Don't renew that magazine subscription until you know when it expires

I have had this happen to me. You sign up and then about 3 months later you start getting renewals in the mail. Then they offer you 2 extra months if you sign up now. I recalled that was the original deal get 14 months for 12. Interesting enough, but my label only gives me credit for 12. HUM!!! So when this subscription expired, I didn't renew it. I read somewhere that the companies try to get you to sign up immediately when you are still enjoying the magazine because after 1 year, most readers don't renew. Makes sense.

I stopped subscribing to magazines and instead take a break at the local bookstore to enjoy a quick read.  Seems like they are more ads than articles and you can usually read half for free on-line.  This belongs on one of the "give me a break" shows that points out how desperate publishers are to scam everyone into thinking they need to pay up now!

Makes my blood boil too, Cynthia.  Nice catch on your part and a post more should see. 

I have had this happen to me. My thought was if I just renewed I would not keep getting notices, but they still seem to come. Your mother-in-law is lucky to have you around. I can imaging how confusing it can be for seniors.

While I agree it's insane, please let's NOT pass another law. We have tons too many already.   But I finally just stopped all but one magazine because I don''t have time to read them anyway.  Too busy reading blogs on AR.

Yipes.  I kinda knew they were bad about that, because of how many renew now letters I get.  I've got way more than I can read as it is.  AR has consumed all the time that I used to spend reading the magazines :)

I see that all of the time too.  I only subscribe to a couple of things now, but it does seem like they always send out the renewal notices many months in advance of the expiration date.

Cynthia, I used to subscribe to a lot of magazines. But I was finding that I rarely read them.  Nowadays, if I want to find something I just look online. I even prefer reading stories and books online. I can adjust the type size! ;)

Good thing your mother in law has you to look after her!

I do read and subscribe to several magazines and get renewal notices just as you described. I wait for the one which saysm "This is your last issue." before I renew. The magazines may want working capital but so do I.

Hi Cynthia - ooooh, that's cheap tactics!  Thank goodness you were there to look out for your mother's interests...makes you not want to get the subscriptions ever again (I'll just have to read the 2 year old copies in my doctor's office!) :-)

and I think what's worse is all the "want your money" type advertisements that go to seniors...I think they lose their sense of reasoning a bit as they/we age...at least in my mom I can see it.  And that is just plain scary...

Cynthia, I'm exactly the type of person who would fall for a ploy like that, as I admittedly rarely check the fine print on things like that. I bet less than scrupulous companies make millions from me and my ilk.

This is such a pet peeve of mine Cynthia. It usually takes about two months and you get a postcard that your subscription is about to expire.

The new scam is the auto re-subscribe where they say you opted for this program and they want your credit card information. When the magazine uses this tactic, I will never subscribe or answer them again. I have seen this box on the screen when subscribing and never check it. And I go back and double check that it hasn't been marked before I push submit.

Like I said pet peeve...

Hmmm... thats a good tip. Haven't really though much about it. I know that Go Daddy likes to send out reminders about 4-5 months before my sites are up for renewal, but to ask for a payment over 1 year (almost 2 years) away is a bit over the top.

Cynthia ~ I would be pissed mad as hell heck too! 

I'm really glad you brought this practice to light because it benefits everyone.  suggest

My wife gets a few of these related to memberships at it makes her mad, too!