866-494-3117

i have heard that the cashiers are told to sell one to everyone or theyll lose their job. i have also heard that the computer automatically prompts them to offer it and that some managers(crooks) are informing their employees to just click yes... i just called and canceled my subscription. no questions asked. no problems. they know its wrong and they also know thats its their job. It should be illegal and the managers asking employees to do this without asking the customer should be fired... but IF we're asked WE are responsible for cancelling... and if not, we still get our money refunded... it sucks but at least there is a solution

I have basically the same story as the rest of you, but I've tried about 4 different numbers, and all I've gotten is a recording every single time. I've managed to cancel my future subscriptions and charges, but I need to speak to a REAL person about getting the charges that have already been taken out reimbursed. There is never an option like that on the recordings. Everyone has mentioned how helpful the customer service was, but I can't even get a real person on the phone. Any suggestions or numbers? I definitely don't want to pay $58.50 for a magazine I didn't even want to begin with. Thanks!

Just a update for any new visitors!

New Number to call: 8778130320

If you call the 8778130320 number, it's all automated as long as you can remember which magazines you signed up for. You can cancel them one by one by automated system and obtain a reference number confirming the cancellation.

I called the number above and the computer confirmed that I would have a refund. Last last night after I called I noticed that my online bank statement had taken away the charge. However today when I checked the charge was back with today's date. I called the same number again and it confirmed that I had cancelled it yesterday and that I was to be refunded. Did this happen to you?

i too got my $154 on 4 fraudulent charges only after enlisting BofA's help. They called 1-877-366-4531.GL  Delta gave away Visa # through flier miles.

I have been working at BAM for a short amount of time and have been investigating reviews from our customers.  I had no idea that the magazine "scam" worked in this fashion.  I do know that whenever a customer uses a credit card or a debit card it prompts us to ask the customer if they are interested in the magazine program.  Employees here are forced to ask customers and some employees are so good at swindling that they receive high praises or even further pressure to push these programs.  I will no longer push the magazine program after reading these customer complaints and am actually looking for another place to work.  It is absolutely wrong for a corporation to ask dishonesty from their employees in order for them to keep their job.  Thank you for all of the input.

After reading all of your comments on this, I had a similar experience; however, after calling the 866.494.3117 number and speaking with a representative, she (Sandy) informed me that my account was actually handled by another agency and she gave me a different telephone number.  That number is:  800.321.6247.

Subsequently, I called this number and ran through a list of automated menu prompts which allowed me to cancel each of the subscriptions, (3 total) individually.  At the end of each, the auto-attendant alerted me as to the date that each would have been drafted from my account and gave me one final option to extend the subscription.  I had to stay on the line long enough to repeat the cancelation request for each magazine.by going back through the prompts 3 times.  At the end of the call, I was given a reference number for the cancelations.  I will now wait until the dates of the intended drafts to ensure that this was done correctly.

Apparently, since each magazine subscription began on a different day, I need to be watching for the drafts on 9/4/2012, 9/12/2012 and 9/21/2012.  If this goes without a hitch, I'll be sure to repost on this blog.

I went through the same thing you all did. I called one of the earlier numbers, and was referred to this number 877-813-0320. It is all automated, but if you press 0 at the beginning and then 0 when she says choose from the 5 options, you will be forwarded to an operator. I talked to one named John, I explained to him my issue, and he cancelled all subscriptions, and stated that refunds would be finalized within 72 business hours. I also received a  conformation code. If I do not reply within 72 hours that means it worked and people who run into this problem in the future can refer to this.

This is an update to my previous post last month:

So...apparently, this wasn't meant to go "right".  Just looked at my bank statement today and there's a charge on the account for $9.90 for magazine purchases for People Style Watch.  Interestingly enough, I never had a People Style Watch so that was somewhat shocking to me.  The only three magazines that I had been sent were for Entertainment Weekly, People and Sports Illustrated.

The bank statement had a telephone number on it and it was listed as 877.417.3309.  After I saw that this scheduled payment was due to be drafted from my account, I called the number and spoke with a gentlemand named Troy Coda.  He assured me that the reason for the charge was because I hadn't deleted all of the magazines that I had agreed to within the timeframe alloted.  As I said before, this was confusing to me because the clerk at the BAM store said three magazines total - not 4!  I had already received confirmation that the other three were canceled, but who knew about the last...?  At any rate, he canceled this last subscription, gave me another confirmation number for this deleted magazine and assured me that there were no other magazines on my list.

A word of caution to those of you that chose People magazine...there might be a People Style Watch that is hidden in there somewhere under the guise of your People subscription.

Thanks for the phone number.  1-800-961-8721 actually worked to get a live person to cancel the subscriptions.

This number is good.. 877 813 0320

I am so glad that I noticed the charge on my pending, I got hit with a 66.00 dollars charge on my credit card. Thanks to everyone for the info. Books a million should be ashamed.

This blog has been going for several years, and yet this is still happening. How can this company continue to commit fraud (Synapse) and why are companies like Delta and Books a Million still associated with Synapse? We received unexpected charges December 2012, and called the robot at Synapse. After choosing the option "problem with my delivery" we got a human who has promised us a refund. I am scared now that the charges will reappear later. We did not get told that we would get charged eventually and I do not remember seeing anything about a charge on the receipt. I have read that this company can also pass along your data to other companies. What a mess.

i too was signed up through books a millon for entertainment weekly and people magazine they told me i got so many months free no issues free  and they gave me a date to cancel before i was charged anything a week later they charged me $60  for EW and $82 for people i called the 800 number and  they said they were sorry and said they canceled the subscription they however did something different then with most people here they mailed me a check. i deposited it in my account and on  a hunch canceled my debit card and replaced it at the same time sure enough the day after i deposited the check  i got a call from the magazine company wanting my bank info cause they couldnt withdraw the money and i explained what happened and they said someone sent the check and forgot to cancel the subscriptions  and gave me 2 new incident numbers and assured me all magazines were canceled i then began to receive 10 to 15 calls a day every day for about 6 monthes some messages were pleasent others were  right rude saying i had to pay and they wanted me info   finally i got so angry i called back and some woman tried to be all sweet and nice but yet saying well you cant just sign up and change your mind thats not how subscriptions work  i unleashed on her saying i have all these incident numbers plus the names of everyone i talk to and if i go to a lawyer we will see what they have to say about yours and BAM  business practices she started pleading with me not to do so and appologized for the trouble  i havent heard from them since then but my bank did say that they had noticed alot of transactions  trying to be processed from something indentified only has an 800 number trying to process the charges through my old canceled number  i gave them the known numbers to the magazine company  and the proved that it was them and my bank then took matters into their own hands they called and had a chat i do not know what was said but they said they havent had any attempts and processing so my bank must have done the trick

I called 866 - 494 - 3117 and the CSR said she wasn't able to cancel the subscription since it was done through a 3rd party agency. I signed up for the magazines at the coffee shop inside BAM.

She gave me this number to call instead (877 - 813 - 0320) and it took less than 5 minutes to go through the automated process and cancel the magazine. It was funny how even the automated CSR was trying to convince me to keep the subscription by saying, "I show that you won't be charged until April 18th and you have until June 2013 to cancel for the full refund. Are you sure you want to cancel now instead of later since you will get your money back?"

This happened to me!  I am (was) a very good customer at BAM because it is the only big box book store in our city.  I have bought something there almost once or twice a week for several years as we are a family of readers.  I always so NO to the magazine offers but they really push them in the store.  Recently, People showed up in my mailbox and I had no idea why.  It was just after Christmas and I thought someone gave it to me as a gift...despite the fact I have no interest in it.  When my next credit card bill came I had a huge bill for magazines.  When I called they said it was from BAM.  I told them this was incorrect I didn't sign up for it and they said they would remove the charges.  I also called BAM to complain and make sure they were stopped.  Of course they kept the charge and are still sending the Magazines.  I am now dealing with getting them stopped and the bill removedwhich is a nightmare, especially considering I didn't order them in the first place!  I am now avoiding BAM like the plague.  They have been no help and it seems this is common practice.

I luckily found the paper because i read the fine print and knew i had to cancel in 3 months.

go to www.magassist.com or call 800 353 7034 to cancel your subsription :D

it worked for me. phew

They DO fire people for not making goals and they DO NOT pay any employee a living wage, not even store managers. Ignorant BAM employees are FORCED to shove this bs down your throats....and YES we all know it's a scam.
These "free" magazines are the reason BAM is still in business...they make MILLIONS off of your "free" subscriptions.

who did you call to get the charges removed?