q MAIL ORDER DISORDER
Shopping by mail can be a great convenience. More and more people are doing it, and you can buy almost anything through the mail. But . . . problems await the unwary.
“But I didn’t order this . . .” If you receive goods in the mail that you did not order, both state and federal laws allow you to keep them as a gift! You do not have to pay for them. Of course, if something is delivered to you by mistake (it has someone else’s name on it, for instance), you cannot keep it and must return it to the post office or to the proper person.
If any company sends you unsolicited merchandise and then attempts to make you pay for it, it is breaking the law. If this happens to you, contact the postmaster in your town, or the Attorney General’s Office in the company’s state, and let them know. If that doesn’t work, contact the Postal Inspection Service, 495 Summer Street, Suite, 600, Boston, MA 02205-2217 (1-877- 876-2455).
Compact Disc, Cassette, and Book Clubs
Book, compact disc, and record club advertisers give an appealing sales pitch—your choice of four books for 99 cents or 12 tapes for 1 cent, if you join the club. However, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Before you succumb to the urge to get a great deal, understand your obligations once you join. Beware of high postage and handling charges!
Generally, mail order clubs require you to purchase a certain number of books or tapes within a specified period of time. Usually you will be sent a small catalog of books or tapes every few weeks from which you can choose. The club will generally select one book or tape as the selection of the month and unless you notify the club that you do not want that selection, it will automatically be sent to you, and you will be billed. Under these plans, silence means you want the selection. Because your membership in the club is a contract, if you break any of the terms of the agreement you could be sued.
If you’re not very good at remembering to do things, perhaps you ought to say “no” to the record and book club option.
On Your Own, 2008 Edition
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