Lawsuit Alleges Illegal Debt Collection Practices By North Shore Agency, Inc.

[Donnie Wishard]

Yep these people are a scam. I got a letter from North Shore Agency too saying I owed 23.97 for Men's Health magazine. I called Men's Health, and they eagerly relieved me of the "debt" that I didn't owe them. What a bunch of losers!

[Donnie Wishard]

Now What Do We Do wrote:

Yes, i got the same thing and its definitely a scam. If you read the back of the statement it says "Unless you, within 30 days after your receipt of North Shore Agency's initial written notice to you concerning this debt, notify this office that you dispute the validity of this debt, or any portion thereof, North Shore Agency will assume this debt is valid."
It also states that you must notify them in writing. Who uses written mail any these days??
QUESTION IS: What can we all do about this now?? Apparently the Better Business Bureau isnt enough to get anything done. What ever someone thinks we can do, IM IN !!!!!!

Just call the company they say owes you the money and tell them you are not paying it, and you are turning them in to the FTC. I bet they fix the issue eagerly.

[janelle]

i have a magazine subscription notice sent to me today about me owing $22.20 for a magazine i have no interest in im 15 years old and there is no phone number to phone to cancel it i have no clue what to do and im defenently not going to pay for that magazine

[Carol]

CIA wrote:

If you need to reach North Shore Agency Corporate. Please call 1-800-676-4660 and speak with a supervisor. If you have a concern on why the file was placed with North Shore Agency please call the actual magazine subscriber or company whom sent the file to North Shore.

I, too, received a collection notice from North Shore Agency for $39.96 for 2 magazines I never ordered!!! My last subscription ended Sept 03! I called the number on the notice and got a recording which asked me if I had ever received these subscriptions and I said NO. The recording said they would forward this information to the appropriate company. Furthermore, this notice does not even mention the company from whom I supposedly ordered from which makes it impossible to call them as you suggested. I believe it is a scam and plan on filing this with the BBB and whomever else I can think of!!!!

[Char L Monument Co]

I just recently recieved a collection notice from North Shore Agency, Melville NY. Saying I owe a Debt of 24.97 for Readers Digest and Woman's Day. I never ordered Readers Digest, and I have been recieving Woman's Day for many years and pay that subscription when I recieve it. I contacted Publishers Clearing House by e-mail only because they do not give a phone number out for you to call. I advised them that this company North Shore is trying to collect a Debt on there behalf. What is going on. I'm currently waiting for a response from Clearing House. It was nice to see other's having a problem with North Shore. However I'm going to see how I can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and how this company can be investigated in to. This would be a good topic for 20/20???

[Tom]

I got one of these letters for a non-existent Men's Health subscription. This is a fraud. An Internet search shows that they lost a class action suit in 2001, and it looks like there's one being started:
http://www.jameshoyer.com/problem_north_shore...

[Angry Parent]

My 13 year old daughter is receiving invoices and collection letters regarding a PREVENTION MAGAZINE subscription. Of course she has never ordered such a thing or received any magazines, even if their letters say she has. After reading this forum, I am not even going to call them as they only have 800 numbers and then they will have our number as it can't be blocked to toll free numbers. If you decide to call them, USE A PAYPHONE so they can't get your number. I wouldn't email either.

I used to read PREVENTION for years in my younger days. I even bought many books on health and gardening. What has happened to a formerly reputable company? This is reprehensible and likely criminal. It's no wonder the reputation of American business is going down the toilet.

The only thing I can think of is that someone is selling her name. She has frequent flyer cards for Southwest, Alaska, Delta and AMTRAK. In the past, she received a credit card offer that was linked to Amtrak.

An old friend of mine had a cool way to determine where these things originated. When he signed up for miscellaneous cards or offers, he would put a different middle initial. For instance, if he got a grocery club card, he would list his middle intial as "X". Then, anytime he got mail with the X middle initial he knew the origin was from the grocery card or someone they sold the name to.

But keep an eye on the flyer cards, I'm sure about that one. There is likely a way to "opt out" of their right to sell your info.

Dee

[Not easily deceived]

I also just received a collection letter from North Shore Agency (Prevention magazine) saying I owe them 16.97. I tried to call Prevention magazine but no operators were available to take my call. I emailed PREVENTION correspondence and will have to take the nfortunate step of mailing a dispute letter to North Shore Agency. I might jump in on the class action suit found against NSA. Bottom line if you dispute it, and they don't have evidence you owe it, you don't have to pay it. REVIEW FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT online for more info.

[Prevention Mag is slimy]

I didn't renew my subscription to Prevention Magazine many months ago. Lo and behold I received a collection letter from North Shore Agency yesterday. I have impeccable credit and fear they have made a notation with the credit reporting agencies.
How sad that Prevenion has to take such slimy tactics to get subscribers. I have written them and will have to write North Shore as well. I can't believe the hassle they are putting me through for $18.97 for a magazine I declined.

[We fell for it too]

A couple of months ago we, too got a notice saying we owed for "Old House Journal", to which we had never ordered, but were receiving. After 3 or 4 more notices, the last one saying that our credit was being ruined, we paid, along with a letter protesting their practices, also saying that we never wanted to hear from them again. Lo and behold, 2 days ago we got another copy of "Old House Journal". We promptly called their customer service base and demanded that we be remove from their subscription list. They said that they could not do that, that only North Shore Agency could, and they gave me their number. Called, only voice mail, no return call yet. I have contacted "Clark Howard" in the hopes that this can get on his show and the whole country alerted to this fraudulent company!

[Fustrated beyond Belief]

I have been getting letters from these losers for a subcription that was paid in JANUARY 2008. Neither the company nor I can get them off my back. I've tried calling: the extention number is invalid. I've writted also,sending a copy of paid subcription. And they are still sending me letters! I am so over it!I just want to get off this stupid merry go round....

[Joseph from mn]

Im 17 and continusly receive letters from them for magazines ive never heard of . I have infromed them numerous times i am a minor and i have offered to send a copy of my drivers license to prove my age all they are is scammers

[Cathie B]

I have received three statements from NSA stating that I owe 21.97 for a subscription to Old Home Journal. I paid this fee when I subscribed to the magazine and have sent a copy of the canceled check to NSA over a month ago. I had another statement in my mailbox today.

[Tim]

I receive a threatning letter today from North Shore Agency,trying to collect 21.95 for a (supposedly) subscription to Backpacker Magazine that I never ordered..Beware of this scam agency.

[Steve]

I too recieved one today for Backpacker Magazine.

Do the magazine publishers think that the reputation of North Shore Agency isn't being reflected back on them?

[William]

I sent a personal check to Conde Nast for a subscription to "Portfolio" magazine. The check was cashed and I have a copy of it. A few weeks later I received "notice" from this North Shore scam demanding that I pay the $12.00 subscription price. I am going to send a scathing letter the state of New York Attorney General and send a copy of that letter to the fraudsters at North Shore. I am also going to contact Conde Nast publications.

HOW DID NORTH SHORE GET MY ADDRESS AND MY ACCURATE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION???

[J Gross]

I too just received a request for payment for a non-existant "Prevention Magazine" subscription. I will be taking legal action if there is a mark on my credit report.

[12-year-old Minor]

My son has been receiving invoices as well as magazines for XBOX Official Mag ever since buying an XBOX 360 from Game Stop store. At first he thought maybe it was a free trial or something but then came the threatening collection letter for NSA. Nothing has ever came in my or my husband's name nor have we signed anything giving permission for any such purpose. I think they just have my son's name from membership his has with the Game Stop store. I will definitely be contacting the store to find out if they sold his name to this company as well as contacting anybody else that can help me put a stop to them trying to collect debt from a 12-year-old minor. This is definitely a scam!

[Jayme Beckham]

Prevention sent me a magazine I didn't ask for and now they are asking me to pay $21.34 dollars! I didn't want the stupid magazine! Now my gramma is mad and I didn't even subscribe they just started snending me emails then magazines! I didn't want it and I'm not paying it! I dont even have the account! I can't cancel I'm not even 18!!! I'm not paying how do i stop them from sending me bills! Now my gramma wants me to pay for something I didn't ask for! I'm going to get in trouble! I dont even need to lose wieght! I'm a stick! Someone please help me!!!

[Jayme Beckham]

Angry Parent wrote:

My 13 year old daughter is receiving invoices and collection letters regarding a PREVENTION MAGAZINE subscription. Of course she has never ordered such a thing or received any magazines, even if their letters say she has. After reading this forum, I am not even going to call them as they only have 800 numbers and then they will have our number as it can't be blocked to toll free numbers. If you decide to call them, USE A PAYPHONE so they can't get your number. I wouldn't email either.
I used to read PREVENTION for years in my younger days. I even bought many books on health and gardening. What has happened to a formerly reputable company? This is reprehensible and likely criminal. It's no wonder the reputation of American business is going down the toilet.
The only thing I can think of is that someone is selling her name. She has frequent flyer cards for Southwest, Alaska, Delta and AMTRAK. In the past, she received a credit card offer that was linked to Amtrak.
An old friend of mine had a cool way to determine where these things originated. When he signed up for miscellaneous cards or offers, he would put a different middle initial. For instance, if he got a grocery club card, he would list his middle intial as "X". Then, anytime he got mail with the X middle initial he knew the origin was from the grocery card or someone they sold the name to.
But keep an eye on the flyer cards, I'm sure about that one. There is likely a way to "opt out" of their right to sell your info.
Dee

I have the same problem! I'm only 15 i dont even have a credit card. I can't cancel something I never subscribed to. Do you know how i get these stupid bills from coming? HELP ME