Last week I received "Latina" magazine in the mail. The thing is, I haven't subscribed to "Latina", or any other magazines for that matter. When I checked out the magazine's website and entered the account number on the magazine label, sure enough, there was an account with my name and address claiming that I had a year-long subscription that was "paid and active".
I contacted the magazine's customer service to let them know I had not ordered, did not pay and would not pay for their mag and requested that they please stop sending me any more issues. Here is their reply:
"Your order was received from an independent sales agency; therefore, cancellations and refunds must be made through them.
We have suspended service on your record and are forwarding your correspondence to the agency listed below.
If you would like to contact Priority One Clearing Service directly, please call 727-443-2200.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused."
When I looked up Priority One Clearing Services online I saw many, many complaints against them on various websites for the same thing: unsolicited magazine orders. I also saw Priority repeatedly claim that they act purely as a middleman for other companies/agents selling magazines. If Priority One is just a middleman, then they need a much better verification process with their agents; otherwise, why are so many people receiving magazines they did not order and are being told by said magazines that they need to contact Priority One Clearing Services to sort things out, the very company that placed the orders directly with the magazines?
I've yet to get through to the customer service department for Priority One to find out who allegedly took an order for me and how the subscription was paid for. I'm dreading receiving some sort of bill or auto-renewal for this magazine or for any other magazines I might receive that I also did not order.
In this age of rampant identity theft and monetary fraud, this unsolicted magazine problem is highly suspicious and seems like a scam designed to hold people financially responsible for products they did not order.
We started by receiving Woman's Health Magazine and Shape. Then US Weekly Started to Arrive. A few O magazines came as well and some Smart Shopper Magazine. Now today we received 2 Redbook magazines. We tried to contact the Magazines Companies and of course they said contact PRIORITY ONE CLEARING SERVICE where they were ordered through, who we can not reach. I have no clue where the magazines started from we just want them to stop. They are becoming very annoying.
Priority One Clearing They order a subscription to PARENTING in my name without my authorization. Clearwater, Florida
I received a 2-year subscription to PARENTING magazine and when I called PARENTING customer service I was told that the subscription had been placed by Priority One Clearing and they gave me their phone number. When I called I got their answering machine. I left a complaint with my name and phone number and then got online to make a complaint to them and ask them to cancel this subscription immediately and call me to tell me how they got my information to place this subscription. I don't have kids, I'm not pregnant, and I don't anticipate having kids anytime in the near future so there's no way I'd order even a 1-year subscription to PARENTING magazine. These guys are real ripoffs and they should be put out of business. I'd like to know how they got my information to do this. This is fraud and there should be a class action lawsuit against them. I'm also going to file a report against them with the BBB.
Priority One Clearing Service Unauthorized magazine subscription Clearwater, Florida
Just as C.S. in San Jose, California said...I, too, received a magazine, "Entrepreneur", which I did not subscribe to. It's not even anything I'd have any interest in so I contacted the company to save them money since all I do is throw the magazine out. The put a hold on my account but told me that I, personally, could not cancel it since it was placed by Priority One Clearing Services.
They gave me the phone number for Priority One, I called & left a message, and soon after some poor school teacher living in Pennsylvania called me back telling me that he gets a lot of these calls because the company is giving his phone number as theirs. Sure enough, on their website is his phone number.
I have sent an email to the president/CEO of the company so we'll see IF she bothers to write me back. They need to be reported to the Better Business Bureau! I NEVER authorized this magazine, nor do I know how they got my information! And as C.S. stated, if they are the "middleman", then they ought to screen their clientele A LOT better.
If this company is legitimate and they truly care about their reputation, I would think they'd step up the background check of their clientele, especially since there are so many complaints! And just HOW are these subscriptions getting paid for? The "Entrepreneur" magazine customer service person couldn't answer that question for me.
Priority One Clearing unwanted, unsolicited magazines Clearwater Florida
Today I received 2 magazines in my mailbox that I did not order. I called the number inside the mag and they said it was ordered by a third party and I would have to call them. I did so and got a recording telling me their business hours and saying if it was during (it was) they were on another call and would call me back. Of course, that has not happened and I am afraid I have been scammed. I cannot find anywhere that I have been billed, as yet, so worry where they are going to charge me. This is so frustrating.
Priority One Clearing Services A few months ago I recieved a Latina magazine. Today I recieved Lucky magazine and upon entering my account number on the website I am also signed up for W magazine. None of which I personally signed Indian Hills, Colorado
I received 3 magazines subscriptions of which I did not sign up for. i THINK ITS TIME TO GOT TO THE FTC AND PUT A STOP TO THIS.
Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. - Third Party Magazine Seller/Processor without an authentication process to verify that subscription was valid/legal. - Clearwater, Florida
Received via USPS "Outside" magazine that we did not order, solicit, or authorize in any manner. Called Outside's Subscriber Services (800-678-1131) and was told that they could not cancel the subscription because it had been placed by a third party - Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. (727-443-2200) who does not answer their phone. Checked our credit cards and bank account and have not been billed yet.
The received address that this magazine came to is NOT our mailing address. We use caller-ID and voice-mail on our phones and NEVER accept or call back unknown numbers. We look up all unknown numbers to see if they are scam calls and find most are fraudulent. We shred all unsolicited mail without opening first.
All items with our names and addresses are shredded before disposal. We do not allow nor participate in door-to-door sales pitches, surveys, sweepstakes, and etc. All magazines we receive are ordered and paid for on the magazine's secure website. We work in the IT industry and understand that personal information provided to the wrong source can be used for illegal purposes.
Any reputable publication will allow you to cancel an unauthorized subscription by calling them directly or by using their secure website. "Outside" magazine did not do so.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspectors website (https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/othertypes/UnsolicitedFraud.aspx) states that it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it.
These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.
Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.
If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such items - especially if you are sent statements demanding payment for the merchandise - you should contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector at (877-876-2455).
Below is the State of Florida's Consumer Protection FAQ (http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/cc08c6e2fa43fdf285256cc90060ae57!OpenDocument):
How to Protect Yourself: Unordered Merchandise
Source: The Florida Attorney General's Office
What are your rights and obligations when you receive merchandise through the mail that you did not order?
You have a legal right to consider it a free gift if a seller sends you any merchandise you did not order.
You are not required to return it and may keep it if you wish.
You have no obligation to notify the seller that you will keep the merchandise, but sending a letter stating your intention to keep the shipment as a free gift is an advisable precaution, which will help you establish later, if necessary, that you did not order the merchandise. You may wish to send the letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter. If you ever receive a bill or a letter saying you owe money for unordered merchandise, you can use the same approach, stating in your letter to the company that you never ordered the merchandise, and therefore have a legal right to keep it for free.
If you believe that the unordered merchandise is the result of an honest shipping error, contact the seller and offer to return the merchandise provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time, perhaps 30 days, in which to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Inform the seller that after the specified period of time, you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or to dispose of it as you wish.
Shippers may send merchandise to you which you have not ordered if the merchandise is a free sample and marked as such. Address labels, decorative stamps and other merchandise mailed by charitable organizations asking for contributions may also legally be sent to you without your prior order. In either case, you may keep such shipments as free gifts.
Be especially cautious when you are participating in sweepstakes, or ordering goods advertised as "free," or "trial" or at an unusually low price. Read the fine print to determine if you will be required to make purchases in the future, or to notify the shipper that you do not wish to purchase the merchandise, or continue with the "trial" arrangement. Keep a record of each product you agree to receive on a "free" or "trial" basis, and what your obligations are by doing so.
If you are having difficulty dealing with unordered merchandise problems, attempt to resolve the problem with the company.
If you are unsuccessful, you my contact your local U.S. Postal Inspector, the Division of Consumer Services, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800, 1-800-435-7352, the Better Business Bureau in your area, the Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd Street, New York, New York 10017, or the Federal Trade Commission, Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Priority One Clearing House Received UNORDERED magazine Clearwater Florida
We began to received Rolling Stone magazine....which we haven't read in over 50 years! Contacted the magazine who told us to call Priority ONE clearing house. Line is always busy. Went online to discover it's a scam operation and many have reported the same thing....unordered magazine subscriptions.
I read an identical complaint filed in 2012. on this web site so obviously the practice continues.
This company evidently captures names and addresses and then signs the victim up for an uncolicited magazine subscription which in my case was US magazine. When we contacted US via chat the unhelpful person simply said they could not cancel the subscription but it had to be cancelled by Priority Clearing requiring a toll call or email. I refuse to make a toll call when we did not order the magagine and most likely we would be given another run-around.
This is an offensive and fraudulent activity which we have reported to the BBB and intend to notify the FL attorney general's office as well.
I believe that the magazines may even use Priority as a way to hide the fact they are the ones creating these bogus subscriptions hoping to frustrate the recipient into simply accepting the magazine rahter than spend the effort and time to get this fixed.
This is another invasion of privacy and criminal activity, although of such a minor cost many will just accept it which is no doubt what the magazine company hopes. They hope you won't bother to cancel and will end up renewing.
Very annoying and this practice should be shut down. I hope others will file complaints and get this company shut down.
Received via USPS ""Outside"" magazine that we did not order, solicit, or authorize in any manner. Called Outside's Subscriber Services (800-678-1131) and was told that they could not cancel the subscription because it had been placed by a third party - Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. (727-443-2200) who does not answer their phone. Checked our credit cards and bank account and have not been billed yet.
The received address that this magazine came to is NOT our mailing address. We use caller-ID and voice-mail on our phones and NEVER accept or call back unknown numbers. We look up all unknown numbers to see if they are scam calls and find most are fraudulent. We shred all unsolicited mail without opening first.
All items with our names and addresses are shredded before disposal. We do not allow nor participate in door-to-door sales pitches, surveys, sweepstakes, and etc. All magazines we receive are ordered and paid for on the magazine's secure website. We work in the IT industry and understand that personal information provided to the wrong source can be used for illegal purposes.
Any reputable publication will allow you to cancel an unauthorized subscription by calling them directly or by using their secure website. ""Outside"" magazine did not do so.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspectors website (https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/othertypes/UnsolicitedFraud.aspx) states that it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it.
These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.
Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.
If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such items - especially if you are sent statements demanding payment for the merchandise - you should contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector at (877-876-2455).
Below is the State of Florida's Consumer Protection FAQ (http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/cc08c6e2fa43fdf285256cc90060ae57!OpenDocument):
How to Protect Yourself: Unordered Merchandise
Source: The Florida Attorney General's Office
What are your rights and obligations when you receive merchandise through the mail that you did not order?
You have a legal right to consider it a free gift if a seller sends you any merchandise you did not order.
You are not required to return it and may keep it if you wish.
You have no obligation to notify the seller that you will keep the merchandise, but sending a letter stating your intention to keep the shipment as a free gift is an advisable precaution, which will help you establish later, if necessary, that you did not order the merchandise. You may wish to send the letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter. If you ever receive a bill or a letter saying you owe money for unordered merchandise, you can use the same approach, stating in your letter to the company that you never ordered the merchandise, and therefore have a legal right to keep it for free.
If you believe that the unordered merchandise is the result of an honest shipping error, contact the seller and offer to return the merchandise provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time, perhaps 30 days, in which to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Inform the seller that after the specified period of time, you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or to dispose of it as you wish.
Shippers may send merchandise to you which you have not ordered if the merchandise is a free sample and marked as such. Address labels, decorative stamps and other merchandise mailed by charitable organizations asking for contributions may also legally be sent to you without your prior order. In either case, you may keep such shipments as free gifts.
Be especially cautious when you are participating in sweepstakes, or ordering goods advertised as ""free,"" or ""trial"" or at an unusually low price. Read the fine print to determine if you will be required to make purchases in the future, or to notify the shipper that you do not wish to purchase the merchandise, or continue with the ""trial"" arrangement. Keep a record of each product you agree to receive on a ""free"" or ""trial"" basis, and what your obligations are by doing so.
If you are having difficulty dealing with unordered merchandise problems, attempt to resolve the problem with the company.
If you are unsuccessful, you my contact your local U.S. Postal Inspector, the Division of Consumer Services, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800, 1-800-435-7352, the Better Business Bureau in your area, the Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd Street, New York, New York 10017, or the Federal Trade Commission, Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Priority One Clearing Services A few months ago I recieved a Latina magazine. Today I recieved Lucky magazine and upon entering my account number on the website I am also signed up for W magazine. None of which I personally signed Indian Hills, Colorado
I received 3 magazines subscriptions of which I did not sign up for. i THINK ITS TIME TO GOT TO THE FTC AND PUT A STOP TO THIS
Earlier this summer a youngish looking gal came to my door soliciting funds and selling publications for a theatre trip to London. She had all the details down. I wrote her a check (to "The Experience") but immediately regretted it. I looked them up and found it was a scam. I cancelled the check, and when it cleared, someone had written "Wine Enthusiast Magazine" at the top. Last week, sure enough, I got a copy of "Wine Enthusiast Magazine." I called Wine Enthusiast and they said it had come from a 3rd party agency, Priority One, 727-443-2200. Thank goodness it wasn't porn. I cancelled the magazine but probably should have kept it.
Priority One Clearing House magazine selling scam Indian Hills Colorado
A shady looking guy came to our door trying to sell magazines for charities to get points. And this was at my family's house in another state. About a month or so ago a similar looking guy came to my house in my state trying to sell magazines. They both had the same tactics.
The whole thing looks shady. On your website, the address for the offices on google maps shows some place in Colorado. That seems normal, but on street view it doesn't really look professional. And the website is registered to someone in Clearwater, FL.
Every time I see or hear about the people you have selling magazines door to door, it's always a really shady looking individual who acts overly friendly, doesn't take no for an answer, demands to come inside, travels with other shady looking individuals in unprofessional vehicles. The individuals selling the magazines carry wrinkled flyers and seem nice but the moment they can't make a sale they immediately become disinterested, unkind, and try to leave before someone can find out more information.
When the individual is questioned about legitimacy the person is directed to talk on the phone to their "higher up" which is just another unprofessional looking individual.
When contacted, the charities in question have no idea who these people selling magazines are.
It looks like a scam. It probably is a scam. Even if it wasn't, it's ugly business practice and you have terrible employees.
Priority One Clearing Priority One Magazines Charging for magazines not ordered Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Someone called us about getting a discount gas card, and the next thing you know, I - a Pastor's wife - am going to get my mail and out pops a PORNOGRAPHIC magazine. Not one, mind you, but TWO of them! One for 'gals' one for 'guys'. I am thoroughly disgusted and shocked because usually one of my two children usually get the mail! I can't imagine if they had today.
So I come home and call the magazine publishers, and they tell me that we 'ordered' the magazine through 'Priority One'. No, we did not! I could not even cancel the magazines, they said I had to call the 'agency' to cancel. (One 'agency' was Priority One, the other was Subco - I reported both to BBB). When I called Subco, I encountered a very unprofessional voice message telling me to leave a message and that someone would get back with me by the end of the day. We will see.
My husband had to contact his credit card company and tell them about it, and now I have to tell my mailcarrier to reject any more incoming PORN magazines. I am apalled! Isn't it a crime to charge someone for something that has neither verbal nor written contract?
Anyway, I hope this helps someone else. Please...contact BBB and tell them your experiences with companies like this.
MIAMI DREAM TEAM - Face To Face Technologies Travel/work/play Priority One Clearing House Magazine Scam.... selling under false information/ no person will answer phone number given Kittredge Colorado
U had 2 young woman come to my home on June 25 2009 saying they were selling magazines to help raise money for a school trip and that almost half of the magazine purchase price would be donated to one of 4 charity's. They said they needed to work fast as it was a contest, boys against the girls to see who could sell more and raise more money for the charity's These girls were very demanding and asked to come in saying they could write better if sitting. It was 96 degrees outside so i did let them in. They became very loud and would not take no for an answer. SO to my husbands dismay I ordered 2 magazine subscriptions. They also placed a sticker on my front door saying it would let the boys know that they had beat them to it. Shortly after i was looking out my window and saw the girls leaving a neighbors home, one of the girls lit up a ciggarette which raised some doubt in my mind. So i looked up the web address provided and thats when i realized it was a scam. I emailed contact 6 and they replied that they had aired a special on this same group back i March of 2009. Luckily it was after banknig hours so i called my banks 24 hr customer care line and had my acct. frozen untill the next day when i could get to the bank and close my acct. It makes me sick to know they are still out ther taking advantage of people who think they are helping our schools and charitiy's.
Unique Subscription Agency Jennifer Payne, Jennifer Proffitt, Jennifer Dukes, Cody Payne, Ashton Dukes, Edmund G. Lambert, Larry Lee McClellan, James Faulkerson, Priority One Clearing Services, American Cash Award, Performance Mag Crew Recruiting, Magazine Subscriptions, Kittredge, Colorado
Fraud, embezzlement and exploitation of young adults is standard practice by those at the top of organizations who enlist Mag Crews as independent contractors to solicit magazine subscriptions for them. The story below centers on the Colorado operations of a Mag Crew that is currently soliciting and recruiting in the SF Bay Area on behalf of Unique Subscription Agency, Inc owned by Larry Lee McClellan of Pearland, Texas with Jennifer Payne listed as the Registered Agent.
For the past 4 weeks, there has been a Mag Crew of about 50 young adults staying at the Day's Inn in Alameda, CA. Jennifer Proffitt (Payne's maiden name) is/was on the Board of Directors for Priority One Clearing Services in Florida, a clearinghouse used by Unique Subscription Agency. Priority One recently changed their address from Florida to Colorado.
As receipts are turned-in by the Mag Crews, a lot of the money is skimmed off the top by the folks in Colorado, thus, many subscriptions are not turned in to the clearinghouse. The Mag Crews are generally blamed for this, when in fact, it is those at the higher levels stealing the money. When a customer calls the clearinghouse to inquire about their subscription, the clearinghouse employee can honestly claim there is no record of the order; therefore, no refund is issued if you paid in cash. If payment was made by check, the subscription start dates are often deliberately delayed. When you call and try to cancel, they threaten to send your account to collection. In the meantime, they have had full use of your money.
Jennifer Payne also owns a clearing house named American Cash Awards which has a BBB Rating of F. This is probably why she is bringing Priority One Clearing Services onboard. American Cash Awards is or was the clearinghouse for the following companies: Carpathian Sales, D2DE, DowdCo, Dynasty Technologies, Editorials International, Face Off, Face to Face Technologies, Future Business Executives, Gemini Subscriptions, Global Marketing, Gold Coast Circulation, Love Technologies, Miami Dream Team, New Image Sales, No Limit Sales, Performance Clearing Services, Preferred Consulting Company, Rainbow Sales. Reviste, Second to None, TBA Developments, Titan Sales, TNT Promotions, Urban Success.
I have compiled a list of dozens of front companies used by Jennifer Payne, her husband Cody D. Payne, her son Aston E. Dukes and associates Mark Shumate and Edmund G. Lambert (an attorney). Jennifer Payne registers these companies under her married name, prior married name and/or maiden name. When the companies get too hot, they simply let the company go delinquent or dissolve them. They then just open or reactivate another company (similar to how ACORN operated). In Colorado, to reactivate a company (even after several years), all you need to do is submit a "fill-in-the-blanks" form called Statement Curing Delinquency for $100.
Edmund Lambert is doing the same thing with his companies. When you look up the addresses for these magazine subscription companies, youll find that Jennifer and Edmund are sharing the same addresses between their companies. There are or have been collection agencies/companies included in the mix of companies they own and/or represent. In addition to the companies owned by Jennifer (and crew) and Edmund, they are Registered Agents for several other magazine subscription companies and for each others' companies. A few are listed below. The addresses listed are those that were used by the company when registering/reporting their business to the Colorado SOS. Therefore, these addresses may differ from those listed by the Better Business Bureau. Larry Lee McClellan - Unique Subscription Agency, Inc 3707 Lamppost St.; Pearland, TX 77584 Travis Mason - Global Marketing, Inc. (BBB Rating = D) P.O. Box 159; Idledale, CO 80453 per Colorado SOS Mark Shumate - Face to Face Technologies, Inc (BBB Rating = F) 17301 W Colfax Ave; Golden, CO 80401 Dba Face Off, Inc., No Limit Sales, Dynasty Technologies, Northeast Promotions and East Coast Marketing James Anthony Fulkerson - Ok Marketing, Inc (dissolved Jan 2010) 712 20th Street; Gothenburg, NE 69138
My daughter was recently recruited by a Mag Crew representing the Unique Subscription Agency. She is a college student, had been depressed over the recent breakup with her boyfriend and was not happy with her job. When a Mag Crew member began flirting and offering her a job with travel, nice hotels, people and money, she took off with them. The police won't do anything since the kids are over 18. These young adults, some with children in tow, are being taken state to state soliciting for what are oftentimes fraudulent or non-existent companies. Local police wont touch it, authorities at the state level ignore it, and federal authorities wont even acknowledge the problem other than to warn consumers to beware of magazine subscription scams. This is far more than just scamming consumers. Each year, many of these young adults disappear, are abused, drugged, murdered or dumped in the middle of nowhere. Read some of the true stories at Magcrew.com.
I called the sheriff earlier this week. I don't understand why they wont do anything. I have been researching these operations non-stop for more than a week now. There is obvious fraud, fake corporation, falsification of documents, possible child neglect/abuse, consumer rip-offs, drugs, unlicensed drivers, no permits, forgery, theft, etc There is something seriously wrong with this picture. Since attorneys are also involved in these scam operations, are the authorities just looking the other way?
Priority One Clearing Parenting Magazine I received unsolicited Parenting Magazine subscriptions. Internet
I began receiving unsolicited Parenting Magazine subscriptions. I googled and called Parenting Magazine subscription department. I gave my address and the customer service rep cancelled my subscription and said the last magazine will be in two months. I asked her Who sent the subscription and she said Priority One Clearing and I asked if she had a phone number which she gave: 727-443-2200. I called and got no live person and hung up. When I googled Parenting Magazine for their phone number I could see that other people received the unsolicted subscriptions and then would get bills for them. I also read that some people shopped in certain stores and then started receiving unsolicited magazines. There should be a law preventing such overall waste... A huge waste of my time, a waste of paper (magazine I will not read), a waste of resources.
Priority One Clearing Services Inc. Reviews
Priority One Clearing Services Unsolicited magazine subscription, fabricated magazine account Clearwater, Florida
Last week I received "Latina" magazine in the mail. The thing is, I haven't subscribed to "Latina", or any other magazines for that matter. When I checked out the magazine's website and entered the account number on the magazine label, sure enough, there was an account with my name and address claiming that I had a year-long subscription that was "paid and active".
I contacted the magazine's customer service to let them know I had not ordered, did not pay and would not pay for their mag and requested that they please stop sending me any more issues. Here is their reply:
"Your order was received from an independent sales agency; therefore, cancellations and refunds must be made through them.
We have suspended service on your record and are forwarding your correspondence to the agency listed below.
If you would like to contact Priority One Clearing Service directly, please call 727-443-2200.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused."
When I looked up Priority One Clearing Services online I saw many, many complaints against them on various websites for the same thing: unsolicited magazine orders. I also saw Priority repeatedly claim that they act purely as a middleman for other companies/agents selling magazines. If Priority One is just a middleman, then they need a much better verification process with their agents; otherwise, why are so many people receiving magazines they did not order and are being told by said magazines that they need to contact Priority One Clearing Services to sort things out, the very company that placed the orders directly with the magazines?
I've yet to get through to the customer service department for Priority One to find out who allegedly took an order for me and how the subscription was paid for. I'm dreading receiving some sort of bill or auto-renewal for this magazine or for any other magazines I might receive that I also did not order.
In this age of rampant identity theft and monetary fraud, this unsolicted magazine problem is highly suspicious and seems like a scam designed to hold people financially responsible for products they did not order.
Unwanted Magazines
We started by receiving Woman's Health Magazine and Shape. Then US Weekly Started to Arrive. A few O magazines came as well and some Smart Shopper Magazine. Now today we received 2 Redbook magazines. We tried to contact the Magazines Companies and of course they said contact PRIORITY ONE CLEARING SERVICE where they were ordered through, who we can not reach. I have no clue where the magazines started from we just want them to stop. They are becoming very annoying.
Priority One Clearing They order a subscription to PARENTING in my name without my authorization. Clearwater, Florida
I received a 2-year subscription to PARENTING magazine and when I called PARENTING customer service I was told that the subscription had been placed by Priority One Clearing and they gave me their phone number. When I called I got their answering machine. I left a complaint with my name and phone number and then got online to make a complaint to them and ask them to cancel this subscription immediately and call me to tell me how they got my information to place this subscription. I don't have kids, I'm not pregnant, and I don't anticipate having kids anytime in the near future so there's no way I'd order even a 1-year subscription to PARENTING magazine. These guys are real ripoffs and they should be put out of business. I'd like to know how they got my information to do this. This is fraud and there should be a class action lawsuit against them. I'm also going to file a report against them with the BBB.
Priority One Clearing Service Unauthorized magazine subscription Clearwater, Florida
Just as C.S. in San Jose, California said...I, too, received a magazine, "Entrepreneur", which I did not subscribe to. It's not even anything I'd have any interest in so I contacted the company to save them money since all I do is throw the magazine out. The put a hold on my account but told me that I, personally, could not cancel it since it was placed by Priority One Clearing Services.
They gave me the phone number for Priority One, I called & left a message, and soon after some poor school teacher living in Pennsylvania called me back telling me that he gets a lot of these calls because the company is giving his phone number as theirs. Sure enough, on their website is his phone number.
I have sent an email to the president/CEO of the company so we'll see IF she bothers to write me back. They need to be reported to the Better Business Bureau! I NEVER authorized this magazine, nor do I know how they got my information! And as C.S. stated, if they are the "middleman", then they ought to screen their clientele A LOT better.
If this company is legitimate and they truly care about their reputation, I would think they'd step up the background check of their clientele, especially since there are so many complaints! And just HOW are these subscriptions getting paid for? The "Entrepreneur" magazine customer service person couldn't answer that question for me.
Priority One Clearing unwanted, unsolicited magazines Clearwater Florida
Today I received 2 magazines in my mailbox that I did not order. I called the number inside the mag and they said it was ordered by a third party and I would have to call them. I did so and got a recording telling me their business hours and saying if it was during (it was) they were on another call and would call me back. Of course, that has not happened and I am afraid I have been scammed. I cannot find anywhere that I have been billed, as yet, so worry where they are going to charge me. This is so frustrating.
Priority One Clearing Services A few months ago I recieved a Latina magazine. Today I recieved Lucky magazine and upon entering my account number on the website I am also signed up for W magazine. None of which I personally signed Indian Hills, Colorado
I received 3 magazines subscriptions of which I did not sign up for. i THINK ITS TIME TO GOT TO THE FTC AND PUT A STOP TO THIS.
Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. - Third Party Magazine Seller/Processor without an authentication process to verify that subscription was valid/legal. - Clearwater, Florida
Received via USPS "Outside" magazine that we did not order, solicit, or authorize in any manner. Called Outside's Subscriber Services (800-678-1131) and was told that they could not cancel the subscription because it had been placed by a third party - Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. (727-443-2200) who does not answer their phone. Checked our credit cards and bank account and have not been billed yet.
The received address that this magazine came to is NOT our mailing address. We use caller-ID and voice-mail on our phones and NEVER accept or call back unknown numbers. We look up all unknown numbers to see if they are scam calls and find most are fraudulent. We shred all unsolicited mail without opening first.
All items with our names and addresses are shredded before disposal. We do not allow nor participate in door-to-door sales pitches, surveys, sweepstakes, and etc. All magazines we receive are ordered and paid for on the magazine's secure website. We work in the IT industry and understand that personal information provided to the wrong source can be used for illegal purposes.
Any reputable publication will allow you to cancel an unauthorized subscription by calling them directly or by using their secure website. "Outside" magazine did not do so.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspectors website (https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/othertypes/UnsolicitedFraud.aspx) states that it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it.
These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.
Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.
If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such items - especially if you are sent statements demanding payment for the merchandise - you should contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector at (877-876-2455).
Below is the State of Florida's Consumer Protection FAQ (http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/cc08c6e2fa43fdf285256cc90060ae57!OpenDocument):
How to Protect Yourself: Unordered Merchandise
Source: The Florida Attorney General's Office
What are your rights and obligations when you receive merchandise through the mail that you did not order?
You have a legal right to consider it a free gift if a seller sends you any merchandise you did not order.
You are not required to return it and may keep it if you wish.
You have no obligation to notify the seller that you will keep the merchandise, but sending a letter stating your intention to keep the shipment as a free gift is an advisable precaution, which will help you establish later, if necessary, that you did not order the merchandise. You may wish to send the letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter. If you ever receive a bill or a letter saying you owe money for unordered merchandise, you can use the same approach, stating in your letter to the company that you never ordered the merchandise, and therefore have a legal right to keep it for free.
If you believe that the unordered merchandise is the result of an honest shipping error, contact the seller and offer to return the merchandise provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time, perhaps 30 days, in which to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Inform the seller that after the specified period of time, you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or to dispose of it as you wish.
Shippers may send merchandise to you which you have not ordered if the merchandise is a free sample and marked as such. Address labels, decorative stamps and other merchandise mailed by charitable organizations asking for contributions may also legally be sent to you without your prior order. In either case, you may keep such shipments as free gifts.
Be especially cautious when you are participating in sweepstakes, or ordering goods advertised as "free," or "trial" or at an unusually low price. Read the fine print to determine if you will be required to make purchases in the future, or to notify the shipper that you do not wish to purchase the merchandise, or continue with the "trial" arrangement. Keep a record of each product you agree to receive on a "free" or "trial" basis, and what your obligations are by doing so.
If you are having difficulty dealing with unordered merchandise problems, attempt to resolve the problem with the company.
If you are unsuccessful, you my contact your local U.S. Postal Inspector, the Division of Consumer Services, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800, 1-800-435-7352, the Better Business Bureau in your area, the Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd Street, New York, New York 10017, or the Federal Trade Commission, Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Priority One Clearing House Received UNORDERED magazine Clearwater Florida
We began to received Rolling Stone magazine....which we haven't read in over 50 years! Contacted the magazine who told us to call Priority ONE clearing house. Line is always busy. Went online to discover it's a scam operation and many have reported the same thing....unordered magazine subscriptions.
I read an identical complaint filed in 2012. on this web site so obviously the practice continues.
This company evidently captures names and addresses and then signs the victim up for an uncolicited magazine subscription which in my case was US magazine. When we contacted US via chat the unhelpful person simply said they could not cancel the subscription but it had to be cancelled by Priority Clearing requiring a toll call or email. I refuse to make a toll call when we did not order the magagine and most likely we would be given another run-around.
This is an offensive and fraudulent activity which we have reported to the BBB and intend to notify the FL attorney general's office as well.
I believe that the magazines may even use Priority as a way to hide the fact they are the ones creating these bogus subscriptions hoping to frustrate the recipient into simply accepting the magazine rahter than spend the effort and time to get this fixed.
This is another invasion of privacy and criminal activity, although of such a minor cost many will just accept it which is no doubt what the magazine company hopes. They hope you won't bother to cancel and will end up renewing.
Very annoying and this practice should be shut down. I hope others will file complaints and get this company shut down.
Received via USPS ""Outside"" magazine that we did not order, solicit, or authorize in any manner. Called Outside's Subscriber Services (800-678-1131) and was told that they could not cancel the subscription because it had been placed by a third party - Priority One Clearing Services, Inc. (727-443-2200) who does not answer their phone. Checked our credit cards and bank account and have not been billed yet.
The received address that this magazine came to is NOT our mailing address. We use caller-ID and voice-mail on our phones and NEVER accept or call back unknown numbers. We look up all unknown numbers to see if they are scam calls and find most are fraudulent. We shred all unsolicited mail without opening first.
All items with our names and addresses are shredded before disposal. We do not allow nor participate in door-to-door sales pitches, surveys, sweepstakes, and etc. All magazines we receive are ordered and paid for on the magazine's secure website. We work in the IT industry and understand that personal information provided to the wrong source can be used for illegal purposes.
Any reputable publication will allow you to cancel an unauthorized subscription by calling them directly or by using their secure website. ""Outside"" magazine did not do so.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspectors website (https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/othertypes/UnsolicitedFraud.aspx) states that it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it.
These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.
Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.
If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such items - especially if you are sent statements demanding payment for the merchandise - you should contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector at (877-876-2455).
Below is the State of Florida's Consumer Protection FAQ (http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/cc08c6e2fa43fdf285256cc90060ae57!OpenDocument):
How to Protect Yourself: Unordered Merchandise
Source: The Florida Attorney General's Office
What are your rights and obligations when you receive merchandise through the mail that you did not order?
You have a legal right to consider it a free gift if a seller sends you any merchandise you did not order.
You are not required to return it and may keep it if you wish.
You have no obligation to notify the seller that you will keep the merchandise, but sending a letter stating your intention to keep the shipment as a free gift is an advisable precaution, which will help you establish later, if necessary, that you did not order the merchandise. You may wish to send the letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter. If you ever receive a bill or a letter saying you owe money for unordered merchandise, you can use the same approach, stating in your letter to the company that you never ordered the merchandise, and therefore have a legal right to keep it for free.
If you believe that the unordered merchandise is the result of an honest shipping error, contact the seller and offer to return the merchandise provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time, perhaps 30 days, in which to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Inform the seller that after the specified period of time, you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or to dispose of it as you wish.
Shippers may send merchandise to you which you have not ordered if the merchandise is a free sample and marked as such. Address labels, decorative stamps and other merchandise mailed by charitable organizations asking for contributions may also legally be sent to you without your prior order. In either case, you may keep such shipments as free gifts.
Be especially cautious when you are participating in sweepstakes, or ordering goods advertised as ""free,"" or ""trial"" or at an unusually low price. Read the fine print to determine if you will be required to make purchases in the future, or to notify the shipper that you do not wish to purchase the merchandise, or continue with the ""trial"" arrangement. Keep a record of each product you agree to receive on a ""free"" or ""trial"" basis, and what your obligations are by doing so.
If you are having difficulty dealing with unordered merchandise problems, attempt to resolve the problem with the company.
If you are unsuccessful, you my contact your local U.S. Postal Inspector, the Division of Consumer Services, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800, 1-800-435-7352, the Better Business Bureau in your area, the Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd Street, New York, New York 10017, or the Federal Trade Commission, Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.
this company is operating a scam ordering magazine subscriptions that you did not order
Priority One Clearing Services A few months ago I recieved a Latina magazine. Today I recieved Lucky magazine and upon entering my account number on the website I am also signed up for W magazine. None of which I personally signed Indian Hills, Colorado
I received 3 magazines subscriptions of which I did not sign up for. i THINK ITS TIME TO GOT TO THE FTC AND PUT A STOP TO THIS
same evil
I experienced similar events....magazines I didn't order.
The Experience/Priority One
Earlier this summer a youngish looking gal came to my door soliciting funds and selling publications for a theatre trip to London. She had all the details down. I wrote her a check (to "The Experience") but immediately regretted it. I looked them up and found it was a scam. I cancelled the check, and when it cleared, someone had written "Wine Enthusiast Magazine" at the top. Last week, sure enough, I got a copy of "Wine Enthusiast Magazine." I called Wine Enthusiast and they said it had come from a 3rd party agency, Priority One, 727-443-2200. Thank goodness it wasn't porn. I cancelled the magazine but probably should have kept it.
Priority One Clearing House magazine selling scam Indian Hills Colorado
A shady looking guy came to our door trying to sell magazines for charities to get points. And this was at my family's house in another state. About a month or so ago a similar looking guy came to my house in my state trying to sell magazines. They both had the same tactics.
The whole thing looks shady. On your website, the address for the offices on google maps shows some place in Colorado. That seems normal, but on street view it doesn't really look professional. And the website is registered to someone in Clearwater, FL.
Every time I see or hear about the people you have selling magazines door to door, it's always a really shady looking individual who acts overly friendly, doesn't take no for an answer, demands to come inside, travels with other shady looking individuals in unprofessional vehicles. The individuals selling the magazines carry wrinkled flyers and seem nice but the moment they can't make a sale they immediately become disinterested, unkind, and try to leave before someone can find out more information.
When the individual is questioned about legitimacy the person is directed to talk on the phone to their "higher up" which is just another unprofessional looking individual.
When contacted, the charities in question have no idea who these people selling magazines are.
It looks like a scam. It probably is a scam. Even if it wasn't, it's ugly business practice and you have terrible employees.
Chase
Springfield, Illinois
U.S.A.
Priority One Clearing Priority One Magazines Charging for magazines not ordered Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Someone called us about getting a discount gas card, and the next thing you know, I - a Pastor's wife - am going to get my mail and out pops a PORNOGRAPHIC magazine. Not one, mind you, but TWO of them! One for 'gals' one for 'guys'. I am thoroughly disgusted and shocked because usually one of my two children usually get the mail! I can't imagine if they had today.
So I come home and call the magazine publishers, and they tell me that we 'ordered' the magazine through 'Priority One'. No, we did not! I could not even cancel the magazines, they said I had to call the 'agency' to cancel. (One 'agency' was Priority One, the other was Subco - I reported both to BBB). When I called Subco, I encountered a very unprofessional voice message telling me to leave a message and that someone would get back with me by the end of the day. We will see.
My husband had to contact his credit card company and tell them about it, and now I have to tell my mailcarrier to reject any more incoming PORN magazines. I am apalled! Isn't it a crime to charge someone for something that has neither verbal nor written contract?
Anyway, I hope this helps someone else. Please...contact BBB and tell them your experiences with companies like this.
MIAMI DREAM TEAM - Face To Face Technologies Travel/work/play Priority One Clearing House Magazine Scam.... selling under false information/ no person will answer phone number given Kittredge Colorado
U had 2 young woman come to my home on June 25 2009 saying they were selling magazines to help raise money for a school trip and that almost half of the magazine purchase price would be donated to one of 4 charity's. They said they needed to work fast as it was a contest, boys against the girls to see who could sell more and raise more money for the charity's These girls were very demanding and asked to come in saying they could write better if sitting. It was 96 degrees outside so i did let them in. They became very loud and would not take no for an answer. SO to my husbands dismay I ordered 2 magazine subscriptions. They also placed a sticker on my front door saying it would let the boys know that they had beat them to it. Shortly after i was looking out my window and saw the girls leaving a neighbors home, one of the girls lit up a ciggarette which raised some doubt in my mind. So i looked up the web address provided and thats when i realized it was a scam. I emailed contact 6 and they replied that they had aired a special on this same group back i March of 2009. Luckily it was after banknig hours so i called my banks 24 hr customer care line and had my acct. frozen untill the next day when i could get to the bank and close my acct. It makes me sick to know they are still out ther taking advantage of people who think they are helping our schools and charitiy's.
Unique Subscription Agency Jennifer Payne, Jennifer Proffitt, Jennifer Dukes, Cody Payne, Ashton Dukes, Edmund G. Lambert, Larry Lee McClellan, James Faulkerson, Priority One Clearing Services, American Cash Award, Performance Mag Crew Recruiting, Magazine Subscriptions, Kittredge, Colorado
Fraud, embezzlement and exploitation of young adults is standard practice by those at the top of organizations who enlist Mag Crews as independent contractors to solicit magazine subscriptions for them. The story below centers on the Colorado operations of a Mag Crew that is currently soliciting and recruiting in the SF Bay Area on behalf of Unique Subscription Agency, Inc owned by Larry Lee McClellan of Pearland, Texas with Jennifer Payne listed as the Registered Agent.
For the past 4 weeks, there has been a Mag Crew of about 50 young adults staying at the Day's Inn in Alameda, CA. Jennifer Proffitt (Payne's maiden name) is/was on the Board of Directors for Priority One Clearing Services in Florida, a clearinghouse used by Unique Subscription Agency. Priority One recently changed their address from Florida to Colorado.
As receipts are turned-in by the Mag Crews, a lot of the money is skimmed off the top by the folks in Colorado, thus, many subscriptions are not turned in to the clearinghouse. The Mag Crews are generally blamed for this, when in fact, it is those at the higher levels stealing the money. When a customer calls the clearinghouse to inquire about their subscription, the clearinghouse employee can honestly claim there is no record of the order; therefore, no refund is issued if you paid in cash. If payment was made by check, the subscription start dates are often deliberately delayed. When you call and try to cancel, they threaten to send your account to collection. In the meantime, they have had full use of your money.
Jennifer Payne also owns a clearing house named American Cash Awards which has a BBB Rating of F. This is probably why she is bringing Priority One Clearing Services onboard. American Cash Awards is or was the clearinghouse for the following companies: Carpathian Sales, D2DE, DowdCo, Dynasty Technologies, Editorials International, Face Off, Face to Face Technologies, Future Business Executives, Gemini Subscriptions, Global Marketing, Gold Coast Circulation, Love Technologies, Miami Dream Team, New Image Sales, No Limit Sales, Performance Clearing Services, Preferred Consulting Company, Rainbow Sales. Reviste, Second to None, TBA Developments, Titan Sales, TNT Promotions, Urban Success.
I have compiled a list of dozens of front companies used by Jennifer Payne, her husband Cody D. Payne, her son Aston E. Dukes and associates Mark Shumate and Edmund G. Lambert (an attorney). Jennifer Payne registers these companies under her married name, prior married name and/or maiden name. When the companies get too hot, they simply let the company go delinquent or dissolve them. They then just open or reactivate another company (similar to how ACORN operated). In Colorado, to reactivate a company (even after several years), all you need to do is submit a "fill-in-the-blanks" form called Statement Curing Delinquency for $100.
Edmund Lambert is doing the same thing with his companies. When you look up the addresses for these magazine subscription companies, youll find that Jennifer and Edmund are sharing the same addresses between their companies. There are or have been collection agencies/companies included in the mix of companies they own and/or represent. In addition to the companies owned by Jennifer (and crew) and Edmund, they are Registered Agents for several other magazine subscription companies and for each others' companies. A few are listed below. The addresses listed are those that were used by the company when registering/reporting their business to the Colorado SOS. Therefore, these addresses may differ from those listed by the Better Business Bureau. Larry Lee McClellan - Unique Subscription Agency, Inc 3707 Lamppost St.; Pearland, TX 77584 Travis Mason - Global Marketing, Inc. (BBB Rating = D) P.O. Box 159; Idledale, CO 80453 per Colorado SOS Mark Shumate - Face to Face Technologies, Inc (BBB Rating = F) 17301 W Colfax Ave; Golden, CO 80401 Dba Face Off, Inc., No Limit Sales, Dynasty Technologies, Northeast Promotions and East Coast Marketing James Anthony Fulkerson - Ok Marketing, Inc (dissolved Jan 2010) 712 20th Street; Gothenburg, NE 69138
My daughter was recently recruited by a Mag Crew representing the Unique Subscription Agency. She is a college student, had been depressed over the recent breakup with her boyfriend and was not happy with her job. When a Mag Crew member began flirting and offering her a job with travel, nice hotels, people and money, she took off with them. The police won't do anything since the kids are over 18. These young adults, some with children in tow, are being taken state to state soliciting for what are oftentimes fraudulent or non-existent companies. Local police wont touch it, authorities at the state level ignore it, and federal authorities wont even acknowledge the problem other than to warn consumers to beware of magazine subscription scams. This is far more than just scamming consumers. Each year, many of these young adults disappear, are abused, drugged, murdered or dumped in the middle of nowhere. Read some of the true stories at Magcrew.com.
I called the sheriff earlier this week. I don't understand why they wont do anything. I have been researching these operations non-stop for more than a week now. There is obvious fraud, fake corporation, falsification of documents, possible child neglect/abuse, consumer rip-offs, drugs, unlicensed drivers, no permits, forgery, theft, etc There is something seriously wrong with this picture. Since attorneys are also involved in these scam operations, are the authorities just looking the other way?
Priority One Clearing Parenting Magazine I received unsolicited Parenting Magazine subscriptions. Internet
I began receiving unsolicited Parenting Magazine subscriptions. I googled and called Parenting Magazine subscription department. I gave my address and the customer service rep cancelled my subscription and said the last magazine will be in two months. I asked her Who sent the subscription and she said Priority One Clearing and I asked if she had a phone number which she gave: 727-443-2200. I called and got no live person and hung up. When I googled Parenting Magazine for their phone number I could see that other people received the unsolicted subscriptions and then would get bills for them. I also read that some people shopped in certain stores and then started receiving unsolicited magazines. There should be a law preventing such overall waste... A huge waste of my time, a waste of paper (magazine I will not read), a waste of resources.