I recommend filing a fraud dispute with your bank or CC holder and also filing reports with the FTC & CFB..
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
http://www.fraud.org/

TWX*NATGEOTR plus TWX*EWMAG   I just got a bill on my Citibank MC for $94 dollars (for both Magazines) at the following description 877-856-4535 - after a call to the provided number (we got as far on the automated call as "Please say your last name") HOW FRIGGIN HARD IS IT TO HEAR THE NAME THOMAS- but after I said and spelled it about 20 different ways, the "oh so charming automated woman voice response said "Sorry, I just cant understand you" (REALY???)
and I got disconnected.  Tonight I called the credit card company, just after I saw this site.  My Citi bank rep actually got this total putz on the phone.  They said "this conversation will be recorded".  YAY!  I called him everything in the book and quoted this A-hole all the things everyone said on this site.  I called him a scammer, a thief, etc.  He asked me what my credit card number was "I need it because I can't locate your account"  HAH you (fill in the blank) no way are you getting MY credit card number!  You are NOT getting my social security number- and he asked me 3 times where I lived.  I was pissed.  WHY do you need to ask me again?  Were you NOT taking notes?  You are a total Thief, your company, YOU ARE A SCAM!!!"  
ok, I'm calm now. We were on a 3 way conversation with my Citi agent, A---hole and me.  He finally said "OK Mrs. Thomas, I will look into these charges and try to get you reimbursed. " ..  I said WHAT? NO, you don't need to reimburse me- because I'm not paying it in the first place.  YOU NEED TO GO TO JAIL!  ..sigh.  now I'm with my City agent again, I apologized for the abusive language that vomited out of my vulgar mouth during our phone conversation.  I told her I was happily paying the bill for our charges for the month, but I was going to omit the $94 from these scammers.  She agreed.  It's the best feeling I've ever had- to actually scream at this guy from TWX.  yay.  May he rot in scammers Hell.  There must be a place in Hell for these pieces of Sh...t .  
By the way, did I mention in my ranting that I never subscribed to either of these magazines?  I DO remember 3 years ago for signing up for a cheap subscription through TICKETMASTER - it was a pop up.  But I never got a magazine...I just figured I did it wrong.  Cripes, I don't even read magazines.

Had an unauthorized charge on my credit card

hello sam and thank you for your excellent info and follow up.
i had ordered magazines quite a few years ago from neighborhood kids (i know them) for a fundraiser. after a couple years, and a move to a different address, i have tried thru the company listed by the phone number on my cr. card statement, and by calling the actual magazines, to get the subscriptions cancelled, to no avail. its like pulling teeth to get this done?.and pulling teeth may actually be easier!
last year, the card the charges were appearing on was converted to a new card, a chase freedom card, with a new number. and i was thinking ok, finally i am rid of the magazine charge, but it somehow was transferred over to be able to bill me on my new card with a totally new number!
anyway, saw the 28.00 charge on my chase freedom cr. card, today, and called chase customer service. 5 minutes later, mission accomplished. the 28.00 charge is being credited back to me, and this biller (TWX) will be blocked from charging my credit card account.
goo riddance! i will NEVER order magazines again thru a fundraiser!

If you believe any company?s business practices to be deceptive or fraudulent, I encourage you to report them to the Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General regardless of the outcome of your dispute. While the FTC and AGs do not intervene on the behalf of individuals, multiple consumer complaints can show a pattern of fraudulent business practice, trigger official investigations, and make this type of business more difficult to continue.

? FTC complaints can be filed here: http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
? Any Attorney General can be found here: http://naag.org/attorneys_general.php

The following are the leads provided me via my AT&T, and from the various shield sites, presumed, operated
by Utne Reader. I have never placed an order for anything from ?NewSub Magazine Services? nor have I
knowingly ever ordered anything from ?VAnss magazine Service Center @ 800-920-3667? ( see: http://
tinyurl.com/ltsze33 )
01/05(2013) TWX*U2001J*UTNEREAD 800-920-3667 CT $36.00
Customer Sales and Service ph.- 1-800-736-8863 ( https://www.utne.com/subscriptions/home.aspx )
Ogden Publications ph.-1.800.678.5779
NewSub Magazine Services, LLC ph - (877) 856-6317 ( website jumps to Synapse Group after 1 minute )
NewSub Magazine Services, LLC ph - 203-595-8255 ( see Pamela A Bockover, exhibit A., below )
01-05-2014 TWX*UTNEREAD 877-856-4533 CT $ 42.00 ( www.magcustomerservice.com )

Hello Sam:
Thank you for contacting Utne Reader. Our records show that M-------?s subscription to Utne Reader was
renewed on December 09, 2013, by an agency NewSub Magazine Services, LLC.
The order number is #xxxxxxx.
The group payment number is #xxxxxxx.
Her account#xxxxxxxxx reflects this information.
Her Utne Reader subscription is not on auto-renewal with us.
The only thing I am able to do is to stop issues from going out, but I am not able to refund any money, as it is
thru an agency.
I do sincerely apologize to you and any inconvenience you have experienced.I do sympathize with you and the frustration. Below is the contact information you will need to cancel the Utne
Reader subscription.
NewSub Magazine Services, LLC
Four High Ridge Park
Stamford, CT 06905
Phone) 203-595-8255
I do hope this is helpful and I wish you well. Please advise us on stopping continuing issues.
Warm regards;
Pamela A Bockover
Ogden Publications | Customer Care Specialist
Phone 1.800.678.5779 Fax 785.274.4305 customerservice@ogdenpubs.com
M-F 7:00 AM ? 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM ? 12:00 PM CST
Publishers of:
Mother Earth News | Mother Earth Living | Utne Reader | GRIT | Farm Collector | Capper's | Gas Engine
Magazine | Motorcycle Classics

Essentially the Magazine Subscription scam works like this:
1. You subscribe to a Magazine, giving all the necessary financial data to the Magazine
2. Without your knowledge or approval - your purchase is transferred to some company the magazine later uses to as a Front.
3. The Holding Company of the Front Company has several Front Companies that shield it from visibility.
4. The holding company receives the Credit information of Customers for the many many magazines its Fronts shield.
5. At the end of the original subscription the Holding Company renews the subscription through a Front Company that is, usually, differently named than the one originally listed on the Customer's card statement. ( different name, different phone.)
6. The Customer's calls/contacts the magazine
7. The Magazine denies anything was ever purchased through them, and refers the customer to a snail-mail address and telephone number of a Front company ( in my case the renewing Front company was differently named than the original Front..)
8. The Customer googles the  phone number and finds nothing but a Page in the name of a Front Company that jumps to the Holding company after 60 seconds.
9. The Customer then googles the phone number from the original statement and finds it does not go to the Magazine; rather, to a Front company.

At this point you have to realize Your CreditCard information has been compromised and is in the hands of strangers who just used that information to defraud you. ( I moved to a new address during the life of the original subscription, the Front company has my new address. So, I am positive the Magazine gave my financial information away to strangers.)

10. The Customer immediately should contact the Security number for his/her Credit Card and: Cancel the Card, Dispute the Transaction, get a new Card.

My card has both a Phone security contact and an e-mail type messaging - they are different, and the Dispute part should be made through both contact points.

I quickly received my replacement card with new number - my old card is useless now.  

The account information given by the magazine representative was false/useless. I found information indicating Magazine Customer Service had an account in my name, at my current address - www.magcustomerservice.com Their Billing Inquiry page leads to an online statement. It will appear to list only the subscription charge - You have to click on REFUNDS to verify it is 'pending'.  DO NOT PROCEED THROUGH THE  "Cancel" ROUTINE MORE THAN ONCE. You can make repeated Billing Inquiries, but I believe doing a cancellation again, will cause the original Cancel to be thrown out and replaced - thus delaying Refunds.

In the end - The Credit Card companies, or the government would have to act to do anything to stop this.

You must get a new credit card number, and close the account of the old one -

They got to you through the standard magazine sales scam that all mags participate in.

I bought a 1 year Gift from Utne Reader - they auto renewed me. When I complained I was told I hadn't subscribed through them at all. Your dealing with a lot of dishonesty!  

Get a couple of debit cards, or prepaid credit cards - then don't fund or renew except for what you want.

Cancel at - www.magcustomerservice.com<p>
Hello Sam:<cr>
Thank you for contacting Utne Reader.  Our records show that Maureen?s subscription to Utne Reader was renewed on December 09, 2013, by an agency NewSub Magazine Services, LLC.  <p>
The order number is #xxxxxxxx.  <cr>
The group payment number is #xxxxxxx. <cr>
Her account#xxxxxxxxxxxxxx reflects this information.  <cr>
Her Utne Reader subscription is not on auto-renewal with us.  <p>
The only thing I am able to do is to stop issues from going out, but I am not able to refund any money, as it is thru an agency.  <p>
I do sincerely apologize to you and any inconvenience you have experienced. <p>
I do sympathize with you and the frustration.  Below is the contact information you will need to cancel the Utne Reader subscription. <p>
NewSub Magazine Services, LLC<cr>
Four High Ridge Park<cr>
Stamford, CT 06905<cr>
Phone) 203-595-8255<p>
I do hope this is helpful and I wish you well.  Please advise us on stopping continuing issues.<p>
Warm regards;<p>
Pamela A Bockover<p>
Ogden Publications | Customer Care Specialist<cr>
Phone 1.800.678.5779 Fax 785.274.4305 customerservice@ogdenpubs.com<cr>
M-F 7:00 AM ? 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM ? 12:00 PM CST <p>
Publishers of:<p>Mother Earth News | Mother Earth Living | Utne Reader | GRIT | Farm Collector | Capper's | Gas Engine Magazine | Motorcycle Classics<p>
-------------------------------------- Do You Think Pamela A Bockover is an honest person? ------------------------------------------

This number showed up on my credit card with a charge of $17.50. I found out it was an auto-renewal for Money Magazine. After going around and around with the customer service rep (thanks for tip of pressing zero many times), I found that it was a charge that would be repeated every 6 months, even though the automated system said I had a 1 year subscription. $35 a year, for which Money Magazine normally charges $15! The rep said it was only a "pending" charge, even though it shows up on my credit card statement online. My next call will be to my credit card company to fight the charge, because I got no assurance that the charge would be reversed (since it was only "pending"). I found that they have already soaked me for this amount several times because I didn't catch it on previous statements, and I never got any renewal notices. My first subscription cost me $2 with a pop-up online offer, some deal!

It just happend to me ! I am so pissed. I am on disability and on a limited income. these people should go to jail.

Received an unauthorized charge for Time Magazine late in April 2013. I originally got a subscription for free, and had never agreed to any auto renewal. And certainly $80 is way over any usual price, even for a multi-year renewal. No e-mail renewal notice ?of course.

Taken care of by Citi Mastercard, who recognized these operators.

yes I got charged $17 on my credit card,i called my company ,I got the refund and my acc# changed.

Correction to my above posting:  12 month cycle, not 12 years.

The various advice above proved helpful, I hope.  I went to the  www.magcustomerservice.com website and was able to cancel both of my subscriptions.  The current prices they are charging me are way more than subscribing directly to the magazines themselves--like twice as much.  For one magazine I got a charge of 16.95 and now midway through the 12 year cycle, they billed me again for $16.95.  That's over $32 dollars and if I subscribe to the magazine itself, it would cost me just $19.97 for a year and $29 for two years.  This subscription service is a ripoff.  I agree with those who recommend not saying yes to any 3 months offers for free, etc. etc.  The identifier of this service looks something like this:  TWX*PCWORLD 877-856-4535 CT.

I just called this number and I got a live person and complained. He removed the charges (said they will come off in 72 days) for the activation of the new subscriptions I did not renew.
Synapse Group, Inc.
225 High Ridge Road, East Building
Stamford, CT 06905
203-595-8255

Me too, I have $100 in charges fradulently charged b/c I did not renew these magazines. I got a website from the stupid automated voice www.magcustomerservice.com.
How do we fight these charges?

On an otherwise $0 due credit card statement, it was easy to spot a charge for $29 to "TWX MONEY, 877-856-4535." I phoned the number, but, like others on this blog found, I got only a robotic voice which resolved nothing. I was informed by this robotic phone call, however, that I was being charged for a subscription I supposedly agreed to more than 1 year ago! This is absolutely NOT the case, I am positive! But even if it were true, a charge ought not be allowed more than a year later! I have filed a dispute with my credit card company, and wish they would notify all their customers to beware of charges on their statements made by this company, as they appear to be up to no good. If you have a charge on your credit card bill to TWX, dispute it and put this fraudster out of business!

your "continuous service" means unable to easily cancel the subscription and being put on automatic renewal for an expensive price.  legally no crime has been committed but this is a business tactic which i find low and shaddy.  I will never again be fooled by synapse and will encourage others the same

FYI. Check out
How do I Cancel a Subscription With NewSub Magazine Services?

http://www.ehow.com/how_7159221_do-subscripti ... l#ixzz2Az4MBO8Z

Logged in to
https://www.magcustomerservice.com/wss/home.do#top
an canceled all three mags.

Hope this help someone else.

Noticed the following on my credit card statement:
    06/29/2012     07/01/2012     Sale     TWX*1P6KS1*PAREARYR         $30.00
    877-856-4535, NY 100190000 US Online, Mail, or Telephone transaction

The amount is bogus - they are just trying to see what they can get away with.  This was for a magazine subscription to Parenting - the early years. If you check the website for this magazine, you can get 3 years (33 issues) for $12.00 or 4 years (44 issues) for $15.00.

I have called them.  The call center is located in Costa Rica.  I have requested a cancellation and full refund.  One can only wonder if this will be the end of the matter.

I am fraudulently getting billed 1.25 on my visa by these crooks. guess they think if they make a small charge, most people will ignore it. I didn't

Saw the charge on my credit card. Although my subscription to Budget Travel was good through next September, it was automatically renewed and charged in March. As suggested by others, I pressed "0" and was connected to a live person at Magazine Service Center. I was told that I should have received a postcard (didn't), but I was promised a refund of my $24, since I didn't wish to renew. We'll see (I got a reference number). Thanks for everyone's posts.

Saw a charge of $62.00 by TWX for OK! Mag on Apr 13th on my cc. Called the number and told them I bought a year subscription of OK! Mag for $2 from a third party site and they never said anything about auto renewal at that rate. He offered to refund the money and another 13 issue for $1 and give me the exact date to call back to avoid auto renewal in case the postcard confirmation for the renewal get lost in the mail.

Received charges on my cc for 4 magazine. Called this ph # just like everyone else. Used Lois' zero idea & it worked. Very nice person answered, and took care of the charges, or so she said. At least gave me her full name & a confirmation#.  She said the way to reach a live person is to dial 00# after the number answers.

I got a charge of $33.00 on my account. I called the number 877-856-4535, followed the automated machine.. pressed 0, waited about 3 minutes and someone answered me. I told them that i already cancelled my subscription and they credit it back.
If you take some time to call and talk to them they will help you. Just press 0 and wait a little bit.

Same as above. They said the subscription was a "gift" for completing an online survey. Call the number and hit zero over and over until you get a person. Do not give your personal info- just the transaction number of the charge. Said they would cancel all charges and refund within 1 to 2 billing cycles. I will call my bank tomorrow and make sure they cancel it.

this is a tele market scam. They hope you dont notice billing on cc. when you cancel on the automated system, BE CAREFUL what it says. they offer to cancel full charge if you agree to new terms at lower subscrib price, but YOU WILL STILL BE PAYING. lISTEN TO THE WORDING CAREFULLY

ALSO the auto-sys will only cancel 1 subscrip at a time. So if you have multiple mags you will be recieving like number of new subscrip charges. So the one chg may just be the beginning.

CALL 800-586-7043 once in just keep pounding "0" and you will eventually be connected to a human. they will cancel all the subscrips at once and issue refund.

we are usually careful to avoid this setups and luckily put the original charge on a for internet only use credit card that i closely monitor.   BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOPE THIS HELPS OTHERS

I had the same trouble as everyone on this site. I used their automated telephone system to cancel all magazine subscriptions. Call: (800) 586-7043. For every question asked about renewing or continuing your subscription, just keep on hitting # 2 (NO) and finally you will hear that you money will be refunded to your credit card and you will receive a confirmation # for your transaction. Call again if you need to cancel another magazine and only one transacation can be processed per call. Good luck!