lol when I was a teen I did that. I got a whole bunch of cds. THought they would be real cheap, but they werent. My mom was so mad. Shes like how did you think you were going to pay for all those. Ended up sending them back.

Hey red...sorry you've had such a hassle with Columbia House.  I have been a member since 2000, and enjoy their service.  I rarely need to speak with Customer Service however, and when I do...I usually am satisfied with sending an email (which I do know won't be answered for days and days and days... ).

In my younger days, I would receive an invitation to join Columbia House, buy the 12 cds or so for $1, then promise to buy one or two within the next two years.  Not a bad deal at all...so I would take them up on the deal.  Then promptly not pay them for the two cds I was supposed to pick at regular prices.  Well...I would received a couple of nastygrams from Columbia House, my memberships would be cancelled, and I was placed on some black list somewhere at Columbia House.

Six months later, I would receive a nice letter from Columbia House, telling me that I was a former valued member, and would I please consider returning to Columbia House?  And to entice me further, I got to choose another 10 free cds, with promises to pay for one at regular price, etc........well, we all know what I did about that as well.  I received my cds, then disappeared.

I don't do that anymore.  And I realize that Columbia House simply writes all those bad accounts off on taxes and such, so no real harm is done.  But, technically, I'm a cd thief now. 

columbia house does some pretty slimy things. I signed up when I was 16 or so ...one of those buy X cds get X free. My parents had let me get a checking account when I turned 16 and I got my first job. At our bank that included a Visa debit card so I could sign up online super easily and I did. Boy was my mom surprised when a box showed up of like 25 cds. I explained to her that i only had to pay for shipping and then for so many more cds. Well she didn't like how long it was taking and started taking everything they sent and writing cancelled on it and sending it back. Well they promptly sent a bill for all the other cds. I don't remember how it all turned out in the end but i think I ended up buying the rest. At 16 you are not LEGALLY able to enter into a contract therefore any thing i supposedly commited to was not legally binding.

Then just a few year's later as a college student i was dumb enough to join the dvd club. My only real complaint about it has been the automatic shipments. I get their paperless catelogue...One summer I was working at a rural camp and not checking my email a lot. I forgot about the "director's selection" that they automatically send you unless you tell them each month that you don't want it. Well they sent them to my college and I have no idea what ever happened to them. I didn't get them so I couldn't return them but they have my credit card number so i was charged for them. After compaining they did finally send me 2 coupons for movies but I didn't get my money back. And I keep thinking I'm going to loose those coupons before i get the chance to use them.

Are you sure your relative is actually signed up? Sometimes they send out mailings that are just asking you to be a member. IF she is really signed up call and ask to speak to a supervisor and I would through out the better business bureau's name. A lot of businesses train their employees to react very quickly when someone mentions contacting the BBB.

Also this is a card that may be sad to play but if she has any medical conditions that prevent her from making decisions you can mention that as well. if someone else is making legal/medical decisions for her then she can't be held responsible.

Good luck with them!

Glad you got it worked out ~ hate that you had the hassle though!