United Readers' Svc Inc

This place IS a complete scam. I have been in phone soliciting, and sales for over 10 years, and I have never worked for a company quite like this one.. They call numbers from a list provided, and tell the people who pick up that they have been entered into a sweepstakes by their bank of major cradit card. That's exactly what they say.. They don't tell you WHICH bank, or WHICH credit card.. And when asked which one, they can't answer, because they don't know. Why don't they know? Because they're scamming.. They procede to tell you that you could win a Chevy Equinox, a bedroom make over, or a trip to wherever.. Then they tell you you're getting a free watch, and ask if you prefer a man's or a woman's watch. After that, they tell you that you get 5 free magazines, you just have to pay for 1 weekly publication. They price for the weekly publication is $3.99/week, which is 207.48 per year. To buy US weekly, it's around $99/year, Time is $56/year, and even People (which is literally the most expensive magazine in the world) is $113.95/year. You then go into a 4 year contract, which you can't get out of. If you refuse the magazines, you don't get the watch. It's a sales pitch for the magazines, which you actually pay for all of them. The people who work there have no problem with what they do. They give other telemarketers who actually, believe it or not, have your best interest in mind, a very bad name. They prey on the elderly, and people not completely pating attention. They do NOT follow telemarketing laws, and they lie to get the sale. Sales sharks.. All they care about is their comission, which on one sale isn't very much. I walked out after 1 week of employment, only to get a check for $7/hr, not the $10 that they promised. I'm completely in awe that this company is still in business. Call it a scam, call it what you want, but don't be fooled by these people!

Posted 10/16/09 | Report Abuse

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I have never in my life dealt with a company that was this shady and down right NASTY! They have lied so much it is ridiculous. I have paid over $670.00 and was only given credit for a portion of that. I requested a full accounting ledger of my payments and did received quite promptly. When I called to discuss they all but called me a liar and that we owed even more. If I paid all they are asking for it will total close to $900. ARE YOU KIDDING!

Posted 06/11/09 | Report Abuse

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I used to work here for URS and it was very shady (the things we were allowed to say to make the sale). I don't feel great about all of the times that we were allowed to say the subscription was coming due (*but didn't have to say in 10 years etc) and could quote one price but in the end say another. Maybe things have changed? not sure.

Posted 04/22/09 | Report Abuse

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This corporation tells you one thing on the phone, then says another when you call them back... for instance, how much it is going to cost to have 7 magazines sent to your house! They say that they are charging you for only one, that is a weekly magazine and that you pay $39.00 for six months. When you find out that it's for two years, it's too late to back out! I could have bought each of those magazines for a quarter of the price I'm now paying. What's even more pathetic, is that the magazines don't even come regularly! Do yourself a favor, and don't go any where near this company, I'm filing a complaint with the BBB today!!!

Posted 02/24/09 | Report Abuse

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I can tell you that one should NOT hand these people anything, period. They tell you that you can cancel within ten days but then some airhead answers the phone when you want to cancel, says she can't find your info but will make note of it and make sure it's taken care of only to have their snotty telemarketers call you in a few weeks asking for payment. When you tell them you spoke to someone, you damn well better have a confirmation number otherwise they'll insist you're lying. They're doing shoddy practice and I hope that when the AG and BBB as well as my attorney gets done with them, they're all unemployed.

Posted 07/12/08 | Report Abuse

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This SAME woman continues to bad mouth United Readers' Service. I WORK there, have been there for years, and am VERY proud to be an employee. We are legit, the sweepstakes is real. Now we get our names from major list brokers --if you ask to be taken off, we will gladly do so. It's our job to call and notify all people who are entered. and then we tell them about a promotion involving mags. Anyone entered in the sweeps is eligible for it. By the way, the number 50622469401 has NO affiliation with our company. Honestly, if you arent interested just tell us; Dont go and bad mouth us trying to hurt my companies reputation....which is very good i may add. Check out the Better Business Beureau in the cleveland section. not only are we listed, but accredited with them. Trash talking a company that you know NOTHING about really shows your character. Pick up a hobby....we have PLENTY of magazines for all your interests ma'am!

Posted 06/18/08 | Report Abuse

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If you have seen the movie, "Matchstick Men", you pretty much know what this company is (they even used a lot of the sayings straight out of the movie with me). They said that they were from "Publishers Headquarters", a division of "United Readers", aka United Readers Service.

WARNING! Do not give these people your name, debit or credit card info, or your address. They called me from 866-802-7034 on my cell phone today, 6/2/08, saying my credit card company, bank, or credit union gave them my name and phone number (although they apparently didn't have my name) because I am supposedly a winner in a contest that the credit card company, bank, or credit union funds for their "best" customers. They could not name the credit card company, bank, or credit union that I was granted this contest winning through though.

Strangely enough, 15 seconds after I received my call, the same company called my husband's cell phone number with the same pitch. Our cell phone numbers are not close, so I suspect they purchased our cell phone numbers from Sprint. However, they used a different phone number when they called him with the exact same pitch. It was 50622469401 (I don't know where the dashes should go as there are too many digits for a US phone number)... We both hung up with their people and called them back on the "866" number.

There are scores of complaints about their collections department (US Collections) trying to collect for phantom magazine, book, or porno purchases that people have supposedly made (totally bogus).

They are supposedly a magazine subscription company located at 13400 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107. My husband called the local police department and they told him they had heard about US Collections...

Our cell phones are set up on the federal "do not call" list, yet they called us on our cell phones. We are considering filing a complaint for their phone call.

Posted 06/02/08 | Report Abuse

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