HandyMan Club of America / Scout.com review: frustrating and unauthorized membership! 270

I rec'd a solicitation and found it interesting that no contact info was available so I couldn't ask any questions.
It was interesting because a year ago I rec'd a similar solicitation and was able to ask how they could promise $30. worth of merchandise for a $12. subscription, it turned out that they didn't only for a long term commitment and after payment etc.

I suspected then that it was a scam, now that I read the other complaints I am sure of it, I did sent in the application without money about two months ago and have heard nothing.

I still have the Dues Invoice which came with the offer, it says "Payment Due by 9-27-07, that is 3 days away, I wonder what will happen ? I not planning on getting the free sample issue that I sent for, I hope I don't get a bill. It is interesting that a one year membership is $12, but if I prefer I can save big money by signing up for 3 years @$36.00 ?

I'm in the same boat! To get a collection agency notice one day and a request for me to join the Club the next is outrageous! I did sign up for a magazine subscription only! I never signed up for the Club and I resent their tactics! They have lost me as a subscriber.

HERE'S THE REAL SCOOP: I called our Governor's Consumer Affairs office here in GA. The agent could not believe that the Handyman Club of America had to audacity to SEND a bill through a collection agency. (He said they normally just call so there is no paper trail.) He gave me the tel # for the Attorney General of NY since the RMCB Collection Agency is from that state. (That # is [protected] just in case you may wish to contact them.) They were most interested and then told me to call the MN Consumers' Affairs office since Handyman Club is located in Minnetonka, MN. (Their # is [protected].) They gave me this # to call to get to Handyman: [protected]. I called and the phone was answered "The History Channel Club". I waited and spoke to a gal explaining about the collection agency demanding $325 and getting a "renewal form--dues discount offer" the very next day in the mail. I gve her both Handyman Club Member numbers (they were different on the collection agency paperwork and the renewal form form. The renewal form said that I had to reply by 9/21/07 to receive my "dues discount" if I paid my $15. The gal crossreferenced both #s and found me. She said it was a huge paperwork mess and immediately "killed" the collection agency demand. Then I asked her about the renewal form and she said that was goofy to because I was paid up until August of 2010! I could tell by her voice that she was onto the scam and she tried to act super innocent. I proceeded to tell her that the MN Consumer Affairs was onto the Club and that they had better watch out and clean up their act. I told her to visit this website and check out all of the folks who had written complaints here. CALL [protected] and file a complaint and then call [protected] and get your situation straightened out. Please let them know that you are onto their scam tactics. We must all act to clean this up. Also interesting was that the [protected] answered as "The History Channel Club". There must be a lot of "clubs" out there doing the same thing to collect $ illegally from the general public through this shady 800#. Please post your results once you get on the phone and call! Thanks.

I am a voluntary life member of The Handyman Club of America. When I first joined (10 - 15 years ago) the club was just starting and it completely different than it is today. The magazine was very helpful and most members were sent products to evaluate and keep at no cost. Over time the club got bigger and like most organizations, when that happened things changed. They still send members products to evaluate and keep, but with so many members your chances of being picked are small. Other than the magazine, which is not as good as it once was, the only things I receive form the club are solicitations to purchase cheap tools made in China at greatly inflated prices. NOW THE CLUB HAS STARTED A NEW BRANCH CALLED STREET MACH. THIS NEW CLUB IS DEVOTED TO STREET LEGAL HOT ROD CARS AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HANDYMAN WORK AROUND THE HOUSE. EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT REQUEST BEING INVOLVED WITH THIS NEW CLUB, THEY ARE SENDING ME SOLITATIONS TO JOIN. A FEW WEEKS AGO I RECEIVED A CALENDER FEATURING HOT ROD CARS FROM THEM. THE CALENDER HAS PRINTING ERRORS AND OTHER FLAWS AND IS OF NO INTEREST TO ME. TODAY I RECEIVED A STATEMENT FORM THE CLUB TELLING ME I MUST RETURN THE CALENDER OR PAY THEM $14.95. WHAT AN OUTRAGE. I AM SENDING THEM AN E-MAIL (NOT THE CALENDER) AND TELLING THEM HOW VERY MAD I AM THAT THIS CLUB HAS DETERIORATED TO THIS LOW LEVEL. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND JOINING THE HANDYMAN CLUB OF AMERICA.

Ordered handy club mag years ago Recieved an unordered magazine . I did keep and sent payment ---But I also sent a message to "NEVER EVER SEND AN UNORDERED ITEM" again . Recently recieved a Calender---They either want it back (( which will cost them $20 dollars for me to send ) or feel free to stop over and PIC_UP I hope this gets to the right people

They continue to send bill for payment, i have paid until 4/09... very bogus company, enticement is that you will get to try tools--etc... damn tired of there monthly request for more $$ they need there b*tt kicked!

Today I received their so-called invoice, billing me for $12.00 and even giving me a due date and all. I NEVER heard of these HandyMan weirdos in my LIFE. Plus they sent it to my old address. I just passed by to pick up any mail that might still arrive and there it was. When I called the 800 number i found in their FAQ section the woman that I spoke to claimed that I must have signed up online. THAT IS UTTER [censored]! It was sent to my old address, I would NEVER sign up for anything related to HandyMan work, first of all, and second of all why would i sign up with my OLD address if I was so interested int the product/service? This is a SCAM and I was insulted that they would accuse me of accepting their subscription. They play dumb on the phone but tell them that you are not falling for their scam. I'm glad I found this page before I called because it confirmed to me that I wasn't the only one.

I totally agree. My husband ordered a table and HMCA charged his credit card on 9/18/07 for the full amount due. Three weeks later the "past due" bill notice arrives. I pay it right away. Then yesterday the credit card bill arrives and low and behold, they did indeed charge his credit card. Now HMCA has extra money in their bank! Such a sad state of affairs! The NERVE!

I joined this club & received my first book & tool to test. I sent my $10.00 on Oct. 16, '07. I have received 2 past due notices since then. ( Please pay for or return book now!) I am going to cancel my subscription.

This is a total scam judging from other people. I never signed up for this and am being threatened with collections. I have filed a complaint with the BBB and will also be contacting my local attorney general.

Do not join the club. I joined paid $12.00 for a years membership six months later received another bill for $24.00 to renew my membership. The first book I received cost $10.00 well guess what the next book I was sent cost$29.64. Buyer beware! Products they send you to try out is cheap!

Sometime around May I received mail from HandyMan. I signed up and ask to be billed. When I got first magazine from them and took it to work. Others told me they once were member some over 6 years never received any products to test. There were 5 co worker who said same thing. So when I got bill and I sign a big N O across the bill and sent it. Have not hear from them but got bill from a collection agency. Wonder what part of NO does those folks don't understand.

After that I got another from them Fishing club. UGH the list goes on but the best part I did not mail.

Rodney.

I have emailed handyman a cancellation notice over 3 months ago.I also send them a letter. They keep on sending me 2 bills. I chanced and that still send me bills after my email that told me I was canceled.Handyman of America always tries to send me more books but I send them back. They send a bill like I am still a member.

I to have received several collection referral notices. For 6 months now I have been trying to get these people to get off my back.I keep telling them to cancel. The last notice I received I wrote cancel on the invoice and sent a check for $6.00 to cover half a year. Yet I still get delinquent letters saying that I have not yet paid for my substantial benefits. All I got from these people is a 10 page note pad a couple of magazines that I sent back and a substantial headache. I will try to call the 800 # Monday.

Sirs, I have my own complaint.

1. Some months ago I replied to your promotion and that of National Home gardening Club, both promotions arrived in the same mail.

2. The promotions alleged that I was being asked to "test" sets of tools.

3. I awaited the tools. That was a lost cause. Instead, I received a "sample"... allegedly "free" magazine from both "Clubs" and a billing.

While your promotion touted a years subscription for $12.00 each billing was for 2 years and at $24.00.

I cancelled the offers, something ignored by both "Clibs."

Still, no "test" tools arrived. What did arrive were notices from your collection agency, RMCB in the amounts of $24.00 each.

I returned copies of same stating that these subscriptions had been cancelled and never activation.

I still am receiving these notices. I do not intend to spend another .41 cebts returning these notices with my notes.

THE NEXT STAMPS WILL BE USED TO MAIL COMPLAINTS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OF THE STATES OF MINNESOTA AND OF NEW YORK, WHERE YOUR COLLECTION AGENCY HAS ITS OFFICE.

Frankly, your company owes me the promised tools and an apology. In return I will not file complaints with the Attorney Generals.

Regards, Howard E. James
9567 W. Hamilton Dr.
Lakewood, CO, 80227

email: howiej@netzero.com

I received unsolicited mail from the Handyman Club of America. We did not sign up for the yearly calender anything from this company. I tried contacting the customer service section and that has not work. I also sent a complaint to Post master General about sending unsolicited mailing from the "Handyman Club of America".

I am finding that I am not alone with being threaten/harassed by Handyman. In contacting the Better business Bureau I did find an address that I would like to share so that you can voice your complaints.

The address is: Handyman Club of America
339 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

I'm sure if they get enough mail, the powers that be will be making some changes.

On 9-4-07 I sent a check to them for $12.95 for a one year membership. Membership # [protected]. My check # is 13474 & this check has cleared the bank so they received my money. I send them a letter on 11-13-07 informing them that something was wrong with them. The only thing that I just received from them was another bill today. They don't have a phone # or I would call them for a answer. I hope this does not fall on closed ears.I will be waiting to hear from you.
Fred

Or call a Member Services
Representative Toll-free
M-F, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm CST:
[protected]

Or feel free to contact us by mail at:
Handyman Club of America Member Services
P.O. Box 3410
Minnetonka MN, [protected]
FAX: [protected]

For all those who have received invoices from Handyman Club and didn't order anything you can call them

I returned my invoice marked cancel, havent received another magazine or any other corruspondence from them until today.
It is an OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION that my payment is now three months overdue and they must receive my payment within 10 days also giving me notice that they have a collection agency to persue unpaid debts. There is no phone number or any contact info in the letter. It dosent even have a date on it. It is signed by K Pope Treasurer. I'll Have to try that phone number and see if I can rectify the situation.

Let's add a new twist to this "scamming". As a recently "paid in full" life member I am know being billed for a calendar that was never received nor authorized or requested. I have sent a response letter indicating my sentiments about this and to discontinue sending bills for a "ficticious calender". The invoices continue to arrive. I stated in my response to the first billing that nothing was ever received and if billing continues I would have to escalate complaint proceedures. This is now escalated to let any and everyone know of the continued "harrassment" of this club. Especially once you are a "PAID IN FULL" life member. I refuse to waste my valuable time promoting this company but will persue every legal avenue necessary to protect my "LIFE MEMBERSHIP" to receive what I have now "PAID FOR IN FULL".

For those of you that have been receiving the "Street Machine" calendar, or any other items that you did not ask for or order, from the Handyman Club go to this link and print it off.

http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/merch.htm

Then send them a copy in the prepaid envelope along with the bill. Also write a note stating that if you receive anymore bills, collection agency calls, or mail concerning the item you will sue them in small claims court. This is your right. Make sure to keep all bills, letters, time and dates of phone calls, and a copy of the note that you sent them. If the harassing continues you can sue them and get compensation for the anguish they caused. This is what I am going to do if this continues. Hope this helps

ON 10/02/2007 MY CHECK WAS CASHED. I RECEIVED TWO MAGAZINES AND A MEMBERSHIP NUMBER. SINCE THEN I HAVE ALSO RECEIVED TWO REQUESTS FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT. I SENT A PAYMENT ORIGINALLY FOR TWO YEARS, BUT I AM BEING BILLED FOR ONE?

Just today I got a huge blaze orange mailer w/ free drill gauge, notepad, and cheap electrical panel stickers. The offer featured was to become a "tool tester" w/ all attendant lovely benefits. Of course they also mention Handy magazine, the books, etc. All for $1/month w/ refunds, etc. I'm now used to looking up these deals before joining and I'm glad I did. Sounds like I would have been scammed.

Interestingly, they're not listed on catalogchoice.org, the site where you can get off the mailing lists of zillions of catalogs. So I requested CC.org add them.

Thanks for reporting your complaints, you surely saved me hassle and $!

I too got a bright orange envelope in the mail today. I'm guessing that Harbor Freight sold them my name after signing up for their circulars on my parents' advice. Otherwise, not sure how they'd conclude I was some sort of uber handyman.

I did get a chuckle out of the statistics they provided on page 2 of their 4 page sales letter. "Our 1,000,000+ Members enjoy all types of home improvement..." and 5 paragraphs down, "Over the years, nearly 390,000 of our members have tested products worth $3,830,000 and kept them, free!"

Okay, so what that tells me is that less than 40% of all members have received as much as a single tool to evaluate. And among the free tools received, the average value per tool is less than $10. Given that the letter opens up asking, Would you mind very much if I sent you a free circular saw to use? How about a free cordless drill?" Then assuming I was one of the "lucky" few who received any tool at all, either I'd be utterly frightened to use anything of the sort made so cheaply as to retail for under $10 or they're full of [stuff].

I'd be embarrassed to use the return address labels they sent, but with my membership they'd send me even more? Oh and I bet (without removing the gold seal) that I'd get all three of those schlocky free gifts for signing up too.

Ummm, no thanks.

I joined this club to do product testing ( so i was lead to believe ..) very disappointed! I will worn other`s!

I also received the 'offer' that was accompanied by an invoice. I ignored them in 2007. In January I received another and as I do a lot of project work, and I used to love a magazine called WoodWorking Magazine, I bit and sent the check. Today I received the threatening letter because I have not paid...they have already processed my CHECK. I found this website, read through it all and moments ago lodged a formal complaint online to the Attorney General of Missouri. I suggest everyone who gets bullied by these people do the same in their respective state. You are paying taxes for it, use it.

I recieved two magazines from them and ask what the hell is this? I then recieved a bill for a stupid membership that I did not even sign up for. However this time they messed with someone who is employed at a Federal level of law enforcment, and they will not get away with anything less than a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!

Have a nice day Handyman

My husband has received harassing notices to pay for this membership kit that we did not ask for.

After reading multiple complaints about this "Handyman Club of America", I see that I am not the only one that suspects HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS as the seller of my information to them. I had made an online purchase of some poor quality tools from Harbor Freight (never again!), and all of a sudden I'm a member of the Handyman Club of America? Gimme a break.

Harbor Freight Tools, SHAME ON YOU for selling our info to this scam outfit! You have lost all mine and my friends' business forever!

I received a collection notice from RMCB on behalf of the Handyman Club of America for $359. I paid them my past due balance of $10 late in 2007 after quitting around January 2007 and thought I was done with them. Out of the blue, I got this notice and have no idea what it's for.
They don't list an address for HCOA and I have no clue what my member number would have been once upon a time. I did call and press the button for "if the order was cancelled press 2". No person was available at RMCB.
I'm about to file a claim with the Better Business Bureau.

I have the same problem ... invoice ... threatening letter .. for something I did not subscribe to and from a company that can not be contacted since my original response to their original past due invoice was ignored . I keep receiving invoice ... threatening letter ... The moral of the story is ... Company ignore your letter ... you ignore company letter ...

I am a person with a disability, and I had someone living with me. I kept trying to contact you that I never enrolled as using a drill or power saw would be a fatal incident because of my ataxia, but there was no way to contact you. Many people cannot understand me by phone and I do not write.

Now I get a collection stating I owe $359.00. I understand I must pay some as neither is at fault, but $359.00 seems a little steep. Expecially as the time before that I tried to contact you it was $18.00.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Dowd

Please Cancell my Membership .

Received unsolicited nomination. Chose not to accept but mailed backed their self addressed postage paid envelope full of other unsolicited mail so as to occupy as much of their time as they did of mine.

They first sent a book with the option to pay for the book and they will send another, cancel any time. Their specific wording was "You can keep each volume at the regular Member price, plus shipping and handling, or return it to the club. You're under no obligation to continue in the program now or in the future. You can choose how many or how few volumes you want and can cancel at any time. No questions asked". There was also a part about being able preview for something like 30days.

Well what happened was, I would receive a book on Friday, send payment on the following Monday and when I would get home from work and check the mail, there would be a late payment notice! After about 4-5 of these, on the payment of one, I wrote a note to cancel and send no further books. A week later I get another book So I send back (paying S&H) with another note stating that I canceled and I would no longer pay for the books or any other merchandise sent with me specifically ordering it, and that I would not pay to send anything back. They sent 3 more books and approx 50 notices to pay or be sent to collections notices.

Today I received 3 more notices and also a phone call from a person from CMS Communications? (the person talked with an accent and was very hard to understand) notifying that I owed the money. I told him of the letter and that I would send the books back if they send me a pre-paid label. This company is totally insane and after a bit of research I found it owns a group of 'Clubs'. The company is "The North American Membership Group Inc" It has at least 6 different Clubs under its belt which I will make it a point to stay away from.

I am hoping to get the pre-paid labels and when I mail them back I will mail them with signature receipt.

** THANK YOU guys for letting me know about this company, I got their signup today and thought it was too good to be true! Nothing good like this "ever" comes my way, and now reading about 85% bad, and such a small amount of good on the company... THANK YOU! **

I keep receiving bills from this club which I have never joined. They are now threatening to send me to collections. There is no phone number nor website to contact them. I tried looking them up on the internet and there is also not a site for them.

Call their customer service number @ [protected] OR [protected] and ask to have your subscription canceled.

I signed my husband up for this club, what a mistake! We were offered one year, plus product tryout, for $12. I paid the $12 immediately and once the magazine arrived he didn't care for it. I wrote them and advised we did not want this membership and to please cancel and refund our money as promised on their sign up. I received a check in the mail for $24! BUT, there was a catch. If we cashed the check it kept us in the club and would agree to pay an additional $300 plus dollars to try out products! THIS IS A RIP OFF! After a year on writing cancel on bills received, today we received a dunning notice of collection for $24. Thanks to this site, I got the 800 number and called immediately, (the [protected] one). I spoke with a very polite and apologetic woman that cancelled us out completely. FINALLY! Thanks for posting the 800 number. Now we pray there is no further mail received from this company. By the way, the Home Arts Craft Club is run by the same people. BEWARE PEOPLE!