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Reader’s D****t Disgust!


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My late wife Jean died 14 months ago. Yet she is still a “Special Valued Customer” of Reader’s D****t.

Even though she never purchased ANYTHING from Reader’s D****st for at least the last five years of her life on this earth.

Even though I have written to them to advise them of her untimely death they continue to send envelopes full of special offers with bonus gifts for such valued customers.

These multi-page advertisements are personalized in MANY spots with her name to ensure the recipient of their intense value to the firm and remind us how much they care about such good customers.

I am now thoroughly disgusted with Reader’s Di**st and their phony reminders of how special Jean is to their firm. It certainly takes away the meaning of the word “special”.

How long will they continue to mail advertisements to their special valued customers when they get no response? How long will she be valued to their company for such non-purchases?

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get her name off their mailing list? I wonder if such crap could be considered harassment.

Please excuse this rant, but it does “feel good” to complain in public even if I know that Reader’s Disgust doesn’t really give a damn about valued customers :excl::angry::angry::angry:

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Hi Walt,

I know what you mean and it has only been 9 weeks for me, when it comes to stuff coming in the mail addressed to Karen. So with it being painful after only 9 weeks I can only imagen the frustration you feel after 14 months. I would suggest finding a contact phone number and talk with them directly, if there isn't a number in the mailing, then look them up on the web, you can almost always find a number on companies web sites. I have actually had fun griping out a person on the phone, it is kind of like the release of a steam valve. I hope this will help

Derek

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Guest PattiZ54

Walt and Derek - I understand!! After 18 months I still get mail addressed to Charlie and it drives me nuts. The thing that really pisses me off is when the telemarketers call and say "is this Patti?" and I tell them no, that she is not available (that's my patent answer so I don't have to be bothered) and then they ask if "Charles" is available. That just FRIES me!!! I just bite my tongue and say no. Then I know for sure it wasn't anyone I wanted to talk to because they wouldn't be calling him Charles.

I don't have an answer as to how long it will continue, but I know how much it hurts! I think the worst time, for me, was when I received a letter from the Social Security office because we were trying to get disability for him. In this letter it stated that we were no longer married due to his death. I flew into a tizzy and started sobbing hysterically. This was only a month or two after he had passed away and it really hit me hard. Not being married to him anymore was the last thing I wanted to hear about.

I guess the best thing to do, as Derek said, is to try to get ahold of someone by phone and see if they can help you. I have done that before and most people are nice about it. Of course you'll have to hear about "how sorry" they are...... I got real tired of hearing that, too.

I hope you get it resolved, Walt!!!

Patti

(Charlie 6/10/58-11/16/2004; I love & miss you, Dear!)

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Hey WaltC, I just had to share this one... a bill collector called regarding outstanding medical bills (there are only HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS) and usually I hit the answering machine but I was so tired of this one calling I answered. She asked to speak to Larry, I cringe, and say he is deceased. She says when will he return, and I say, beg your pardon? She says is there an alternate number he can be reached at?? (hmmm, heaven has a number??) I say again M'am he is deceased. She says she would like to leave her number for him to return the call. I then screamed do you know what deceased means lady, he's dead!! and hung up! It's not funny but it feels good to vent! Good Luck with Readers you know what!! Deborah

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Guest PattiZ54

Deborah - THAT is horrible!!! Man, how stupid are people these days? You begin to wonder, don't ya?

Patti

(Charlie 6/10/58-11/16/2004; I love & miss you, Dear!)

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Walt C,

I too have these same type of calls and correspondence. It is a constant rememder of the pain we expereince when we are greiving our lost love. I have had to get rude with people - especially when they ignore my telling them that Jack is deceased and - they just go on as if they don't know or care that I just said he was dead.

I do have an idea for the folks at Readers Digest. I would suggest finding an address on the web to the President of the company. I would then compose a letter to him or her telling them how displeased I am with them - AND attaching a copy of the death certificate. I would also request a direct written response from them to acknowledge the correspondance and specifically what they are going to do to rectify the situation. I would let them know that unless they respond - personally - I would notify the Better Business Bureau - or local TV stations that handle problems with companies that appear not to listen to a customer complaint.

I would send my correspondance certified - and follow up in one month if I did not hear from them.

Just an idea - It may at least make you feel better that you are taking some type of written response to their ignorance.

John - Duskyy is my handle on here.

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Walt,
When George passed away, I wrote to Reader's Digest at P O Box 7995, Red Oak, IA 51591-4995 to have his name removed because our subscription was in both of our names. Or you could call them at 1-800-304-2807 but it'll help if you have the offending mail with you for identifiers to aid them in their fixing the problem. I am struggling with the same issues...the "Viagra Offers" that come from the place George ordered some oil for his back...the phone company that messed up my account because I had his name removed, even though I was already the "responsible party" (I'd had the account before we were married)...I've been dealing with this hassle all month! But Paypal was by far the worst...I tried to close his account and they froze it, so I called them and explained that he died. Then this 20 year old girl with the canned speech tells me I'd have to get a lawyer and deal with probate (I'm seeing $1,000.00 flash before my eyes, which I don't have because I remortgaged the house to pay off the hospital bills). Finally, she asks to speak to him! I couldn't believe it! I told her I'd like to speak to him too but I can't because HE'S DEAD! I don't know what part of "dead" she didn't understand! These people should walk in our shoes, maybe they'd be more sensitive.

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Guest PattiZ54

That's the one thing that I felt for a long time...if they could just change places with me. There is so much lack of sympathy and cooth - all they want is their #@%&&* money. They don't realize that you have lost an income and that paying these debts, you have been left with, is very difficult. (I guess I should say that they don't CARE that you have lost an income) I remember going around and around with some places and to be doing it when the pain is still so fresh; just intensifies it!

I almost think that the government needs to step in to help - to give you some kind of transition time. To allow you to get back on your feet before people can bombard you with these issues. People have no idea what it is like until they experience it.

Patti

(Charlie 6/10/58-11/16/2004; I love & miss you, Dear!)

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I am dealing with that myself when it comes to bill collectors, againg because of the loss of the income. Some of them were Karen's names only so they turned it over to a lawer who wants to know about her estate, my answer is what estate? I am living in it. Anyway J.C.Penney sent Karen a form saying you get 3 months of life insurance if you sign up today I sent the form back in the mail asking if they would go ahead and pay since she has passed away.

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That's good, I like that. We didn't have our house paid off and money rolling in when George died...instead I got HUGE bills from the hospital and every doctor listed in the phone book...I wonder how so many doctors were involved yet no one saved him. Did they all just stop by, say hello, and then send a bill? It makes you wonder...I know the cardiologist worked hard, as did some others, but there's people here I never heard of! His brother asked for a coin collection of his (that he no longer has) to "remember him by"...I told him if he wanted something to remember him by, he could have his hospital bill...I never heard from him again. Oh well! I have to wonder about people sometimes.

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Kay, that is just as good as mine, that is funny, I have a few of those medical bills myself that I am waiting for insurance to pay and of course they are taking their time since the insurance is no longer active because Karen carried the health insurance.

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I really hate all those notices I get in the mail for Tom. At first I tried to appeal to their compassion and have him taken off their mailing/email lists. Now I just ignore them and throw them away or delete them.

One person called and asked for Tom. When I told him that he had passsed away she said she was so sorry for my loss and did I want to take out a loan. I hung up. Some people...

As far as medical bills, after a year I called up the billing offices and told them that Tom had died. They had me send a copy of the death certificate and wrote off the balance that the insurance didn't cover. This might be something at least worth trying for you too.

I don't have a lot of money, and I guess I'm really lucky that he took care of things so well in the last couple of months. I never had to worry about those things, he always took care of them. I think he would be (is) proud of the way I have learned to deal with these matters.

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Wow, you are fortunate that they would write it off...I guess our hospital/doctor are more callous, they charge a high rate of interest that I can't afford. I remortgaged the house so I could get lower interest and claim it on my taxes, but now I have a house payment and at one time I had it paid off...and now I have just one income instead of two...well, actually I don't because now I am laid off, down to two days/week from fulltime.

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