Synapse Group / Magazine Customer Service
Reviews and Complaints

I had ordered one year of Better Homes and Gardens on magazines.com a year ago. I did not renew. But then a charge of $39 showed up on my credit card bill from this company, which purports not to be the same company as magazines.com. I called to remove the charge and they said I had a contract with them, which I of course did not. They said they canceled the subscription, but would not refund the money. So, I called my credit card company and reported them for fraud. It is a completed scam and with thousands of similar reports online, I surprised some state attorney general hasn't shut them down. It is egregious what they do to people, hoping they don't notice the charge on their credit card and continuing to scam folks.

Originally I paid for the magazines with Delta Air miles. Then the next year they told me I could get the magazines for a promotional fee of $2.00 so I agreed. Now they have charged me the full amounts for each Magazine. I tried calling on their 855 number 7 times and each time I was disconnected. The messages said the system was down. It told me to use the web site at magcustomerservice.com so going there I found the message "page not available" This is a huge rip-off company, do not get hooked.

I never even got a card, the postal service in my town is a joke, half the time my mail is in somebody box not mine I think that you guys need to Email us that the subscription is ending. The money that you guys took was for a bill that's due on 12/18/2017 Guess what's going to happen Ill be from my bank not enough money to cover the bill and the people that don't get there going to do same thing because of this I'm going to be out a lot of money to fix what you guys did thanks. I called but the person that I talked to told me three days to get refunded it took you about a second to take and 3 days to get it back I got a Ref# [protected] I had to extend if I wanted it all back because I didn't cancel soon enough which I didn't know was due.

in 2014 My husband ordered a 3 magazines through a co-worker's son's school fundraiser. After a few months we started to receive additional magazines. We called to see why we were receiving magazines we were told we had to contact the individual magazine publishers to cancel. When we tried to do this the magazine companies said we had to cancel through Synapse Group. We called back and cancelled all magazines in 2015. We started to receive unwanted magazines again several months (2017) ago but were in the process of moving so we didn't do anything about these magazines. We have now received magazines at our new address, they do not have the yellow forwarding address sticker on them, they are addressed directly to our new address. I called Synapse Group today and was told they show our account as cancelled and they say they do not have our new address on file. I cannot believe this. I am holding the latest editions of Coastal Living, Food & Wine, Outdoor Photography and Cooking Light magazines in my hand! Synapse Group said they do know why the individual magazine publishers are sending them to us! This is so frustrating.
Don and Elizabeth Pine

Hi
After multiple attempts, I believe I was able to cancel
New York Magazine
Sports Illustrated
Entertainment Weekly
Travel & Leisure

I spoke to Angelo in Costa Rica and got a cancellation number of [protected]
for subscription id:[protected]
I want to make sure this is correct and if for any reason he didn't cancel, please cancel all 4 magazines. No one reads them. I understand that the current subscription runs through 12/14/2017, but do not want extend any of them!
Thank you Judith & Howard Polansky

Please cancel Conde Nast; Southern Living; Elle Decor and Sports Illustrated --
thought they were cancelled but another $54 charge just appeared.

These are the numbers I see on renewal card:

#BXBDGGP CAR-RT LOT**R-010
#TVL1103123111/2# SEP17 R1709W50L
Mary Wanser
123 Sycamore Xing
Savannah GA [protected]
REAJ
P25

I want the current charge of $54 refunded to my card and all 4 magazines cancelled immediately.

I have subscribed to this publication for years - I've long forgotten how and when. In 2016, they charged my AMEX $17 on 4.11.16, another $17 on 10.12.16, and $33 on 12.1.16. This is more than 10x the newsstand price. I contacted Harper's Bazaar about this and received the below message. In the meantime, I've been charged another $17 by Synapse!
service.harpersbazaar.com

Thank you for contacting Harper's Bazaar.

Your order was placed through an independent sales agency and it will be necessary for you to contact them. The agency information is below:

If you would like to contact Synapse directly, please call [protected].

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

If we can be of further assistance, please let us know. To ensure your future concerns are handled in a timely fashion, please include all previous e-mail correspondence.

Thank you,
Carrie
Harper's Bazaar Customer Service
[protected]@cdsfulfillment.com

For all your subscription service needs, visit https://w1.buysub.com/servlet/CSGateway?cds_mag_code=HAR the quick, easy and safe way to manage your magazine account and answer any questions you may have in one convenient place.

Customer's email address: [protected]@hotmail.com
Case id: [protected]

My current MasterCard statement charged me $69.00 on June 30, 2017, for a subscription whose last issue would be July 23, 2018. I did not order this or authorize payment for it. A customer service email to me date 2/9/17 actually said the expiration issue was 7/24/17. I received no communication of any kind at any time about renewing my subscription for any amount of time.

I would like no more issues sent to me and my $69.00 refunded.

My account number is [protected]

Thanks.

KATHLEEN JOYCE SEYMOUR
[protected]@cox.net

Synapse group keeps on renewing a national geographic magazine that we have never ordered. It's gone on for years. I have called many times and am always told they will cancel but they keep showing up. The number I was told by national geographic to call was [protected]. When I called I spoke to an agent named henry that assured me it was canceled now. (3rd time i've dealt with this). When I asked how and who signed us up he just said, generic. He gave me a confirmation # of the cancellation. (Probably fake). And he said, thank you for calling magazine service center. Scam scam scam... I am soooo mad that I am still getting these magazines.

This is a perfect example of how these companies are allowed to RIP-OFF your money. I purchased TV Guide last year on a "promotion" for an annual renewal for my mom (92yrs old) for $20 from Magazine Discount Center on June 20, 2016. Today, June 21, 2017, I received a notification from B of A that my cc was charged $73.00 for annual renewal. I cancelled my subscription and was told by the Customer Service Rep. that I will receive a refund on my $73 and my magazine subscription will terminate in September 2017. I also declined the charge to my cc. Lets see if that really happens.
No more TV Guide for my Mom.

Sirs, Synapse Group:

For two years I have been trying to cancel all subscriptions I made with your company, a couple of years ago. However, every year I receive charges on my credit card from your company, without previous notice, regarding these magazine subscriptions, even though I have cancelled them over the phone twice. I really don't know how to make them cancelled permanently. I DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE THEM ANYMORE!

Last charges over my credit card were:
Feb. 26 - RU Cosmo - $50
Mar. 10 - Time Magazine - $69
Mar. 10 - Pop. Mechanics - $42

After I cancelled all of them (once again), I received the following credits on my card:
Mar. 24 - RU Cosmo - $45.83
Mar. 24 - Pop. Mechanics - $37.80

Questions:
1) Why there was NO CREDIT FOR TIME magazine that was also cancelled?
2) Why the credit is not the full amount you debit?
3) Why they charged my card again this year, since I cancelled last year?
4) How can I cancel all these magazines FOREVER?
5) Why your automatic system does not allow to clarify when you missed to make a credit, and there is NO WAY to solved?

Thank you for your prompt answer and ACTION!

Ricardo Jalube
141 SE 7th AVE
Pompano Beach, Fl, 33060
[protected]@yahoo.com
Cel: [protected]

After making online purchases at a few different online retail stores; I got sent a few different emails asking for my opinion on the items I purchased. After submitting my opinion, I then got a 'reward' of my choice of 3 different magazines and I only had to pay $2.00 processing fee (which I thought was great b/c I picked the most expensive magazine subscriptions, so I really got a good deal). There is fine print every where fully explaining what you are getting yourself into, of course it's a free year of subscription service, then after that you have until a certain date to cancel and not have your credit/debit card charged. This company (Synapse Group) even sends you a giant post card about a month before your subscription is up, fully explaining your options for canceling and how to go about it. Since I order a lot online, I got sent a lot of these offers and ordered 23 different magazines paying only $2.00 processing fee. At the end of the year, I got sent a bunch of these post cards instructing me on how to cancel, so I called the phone number listed on the card and followed the instructions (some of the magazines I really enjoyed so instead of canceling the Synapse Group gave me another deal it wasn't $2.00 for 3 magazines, but it was still a pretty good deal.) I really enjoy getting the magazine service from this company, I used to work for several different bank and credit card companies so I understand the lies some customers say when they're like "I never did this charge" or when they play dumb saying the fine print tricked them. I guess I'm complaining not about this company, but about some of the customers who are blaming others for their lack of maturity. I'm not sure if the customers are just not caring enough to read before hitting submit, or if they're not patient enough to listen to that robot prompt when they call the 1888 number, but it's just really sad to blame a company that simply offers a great service (and quite frankly fantastic prices for yearly subscriptions; they even tried to give me a coffee mug, a gas card, and something else but I still said no b/c I didn't like that certain magazine.). Anyway, good luck the rest of you Synapse Group customers, I hope you get what you want in the end and stop wining and complaining about little things in life, enjoy some fresh air or something.

This is one of those ripoff companies that just hopes they tire you out or you forget to cancel and do not notice their billing.
Customer service is [protected]
After messing with it for 20 minutes they did transfer me to a person. She said I had to wait two weeks from the "accidental signup" to cancel. She said to cut through the "auto attendant" phone system to hit "0" three times in a row. I do not know if this means each time a new message appears or just "0, 0, 0" at once. Maybe this will help everyone.

After sending trial subscriptions to several family members, I've received a statement they will be automatically renewed at a very high rate unless I call to cancel. When I called, I had to deal with an automated system which used very tricky wording about whether I really wanted to cancel or renew at a very low rate. I finally decided to go to the Internet as I wasn't entirely sure whether or not I'd given the answers I intended in order to cancel 3 trial subscriptions. Even that wasn't easy, but I not have reference numbers stating the subscriptions are cancelled. This is no way to do business; I feel like I've been scammed & truly believe they've set things up this way to deliberately confuse other subscribers.

There were 4 unauthorized substantial charges for magazines on our credit card. Attempted to cancel but before anyone signs up with them, as I had a promotion last year (did not authorize then for auto renewal) for a substantial amount of money. If you think you are getting magazines inexpensive wait til they auto renew and hit your account. Attempting to call was a nightmare, person round and round in a rhetorical phone call, talking over me, not listening, etc. Save your self time and frustration, and avoid these magazine subscriptions. And, when you first call, you get the auto robot run around, very hard to even find a person. LISTEN to your customers folks and you might retain a customer. I received NO bill in the mail, no email notification, or otherwise. Save yourself the aggravation-I do not even have an address to go back to. They claim to have given me a refund, will wait and see. Check your credit cards monthly people-

These guys are nothing but crooks! I received a postcard in the mail saying they were automatically renewing my subscription and charging something they called "using my account # you agreed to be billed for your selections (S) and will be charged annually for men's health @ $42 for a total of 10 issues. If you wish to discontinue call [protected] by 11/17/16 & no charge will appear." first although I do have a current subscription with men's health I have never done business w/these folks. 2nd, I did call that 800# to cancel, but their voice response system is programed to just ignore the cancellation prompts, even when they connect you w/their "customer service # during that cancellation session, that"automated" response is also programmed to ignore your verbal as well touch tone prompt responses. These guys are nothing but crooks.!

I got free magazine subscriptions as a gift for answering an opinion poll. I then received a card in the mail stating that I had until September 13 to cancel these subscriptions. On August 30 I was charge for 2 subscriptions of these magazines. I call to cancel these on September 8 and I can't get my full refund. I was charged $41.00 and they will only credit me $34.00. So I lose $7.00.. I canceled in plenty of time and they still charged me. Very upsetting .! I will never use this company again. Also unaware that these charges would be applied to my account, the bank charged me overdraft charges and paid item fees. And of course they did not reimburse me for these charges, so my experience with this company have NOT been favorable.

After a purchase I made I was asked to take a survey from Forsee for a $100 gift. After I took the survey they showed that the gift was to choose 4 magazines from a list to receive for free for 1 year. They charged a processing fee of $2.01 and that's how they got my credit card information. There is then a box where you have to agree to the terms and agreements which contains pages of small print to which we all just click the agree box.

It turns out that in that small text there is something that says that you will be charged for automatic renewals of the magazines that you "purchased". Some "gift"! After a year of your "free" magazines, you keep receiving magazines and wonder when they will stop. But secretly they are charging your account under the company name of TME*... When I realized I was being charged it was my credit card company that explained what was happening and they gave me the telephone number which is [protected].

When I called it was an automated system giving you options, but no option to talk to a representative. After I exhausted all of the options, the only possible one being to cancel, I finally said "speak to a representative". I did not want to "cancel" something I had never purchased to begin with because that implies to me that I would be responsible for charges to date.

After that an automated system came on saying that it could help me with all problems a customer service representative could and would I like that. I said "NO!". It said ok and that it would connect me with a representative. After about 20 with the phone on the counter on speaker while I was on hold, a representative came on the line. She insisted that no scam had occurred, that everything was legal, and that when I checked that "agree" button for my "gift" I had purchased the magazines to renew annually charging my account.

Angrily I finally got her to listen to me that not only did I want them to stop charging my account, but that I wanted all charges refunded. She nicely said ok, I'll cancel your charges and you agree to renew all your subscriptions at this time too? They don't stop! I then made it clear, yelling at this point, that I didn't want a thing from them ever again. No charges. No magazine renewals. No new subscriptions to ANY magazines. Finally she let up and agreed to do what I said. She even refunded the $2.01 I had been charged initially. I have been prompted after several store's purchases online to complete the Forsee survey, but after being drowned in magazines I never took the survey again. I didn't even know then that I was being charged for renewal fees from my previous "gift". What a scam. I am reporting them.

I subscribed to wine spectator in 2002 with renewal contingent on annual notice so I was told. When I tired of the magazine I returned the renewal letters to wine spectator directly yet the magazines continued. I finally contacted Wine Spectator directly to cancel and they informed me that they did not have that ability since the order came from Magazine Service company from whom I NEVER received a renewal notice. I contacted them directly and with perseverance was able to reach a live person to cancel and refund the remainder of the pending issues but not those from previous "renewals". This company is fraudulent and a con job.

It's bad enough that mistakes get made but their customer service is HORRID. There call number is an to some 3d world call center but that's only if you can figure out how to get thru the automated system. I was on there about 15 minutes trying all sorts of options until i finally got an option to talk to someone. Why do companies use automated systems and then not give you the option to talk to someone if those options. I finally got thru to someone and the reason for the call is that they had duplicate subscription because every year they send a renewal notice and we do that but then they start duplicating the issues so for 2-3 months i end up getting double copies. I tried to call them 2 years ago and ask why they don't just add the renewal to the end of the existing and 2 years ago they apologized and said they would just extend my subscription for 3 more months to compensate the double issues. Then this past year it happened again and i called to complain (did i mention getting thru to them is like a full time job) and they apologized and said they would just combine the subscription numbers but then they just canceled the renewal so we ended up paying for a new subscription and never got the renewal. UGH.