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

WOW! Am I ever glad I never got involved with the company all of you other people have been writing about. I couldn't handle that at all. I got involved with a woodworking outfit back in the early 1990's and enjoyed their magazine and they told me if I signed up for a lifetime membership they would send me a leather jacket.

It's hanging in the closet, a nice looking leather jacket, just like they said. They said I would never have to pay for a magazine again. I though that would be pretty nice, since I enjoy reading the articles included in each issue, even if I don't build every project they show in detail. And they have added a lot more to their website over the years for me to enjoy. I have had a few problems with wives since becoming a life member with them and through four address changes over the years have never missed an issue. Just received the Dec09 Jan10 issue the other day and it has much enjoyable reading included in it as usual.

It is really hard for me to believe we are both talking about the same company. I have been a life member for close to 20 years, ever since they offered the option of Life Membership and have never had a complaint about my membership.

I find it hard to believe I have been "lucky" all of those years I have been a member, don't you?

Ken Chevy
Salem, Oregon

I just started receiving the magazine. I got this offer for a life membership. After just getting burned by a "Club" with RedisetGo and Gaiam, Inc, I searched EVERYWHERE on their sign up for fees associated with this Life Membership. Guess what? It is NEVER mentioned. This has got to be illegal.

My name is robert freudenvoll member #[protected]. I became a member aroun the first of dec. My invoice tells me that I should get my member kit by 12/16/09. This is 02/10/2010 and I have not recieved my member ship kit or the free gifts thast I was to recieve. I would like to know if you plan to send to me anytime this year? Thank you robert freudenvoll

I have received (2) Tools and Techniques do I send (1) back for a different book or keep?
please contact me. I like the research tools.

thanks,
Alice E. Wilson

My husband did sign on for the special offer. He recieved 1 tool and magazine. They called him to see how he liked the tool and magazine. He told them it was not useful to him and to cancel his subscribion. They told him they would. Over the past 2 1/2 years he has continued to get the magazine. Now just yesterday he recieved in the mail a notification from a collection agency for $351.27. I called Handyman of America at [protected] and complained about this. I was on hold for over and hour to talk to someone. When I finally was able to talk to someone about this I was told that it was a problem with their computer system and that he did not owe this much. In fact he is paid through 2011. So for all of you getting bills from them call them and complain. I agree that this company is a HUGE scam. Hope this helps any all of you having problems with this company.

handyman club of america is a ripp off and sent me to collection ageny saying owe$ 318 for membership i told them i didnt want thier membership or books they sent me. sent them all back and recieve nothing from them, except free cheap dollar store gifts supposedly.

I was wondering the same thing, why am I getting billed for two yrs when I was told I would receive two free gifts, next I would pay a dollor a month or $12 per yr., not $24 dollars up front. Bruce
I am helping all veterans for free with their VA benefits, health care, medals, docs, pensions. www.seaweed4u.ws

I am a lifetime menber and I got a letter that i had to renew my membership I Wish You could keep track of who is a member and who is lifetime members. Stop sending me bills for renewal.

My husband joined the lifetime Handyman club. He hasn't received any products to try out and this has been 2 years ago. We had to keep after them just to send magazines and that was part of the membership. The only thing that has been good is the magazines. Noting is done in a timely manner

Membership # [protected]
Name : Stanley Ganes
Address : 3332 W.Sells Dr.
Phoenix, Arizona
[protected]
I wish to UN-SUBSCRIPTION, STOP MEMBERSHIP, Quit .

THANK YOU
Stan M. Ganes 04/15/10

I work there, in the membership handbook, it states that we send out preview products (i.e. books, videos, knives etc. and you can opt out at anytime...maybe people should read all the information before jumping head first into anything. As far as life membership goes, it definitely says the membership is paid in 12 installments. So for all the people with common sense, and know how to read. The membership can work out very well, but unfortunately for us a large portion people tend to join without reading anything... even though EVERY THING YOU EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY IS STATED IN THE HANDBOOK AND OTHER INFORMATION WE SEND!

That is BALONEY George,
I read through the entire mailing for the life membership about other payments or fees, and it was NOT mentioned anywhere. I had just gotten stung by RedisetGo and was fighting unauthorized and hidden charges for a "Free" recipe, well hidden below an online scroll bar, so I was suspicious.

I saw the "Free" membership and the $12 check, but didn't bite. I had to look up online to find out that cashing this check would result in a $300 membership fee. The point is when you advertise something in BIG LETTERS AS FREE and then you print in tiny print extra fees, it is a scam. I looked over the mailing 5 times to find out if there was a catch and didn't see one.

Looking to a handbook about a letter offering some service is just a bogus, B@ll[censored] way of scamming people.
In my opinion, any company that operates this way is a scamming, thieving, predatory company. I'm not renewing my subscription to the magazine because of this, although I love the content.

Jeff

This is no complaint. I joined the Handyman club in March 2010. I have not received my validation Label.
I paid my dues by credit card.

I sure hope that you can help my on this problem.

Thank you,

Byron Maxwell
[protected]

I DID NOT READ EACH COMPLAINT BUT I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEM. I NEVER ORDERED ANY HANDYMAN MAGAZINE, AS I AM A FEMALE, AND ALSO A SENIOR. AT THIS STAGE I DON'T PLAN ANY HANDYMAN PROJECTS. I SENT THEM AN E-MAIL ASKING THAT THEY REMOVE ME FROM THEIR MAILING LIST. TODAY I RECEIVED A BILL FOR 24.00. I RESENT THE AUDACITY OF PEOPLE ASSUMING I AM A MALE THOUGH I DON'T IMAGINE THEY CARE AS LONG AS THEY CAN PEDDLE THEIR MAGAZINES. PERHAPS A CLASS ACTION SUIT WOULD SHAKE THEM UP.

MEMO, YES I HAVE REC'D OFFERS AND BILLING FOR SOME I DON'T WISH TO PURCHASE OR REC'D, IF THIS DON'T CANCEL MAG.& EVERYTHING I'LL BE CALLING THE 800# THAT SOME OTHERS HAVE LEFT ONLINE. THANK YOU, PLEASE ADHERE MY REQUEST! RMM. EPSONSALT@CHARTER.NET

I have been a life member for a few years and still waiting on my test products . I got one thing to test it was a 5.00 stud finder . For spending 359.00 to become a life member, i thought for sure i would get some go things to test and keep. Very disapointed...?

I recieved an envelope in the mail wanting me to join because I was nominated.I would like to know where they get their nominations from.

billing reference #Lkjc1715 someone is saying that i owed you money. i havent bought nothing from you so please correct this b/c i dont owed your nothing.

BILLED FOR A BOOK I DIDNT GET

I received the October/November magazine and on page 7 the quiz showing 5 different parts involving tools, partof a set-up, etc..On the page it asks, "Want to play?". I want to play but when I go to www.HandymanClub.com I can't find the "quiz"
anywhere - so I could not enter my answers. What's up? What am I doing wrong? For picture #1 I found that on page 17.
Picture #2 is on page 26. Picture #3 is on page 52. Picture #4 is on page 59. Picture #5 is on page 39. So, now what?
Adam Geiger ---atomgregg@yahoo.com

I lawrence B yates . Have Been Getting Bills From Handyman of America. This I Did Not Order.And Now Thay Are Saying it is being turned in to Collection. I have Wrote Them. Over and over. My E-Mail is Yatesdoitbest@Yahoo.com. Thanks.

I recieved all of the b.s. that all of these other people are complaining about. I can not afford to have any blemishes on my credit. I think I may send them a money order with the notes cancel this subscription.
does anyone think it would actually go on your credit bureau? any other ideas?

This is a NO THANK-YOU letter. I've returned the book that you sent me and I don't want anything more to do with your club. Please stop sending me membership bills for a club that I don't want anything to do with.

sincerely,

Edward A Goch

I received a router bit set in the mail, unsolicited, that I returned. I have now sent them back their letter, months later, telling them I returned them months ago. Has anyone contacted the DA?

iv been a mamber for a yr wit5h the handyman club and it is a scam it iv ever see one i paid the fee and got nothing iv been trying to contact em and have talked to em and nothing was done to make anything right so plez anyone thinking of join dont save your money

I did not apply for membership with Handyman club of america got sent 2 issues of magazine I will be sending it back to you please do not keep sending me a bill payment. Thank you Nathan Napihaa

I RECEIVED A BILL IN THE MAIL THAT I DIDN'T NO ANYTHING ABOUT.

I paid the $24.00 for the year. I never got the free 35-pocket bucket organizer or anything else that they promised, BUT they did CASH my CHECK! There is no phone number on any bill they keep sending me.
THEY ARE STILL BILLING ME !

I don't want this membership I didn't order it. John Muzzy!

From The BBB Website

http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/clubs/north-american-membership-group-in-minnetonka-mn-2735

handy man club sent unordered merchandise, i returned the items and am still being billed !.

I have been a member for a while now I have had no problems with the company. I have gotten a few free tools not much but I enjoy the benefits free plans a free too here and there nothing bad yet

i received the solicitation for the $24 one-year membership. i sent in the response ("don't send money now - we'll bill you later") because it seemed like a good deal for the magazine and free stuff, even if the free stuff was cheap stuff. i got a drill bit gauge (as stated before, worth about $0.25, and a set of screw extractors, which i'm sure will be useful at some point. i did not receive the bucket organizer that was promised. a few weeks later, after getting my first magazine, they sent the first unsolicited book. it looks like it contains some useful information and could be handy for reference. they want me to send them $10, with more books to follow. now i just received a solicitation for life membership. it says that i have been 'nominated' because i have been 'singled out as one of a select group of the most dedicated and skilled club members'. too funny. what was their criteria for that determination? it has a certificate to rebate "every penny you've ever paid in dues." the worst part of the 'life membership' offer is that is a few pages long, accompanied by glossy 'benefits' inserts telling me about the hundreds of dollars of free stuff i will get, yet nowhere does it disclose the cost of said lifetime membership. RED FLAG! the mailing also contains a sheet that says 'if you did not receive your bucket organizer, send in this form along with your dues rebate certificate. why would they send me a form to remind them to send me something that they already promised, other than that they purposely never sent it with the intention of using it as bait to take the lifetime offer?

i did a search on the web and found this site. thanks to all who told of their experiences. i will not respond further to them. i will likely deal with the book situation as instructed by previous posters.

i have contacted federal agents who deal with US Mail fraud and they are sending out feelers and have purchased there scam turn about is fair play. Steal from another VET!

I also recieved a unsolicted membership with a billing notice. Here is the info I found to cancel and it was all automated and easy to cancel. Call the following; please contact Member Services at [protected] Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (CST).

I paid for a 2 year membership with this company by credit card on 4/25/11 ($24.00) I was to receive a 35-pocket organizer and an screw extractor set. I have received neither. I have, however, been receiving the magazine. I am very disappointed and will continue to send negative information about the company.

I have been a member since 1995 and a year and a half ago became a life member. I have NEVER had any real problems. When they started sending me knives, I purchased 2 and sent them a note asking them not to send me anything else unless I ask them to. That was a year ago and I haven't gotten 1 thing. They have tons of members so it's unlikely you would receive a free tool to try very often. I have had about 6 free tools in 16 years. I love the magazine and the tools aren't the best but they work good enough. GO HANDYMAN CLUB OF AMERICA!

I recieved a Book in 8/2011. Ithen sent them a check for $37.98, I then I wrote on the
Check this is FANAL PAYMENT. They are still sending the book and a BILL.

Dear Handyman Club of America,

I am writing to you in regards to your deceptive practices. I have received notices for payment in the amount of $37.98 for a book entitled “Landscape Structures and Decks” (RE: Billing LMRN9862) that I never requested nor received. You have now referred this matter to a collection agency so in an effort to preserve my good credit I am hereby sending you payment in the amount of $37.98 so you will close this matter immediately. In addition, I am returning to you a book entitled “Tools and Techniques” that I also never requested from you, but I did previously send you payment for.

I joined your organization as a “lifetime member” in January of 2011. I sent you payment in the amount of $355.00. I received some low grade cheap Chinese tools, all of which I could have purchased from Harbor Freight Tools for much less than $100.00. My standards for tools that I purchase and use are much, much higher than the crap that you sent me.

I am hereby notifying you that I wish to cancel my membership (#[protected]) effective immediately.

I will consider that I have been scammed for $355.00 and an additional $75.96 for two books that I never requested from you and one of which I never did receive. Considering the character of your organization I am relatively confident that I will never be reimbursed any part of the $430.96 that I have paid to your organization to date.

With hopes of receiving any restitution, I will be sending a copy of this letter to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and to the Better Business Bureau. In addition, I will be posting this letter and negative comments about your organization (the truth) to any and all consumer feedback websites that I can find in an attempt raise awareness about your deceptive practices so others will not fall prey to your scams.

Sincerely,
turbopropdude

i have been a lifetime member since 2004 and since i have became a liftime member i have not received a single item to test. it is like they got my money and then for got about me. i do get the magazines but not in a very good timely manner