Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/24/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a call today, from a South Dakota number saying that he was a guy named Brian from Southwest mediation services and when he left his voicemail he left me a call back number that was to a swimming pool company in Nevada. I was told there was a civil suit against me, and I have no idea how to get back to this company when I was given number not to the company. I also figured that if they knew it was me, they would have left a more detailed message as to what it's in reference to other than a reference number. I'm just trying to figure out why I get a call from a South Dakota number and then get told to call a Nevada number.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/18/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/01) */
  Mr. ******** Please call Senior Mediator Mr. Christopher B**** directly for a more clear explanation regarding a magazine service under your name. His direct number is ************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/19/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a call today from a lady claiming that she was a mediation service for a magazine Publishing Company that I supposedly requested magazines from in 2013-2014. She stated that there is a statute of limitations on an oral agreement or oral contract of 10 years. She also stated that the company has supposedly called and sent letters to various addresses that they have me listed as. Said that the magazines were ordered by me and they have a voice recording of me agreeing to the terms. When I asked for information regarding this matter and a copy of the voice recording to hear she said that she could send me documentation but not the voice recording. Also the phone number that she called me on I did not have at the time that they are stating that I purchased the magazine subscription. The number they called me at I didn't have until 2017-2018. And not even from the same state or Carrier. She informed me that they were looking to take a legal civil action against me and we're trying to push for a settlement of $1,100. Which is a bit much for a magazine subscription and one I deny in the first place because I would never agree to that much for a magazine subscription I don't even really look at magazines don't have time. And when I asked for the exact name of the Publishing Company she gave me one name and said she doesn't have the information on which exact sister company of that company it was that was trying to press the charges. She was a bit rude and pushy and trying to excuse the expression baffled me with ******** until I informed her that I work for the local police department here where I am and that I know the legality side of things and then her tone all changed. And as I stated before I asked for the information regarding the supposed debt and she did send me an email but she did warn me that I cannot get a copy of the voice recording I keep track of my credit and I check my mail even junk mail and have never received anything from this company.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/21/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/23) */
  Mr. ***** had challenged the validity of this delinquent account with AMS. We have been instructed to return this back as a refusal to pay. They will make the final decision as to pursue this for a balance of $1,103.30. If this helps Mr. ***** he did receive the following magazines in a 60 month contract with the option to change any magazine during this life of the service: Complex, Alternative Press, Wired Magazine, Family Circle & Men's Health. In closing Mr, ***** will not hear from our office again.
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/08/30) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  I did not receive nor ask for any of those said magazines nor the subscription the way I read their response was basically saying that I did receive and ask for said items. Which I did not.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/16/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This company has been contacting me once a day every business day attempting to contact my mother, ********, about a potential civil action against her. The company refused to tell me what the action might be or what it originates from, and continued to call me attempting to get in touch with my mother despite me telling them they had the wrong number. They wanted me to give my mother a "direct line" to speak to one of their employees. I feel this situation is not legitimate, constituting potential fraud, as my mother has not been notified of any debt or civil action via other, more appropriate methods such as serving of papers or mailed notice. I want this company to stop contacting me, and to leave my mother alone as well as I believe their claim is false.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/15/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/18) */
  Mr. *******,
  This contract for a Magazine service is under your mother Mrs. *************** name and address. Third party disclosure prohibits us from divulging information without the consumers permission. We called the contact number on the reference portion of the contract and left a message. Mrs. ******* is more than welcome to contact us for all the information or give us permission to speak with her son *****. We have the right to settle this account or return it as a refusal to pay.
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/08/19) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  I am not your primary point of contact for this alleged account. I want your company to stop calling me about this matter as it does not concern me; and I would also like for you to stop telephonically contacting my mother about this account as I do not believe your company's information is true and correct. Send a proof of debt letter via certified mail to the account holder if this debt is legitimate, and I would like you to conduct any further communication via mail.
  
  
  Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/08/22) */
  We will instruct the publishers to do so and you will not hear from SWMS again.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/27/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was contacted on or around May 27, 2022 by Jenna J***** stating she is a representative of South West Mediation of Nevada. She stated that my partner owes a magazine company $180 for merchandise received. I tell her I am unaware of this. She states that she really needs to talk to my partner about it. I am unauthorized to know the account information. How did you get my phone number then? After further discussion she stated that my husband received a phone call while at work! Are you serious how unethical of a company to contact someone at work! That he entered himself in a verbal contract with a magazine company. My husband has not worked for over 7 years now. I have not received any mail attempting to collect a debt nor have been contacted by anyone until this phone call. Jenna continues to state that they have evidence of this phone call and my partner agreeing to all this. I told her before I agree to pay anything I need to be provided this evidence of the recorded phone call. She says again she cannot tell me anything that I need for my partner to call her. She says I am being argumentative. I told her that I was not you mistake my tone for being thorough and assertive. I will not accept a phone call demanding money with no evidence provided to me that you are a legit company there are too many scams out there for me to just take you at your word over a phone call. I nor my husband have received any more contact from this company in any form. I am assuming they had no evidence of this so called contract. If this magazine company or Mediation persists that I owe them money I will be contacting a lawyer.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/02/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/07/29) */
  This BBB complaint was generated my Mrs. ****** but Mr. ****** agreed to receive magazines from a company called ******************** in 2017 and agreed to 41 months of *********** 41 months of *******************, 41 months of ************ & 41 months of *****************. After numerous payments were made consecutively they stopped and the merchandise continued and so did phone calls to rectify the situation and have Mr. ****** update his payments and account. Ms. ***** stated her husband has not worked in years and we understand the situation for this going into default. We offered Mr. ****** a settlement for less than is owed and no we have a stale mate. All we can do is send this account back to ******************** as a refusal to pay and they can make a finical decision to peruse the matter further.