In The Shit: Book Club Demands

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-01 08:36pm

Okay, I ordered some books out of a sci fi magazine, one of those 'Buy one get 5 free' offers. So, I did it anyway and when the invoice arrived I sent a cheque off for £7.95.

A couple of months later I got a letter from the company saying I was bound by contract to buy 6 more books at full price. I sent a letter back saying I never signed a contract, etc etc, but they said that the signature on the original order was a binding contract yadda yadda and the small print does mention that in order to take advantage of the 'offer'- more books have to be purchased at full price.

To cut the shit, I ignored it and they sent me a letter demanding £89 (the full price of the books I got for free). I ignored that and finally, I have no recieved a letter telling me I will be prosecuted and the money will be recovered, after which I will have a County Court Judgement against my name.

Um, is it too late for me to just send them a cheque and pay this outstanding bill off? Or am I in the shit now? and will the fact it has gone this far already have fucked my credit rating up big time?

Help

thanks, I know I am a fool, but these things happen.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-01 08:42pm

closet sci-fi fan wrote:What did the small print say?

Hey, something along the lines of

In order to take advanatge of our 'buy one get five free' offer, we require that you become a member of the [book club]. As a member and recipitent of this offer you are required to purchase a further five titles from future publications of our magazine at full retail price, failiure to do this will result in your membership becoming void and may lead to us using alternative methods to recover our revenue. By signing your full name on this order form you enter into this contract with us'.

They're in the right, really, I won't dispute that. I signed the 'contract'.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-05-01 09:04pm

You're best off calling them and asking. It's not in their best financial interest to prosecute you but at this point it might well be too late.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-01 09:56pm

Im gonna call them and ask them if I can just settle the account, I can't see them going through with it if I pay the balance?

Though I guess my credit rating will be buggered like a wimp picking up soap in the prison shower room.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-05-01 10:04pm

Just order the other books at regular price then cancell your subscription.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-01 10:08pm

Montcalm wrote:Just order the other books at regular price then cancell your subscription.

They've cancelled my membership- which is a bad sign, I guess. lol.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-05-01 10:20pm

Then you are deffinitly in deep shit,better pay the amount they want its not worth getting a records over.

BTW i've registered to three book clubs and i only had to buy 4 more books from each one,i did buy 4 books from two of these clubs and the third one i think i have only one or two more books to buy then i may cancell my subscriptions to all three.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-02 06:29am

Montcalm wrote:Then you are deffinitly in deep shit

I'm just going to send a cheque in the post and see what happens, I will aslo call them on monday and tell them I've sent it. My credit is gonna be so fucked

Bah

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-05-02 06:41am

This is why you always make sure you know what you're getting into.

Call them and see, what's the worst that can happen?

jenat-lai · Post by **jenat-lai** » 2004-05-02 07:35am

Send NO money to them without calling first. They have a habit of checking the cash and "Loosing" evidence of doing so.

Also seek real legal advice. Not to the lawyer stage yet, just walk in and see if you can make a free booking for a matter, maybe with a JP or some such. I dunno.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-05-02 11:56am

CCJs can always be avoided by settling the matter before the court date.

Pay the money. Tell the book club you're paying it, and call the county court office to let them know the same.

If you can pay it at a bank or by card, do so, and get a receipt. (card statements will do)

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-05-02 12:03pm

And finally, don't sign up for any more book clubs (even if they look like good offers). My mother has gone through several and they've bothered her the same way.

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-05-02 02:20pm

Music clubs can operate the same way--I joined one when I was just starting out in college and didn't read the fine print of the "Buy 1 CD, get 15 for a penny!" deal. Ended up paying for X number of full-price CDs because it was part of the 'contract' I signed.

Anyway, it should all be ok, and if it did affect your credit, it'll bounce back. No worries.

The Third Man · Post by **The Third Man** » 2004-05-02 02:51pm

My specialist subject

You are right to concede on this one, it's contractually binding. Especially after you've already paid one amount.

As for the CCJ threat, don't worry about it at all at this stage; it can easily be averted. Most organisations will prefer not to go to these lengths if you're willing to pay. But it is critical you avoid a CCJ, it's a massive blot on your record for the future and will haunt you for years to come.

My advice - pay by cheque. Contact them, tell them you're sending a cheque, and ask for a fax number so you can send them a fax copy of the cheque as proof of your intention. Get the name of the person you're speaking to and note it; mention the name on your fax. Make sure you mention all reference numbers. Keep a copy of the cheque/fax. When they get the fax, that should be enough to put an immediate stop to all action. Post the cheque promptly and make absolutely sure you have sufficient funds to cover it - if it bounces they will think you are taking the piss, and will not be amused.

Avoid the CCJ and you're credit rating will not be affected in the slightest.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2004-05-02 03:46pm

By the way Jon, what BookClub was it? was it one that advitises on the back of the Tv guides?

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-02 04:24pm

Thanks everyone, got it pretty much clear now, I'll have to call them on tuesday with it being a bank holiday tomorrow, I might give it a try but I doubt anyone will be in

Luckily I do have £100 lying around in the bank but I had better intentions for it than this- but if my future credit rests on me sorting this out it has to be done.

Hopefully this will sort itself out, and um, The Third Man, as you say this is your specialist subject

will the fact it has gone this far be recorded on my credit file? I would assume so...

*nods* @ antitrek

The Third Man · Post by **The Third Man** » 2004-05-02 04:42pm

Jon wrote: will the fact it has gone this far be recorded on my credit file? I would assume so...

It's possible - but by no means certain - that the book club will have reported you to Experian or whoever, but that's not a disaster. You can check and get this removed if you want, once you have settled the debt.

Even so, it's amazing what you can get away with on your record before anything bad happens to you - I suspect that other potential creditors don't take the say-so of a minor player like a book club too seriously; they might take more seriously black marks against you from, say, credit card or mortgage lenders.

The real killer is a CCJ. All potential creditors take that seriously, and I believe it doesn't go away so easily. You do not want one of these!

I have some experience from both sides of the fence on this; in fact, I have right here on my desk a court claims form, ready to serve on some twonk who's decided not to pay me an outstanding amount - but I doubt I'll actually have to use it. I'll fax over a copy of the completed form, so he knows I'm not messing about, and he'll cave. Such is the power of a CCJ. I strongly suspect that the book club is doing the same to you.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-04 10:58am

Um, I paid it! They let me pay via Debit Card over the phone and that's it now, bastards. No court, luckily, but apparently the fact I was threatened with a CCJ is on my credit record- but I guess the fact I paid the debt will be also!

Yee Har!

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-05-04 11:11am

Jon wrote:apparently the fact I was threatened with a CCJ is on my credit record- but I guess the fact I paid the debt will be also!

It shouldn't be.
Go to Experian and order your credit record. Do so again in a few months to check. Have any CCJs removed if you settled the debt.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-05-04 11:39am

ummmm, aren't you under 18? I thought British law was the same as US law with regard to entering into a contract with a minor.

edit: also with regards to IB's post, check the other 2 credit reporting agencies: Equifax and Trans Union

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2004-05-04 02:57pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:ummmm, aren't you under 18? I thought British law was the same as US law with regard to entering into a contract with a minor.

edit: also with regards to IB's post, check the other 2 credit reporting agencies: Equifax and Trans Union

No, I'm about to turn 20 actually- thanks, InnerBrat, Crackpot- I'll look into getting my file and sorting it out