Columbia House Canada Dishonest business practices Scarborough Ontario

Beware Columbia House Canada. If you are navigating on the Internet and a pop-up window offers you DVDs at low prices, Columbia House is probably behind it. I received 3 DVDs but paid high service and delivery charges and became an unwilling member of Columbia House Canada. When I called them I was told I had no choice but to purchase 3 DVDs at $19.99 each in the next 2 years to fulfill my contract. I was not even allowed to return the original DVDs in order to get out of this.

When I complained that Columbia House had in no way been associated with the original on-line offer they had no response. I hadn't signed a contract or in any way agreed to become a member. It is difficult as well to fulfill the contract as there are few DVDs for 19.99 they are either much more expensive or cheaper and do not meet the requirement to fulfill the contract. In July, I spoke to a representative and had an overbilling problem solved, sent a cheque and was told my contract was fulfilled and my membership cancelled.

Less than a month later however I've received a new order card saying I need to buy 2 more DVDs. I called and the representative said the person I spoke to previously was wrong and that I do need to buy more DVDs to get out of the contract. I've asked to speak to a supervisor and hope to get some satisfaction.

There doesn't seem to be any way to fight these guys because if you don't pay they send your bill off to a collection agency and your line of credit will be affected. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as of today and hope that this will be resolved somehow. Others I've spoken to about this have similar stories. People just pay up to get CH off their backs. This must be how they stay in business.

Enough people get taken in by this scam and by their threatening letters that even if people quickly get out of their contracts it must be profitable. I question why they are allowed to continue with these dishonest business practices and why there isn't a more effective way to resolve complaints against them.

Tish
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada