promise of more to come from various civil actions. One Switch is still bound by the contract they are still under at least until 2007 or so.

The moral of the story Dan? Yes, 99 cents per week for a package of seven magazines is a GREAT deal(it's $1.29 per week in sweepstakes land); so why not run a clean, honest operation and be ethical and moral in dealing with both your employees and customers? Why not practice the Golden Rule today, as they once did?

I am a customer of National Magazine Exchange. I contacted them (dba OneSwitch) after we moved a few months ago because we thought that they would make it easier to change the address on our existing magazine subscriptions. I don't have the addresses of the publishers and didn't feel like trying to look them up.

I found out when I called OneSwitch that they used the address change as a marketing tool to sell new magazines. Big deal. I could choose to buy magazines or not and every business has a right to sell products in an honest manner. Nobody twisted my arm. Fact is they offered a very good deal. NME offered me seven magazines for a total of $0.99 per week for three years. Here is what I got specifically for those who doubt what I am saying:

3 years US News & World Report (156 issues)
3 years Nick Jr (45 issues)
3 years Food & Wine (36 issues)
3 years Gourmet (36 issues)
3 years Children's Magic Window (30 issues)
1 year Field & Stream (36 issues)
1 year TV Guide (156 issues)

Total cost was $154.44 charged to my credit card if four equal installments of $38.61. Total number of issues for all seven magazines is 495. Cost per issue is $154.44 / 495 = 0.312. That's only about 31 cents per issue. Tell me where else you can buy magazines including postage for 31 cents per issue.

I received a letter the other day that said they can no longer offer Children's Magic Window. I called customer service to inquire and also to tell them that I have not been receiving Field & Stream. The customer service representative told me that I could select any magazine of my choice for FREE )1 year subscription) just because I had a problem that required me to call. I was pleasantly surprised that I was offered any magazine of my choice.

I have to wonder if many of the people bad mouthing National Magazine Exchange on this website are disgruntled former employees that got fired for cause (even though they don't want to accept the truth), or consumers that would have heartburn over every sweepstakes entry sent to them. Even the nationally famous Ed McMahon, who sponsored Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes for so many years is a marketing gimick to sell magazines.

After reading the unwarranted bashing of National Magazine Exchange on this website, I felt compelled to share my experience as a consumer of their products and services. I have no problem with this company and wish them the best of luck in the future. Consumers would be hard pressed to find magazines at a lower cost than that offered by NME. They will also let you change any of your magazine subscriptions with another choice if desired. Try to get the publisher of Food & Wine to let you switch to Cooking Light! If you don't like sweepstakes entries, throw them in the trash. If you don't want to order magazines, don't call NME. If you want magazines at a rock bottom price and the benefit of being able to switch magazines to something else, NME is a fine company to do business with!

Regards to all.

I am a customer of National Magazine Exchange. I contacted them (dba OneSwitch) after we moved a few months ago because we thought that they would make it easier to change the address on our existing magazine subscriptions. I don't have the addresses of the publishers and didn't feel like trying to look them up.

I found out when I called OneSwitch that they used the address change as a marketing tool to sell new magazines. Big deal. I could choose to buy magazines or not and every business has a right to sell products in an honest manner. Nobody twisted my arm. Fact is they offered a very good deal. NME offered me seven magazines for a total of $0.99 per week for three years. Here is what I got specifically for those who doubt what I am saying:

3 years US News & World Report (156 issues)
3 years Nick Jr (45 issues)
3 years Food & Wine (36 issues)
3 years Gourmet (36 issues)
3 years Children's Magic Window (30 issues)
1 year Field & Stream (36 issues)
1 year TV Guide (156 issues)

Total cost was $154.44 charged to my credit card if four equal installments of $38.61. Total number of issues for all seven magazines is 495. Cost per issue is $154.44 / 495 = 0.312. That's only about 31 cents per issue. Tell me where else you can buy magazines including postage for 31 cents per issue.

I received a letter the other day that said they can no longer offer Children's Magic Window. I called customer service to inquire and also to tell them that I have not been receiving Field & Stream. The customer service representative told me that I could select any magazine of my choice for FREE )1 year subscription) just because I had a problem that required me to call. I was pleasantly surprised that I was offered any magazine of my choice.

I have to wonder if many of the people bad mouthing National Magazine Exchange on this website are disgruntled former employees that got fired for cause (even though they don't want to accept the truth), or consumers that would have heartburn over every sweepstakes entry sent to them. Even the nationally famous Ed McMahon, who sponsored Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes for so many years is a marketing gimick to sell magazines.

After reading the unwarranted bashing of National Magazine Exchange on this website, I felt compelled to share my experience as a consumer of their products and services. I have no problem with this company and wish them the best of luck in the future. Consumers would be hard pressed to find magazines at a lower cost than that offered by NME. They will also let you change any of your magazine subscriptions with another choice if desired. Try to get the publisher of Food & Wine to let you switch to Cooking Light! If you don't like sweepstakes entries, throw them in the trash. If you don't want to order magazines, don't call NME. If you want magazines at a rock bottom price and the benefit of being able to switch magazines to something else, NME is a fine company to do business with!

Regards to all.

Thank you for the Benji joke haven't heard those since I was in middle school. Nice to know people are still judged on their names. I have 6 yr old tripletts and one is named April. I don't compare them to each other. Other two are May and June, corny I know but it was funny at the time.


Anyway these postings have gotten a little out of hand more fighting that using facts. I, too, would like to thank teresa for those PDF files. They were very informative. I have no comment on some of them because I have never been in the Triad department but I am trying to get ahold of friends of mine that still work there.

I have found a posting of an actual caller on another post. Kinda made the point I tried getting acrossed.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff108061.htm

Thanks for the information, it's nice to know that the old slip and slide is starting to work against SDP. A half million bucks, is a good start. Regretably, Bill Hood and his cronies will probably lay off the rank and file as a result, because they still aren't smart enough to finish the organizing effort needed to protect themselves.

Incidentally ANOTHER lawsuit this time from the State of California is being filed against them, they have not been served yet, but the law firm initiating the suit has contacted me about it. This is again tribute to and the direct result of the people in this website refusing to be victimized or conned.

Chuck (Charles is the other guy) Palm Harbor, Fl

April. I thought it might interest you to know that a childhood friend of mine used to name all of his pets Benji when we were kids. True story. The name rang a bell after reading the battle between you and your current antagonist. I asked my friend about it and he remembered well . It started out with a goat on the farm where he lived.After the goat was gone,the critters included rabbits,garter snakes,raccoons,woodchucks,and even a pair of large garden slugs that he named Benji 1 and Benji 2. I remember he kept those in a fish bowl in the barn. I shudder to think how you would rate your current nemisis IQ wise among this cast.He would think you were pulling his leg anyways,or would you say his tail?.

Charles,

My apologies. Go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-tmark.htm

Search = SPECIAL DATA PROCESSING CORPORATION
(This is the Head of the Beast)

Defendant Special Data Processing Corporation ("SDP"), also d/b/a National Magazine Exchange, NME, and National Publishers Exchange, is a Florida corporation with its principal place of business at 16120 U. S. Highway 19N, Clearwater, Florida 33764.


They are the first, second and third documents.

040830stip0023213

040830comp0023213

040830appa0023213

Wow this company does operate under a lot of names. Weew!

OH Benji, you need to stop why you're ahead. I really wouldn't knock anyone's intelligence here if I were you, seeing how you only know how to use google search (LOL) and seem to have a lot of trouble spelling. I gave you a website, a very legit website. Even though you want people to believe the company you work for is just oh so legit, right? You can read the actual papers filed and the result of by clicking on the links. Thanks to Teresa from DC for other sites. And Benji, I am 29, you egotistical freak.

NME is a typical, let's change our name every year so to avoid suits, company. If not, prove it. Everyone here has proved you otherwise and your rebuttals are always the same. You claim to be educated and know the facts around NME, yet everything you right is complete opposite. When you've been busted on comments and proven wrong, you try to demote the proof by insulting the rebuttalist, not to smart is it?

Again, stop putting your foot in your mouth.

First - Theresa, I was unable to access those specific files, some sort of security firewall. Can you elaborate?

Second - Benji, the information on the TSR Laws is readily available through the Florida Attorney Generals Office. You can also access the Telemarketing Laws of all 50 states the same way. Nothing like first hand reasearch to uncover the truth. The information on the State of Oregon is available at the Attorney General of Oregon's website. Also, April is not as far off as you claim, there have been various price points at SDP over the years and various periods on the magazine subscriptions going out as long as six years at $2.49 per week. Thats where her figures are correct. This was several years ago and was the brainchild of amongst others, Sam Salvo, who ran a similar program in Atlanta on a seven year package. Price points ALWAYS vary at SDP. SDP incidentally, although a privately owned company is a part of WILLIS, STEIN and PARTNERS out of Chicago, you will find that a little reasearch on them is most revealing about not only SDP, but media ownership and influence in general. You are also operating from an incorrect ethical premise if you really feel that SDP is not being deceptive to the public. When a company, ANY company withholds information to its employees, which in the routine course of business could affect a customers decision against their own best interest is the worst form of unethical conduct. It legally entraps the employee in misrepresenting the product or service, and misleads the customer by not providing full disclosure of same. Therefore you end up with TWO ethical lapses for the same offence. That goes from the vague wording on their cancellation rebuttals (not a legitimate sale until you sign and return the "confirmation letter" for your "gift")to badgering customers in no-rebuttal states.

Russ - Thank you for your gracious words, however I have made it my personal policy in life never to talk down to anyone. Besides it just MIGHT be possible that some of the companies defenders MAY be SDP upper management doing spin/damage control to know what they may be facing lawsuit wise and to measure what the public will swallow. Incidentally, I have been to social events with Bill Hood, actually more than once. We tosted each others good fortune at the Verifier Christmas party in December 1991 at Sam Salvo's, after a full meal. This was before he, in my opinion sold his soul for a little operating capital and sold out his ethics, business spirit and employees in the process.

Charles - When you look up a company in the phone book, and call them out of the blue for information or a quote that is one thing. When you induced to call a company after being lured in by one of its mailers for a solicitation that is another. The rules are then no different than if the company had made an outbound call. You may check with the State Attorney General's offices on this fine point if you do not choose to believe me. That is what cost SDP so dearly in Oregon.

A REMINDER TO ALL SDP EMPLOYEES READING THIS: Now that you know the law, remember YOU are liable for prosecution under Florida Statutes. Think SDP won't hang you out to dry to save a fine. Think twice. An old legal maxim: "ignorance of the law is no excuse".

Again SDP has its own website www.sdp.com you can communicate with them via email also and tell them how much you appreciate those mailers.
Again tell them "Hi" from Chuck DeNova.

April if your "personal" experience is based on a call you got when you were 18 (company has only been in business for 20 years so they didn't exist when you were 18) and web searches then please post on google you are interupting Charles' and mine intellegent conversation (yes in my own mind but I am smart enough to know I am intellegent) we have actual personal experience with the company and facts are based on just that "EXPERIENCE" Until you get a mailer and call in to the company.

Just because a web site says NME have 70 different names makes it true? Funny I remember doing a paper in college on discoveries and I found a web page that said Columbus discovered america in 1942. Now I may not be a history buff but i am sure Chris Colum did NOT find us during IKE. Most sites are from people like you that THINK it was this company. EDUMACATION.com doesn't seem to be a quality government site darlin.

And now to the real points on NME from chuck... You are correct were are not told about the "no rebut" states the only reason I knew the answer was because it was a question someone asked while in training, and the trainer said if you get one of these states don't rebut,,, but as an ex employee should know trainers and the floor supers have different philosophies. I too was written up (dreaded blue folder) for not rebuttaling a SC call. When asked why i said that was a no rebut state we asked the boss boss (manager or fry cook) and they said i was right. So if someone actually fought there write ups they weren't termed. Yes they basically use the fear of losing a job to make us badger but someone like us that knows a lil can get out of the write ups.

You are correct they are not giving employees enough information But my main point is the CUSTOMER is given all the information. I am not going to defend the work ethics there but i am defending the fact they aren't scamming anyone into anything they don't want.

I mention it may not apply to the costumer becuase they are calling in but i did also write i wasn't sure not all of us are blessed with a paralegal studies degree from sally struthers.

I also had no idea about the TSR law myself If you happen to know a good place for me to update my archives on such details (talking to chuck not google searching april)

For your actually REAL complaints i thank you chuck because now maybe someone reading will actually see about the company and not disgruntal customers that got ripped off by someone calling from a jail cell.

Seems your company has lost some.....

Here's some reading for you

http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023213/
040830stip0023213.pdf

http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023213/
040830comp0023213.pdf

and last but not least.....Lets SUM IT ALL UP HERE BENJI

http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023213/
040830appa0023213.pdf

THANK YOU TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

What say you Benji and the rest of you ex- and current employees? I'll visit again in a few days to read your rebuttle

I personally can not speak with any authority as to NME's ethics one way or the other.Never worked there,never done business with them. That said,it is very noble that some of NME's employes so earnestly wish to defend thier employer. What is disturbing,though to me,is the claim that NME is barred from doing business in one state, Oregon, I believe.What's up with that? If that is a fact,why don't any of NME's employees explain that sad story in full logical detail.

It's a subject that seems to be barely touched upon with few details.Is it offically true of false? Just curious . To Chuck DeNova,it unfortunately looks like much of what you say will never convince some NME people that your convictions are in the right.I have seen all the previous NME employee rebuttals. As you know Chuck,to convince someone with your own personal point of view,you've got to speak in terms they will understand. In your case, you will have to swallow your pride and lower your dignity and IQ levels down several notches.

Your informative rebuttals are presented in a clear,concise,logical,intelligent,articulate manner. That could work against you Chuck.Don't forget with whom you are dealing with.
Anthropologists may be wrong.It appears that some of the low intelligence human sub species did not die out along with the ice age.It appears there is living proof that at least a couple specimens are alive and well in the southeastern corner of the USA.Brainwashed ones at that. Once again Chuck,I have read thier rebuttals .

Trying to convince them in an intelligent manner may be as futile as teaching advanced calculus to preschoolers.Chuck,good luck to you.However,even if your cause is just,and no matter how intelligently you state the obvious facts,you may not,sadly, be able to fully convince the immoral majority .You may have a better chance of having Mr. Hood come over for a candle lit dinner some night while you both exchange pleasantries .

Laws are different when customers call in.

To Benji and Charles

You two are either stupid or don't care what's really going on. Every typed letter you place on this site is utter BS. SO let me break it down for you.

NO, the do not call list can take up to 3 years not 10+, duh! You can always check to see if the number registered is in fact listed. Secondly there is not only a Do not mail list but also a Do not email list. Wow, you guys really don't know much, do you?

A search on ANY web search does NOT bring you back to this report or others here, God knows there are a lot, but to many suits and complaints. Let me simplify this for you. I'll list everything that comes up: www.edumacation.com/NationalMagazine Exchange. This brings you to the 46 names used by NME, a link to a new paper called the SF Gate complaining and warning people about NME, a link to the Renton Police Department's consumer warning. The BBB, as corrupt as they are even displays warnings about NME. Lawsuits: 1) US Attorney 6/14/00, 2) Oregon State Department of Justice 5/24/01 (as per there settlement NME or affiliates can not silicate anyone in Oregon State, 3) FL Attorney General-Continuing, 4) FTC 8/25/04, 5) FTC 12/17/97, 6) AARP, 7) Wisconsin State, just to name a few. So, you were saying?

Now as for them charging $749+, I know for a fact they do because they tried that with me when I was 18. But unlike some of the kids you try to BS, I was smarter and know that when I get a bill that freaking high for 3 magazines and not receiving ANY, after 3 or 4 months, I forwarded the bill to the Attorney Generals Office. What did NME do? They stated calling harassing me and threatening to file suit, which is again, another illegal ploy by NME. Needless to say, I was not held responsible for such. There is NO base price by NME, they don't use a calculator, duh! As everyone that has complained about NME, complains that they are given just about every price NME wants to throw out there. At NO point is any real price given to the customer. Instead they (you) state to the customer, You'll get a better deal with us. Then you continue, speaking as fast as time will allow,You'll save a lot with us. Instead of paying $20 a year from the publisher or ?????, we'll charge you $2.49 a week. If someone is real lucky the rep will tell them how many weeks, e.g. 48 weeks. So YOU do the math. Wow, didn't realize how bad you screwed people, huh?

Benji, your comment, Mail fraud is the 4th item not NME. Funny, if you pop onto that listing, wow NME is right there as well as their alias's. Now, what was that.

As for telling NME to remove a name from their list, you put your foot in your mouth. Like I said, I made it very clear for them NOT to contact me ever again, they still do, as many have complained. Therefore, NME never took or never takes anyone off their list. Secondly, I do not use and have not used Credit Cards, my personal preference. Therefore, what list did NME get my 411 from. Now who's LOL?

Did I sum this all up for everyone? Good. Maybe now, Benji and the few NME loyalists will realize that NME is not more than a scam.

Lets not go overboard here Benji, I said "articulate, in your own right", start reading too much into statements then you sound the same way as these other good folks who you say read too much into the mailers.

There are in fact eleven no rebuttal states. As a former SSA and Verifier I can tell you that we were NEVER told about these laws and were threatened with termination if we didn't rebut every customer three to five times. The telemarketing laws in Florida, and other states hold the individual telemarketer responsable for their actions on the job. How would you catagorize a company who deliberately and systematically withholds legal knowledge from its employees Benji? If prosecuted, each istance on a state level alone is a $25,000. fine again that is per instance, I think the federal penalty is $50,000. Yes Benji, the company knows about it because I TOLD THEM ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO about those laws.

You quoted the following two letters ago Benji:
"good ole miriam webster says fraud: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting" I think the corporate policy of non or misinformation directed to its own employees on penalty of discharge fits Mirriam-Websters definition, don't you? Now if their attitude to their own employees is this unprofessional, what do you think their real feelings to their customers are?

Incidentally Benji, the dodge of "it doesn't apply because THEY (the customers) call US" (which is, I am certain, what you intended to say), doesn't wash. That is one of the principal reasons SDP had "business problems" in Oregon, the mailer provides an inducement for people to call in under a VERY dubious pretense. It is therefore the same as an outbound call made by the company.

You are also correct on another matter Benji, they do not give the total price jus the "four consecutive monthly payments of....". That also is in violation of the Federal TSR laws.

"there is no deceiving or misrepresenting that i have seen on any post yet." Ya got a couple now Benji.

April I think you have the wrong company, because your rebuttles are muost funny...

You constantly spam this lie, "You bill people $749+ for 3 magazines, yet you tell them that two are free."

It is IMPOSSIBLE to charge someone that. That total would get you like 12+ years of magazines, LOL.

Our rate is 1.29/wk for 7-8 Mags. NOT EACH one but all together! Thats 67.08/yr FOR ALL 7-8 Together. And the LONGEST plan we have is 4 years, and its up to the consumer how long they want to take it.

And your statement, "Amazing, someone must not be able to add." is 105% true. You must not be able to add. And there is only 1 Class action lawsuit against NME at this time. And its only a Class action because 2 people are involved. I personally spoke to the lawyer you said that the other 30ish people who wanted to be apart of the suit, didn't buy magazines, just wanted money if NME lost, LOL, And thus were declined.

As for the 2 who filed suit against NME, are going to lose, they claim that NME charged thier cards without permission. But Digital Recording proves them wrong, so not only do they HAVE to pay for what they got, they are losing money in legal fees.

As for scam, Thats far from true. Over 1000+ sales are made EVERYDAY. FTC says nothing about National Magazine Exchange Whatsoever. Goolgle only returns ripoffreport.com links, And there is not such thing as a DO NOT MAIL list.

So all in all April is wrong.

1.29 a week x 52 = 67.08
1.29 a week x 104 = 134.16
1.29 a week x 156 = 201.24
1.29 a week x 208 = 268.32

sorry darlin if you actually would have called us we would have given you different rates than you are assuming. since they only do up to 48 months of service and you get 5-8 mags for that something tells me you are thinking of the wrong company. In no department (of the 6 i worked in) does anyone say you get 2 free. They say "you get the whole package of magazines for this rate" its a package deal not a mag sale. You may want to actually call and listen for yourself before you jump to conclusions. like i said please post facts not assumtions or facts from someone other than this company. Oh wait that sounded familiar.

And since when are retirees considered elderly? I know my 59 yr old dad would be very miffed about that remark.

That "do not mail\call list" that you so love to blame, if you read the "fine print" that you so much love to ignore, it states it could take up to 10 years to be effected. When you request to be taken off the list to the company you are taken of THIER sales list not your credit card company (yes folks believe it or not cc does sell your info), or the diamonique collectors club on QVC, or that stairmaster you bought. They legitamately take you off the list when asked problem is you are still out there to be bought for the next mailing.

Funny how the FTC has "mail fraud" as the 4th item not NME. And i did the search for law suits lost or settled. Funny how it leads right back to ripoffreport.com and to some chick from maryland.

We exemployees and current employees are not the blind ones. We are/were there you obviously have shown in enough posts you have had no dealings with NME. So stop calling us blind and don't have pity on us just continue posting about PCH and the price of tea in china.

Well i am guessing that chucks post was directed at me. Either that or he works there and knows that you have to say the d**n customers name every other sentence and it is washed into his brain. I do appreciate the part where you do say i am very articulate my english proffesso.. profeccer..profescer.. teacher would be proud.

Any way i am not apologizing for the company i am just stating my side of the facts. I am not a verifier i am a computer information systems technician now. But as much as i remember they never say the total price of the payments but they do say the charge of EACH payment to your credit card and for how many months and on what day that charge will occur, which again you have to agree to on tape.

I believe there are 3 states that are no rebuttal states (one being oregon) the other two we are told not to rebutt only once so the company can say "we told them" but i am sure not many are aware of illinois and south carolina.

Now i have to admit you have me stumped on the registering one. But the good ole loop hole (i am guessing here i flunked out of law school a couple times) is they aren't telemarketing they are "order taking" since we call them.

And once again i do not know any suits currently pending i never worried about them til they are won or settled out of court (which is a win in my book if you ask me).

And yes i do agree if they are knowingly doing all they they are violating the law. But this company KNOWS the laws and they molest it just enough to make it legal without making it a total violation (insert own catholic priest pun here)

I am hoping you agree it isn't fraud if someone knows what they are getting into before they get into it. The mailer says what they are doing before you call. They continuously Tell you the price (per week just like SI does on those shoe phone commercials until you give up CC when you call) which you have to agree to 3 times before its charged.

Again i am not appologizing for the company i am just stating while i was there anyone i spoke to knew what the hell they were getting into and did not read off 16 numbers and say "yes" 3 times on tape because they thought my happy a*s was going to bring them a check for a million. All because i read the script and did my job correctly. Those that didn't got let go and given this web address to post their complaints while they got the LOOOOOONG elevator ride down.

Benji;

As articulate as you are in your own right, you are still only a company apologist. If you are a verifier Benji, at what point do you give the total dollar figure to the customer for a four year service Benji? Do you know how many states are "no rebuttal" states Benji? Of that number, in which of them does SDP obey the law? Do you know in how many states you are supposed to register as telemarketers in Benji? Do you know the amount of the bond the company is supposed to post? Do you know why you can't sell in Oregon, Benji? Do you know about the huge class action suit the company is now in Benji(not A.A.R.P.)? A class action suit that has been initiated by the very people who have written to this this website??

We could debate the merits of lawsuits all day long and get nowhere. On thing even you would have to agree upon Benji, when a company knowingly, willfully and continuously violates the law, that shows not only intent to commit fraud, but also malicious intent.

Wake up Benji, these people are no where near as noble as they claim. Bill Hood is a legend in his own mind.

Sorry Benji, Your rebuttal was most funny. You don't rip off the olderly, yet the "retirees" are one of your biggest sellers. What?

Next, law suits are law suits, yet those against NME are just pending so they don't prove anything. Nope, numerous civil and criminal suits have been on NME and NME has LOST. Hello, just look NME up on the web searches. Busted.

NME isn't a scam, yeh right! You blame people for not reading the writing. I have the stupid little, get it every other month, telegram from NME, No where on there is there any writing about the pay 10X's as much scam. You bill people $749+ for 3 magazines, yet you tell them that two are free. Amazing, someone must not be able to add. I've have requested by phone and by letter for NME to stop sending me this junk mail, because I know better. Do you think that's stopped. You know what the "Do not call list is?" Then you should know that there is a "Do not mail list." I am on this list, so NME mailing me solicited mail makes that action illegal.

So, you were saying? By the way NME is on the top 5 scams in America by the FTC. Again, you were saying? Like I've said previously, if these Ex-employees and current employees are too blind or just plain stupid to see the truth about NME, then when NME goes down, I have no pitty for these poeple.

Next tme you want to make an arguement, Make sure you get your facts straight first.

Sorry Benji, Your rebuttal was most funny. You don't rip off the olderly, yet the "retirees" are one of your biggest sellers. What?

Next, law suits are law suits, yet those against NME are just pending so they don't prove anything. Nope, numerous civil and criminal suits have been on NME and NME has LOST. Hello, just look NME up on the web searches. Busted.

NME isn't a scam, yeh right! You blame people for not reading the writing. I have the stupid little, get it every other month, telegram from NME, No where on there is there any writing about the pay 10X's as much scam. You bill people $749+ for 3 magazines, yet you tell them that two are free. Amazing, someone must not be able to add. I've have requested by phone and by letter for NME to stop sending me this junk mail, because I know better. Do you think that's stopped. You know what the "Do not call list is?" Then you should know that there is a "Do not mail list." I am on this list, so NME mailing me solicited mail makes that action illegal.

So, you were saying? By the way NME is on the top 5 scams in America by the FTC. Again, you were saying? Like I've said previously, if these Ex-employees and current employees are too blind or just plain stupid to see the truth about NME, then when NME goes down, I have no pitty for these poeple.

Next tme you want to make an arguement, Make sure you get your facts straight first.

Sorry Benji, Your rebuttal was most funny. You don't rip off the olderly, yet the "retirees" are one of your biggest sellers. What?

Next, law suits are law suits, yet those against NME are just pending so they don't prove anything. Nope, numerous civil and criminal suits have been on NME and NME has LOST. Hello, just look NME up on the web searches. Busted.

NME isn't a scam, yeh right! You blame people for not reading the writing. I have the stupid little, get it every other month, telegram from NME, No where on there is there any writing about the pay 10X's as much scam. You bill people $749+ for 3 magazines, yet you tell them that two are free. Amazing, someone must not be able to add. I've have requested by phone and by letter for NME to stop sending me this junk mail, because I know better. Do you think that's stopped. You know what the "Do not call list is?" Then you should know that there is a "Do not mail list." I am on this list, so NME mailing me solicited mail makes that action illegal.

So, you were saying? By the way NME is on the top 5 scams in America by the FTC. Again, you were saying? Like I've said previously, if these Ex-employees and current employees are too blind or just plain stupid to see the truth about NME, then when NME goes down, I have no pitty for these poeple.

Next tme you want to make an arguement, Make sure you get your facts straight first.

Sorry Benji, Your rebuttal was most funny. You don't rip off the olderly, yet the "retirees" are one of your biggest sellers. What?

Next, law suits are law suits, yet those against NME are just pending so they don't prove anything. Nope, numerous civil and criminal suits have been on NME and NME has LOST. Hello, just look NME up on the web searches. Busted.

NME isn't a scam, yeh right! You blame people for not reading the writing. I have the stupid little, get it every other month, telegram from NME, No where on there is there any writing about the pay 10X's as much scam. You bill people $749+ for 3 magazines, yet you tell them that two are free. Amazing, someone must not be able to add. I've have requested by phone and by letter for NME to stop sending me this junk mail, because I know better. Do you think that's stopped. You know what the "Do not call list is?" Then you should know that there is a "Do not mail list." I am on this list, so NME mailing me solicited mail makes that action illegal.

So, you were saying? By the way NME is on the top 5 scams in America by the FTC. Again, you were saying? Like I've said previously, if these Ex-employees and current employees are too blind or just plain stupid to see the truth about NME, then when NME goes down, I have no pitty for these poeple.

Next tme you want to make an arguement, Make sure you get your facts straight first.

A lawsuit is a lawsuit walmart gets sued every day for something stupid yet they haven't lost a case yet. mcdonalds gets sued for someone spilling coffee on themselves. there are class action suits against the stinking IRS.

I can go on but the main point is lawsuits are happening everyday by the same "get rich quick people" that refuse to read anything but the money part. only problem is they are PENDING. when a suit is actually won please place that in the report.

And for this company being arrested. You only get arrested for breaking the law. as soon as there is a law that is broken i guarantee that jail house rock would be your hold music.

And for ripping off old people. When i was there the old people were the hardest sell how the hell can you "rip" someone off that is not wanting to buy anything because they have too many magazines or on a budget. The main type of people that bought were college students or retirees that actually had time to read them.

good ole miriam webster says fraud: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting

there is no deceiving or misrepresenting that i have seen on any post yet. The main REAL concern is the canceling issue which i do agree on. the problem is they know each state law when your period of time to cancel expires. Which again THEY KNOW THE LAW so they aren't going to break it.

Here's how this will play out.

There is money in fraud. Big money!

One of the employees above states that National Magazine has been in business for 20 years. I don't doubt that.

Typically, these suits are resolved with civil penalties. Did you steal $100 million? Now, you have to pay $20 of it back. That still leaves $80 million. A good haul, in anyone's eyes.

Even if the company is driven out of business, the principals are always left free. To mutate into another fraud. Maybe even more profitable than the last!

The real problem is law-enforcement policy makers are idiots. They continue to send drug dealers to jail for many years. The send armed robbers to jail for even longer.

But, the frauds, while non-violent, continue to extract far more money than dealers or robbers ever do.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that we allow robbers to get off free. I am suggesting that the principals in a fraudulent company be placed right beside the armed robbers and drug dealers. Perhaps, in the same cell with convicted rapists.

Business fraud is profitable. Very profitable! When you have the possibility of getting very rich, with little or no possibility of criminal prosecution, it's little wonder that many individuals continue to turn to this lucrative form of income.

I have enjoyed reading your comments and I am very happy that I found this website. I will not be calling. I was about to leave this site without leaving a comment when I ran across the following that I thought would be a good addition to the information here.
------------------------------------
Wednesday June 6, 3:24 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation Lawyers Represent Victims of Magazine Sweepstakes Promoter
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 5, AARP Foundation lawyers joined attorneys with the San Francisco law firm Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron & Ogilvie, LLP and the East San Jose Community Law Center, a project of Santa Clara University, in filing a lawsuit against National Magazine Exchange (NME), a leading magazine seller and sweepstakes promoter. The suit was filed on behalf of a class of consumers who were misled by Florida-based NME into buying multi-year magazine subscriptions. Plaintiffs allege that NME violated California law by sending fraudulent and deceptive sweepstakes notifications to thousands of California residents.

According to the lawsuit, NME sent unsolicited mail telling consumers to call a toll-free telephone number to receive information about the status of what NME said was their entry into a sweepstakes. When consumers responded, NME used high-pressure sales tactics to sell them magazine subscriptions. One of the problems, according to AARP Foundation attorney Deborah Zuckerman, is that consumers thought they were buying a low-priced, one-year subscription that they could cancel at any time. In fact, NME unilaterally signed them up for multi-year subscriptions that typically cost hundreds of dollars. ''When people starting receiving bills and realized what NME had done, they called to cancel,'' says Zuckerman, ''but NME refused, saying it was too late. In some instances, NME turned their accounts over to a collection agency. We are charging that the manner in which NME solicited customers and sold subscriptions violates California law.''

With recent private lawsuits and public enforcement actions against Publishers Clearing House and American Family Publishers for misleading sales promotions, public awareness of sweepstakes tied to magazine sales is at an all time high. In this case, AARP Foundation attorneys became involved because victims of these kinds of tactics often are over the age of fifty. ''Apparently NME and similar companies see older people as easy targets,'' says Stacy Canan, another Foundation attorney representing the plaintiffs. ''We want to stop these misleading and illegal practices, and to help victims recoup the money they were misled into spending.''

The Community Law Center and the Kemnitzer law firm decided to initiate the suit after Center attorney Scott Maurer received complaints from several consumers and NME refused to accept the written demands for cancellation prepared by Center law students on behalf of the consumers. Maurer says he's glad to have AARP Foundation attorneys as co-counsel. ''We really appreciate them getting behind this lawsuit. I think we have a strong common interest in the public good, and I'm pleased that the AARP Foundation has put its resources behind this effort.''

SOURCE: AARP Foundation

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So.... for the defenders of this company...Now whatcha gotta say?? ??????????

I got my letter from Pat Hines today and ripped it to shreads.

People come here and read about National Magazine. Maybe they had a suspicion before, but now they know for sure your company is a fraud.

Plus, they see all the other magazine fraud around Clearwater.

Once somebody comes here, you couldn't get them to call National even if you did give them the million.

Business could be down as much as 25%. That's millions in losses. Plus, law-enforcement gets to see the sheer volume of complaints. It stirs up that hornet's nest.

Hope you guys don't get stung!

Of course you employees don't realize that your company is a fraud. How would you? You guys certainly aren't getting any of the money.

All the big bucks, along with the knowledge of how the company works, always stays at the top.

You guys are at the bottom, in the dark.

So, by all means, you stick with your magazine company. It's either that or a fast-food job. Not much else will hire you!

People come here and read about National Magazine. Maybe they had a suspicion before, but now they know for sure your company is a fraud.

Plus, they see all the other magazine fraud around Clearwater.

Once somebody comes here, you couldn't get them to call National even if you did give them the million.

Business could be down as much as 25%. That's millions in losses. Plus, law-enforcement gets to see the sheer volume of complaints. It stirs up that hornet's nest.

Hope you guys don't get stung!

Of course you employees don't realize that your company is a fraud. How would you? You guys certainly aren't getting any of the money.

All the big bucks, along with the knowledge of how the company works, always stays at the top.

You guys are at the bottom, in the dark.

So, by all means, you stick with your magazine company. It's either that or a fast-food job. Not much else will hire you!

People come here and read about National Magazine. Maybe they had a suspicion before, but now they know for sure your company is a fraud.

Plus, they see all the other magazine fraud around Clearwater.

Once somebody comes here, you couldn't get them to call National even if you did give them the million.

Business could be down as much as 25%. That's millions in losses. Plus, law-enforcement gets to see the sheer volume of complaints. It stirs up that hornet's nest.

Hope you guys don't get stung!

Of course you employees don't realize that your company is a fraud. How would you? You guys certainly aren't getting any of the money.

All the big bucks, along with the knowledge of how the company works, always stays at the top.

You guys are at the bottom, in the dark.

So, by all means, you stick with your magazine company. It's either that or a fast-food job. Not much else will hire you!

People come here and read about National Magazine. Maybe they had a suspicion before, but now they know for sure your company is a fraud.

Plus, they see all the other magazine fraud around Clearwater.

Once somebody comes here, you couldn't get them to call National even if you did give them the million.

Business could be down as much as 25%. That's millions in losses. Plus, law-enforcement gets to see the sheer volume of complaints. It stirs up that hornet's nest.

Hope you guys don't get stung!

Of course you employees don't realize that your company is a fraud. How would you? You guys certainly aren't getting any of the money.

All the big bucks, along with the knowledge of how the company works, always stays at the top.

You guys are at the bottom, in the dark.

So, by all means, you stick with your magazine company. It's either that or a fast-food job. Not much else will hire you!

WOW.. pretty much sums it up. I came across this site because i was bored one day and noticed its mostly ex employees complaining about the job so i figured i would be one of the first employees to defend it. I worked for NME while going to college then i got my CISA degree and took off for the working world. i have been working there for 7 years and i do admit there is a few billing issues with the company that could be done better. I have to say i do not feel the company is a scam. The Mailer clearly states you did not win and you have been selected to recieve magazines. It may not be right up front in bold but no sweepstakes does (publishers clearing house, all the pop ups to win that free dvd player) these are all eye candy to get you to actually pay attention to the offer. Its just another commercial. And asking who pat haines is the person on the phone even tells you "that is just a marketing name the company uses" when was the last time tony the tiger called you about your frosted flakes? I know mr peanut hasn't returned my calls how about you?. i do appreciate an actual "customer" sort of defending the company the whole script IS ON THE MAILER. the only thing not on it is the price and that is because the price changes almost weekly based on how much they are making the company pay for the magazines. As for the employees complaining about getting fired or missing scheduled adherence, you only get fired for misleading the customer and scheduled adherence is 80% of your schedule that equals 1 full day a week if you miss that in any other job do you think you are getting a raise? The company is not sales oriented no matter how much you want to believe it. Yes that is where the money is but they prefer to stay in business for the long run that rip off Grandma Gerty for just one year of business. In fact most of the "spiff" awards are not for selling they are for actually explaining the offer correctly reguardless if you are the top sales person. I ,in fact, won 500 dollars just for NOT selling to a person that understood they are entering a sweepstakes but i do have to explain the magazine offer. Remember folks you have the power to say no and not give out information. And as an ex employee i do have to appoligize on behalf of the employees that defend the company by calling people names but like any other company there will be an apple or two that think that is the way to put the point across.

Next time to fill out your on report done rebuttal, its called following directions.

And that story is the funniest thing I have ever heard. We sell more that 1000+ Magazine packages a day, and you have to pay for them some how...

Again too, we have been in business for over 20 years now. So I'm 100% sure that the company is legit :)

Dont forget to vote for something on Nov.2, 2004.

And Paul if its that bad in the US for you move, or do something about it :)

I got a postcard from NME. I remember it well. I called to see what the con was all about. Naturally, I knew it was a con. They had this nonsense about winning millions of dollars on the card. That's never for real.

Anyway, they ask me if I want to buy magazines. So, of course I say sure. The problem is that they need a credit card number or a bank account number. I claimed that I didn't have either. There's the con: Steal your number and bill your account. It's take the money and run. Magazines have nothing to do with it.

This is a big company with lots of different phone people. They sit there all day trying to get stupid people to give out financial info. These days a number gives access to all your money. The crazy part is that this goes on year in and year out. Outright theft!

The victims are little people who can't stop it. And law enforcement looks the other way. It's getting so bad that every other company is an Enron these days. One half of the world spends their days trying to cheat the other half out of their money. Hell, our own government is nothing but crooks and swindlers too.

I'm telling ya, I really don't have much hope for this planet continuing on much longer.

You don't have to have a credit card to be on their mailing list. I have no credit cards at all and have received this silly mailer.

What bothers me about this mailer is the fact that they've already got your information and they've checked your credit report. They've stated that quite plainly on the back of it.

"Based on your consumer report and because you meet our credit criteria, YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO RECEIVE OUR MAGAZINE OFFER ON CREDIT." (emphasis in the original).

The worst part is, they check all three of the major credit reporting agencies. This does affect your credit, as every time someone accesses your credit it shows up on your credit report. But there is a way to get out of pre-selecting lists. Have your name removed for those lists for each company.
Here are their websites:

TransUnion: http://www.transunion.com
Equifax: http://www.equifax.com
Experian: http://www.experian.com

There's contact info on the mailer for this company, but I don't trust it one iota. So if you go to these sites, you can get their contact info directly from them.

Hey.

We do GUARANTEE the lowest prices, so if you were to get magazines, and find a low rate [Good Luck ;) ] we'd adjust your account.

Pat Haines is a real person, albeit she wasn't trying to reach you, but she leased her name to the company. So now Pat Haines is a marketing name our company uses.

And dont throw it away rus! Call and enter declin the magazines, if you get selected ;), and take the free chance to win, worse thing to happen: YOU WIN!

Thx!

I'm only responding to this because I just received a notice in the mail myself today and wanted to investigate it further. While it may be true that this company's tactics are quite shady, I think the real problem lies in a personal lack of responsibility. People make a mistake (e.g. giving out their credit card number to a company they've never heard of) then...surprise, surprise...they get ripped off so they get mad (more like embarresed because they actually fell for it)...they blame someone else.

I think the notice actually states quite clearly that I didn't actually win a million dollars but that I MAY have a chance at it:

Top Right section:
Notice -
One prize of $1,000,000 will be awarded to the SELECTED winner...
There is no purchase required to ENTER or WIN...

Granted, I don't believe that Pat Haines exists nor do I believe that they've really been trying to reach me. But again, I also DON'T believe that this notice says I've already won a million dollars. As someone else mentioned, why would I want to order magazines through this company that I've never heard of when I can get better prices through more recognized, established companies?

Bottom line points:
1: If it looks to good to be true, it probably is

2: When in doubt about the legitimacy of something DO NOT give out your credit card number and THEN complain that you got ripped off. I have bought countless numbers of things via the internet and over the phone, but I ALWAYS know who I'm talking to first. If you are willing to give out your credit card to a company you've never heard of because you think it will give you a better chance of winning a fictious grand prize...you deserve to be scammed. This isn't the same as someone stealing your identitiy by hacking into your information at some company. YOU really are the one in control. Don't give out all your info first and ask questions/complain later. When you get the letter, just throw the stupid thing away!! It really is that easy, folks.

There isn't really any need to be so childish about this.
The problem most peopl have with NME is that they don't really listen to the pitch, or they don't really read the mail piece.
On the mailer it states:
"You have been pre-selected to recieve magazine subscriptions on credit"
Along with the offical rules, mathod of payment (for those who say you don't win $1,000,000.. $33,333.33 x 30yrs= 1 Million!)
When you call in, one of the very first things out of an SSA's mouth is "As always, there is NO purchase OR payment required to enter OR win any of the sweepstakes we offer" Call in and ask for a manual entry, and see if I'm not correct.
I'm seeing that most of the problems people are having with this company is that they don't like being charged for their subscriptions. You have to read off your CREDIT CARD NUMBER over the PHONE in order to be charged.
That's 15 DIGITS! If you don't want the magazines, guess what? HANG UP! People do it ALL THE TIME! Before we ever pitch you magazines we make SURE your entry into the sweepstakes is COMPLETE and REGISTERED.

As per being "taken off the list" I have seen 4 people fired ON THE SPT for failing to do that. They know that they've had problems with employees not puting customers on the No Call/No Mail list. That's the whole reason the QD department exsists, to make sure thigns like that on't happen. But you can't blame the company for the misdeeds of a singular employee.

There's also the possibility that your name could be on multiple mailing lists. NME is only half of SDP, the other half is the National List Exchange. Guess what they do? Buy and sell mailing lists! If you don't want to be sent letters like this, don't want to recieve unsolicited phone calls, firt put your name on the "Natonal Do Not Call List." Secondly, Whenever you put your information on ANYTHING, be it a membership to a gym, video store, etc. They are REQUIRED to have a checkbox, SOMETHING on there, that says they won't sell your information to ANY OTHER COMPANY. Make sure you fill that out, and you won't have the problem in the first place.

Oh and also, if this is such a scam, why don't I make more sales? I take between 70-80 calls a day, and I get maybe 5-6 sales, and that's a GOOD day. Most people who call in are entered, say no to the magazines, and hang up or go to one of our sister departments/companys (The latest being Geico). The majority of people who BUY the magazines are the peple who have the money to do it, and REALIZE what they're getting in to. You CAN cancel, but a lot of that is per state laws, which I don't know that much about. But when you call in to cancel and meet resistance, don't be surprised. For God's sake its these peoples JOB to get money from you. We don't want to give it back after you've already said yes 5 TIMES to the magazines. If you really wanted to cancel, just be firm. Guess what? we're required by law to do it in most states if you ask, so just deal with the rebuttles and get your money back.

To re introduce myself I worked for NME on and off since 1991, and have watched it slide down the tubes during that period. I was fired after spending almost a year trying to get them to clean up their act, and finally "blowing the whistle" on them with state and federal authorities.

The wheels of justice turn slowly, but they do turn. It is my intention to clean them up, or bring them down. Those of you who have complained about this company on the 105+ different listings should be applauded. The downside however is WHY the company "gets away with it". There is no such thing as something for nothing ladies and gentlemen.

The company sends out over a million of those mailers a week, playing on peoples basic GREED. Their rate of return is a little over 1% which is about average for mass mailings. Of that 1% the company shoots for about a 6% sales conversion. Do the math, there is money in them books, particularly since the company only promotes low or zero "remit" magazines.

There has not been a sweepstakes since the beginning of time that was not tied into a sales promotion of some sort. Some one has to win the drawing BY FEDERAL LAW, the last award was March 2, 2004. The sweepstakes are sponsored by Ventura and Associates out of New York City.

It is in the form of an annuity paid out in a greatly reduced lump sum amount or installment payments over 30 years. Your odds of winning are about one in forty-nine million, in other words you have a better chance of being whacked on the head by an asteroid in your driveway.

They continue to exist because intellegent men and women such as yourselves desperately want to believe in "free lunches", Santa Claus and reward without effort. You ALLOW them to continue to exist by stowing away your natural skepticisim and believing in fairy tales. Is their wording deceptive? Essentially, yes, but if people actually read the words on the mailers without coating them with fairy dust and with what they want to read, the answer is no. The fact that "Pat Haines" signs off as a "Sales Representative" should provide a BIG clue.

Want to stop them? If you have been scamed such as April has, file a complaint with your attorney general's office in your state. Wire fraud is a felony. Otherwise THROW AWAY THE MAILER AS THE JUNK MAIL IT IS. There is no Santa, life sucks that way. Or call, give them the ID number, make sure you tell them to put you in the "no call, no mail" file and hang the hell up, that puts you in the sweepstakes.

Russ, "Pat (Patricia) Haines" was one of the company co-founders back in 1984, long since retired. She leases her name to the company for a nominal fee for use on the mailers. Using a real person, keeps the company on the EDGE of legality, something they specialize in.

The employees are deliberatly kept in the dark regarding the TSR laws and management prefers to hire sycophants like John on the lower end of the IQ scale. They operate on the fear of losing their jobs and will believe anything their masters tell them just to curry favor. Fortunately the "John's" are still very much a minority.

There are notable exceptions, who are trying to organize the workforce. I will tell you from first hand experience that they treat their employees with even greater contempt than their customers, the average employee lasts only 42 days. Saves them a bunch of money on benefits. They run half page ads in the Sunday edition of the St. Petersburg Times almost every week. What does that say about their stability?

Want to know more? Visit their website specialdata.com. You can even email them. When you do, tell them Chuck DeNova says "Hi".

Hooray for National Magazine Exchange. It must have been a real coup for them when they snagged you,John from Largo,to come work for them.The way you are quick to defend the integrity of your employer by putting dumbasses in thier place,who post on the evil Rippoff Report, is admirable.

Dedicated employees are hard to come by,and you would certainly have my vote for employee of the month.When you said,in your own words that I'm, "full of sh*t", quote unquote, I could just imagine your face turing beet red, the veins bulging in your neck, and your fists balled up tightly .

"No Rippoff Rebutal meanie is going to question my sacred companies integrity,by golly,and get off scotfree .Not without me calling them 4 letter names.That'll teach em.". If I called potential customers of the place where I work 4 letter names, I might be fired, but the fierce way you defend your company will certainly override that in your case. I'm sure you are totally in the right, while I'm totally in the wrong.

But I have one issue,my Florida friend ,if you would kindly adress,to this dumb hick from Iowa. I think the junk mail letter I recieved has touches of deception in it. Mainly, Is Pat Haines working as a sales rep in your building.
What is Pat Haines current job duties. What desk does Pat Haines sit at.

If I called the phone number provided and ask for Pat Haines personally, could I talk to Pat Haines.
Or are the Tampa Bay DevilRays chances of becoming baseballs next powerhouse dynasty better than my chances of talking to Pat Haines about my 1,000,000 dollars.Is Pat Haines a DevilRays fan for that matter.

What?, there is no Pat Haines to talk to when I call. Okay. Well what about the quote on the letter, We are trying to reach you in regards to your 1,000,000 dollar sweepstakes ID #,etc.

Who is the "We" that personally has been trying to reach me.Give me thier names please. If they have been trying to reach me,well then how many times before. Via phone,emails,or what?. Please document how may times they have been trying to contact me, dates, times, and by what means.

What is the real truthful reason they dont have the guts to mention they are selling magazine subscriptions right next to that sentence on the front, but put it on the back instead. Thank you kindly for your time, John from Largo. You'll have to clue me in on who Judge Moody is though, I dont watch Law and Order, but if Judge Moody is an honest Judge, I'll take that as a compliment when you call me Judge Moody.

Let your good work in the rewarding occupation of Magazine Exchange Billing Department Employee carry on. And if you bump into Pat Haines by the water cooler sometime on your break, give Pat my regards. Go Marlins.

Hooray for National Magazine Exchange. It must have been a real coup for them when they snagged you,John from Largo,to come work for them.The way you are quick to defend the integrity of your employer by putting dumbasses in thier place,who post on the evil Rippoff Report, is admirable.

Dedicated employees are hard to come by,and you would certainly have my vote for employee of the month.When you said,in your own words that I'm, "full of sh*t", quote unquote, I could just imagine your face turing beet red, the veins bulging in your neck, and your fists balled up tightly .

"No Rippoff Rebutal meanie is going to question my sacred companies integrity,by golly,and get off scotfree .Not without me calling them 4 letter names.That'll teach em.". If I called potential customers of the place where I work 4 letter names, I might be fired, but the fierce way you defend your company will certainly override that in your case. I'm sure you are totally in the right, while I'm totally in the wrong.

But I have one issue,my Florida friend ,if you would kindly adress,to this dumb hick from Iowa. I think the junk mail letter I recieved has touches of deception in it. Mainly, Is Pat Haines working as a sales rep in your building.
What is Pat Haines current job duties. What desk does Pat Haines sit at.

If I called the phone number provided and ask for Pat Haines personally, could I talk to Pat Haines.
Or are the Tampa Bay DevilRays chances of becoming baseballs next powerhouse dynasty better than my chances of talking to Pat Haines about my 1,000,000 dollars.Is Pat Haines a DevilRays fan for that matter.

What?, there is no Pat Haines to talk to when I call. Okay. Well what about the quote on the letter, We are trying to reach you in regards to your 1,000,000 dollar sweepstakes ID #,etc.

Who is the "We" that personally has been trying to reach me.Give me thier names please. If they have been trying to reach me,well then how many times before. Via phone,emails,or what?. Please document how may times they have been trying to contact me, dates, times, and by what means.

What is the real truthful reason they dont have the guts to mention they are selling magazine subscriptions right next to that sentence on the front, but put it on the back instead. Thank you kindly for your time, John from Largo. You'll have to clue me in on who Judge Moody is though, I dont watch Law and Order, but if Judge Moody is an honest Judge, I'll take that as a compliment when you call me Judge Moody.

Let your good work in the rewarding occupation of Magazine Exchange Billing Department Employee carry on. And if you bump into Pat Haines by the water cooler sometime on your break, give Pat my regards. Go Marlins.

Hooray for National Magazine Exchange. It must have been a real coup for them when they snagged you,John from Largo,to come work for them.The way you are quick to defend the integrity of your employer by putting dumbasses in thier place,who post on the evil Rippoff Report, is admirable.

Dedicated employees are hard to come by,and you would certainly have my vote for employee of the month.When you said,in your own words that I'm, "full of sh*t", quote unquote, I could just imagine your face turing beet red, the veins bulging in your neck, and your fists balled up tightly .

"No Rippoff Rebutal meanie is going to question my sacred companies integrity,by golly,and get off scotfree .Not without me calling them 4 letter names.That'll teach em.". If I called potential customers of the place where I work 4 letter names, I might be fired, but the fierce way you defend your company will certainly override that in your case. I'm sure you are totally in the right, while I'm totally in the wrong.

But I have one issue,my Florida friend ,if you would kindly adress,to this dumb hick from Iowa. I think the junk mail letter I recieved has touches of deception in it. Mainly, Is Pat Haines working as a sales rep in your building.
What is Pat Haines current job duties. What desk does Pat Haines sit at.

If I called the phone number provided and ask for Pat Haines personally, could I talk to Pat Haines.
Or are the Tampa Bay DevilRays chances of becoming baseballs next powerhouse dynasty better than my chances of talking to Pat Haines about my 1,000,000 dollars.Is Pat Haines a DevilRays fan for that matter.

What?, there is no Pat Haines to talk to when I call. Okay. Well what about the quote on the letter, We are trying to reach you in regards to your 1,000,000 dollar sweepstakes ID #,etc.

Who is the "We" that personally has been trying to reach me.Give me thier names please. If they have been trying to reach me,well then how many times before. Via phone,emails,or what?. Please document how may times they have been trying to contact me, dates, times, and by what means.

What is the real truthful reason they dont have the guts to mention they are selling magazine subscriptions right next to that sentence on the front, but put it on the back instead. Thank you kindly for your time, John from Largo. You'll have to clue me in on who Judge Moody is though, I dont watch Law and Order, but if Judge Moody is an honest Judge, I'll take that as a compliment when you call me Judge Moody.

Let your good work in the rewarding occupation of Magazine Exchange Billing Department Employee carry on. And if you bump into Pat Haines by the water cooler sometime on your break, give Pat my regards. Go Marlins.

Words thrown around from "Law & Order," you really area an idiot! I hold a degree in Paralegal studies, you? Exactly.

You've once again proven everyone else's point. You keep coming back digging yourself and this "Company," deeper and deeper. the fact of the matter is NME has been busted on numerous occassions, lawsuits have been filed and you just can't handle the fact that you're sticking up for someone that everyone else has seen through.

By the way, I am holding a copy of one of your fake Sweepstakes Winner papers, it does not display such. Again, you're digging!

For 1. Very interesting information! I'm impressed! Gimme a break. You must have brown eyes, don't you? Because your full of $h*t! You think that throwing around words you learned off of 'law and order' proves a point? You are sadly mistaken 'judge moody'! Prove your imaginary slanderous claims! STEP CORRECT

For 2. Um duh duh duh, there's really not much to say to you, except get some new glasses or maybe a magnifying glass if all else fails! The mail piece clearly tells you when the drawing is, and that we are going to offer you magazines! PLEASE STEP CORRECT

If this is an ethical company,than they would be honest and upfront on thier sweepstakes junkmail notification. It would say in essence ," WE ARE SELLING MAGAZINES ", plus an entry in a sweepstakes.

And they would put it in bold easy to read wording. Instead they make no mention of thier real purpose. Being childishly sneaky and deceptive in thier advertising, and not telling you thier real intentions, reeks of deceit.

Who, with any common sense ,would want to hand over thier money to a company using those kind of tactics? If a company cant be totally honest and upfront with thier customers all the time,than avoid them like a disease.

Unbelievable! You do realize that an Absent Minded person is one who forgets things or simply opens their mouth before thinking. Oh, that was you! You have proved everyone else's point. NME is a rip off and always will be a rip off. They will be shut down sooner or later. You don't work for an unethical company, HA! You do realize they have been under investigation, they are listed with the FTC's biggest scams and numerous civil and government lawsuits have been filed in the last 6 plus years???

Your ego is far to big for you. If you think for one minute that this company is ethical, then you would be that moron you want people to believe is someone else. You and maybe one other employee will defend NME, why is that? Hundreds of other employees and former employees have busted on them.

But keep going, think what you want. However, don't call these victims and people helping to stop these kinds of companies Stupid when yourself sticking up for a company like this, only shows you stupidity.

I work in the billing department of the national magazine exchange. The company does have a very rigid code of ethics policy. Every customer is told: they did not win the sweepstakes and when the drawing is, the magazines are not free (but 1.29 a week or whatever the rate may be at the time), and exactly how much they will be billed if they accept the magazine offer.

Anyone who says they were misinformed on the offer is one of two things- oblivious, or stupid. If you don't think it is a good deal then don't buy them, it is that simple. Nobody is making you. You still get entered into the strike it rich sweepstakes if don't buy the magazines.

Also, the person who called to find out when they would receive their check is quite honestly a moron. Everyone knows to read the fine print. When you go to buy a car and you are looking in the Sunday paper for all the deals, do you think you are really going to buy that brand new car for the price in the ad? The answer is NO! Nowhere on the mail piece does it say that you have won the sweepstakes.

Nobody is making you pick up the phone and call, but if you want a slim chance at winning a million dollars for doing nothing, then call. In closing, I wouldn't work for an unethical company. Those that feel they were ripped off, are the type of people that ask for a price check at the dollar store (just plain absent minded folks). God Bless

where do you get off thinking $1.29 per week which is now .99 cents per week a good deal? most of the company subsriptions purchased directly from the magazine are only monthly magazines and can be had for $12-19$ per year. do the math.

sure they claim you can get 4 magazines for that .99 cents per week and then if you say no they give you 5 but who actually gets 5 subscriptions and gets billed the correct amount? maybe if you get 5 weekly magazines , rolling stone, time, or whatever. this is just as bad as those 30 year old "kids" trying to win trips coming and knocking door to door without license to do so. in most cities this is trespassing.

this oneswitch company is promoted by the USPS with a statement like "at no cost to you" do they even forward your information to your magazines? they claim it takes 8-10 weeks. I can just call the magazine myself and give them my new address and take only by next issue.

If you love it so much...Then thank Bill the next time your productivity or Schedule Adherence is off by 30 seconds and you are reduced in pay to $7.00 per hour. They need suckers and patsy's like you to justify their immorality. Fortunately the vast majority of your co-workers disagree which is why you will soon have Union representation to look out for your best interests.

Remember, no purchase or payment is required to enter the sweepstakes...

I can guess why you still work there Brenden. Just look at your spelling. Maybe it's not your fault for being uneducated. You believe the crap your supervisors tell you, and you actually think people want these worthless subscriptions. All I can say is good luck to you, and continue to live in your box.

you people call in we awnser its that simple you dont have to buy mags its up to u they are a $1.29 a week i resve them and its a good deal if u like them i got no prob with it if you get them great we have to work to you un gratful basterds

you people need to quit lieing everything done there is fully legal its pretty sad you people have nothing better do then to sit around and bad mouth somehting you know nothing about i am currently employed there dont you think it would be kinda hard to stay in buissness for close to 20 years if it was all just a gimmick it is a true swwep stakes done every other year winners are drawn on dec 31st of that year and notified by certified mail and or a phone call and there is never any purchase or payment required to enter or win any of the sweepstakes everythin is explained to you when buying the magazines and if your to stupid to understand it then its your own fault lol

you people need to quit lieing everything done there is fully legal its pretty sad you people have nothing better do then to sit around and bad mouth somehting you know nothing about i am currently employed there dont you think it would be kinda hard to stay in buissness for close to 20 years if it was all just a gimmick it is a true swwep stakes done every other year winners are drawn on dec 31st of that year and notified by certified mail and or a phone call and there is never any purchase or payment required to enter or win any of the sweepstakes everythin is explained to you when buying the magazines and if your to stupid to understand it then its your own fault lol

you people need to quit lieing everything done there is fully legal its pretty sad you people have nothing better do then to sit around and bad mouth somehting you know nothing about i am currently employed there dont you think it would be kinda hard to stay in buissness for close to 20 years if it was all just a gimmick it is a true swwep stakes done every other year winners are drawn on dec 31st of that year and notified by certified mail and or a phone call and there is never any purchase or payment required to enter or win any of the sweepstakes everythin is explained to you when buying the magazines and if your to stupid to understand it then its your own fault lol

you people need to quit lieing everything done there is fully legal its pretty sad you people have nothing better do then to sit around and bad mouth somehting you know nothing about i am currently employed there dont you think it would be kinda hard to stay in buissness for close to 20 years if it was all just a gimmick it is a true swwep stakes done every other year winners are drawn on dec 31st of that year and notified by certified mail and or a phone call and there is never any purchase or payment required to enter or win any of the sweepstakes everythin is explained to you when buying the magazines and if your to stupid to understand it then its your own fault lol

So, you think its fun dealing with the National Magazine Exchange as potential customers. Try actually working for them.

I am a former employee of Special Data Processing Corporation a.k.a. National Magazine Exchange. I was terminated from my employment without just cause on Wednesday, April 2, 2003 by the then Director of Partnership Sales and Program Manager for Special Data Processing Corporation (hereafter SDP or the company) and the Senior Human Resources Manager. I was not given a rational reason for my termination when it happened, it was not presented to me in writing nor was I given a post-employment interview. The questions I had regarding my dismissal were then largely ignored and when I was able to pin them down, a third party was blamed. The person who they said made the decision (allegedly the corporate attorney who has since resigned) did not face me, to explain her reasons. I was not then and have not been offered a severance package.

I have been the victim of harassment and a hostile working environment brought about by my pointing out and reporting unethical, immoral and possibly illegal conduct sanctioned by my employer in the workplace and making other employees, and the authorities aware of such. These complaints were filed as both in house grievances, letters, memos, and meetings with supervisors and management over a period of nearly eight months.

I was rehired at SDP on November 26, 2001; I previously worked for the company from March 1991 July 1992; and again in April 1995. A committee now makes the decision to rehire or not, based presumably on the previous employees past record of performance.

I was provided an employee manual at this time stating the terms and conditions as an employee of SDP as of that point in time. At some unknown, undetermined date after my hire, this manual was withdrawn and NO substitute was ever put in its place. One or two dress code updates were added to pay envelopes from time to time as well as information on insurance, vacation pay benefits, 401k items etc. We signed a form allowing the Quality Assurance Department to monitor our calls.

We were told in training this was for our protection in order too prevent customers from putting the company into legal trouble for things we didnt say. We were also told this was for training purposes to help us improve our presentations and our sales techniques. I wondered at the time however, why there was no written criteria presented to us as to what the companies exact performance expectations were beyond the basic scripts and rebuttals. It was not a written requirement to say these verbatim except in the confirmation process for closers. In other words, no specific expectations or rules regarding calls we had to read and sign existed (apart from a very few guidelines regarding no call no mail policy and profanity in the Code of Ethics). I took them at their word at that point and let it go.

It would be months later that I would find out the truth about the actual scope and authority of the Quality Assurance Department. I also signed a copy of the aforementioned Code of Ethics agreeing to abide by it.

The company claims to have specific policy that it goes by in making disciplinary policy decisions, but employees do not have a copy of them. The reason employees do not have a copy of them is because they are not written down anywhere with the sole exception of the dress code and Code of Ethics (as I said, written in a general manner and open to wide interpretation in many instances). In fact, the rules are largely a matter of management whim, loosely interpreted by assistant supervisors, managers, and most importantly the Quality Assurance Department (hereinafter QD) I referenced. QD also has the authority to issue progressive disciplinary action on all telesales employees; this was not something emphasized in training. The Blue Envelope is a dreaded sight for telesales employees who can be given any form of discipline from a simple advisory to verbal warning to written warning to Level One to Level Two to termination depending on the violation and/or the whim of the Department Manager. Calls were randomly monitored by different QD employees with differing levels of highly questionable experience and ability on a random basis. I say highly questionable because most rank and file QD employees are failed SSRs and Verifiers, in other words this was their last stop before a trip to the unemployment office. This random monitoring effects every telesales department, SSA, Verification, Customer Service, One Switch, etc. in the company.

On occasion employees would receive envelopes for between call comments that QD could not absolutely attribute to a specific employee because of microphone sensitivity. Not only does the company not have any potential liability risk on non-calls, but also on occasion the wrong employee would be disciplined or even fired for these arbitrary QD rulings. This is nothing more than eavesdropping. At the same time, you could also be disciplined for not saying things or omitting certain truths. For example in the script for the SSAs it was written that the Sweepstakes is held primarily for major credit card holders when in fact the Sweepstakes is valid for anyone who calls in. The implication here of course, if not in words is that you have a better chance to win if you have a credit card. The obvious psychology is to encourage cardholders not to lie and thus avoid the sales pitch. The preferred customers for the magazine promotion are credit card holders whose cards we immediately go for if they pick magazines. A pay by check department also exists but this is the less desired route because of low collections and slow turnaround. The cancellation rebuttals are misleading and deceptive, but if you are caught not reciting them, or telling customers that they can cancel, you can be punished (except for OneSwitch, which is forced, by federal contract, to be honest). Callers are pushed into providing phone numbers, but it is not revealed that these will be sold and used for future telemarketing purposes by SDP and others. In all fairness though the company strictly maintains a no call, no mail policy when the customer is savvy enough to see through that smoke. QD is also used by Department Managers to weed out various troublemakers and undesirables at random by running profiles (selective harassment).

I too on several occasions came under the dubious scrutiny of QD. It was requested but not required in any disciplinary or counciling session that the employee sign the disciplinary form, if not necessarily to agree with but to acknowledge the situation, and that it had been addressed with the employee. In virtually every situation I was involved in I made it a policy not to sign, absent a written regulation I violated and/or proof that there was intent to deliberately mislead or maliciously defraud the company or customer. In no situation whatsoever was any written regulation produced. I would usually follow up these situations by filing an in house grievance for the Blue Envelope or counciling, again requesting justification. No justification or regulation was EVER provided, because none of these grievances were ever formally addressed. In many instances, since August 2002, I spoke to management regarding QDs abuse of authority. When I would point out that many of these corporate irregularities may violate the law and may feel compelled to seek assistance from a public agency, it was plainly stated that this would have a negative impact on my career and longevity with the company. When I was in the R & D (Research and Development) Department certain disciplinary actions were reviewed and removed from my file as unjustifiable. A particular Manager in that Department told me that if I withdrew my grievances, not file any more, and not make waves while in R & D, I would not be troubled by QD again. He kept his word during that period. When I transferred out of R&D and went back to OneSwitch in March 2003, the QD harassment began again. In a routine meeting with the then current Manager of OneSwitch and a Supervisor of OneSwitch, I was told that I could be again in QDs sights now that I was out of R&D. I told them both that QD needed to back up its decisions with facts. I said that I would tolerate no further harassment unless QD could prove I violated a documented rule or demonstrated a deliberate attempt to defraud and would take real action if I was bothered again without just cause.

Predictably, I was profiled and I received two more unjustifiable Blue Envelopes in OneSwitch (on March 27) and finally had been harassed enough. At this moment, I concluded that at the time of my re-employment, the company had concealed pertinent facts regarding company practices, which may have had, at the time a bearing over whether or not I would choose to come back. When they did not replace the Employee Manual, a total void was left except for sexual harassment, dress codes, and the equally weighty issue of spill-proof cups rules for which policy was re-issued in writing. This constituted a fundamental change in the hiring conditions. These oppressive conditions did not exist in 1991 or 1995 when I had also worked for the company. The company had lost all respect for its employees. I prepared a memo revoking QDs permission to randomly monitor my pre-sale calls for the purposes of profiling, but not managers or supervisors in the ordinary duties or the Sales Auditing Department whos responsibility it is to insure Federal TSR laws are obeyed. One of the Directors asked me if I would withdraw the grievance. I told him I would if he would investigate and withdraw the envelopes and Level One by April 2. He accepted my condition and said he would look into the matter ASAP and would get back to me no later than April 2. I told him if he needed more time I would extend my deadline, he said April 2nd was time enough. I reminded him that in no instance when I filed grievances against QD were any of my points addressed, or even acknowledged. This told me that the company had something to hide. He told me that he wanted us to work together to fix this problem in the company. He said this to me in front of two witnesses. I told that Director that as a company Director, he was perfectly capable of fixing any problem that needed fixing with or without my participation. That Director, did not at that time; indicate that my job would be ended if I went through with my promise to revoke my signature with QD, although he then had a copy of it in his hands. On Monday, March 31, the Director asked me if I had withdrawn my grievance. I asked him if the Blue Envelopes and Level One had been reviewed and withdrawn, he said he hadnt gotten to it yet, I said he had to my deadline and if he kept his word to me I would not take further action, he agreed to hurry.

By the afternoon of April 2, he had not fulfilled his promise and I gave the memo of April 2 to the Director of H.R. shortly after 1PM. Shortly after 2PM, Director #1 came to me at my workstation requesting a meeting. We met in a private office; the Director of H.R. was also in attendance. Director #1 said that he was under instructions from the legal department to separate employment, because without QDs ability to monitor my calls he couldnt protect the company. When I asked, protect the company from what? he would not respond. I pointed out that I restricted QD only, but again, not managers or supervisors in the ordinary duties or the Sales Auditing Department who has a clear legal mandate and purpose. All he said was again he was under instructions from the legal department to separate employment. When I pointed out that I had offered to withdraw the memo if he kept his word, he apologized and said he had been too busy on other projects and it was too late. I pointed out he had made the offer himself without any prompting from me. I asked him point blank three times, if I was being set up and actually fired for asserting my rights in the workplace and accusing the company of illegal sales practices and threatening to turn the company in. His response was the same mantra. My Security badge was collected and I was escorted off site by the Director who apologized to me repeatedly and said he had no choice. I told him that I thought he did, but he chose not to take it.

My long standing complaint is that Special Data Processing Corporation has no written rules or guidelines for its employees to follow as pertains to any activity that QD can discipline the employee for. This is not hair-splitting, semantics, or my personal crusade, it is VERY significant. I will give you two examples of what I am talking about: you can be disciplined up to termination for badgering a customer, but no definition exists anywhere as to what constitutes badgering. In a sales organization, where does salesmanship and closing the deal end and badgering begin? Is the definition different for an SSA, a Verifier, or a One-Switch representative? Another, even more serious example: Pennsylvania, for example, is one of about nine or ten no rebuttal states. This means that the Telemarketing Laws in those states are written in such a way that if a potential customer says No at any point of the presentation to the salesperson, they are required by that states law to warm close them and say good-bye. No rebuttal states are not mentioned or referenced in any training, script, or sales document that I have ever seen at SDP. If a sales representative is being monitored by QD and not rebuttaling a Pennsylvania caller they could be written up, given a Level, or terminated. Telesales jobs are safe at SDP if employees violate the laws of other states that management deems as inconvenient or non-profitable. Employees arent informed of such state laws, unless SDP is caught and fined by that state. I will not follow rules or regulations that are illegal or immoral, written or not. That is not employee misconduct, it is employer misconduct. The State of Oregon caught up with SDP and levied a stiff fine. Since April 2, I have personally made the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and many other states aware of these and other possible irregularities. Several of these states are now conducting their own investigations.

My complaints were never answered, except with unwritten, vague promises of future action. I was threatened with termination if I made my complaints public. This was the real reason I was separated. My April 2nd memo was the reason they used to attempt to give the termination an aura of legitimacy.

Since my departure, the blue envelopes are now red, and an internal movement to organize a labor Union (Communications Workers of America) within the company has begun. The rank and file within SDP are also disgusted, their pay is constantly cut the benefits are a joke and their treatment is as you have read, horrendous. The success of the Union within SDP should help clean up their act.

Incidentally, Pat Haines is not just a marketing name the company uses. She was one of the co-founders of the company along with her son Randy and William H. (Bill) Hood, III. She gave the company permission to use her name on the mailers for a fee. I was a member of her SSA team when I initially joined the company in 1991.

C. D. Palm Harbor, Florida

CORPORATE INFORMATION:

Special Data Processing Corporation (D.B.A. National Magazine Exchange, D.B.A. OneSwitch)
16120 US Highway 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33764

Telephone: 727-535-0205

Thank goodness I didn't call that number. I decided to do some research and thankfully I found this website. It too bad that people want to take advantage of others. THANK YOU to whom ever made this website available. You saved me a lot of hassel.

I just wanted to thank the person who is responsible for composing this website. I also recieved my "Sweepstakes Notification" today in the mail. I decided to look it up on the internet before making the phone call to claim my prize, whew!!!!!!I'm glad I did. Thank you so much.

Thinking the receipt of the letter was a gimmick; I placed the address of N.M.E in a search engine and found this page. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

Dave

Thinking the receipt of the letter was a gimmick; I placed the address of N.M.E in a search engine and found this page. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

Dave

Thinking the receipt of the letter was a gimmick; I placed the address of N.M.E in a search engine and found this page. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

Dave

Thinking the receipt of the letter was a gimmick; I placed the address of N.M.E in a search engine and found this page. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

Dave

First, I looked up their report on the BBB's website. This is what it says:

"National Magazine Exchange, Inc.
16120 US HWY 19 N Ste 400
Clearwater, FL 33764

Start Date: August 1985
Principal Contact: Mr. William H Hood III, CEO
Consumer Contact: Ms. Mylrae DeGregorio, Customer Service Rep.
Phone Number: 800-310-6247

Nature of Business: This company offers magazine subscriptions via phone and a telemarketing call center for various companies and products.

Costumer Experience: The company mails notices inviting people to call and enter the Million Dollar "Strike it Rich" sweepstakes. There is no purchase nessasary to enter the sweepstakes. The odds of winning are determined by the number of people who enter. The company estimates the odds at no more than 1 in 250 million. The sweepstakes promotion is used by the company to promote magazine subscriptions. Our file experience shows that the company has recieved complaints alleging billing disputes, misinterpretation of the sweepstakes promotion and misunderstanding the companies billing terms. The company has addressed all complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau by cancelling the consumer's accounts or responding to questions regarding the sweepstakes promotions or its billing procedures.

Additional Information:

Also Doing Business as names: Clearinghouse Magazine, Million Dollar Sweepstakes, National List Exchange, Inc., National Publishers Exchange, Inc., National Telemarketing Exchange, Inc., NME, Special Data Processing, Inc., and Stirke it Rich 2 Sweepstakes.

Additional Addressed: PO Box 9084 Clearwater FL 33758-9084

Additional Phone Numbers: 800-235-3630, 888-326-2738, 800-316-6247, 727-815-8196"


Funny, huh? First off, the BBB is the biggest waste of time, and deliberately takes companies' money so not to file bad reports. As you can see in this one, the state that the company has responded to complaints, wrong. I fell into their gimmick many years ago. Upon calling, I was told that I won this magazine and that magazine and that I could exchange them for one more sutible for my family, etc.

I asked for any cost and was told none. There were a total of four magazine subscriptions I was told I won. A few months later, I still never recieved ANY, and I get a bill for $788. FREE, Huh? I sent a complaint years ago to the BBB at that time. Guess what was done, It's on my credit report as a account never paid. That's really how the BBB and the company dismiss complaint claims. To this day, I get these papers in, and yes, some of them say I HAVE ALREADY WON, I get at least 3 to 4 a year, not counting the one's my husband recieves along with my small children. It's your basic "Hook, Line and Sinker" scam. I would do what someone else said and notify the USPS.

Now, I just rip these letters up and throw them away. I hope next time you do the same. Good Luck!

I have heard negative reports about reports concerning the Better Business Bureau--*however*, as far as the National Magazine Exchange is concerned, you can do a search of this company on the BBB homepage, which will give you the name of the founder of NME and phone numbers, and other pertinent information.

If you really want to make a difference, go to the Better Business Bureau website. National Magazine Exchange is in Clearwater, Florida. You can make a complaint with them.

BTW, Pat Haines is not a real person, but a marketing name the company uses. Another thing about the mailer...it does not say you have won...that's why the person you spoke to said to read the back. All the mailer says is that the company was trying to reach you regarding your ID# which is given to you by the company and is on the mailer. Of course no one has to call when they receive the mailer. If you KNOW you haven't entered any sweepstakes, which you must consciously do, then my suggestion is THROW THE MAILER AWAY, because the purpose of the compamy is to get you to buy magazines.

If you have a couple of minutes you might consider to drop an on-line note to the USPS Inspectors. They hate sweepstakes.... There are very strict rules regulating sweepstakes, Magazine Exchange breaks many of these.

https://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/

fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm