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

Be sure to file a complaint with the BBB. It will direct you to their location. They have soooooo many complaints on file that if they try to put a mark against your creidt reports, the Credit company will talke them right off once you call and tell them what happened. They have a lot of complaints and can even give you more telephone numbers in which you can call the 800 number and they have to pay for those calls. As far as the books, I wouldn't open them, if you have.. keep them. Don't bother sending them back because you will never receive the pre-paid lables. These people really are crooks. I can't believe they haven't been shut down by the States Attorney's office in Minnesota. Maybe they need to hear from you as well. Look it up on the internet.. and tell them what happen in a letter.

I received a notice from your magazine saying that I had not sent payment I sent one check no. 2835 for 19.98 on 7/3/08 and another one fr 19.98 check no. 2851 on 9/3/08. How many payments do you all want. I wont nwever order another if this is the way you all do business.

I have on numerous occasions requested to not be contacted via: mail, phone, e-mail, or in anyway what so ever. Today I recieved a calendar that I now must take to the post office and waste my time, fuel ($4.06/gal), and energy. I am going to send this thing back with yet another nasty letter!

I have been a club member for 5 months and do not wish to continue membership because the products are worthless to me. No way to contact (no customer service number) and the next thing I get is a collection referral notice. I did not enroll for 2-year membership.

Handyman did the same to me. I rec'd the trial mag and the crappy gifts to see if I liked the mag, " NO OBLIGATIONS " I did not so did not join. After 3-5 letters to join I recd a deliquent letter to a collection agency. Heres some info from BBB minn.

******************Subscriber BEWARE !**************************

BBB issues Reliability Reports on all businesses, whether or not they are BBB accredited. If a business is a BBB Accredited Business, it is stated in this report BBB Definition:

report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by the BBB.
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Name: North American Membership Group, Inc
Phone: [protected]
Fax: [protected]
Address: 12301 Whitewater Dr

Minnetonka, MN [protected]
Website: www.namginc.com
www.handymanclub.com
Original Business Start Date: June 1978
Principal: Ms. Nancy Evensen, President
Customer Contact: Ms. Nancy Evensen, President - [protected]
TOB Classification: Clubs
BBB Accreditation: This company is not a BBB Accredited business.

Additional DBA Names
Cooking Club of America
Creative Home Arts Club
Handyman Club Of America
National Health & Wellness Club
National Home Gardening Club
North American Fishing Club
North American Hunting Club
PGA Tour Partners Club
The History Channel Club
National Street Machine Club
Motorcycle Riders Club of America

Principal Officer
Ms. Nancy Evensen is the President of the company.

Customer Service Contact
Ms. Nancy Evensen is the complaint contact person for this company and should be contacted at [protected] before filing a complaint with the BBB.

Nature Of Business
According to information supplied by the company, they offer a club-based affinity marketing company that markets in a variety of different special interest categories.

Customer Experience
The company has been the subject of complaints stating that consumers have received invoices/collection notices without having received the product, or without having even ordered anything. Consumers also state that they have made requests to cancel subscriptions or memberships without having action taken. The company has responded to all complaints presented by the bureau, by honoring requests to cancel membership, discontinuing billing and/or collection efforts, and providing refunds whenever due.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 775 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 775 complaints closed in 36 months, 308 were closed in the last year.
Contract Issues BBB Definition:

Contract Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor contract or agreement, work performed without authorization, or invalid contract.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

1 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
2 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

1 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Billing or Collection Issues BBB Definition:

Billing or Collection Issues - Claim alleging billing errors, unauthorized charges, or questionable collection practices.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

176 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
256 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

2 - BBB determined that despite the company's reasonable effort to address complaint issues, the consumer remained dissatisfied.
8 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Sales Practice Issues BBB Definition:

Sales Practice Issues - Claims of alleged sales presentations made in person or by telephone that contain misrepresentations of the product or service, high pressure sales practices, failure to disclose key conditions of the offer, and verbal representations not consistent with written contractual terms or agreements.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

32 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
71 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

2 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Delivery Issues BBB Definition:

Delivery Issues - Claims alleging delayed delivery of ordered merchandise.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

38 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
84 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

3 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Service Issues BBB Definition:

Service Issues - Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

1 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
3 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.

Customer Service Issues BBB Definition:

Service Issues - Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.
BBB Definition:

Customer Service Issues - Claims alleging unsatisfactory customer service, including personnel's failure to provide assistance in a timely manner, failure to address or respond to customer dissatisfaction, unavailability for customer support, and/or inappropriate behavior or attitude exhibited by company staff.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

11 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
17 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

2 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.
1 - BBB determined that despite the company's reasonable effort to address complaint issues, the consumer remained dissatisfied.

Product Issues BBB Definition:

Product Issues - Claim alleging a product does not meet the expectations of the complainant, including defective merchandise.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

2 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.

Refund or Exchange Issues BBB Definition:

Refund or Exchange Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor company policy or verbal commitment to provide refunds, exchanges, or credit for products or services.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

22 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer accepted.
37 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

1 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Company Management
Additional company management personnel include:
Ms Kate Pope
Mr. Tony DeFrance
Ms. Andrea Meester - Director, Member Services

Additional Contact Information
Additional Addresses
PO Box 3449
Minnetonka, MN 55343

PO Box 3492
Minnetonka, MN 55343

P O Box 3496
Minnetonka, MN [protected]

Additional Phone Numbers
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]
Tel: [protected]

As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.

BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time.
If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Reliability Report BBB Definition:

Report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by the BBB.
.

ID: 2735
Report as of October 24, 2008 01:06
Copyright© 2008 Better Business Bureau

This has to the most pathetic excuse for a business. THEY ARE LOW LIFES. And I pray that no one else has to be harrassed like they harrass me. And I'll tell you what they can kiss my ###, becasue they'll NEVER get one penny from me. Hey Handyman Club collect this...here's my middle finger!

i didn't order your magazine but have been recieving them & now you are threatening me with collections agency. you better think again & check your records. i don't want your mag and no further contact. JL

I joined handymans club thought it sounded neat, now all i get is renewal forms complaining about the cost of sending reminders or sign up now for life time membership, I just thought I'd try it now i wish I hadn't wasted my money!

you are sending my husband threating letters about past due bills and we dont have your memebrship and have never wanted it .. so please quit sending or I have go ne to better business burea to file complaint .

No need to explain my situation...its the exact same as everyone elses. Called [protected]. The woman stated that she cancelled the account. We'll see.

I have moved and no longer get your magazines.Iam a life member.My number is [protected].
My new address is
Wayne Prechtel
2861 E Fieldstone Way
Condo # 2315
Sturtevant, Wisconsin
[protected]
Thank You

I received the unsolicited calendar also and it was bent in half by the United States Postal Service. This was returned the very next day. However, I continue receiving notices to return or pay for the calendar 3 months after the fact.

I was and still think when I sign up for the life time member in 2000 or 2001. That it was a one time thing, but I keep getting billing in the mail to keep the magizine coming to me.Now you send me a new life time again 12/03/08. I guess my first life time is up, and it's time for a new.
If this the deal I no longer will continue with our service after my contact is up. I will miss recieving the magizine after 10 yrs. or better having them.

So far the only thing I have to complain about is the fact that they were to only send me a book every other month, and now I'm getting them every week some at the rate of two a week. I am going to call and complain about this, so thanks for the alternate phone numbers that I may have to use. I have noticed that they don't send you a phone number in which to contact them. I definitely will go over my records to see where I'm at with my payments towards a lifetime membership. May have wished I didn't get involved with this company. As a former owner of a handyman business I am pleased with their magazine and the information contained in it. As a former business owner in the state of Iowa, some of you people should beware of the practices of the BBB. I received a phone call from the BBB asking for $300.00 to join their Bureau, which I thought was funny way of selling customers a line (that I was a preferred business) low and behold I didn't join.

i have recieved a bill from universal fidelity lp trying to collect on a book i never recieved i called handyman a long time ago to stop sending me items and now i get this. this is too much.

i signed up for the club but they also have a book club that includes " how to do it yourself" series. took the first one to see what it was like since it was a low price and i called to inquire as to prices and how many in the set. got an answer of various prices and various books. well i am here to tell you the next one was about $27.oo. sent it back and cancelled my subscription or so i thought. the end of it? not. sent me another. sent it back unopened. got another the other day. just now sent them another email telling them i have contacted them 3 times and i am considering this a gift and any further shipments. well we will see if i end up in court. stay tuned!

I did sign up for a trial of this magazine! but I am a little pissed cause they send me an invoice before I even got a magazine! I don't think so! Like i'm gonna pay for something that I haven't even seen yet, I wish I would have seen this posting before I signed up for this BS! I read in one of ur comments that they must be hard up for money and I totaly agree! "May the wind be always at ur back" From: MrIrishOne

I would like to sign up for Handyman Club of America, however the Better Business Bureau says they are out of business. Please look this up before signing up with this company.

Why am I being billed for two years when I only wanted one year?

Google can't find account web page as listed above.Tried to contact memebership page and e-mail comes back as can.t find. Signed up for a 1yr. offer about march1. for $12 yr dues. Got invoice 3/9 saying I was past due for $24 and I have not even received first magazine. No response from them to inquires.
John Schuetze member #8012203

I had the exact experience. The only difference was the dates. I was able to contact them by email through their website and said that I was cancelled. Now I just received another letter from collections.

Interesting that there is an almost identical Gardening Club as well... 'free' gardening tools, chances to 'win stuff', etc etc. Books start getting mailed to you unsolicited. $24 billing (mail solicitation doesn't mention that you're committed to TWO years). Interesting that this club comes from Minnetonka, MN as well. Hmmmm... anyone smell a rat here?

I have recieved offers from them in the mail 6 or 8 times over the years.Thanks to seeing this site I am more leery of them than ever.

I just got a big yellow envelope from these folks and was really excited, but now that I've read these posts, I'm throwing it away... thanks for your candid posts, everyone! :)

http://minnesota.app.bbb.org/report/2735/?&language=1 check out this site, it is the better business bureau of minnesota.

Their website addy is www.handymanclub.com

I just sent them money ( $24.00), , , i got the magazine, but no gifts for joining!, , , , i hope this goes well!, , , , , , , , , lol, , , , , i may be doomed!

I've been a life member for 9 years, and I have never had any problems with them whatsoever. If you have a complaint, and actually want to solve it, as compared to simply whining about your unfortunate circumstances, send an email to: memberservices@handymanclub.com. Despite what some people have posted, the club is not out of business, and the website is active.

WELL I AM A LIFE MEMBER FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE THINGS THAT I WAS PROMISED WHEN I JOINED AND PAID MY MEMBERSHIP IN FULL. I CALLED [protected] AND GOT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON. TO WHICH I EXPLAINED TO HER WHAT I DID NOT GET. SHE ASSURED ME THAT IN 4 TO 6 WEEKS I WOULD HAVE THE THINGS. WELL, WE'LL SEE! 7/13/2009

On 03/04/08.all they sent me was a demand that I buy books at $10.00 each..I told them i was not interested in the books and to send me my refund. Nothing happened.. On 06/10/08 I sent Kate Pope a letter to cancel my membership and send me a refund. Nothing happened. This is not an honest company!

HANDYMAN IS THE BIGGEST RIP-OFF ON THIS PLANET. I SUBSCRIBED TO IT FOR 1 YEAR AND RECEIVED 2 ISSUES! THEN THEY STARTED SENDING ME THE BOOKS, OF WHICH I PAID FOR 1 AND THEN CANCELLED THE MEMBERSHIP...BULL PUCKY! I HAVE SENT 2 OR 3 LETTERS AND CALLED THEM TWICE TO CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP AND THEY SAY, "YOU ARE CANCELLED", BUT 2 WEEKS LATER, I GET ANOTHER BOOK. ALSO THEY TOLD ME I WOULD GET A RETURN SHIPPING LABEL, ... ANOTHER LIE! I WILL CALL AGAIN AND THIS TIME, I WILL RECORD CONVERSATION, SO I HAVE IT ON TAPE TO PROVE WHAT A BUNCH OR CRAP THEY TRY TO PULL. WARNING! STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY...ALL THEY ARE IN IT FOR IS THE $$$$. AGAIN I SAY...STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY! - bw

Scam, you be the judge. Let's put this in persective. Handyman claims 900, 000 + members. Multiply that times 12 months. Hmm, $10.8 million dollars a year. Supposedly all tools are furnished to them for free so you can try them out and they pay the postage. I have not idea how long they have been around, but this does seem like people are paying a lot and receiving very little. By the way, I did receive one of those secret nominations. I'm not going to far for this one.

THE NUMBER ON MY HUSBANDS BILL IS [protected] 7:30 am-8pm cst m-f & 8am-4:30 pm saturdays

THE NUMBER ON THE WEBSITE IS [protected] SAME HOURS AS ABOVE

GOOD LUCK! WE ARE TRYING TO CEASE DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM NOW.

How many of you agree that this site is a scam? How many say that it is a worth while investment? I appreciate your input!

How many of you readers out there agree that this organization is a scam? How many of you would recommend this business? I appreciate your input!

After getting several notices and returning them, I got a collection notice and called. I talked to Jessy who was very nice and calm and said he removed my name and negative information from their records. I certainly hope so but I will check my three credit ratings in a few weeks to see what they say. I don't think this is a scam but a very badly managed operation that has a lot of problems with paperwork. I am just glad I was able to get away from them before it got totally out of control.

Don't even know what they are or who they are 10-01-2009 I been tossing their mailing out for the last 10 years. I received a letter saying that I joined 5 months ago, however even if that was true I never received a product/magazine from them. It also says "despite our repeated requests for payment (this is the sixth), we still have not heard back from you." Then it goes on to say it has left them with no alternative but to refer me to collections. I say let them, as I will sue them, they have nothing with my signature on it.

I'm going to scan the letter in and send it to the Attorney Generals office to see what they can do. As I would believe this is extortion to get me to sign up for something I do not want or have asked for. Plus it might be mail fraud as they used the US Postal Service.

As others have noted there is no contact information in the letter, and they say they want me to pay a 2-year membership of $24.00 It clearly says "Please pay this invoice immediately to avoid referral of your account to a collection agency."

Off I go to send this to my Attorney General.

My Colorado Consumer Protection agency told me to report the scam to the USPS, so I did at:
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

If we all speak up, maybe something will be done. I also sent my letter to my Attorney General, and some local news agencies. Took me minutes to do.

Please note this is extortion, telling you, you must pay or face Collections. When you never asked for, or received a product, nor have signed any contract stating as such.

Okay news update, I called the local number listed, and the lady said I had to call the 1-800 number so I did. After on hold for 15 minutes I give the guy the member number listed on the letter and he says that I inquired back in May. Which is 100% not true as I stated to him, he said "well maybe someone else did on your behalf". So let me get this straight I can inquire for my neighbor and just an inquiry will trigger a Collection Agency letter after "X" amount of months? That does not sound legal at all, maybe I should of let this go to collections then I could of sued them. Let them tell that to a judge that an inquiry somehow triggers membership.

I let him know I have reported this to my Attorney General as extortion. He said he was sorry about that but an inquiry was made. Then he had the balls to give a short description of their services and asked if I wanted to join. No, I do not want to join. He then claimed he removed me from their database.

I'm going to hold onto this letter till I here back from the Attorney General on this mater, I am more then willing to see this company punished for its practices into causing fear in getting people to pay for something they do not want.

My father in law is being harrassed by these people as well. He received an offer for a free tool with no obligation and sent in the form. He then received a letter from them saying in order to receive his 'free' tool he needed to send in membership dues. Ha. So he ignored this because he never intended to join a club and that wasn't the original offer; now they are threatening to turn his 'past due account' over to a collection agency if he doesn't send them $24 for a 2 year membership. Of course he never received any tools. I've emailed them (thanks for the earlier post w/ email info) and I'm sending them a letter telling them to immediately cease all collection attempts. I don't think they have a leg to stand on and this is just fishing hoping he'll send it in out of fear which probably works more often than I'd like to think about. Regardless, he's 61 and has enough to worry about without these people rattling his nerves. They should be heavily fined or shut down by the federal government for threatening collection without cause. This has to be illegal.