Once again, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

So, last fall a guy comes to my door doing a fundraiser for some kids program. Says he lives in the neighborhood. Whatever. I'm usually good for a few bucks on these things.
The deal is a $10 contribution and I get a trial subscription for a few weeks of the Saturday and Sunday Chicago Sun-Times. I already take the Tribune and the Herald so I really had no need for another paper but I like to help out so I give him the ten. I sign nothing (as I recall).

I forget about the whole thing for a couple months when the Sun-Times starts showing up. Oh, yeah-- my "trial subscription."

The paper comes for a few weeks and I get a renewal notice that suggests I'd been receiving the paper for several weeks longer than I had. I don't want to renew so I just ignore it.
Another notice comes.
I call the circulation department because there's no opt-out option on the bill and I explain that 1) I haven't been getting the paper as long as they say, and 2) I don't want to subscribe-- it was just a charity thing.
Another notice comes last month. Says I owe a balance of $5.52. I ignore it, figuring their bookkeeping will catch up with reality in the next cycle.

Now today, I get a dunning notice from a collection agency demanding the lousy $5.52!

Somehow the original $10 I thought I was giving away has evolved into a blotch on my credit record and a bill for an additional five and a half bucks! I know the Sun-Times owners are criminals (Hollinger) but this is ridiculously petty.

Half of me says fight it and the other says 'it's pocket change, pay it and learn a lesson.'
Your suggestions are welcome...

[Zavulon]

1. Life lesson: if someone comes to your door, keep your wallet closed.

I will NEVER give money to anyone who bothers me at home, no matter how worthy the cause.

[Hugin]

2. It's a scam...

Don't pay it.

[PVnRT]

3. Same sort of thing happened to me

Except that the Sun-Times called me when I lived in Zion and tried to get me to take a trial subscription, which I didn't since I lived in an apartment complex. They tried billing me anyway, and eventually I got it down to a $1 bill that I just paid and forgot about.

The Sun-Times is slimy as hell about this shit.

[skygazer]

4. What I would do -

First off, I would write a letter to the collection agency, informing them that I wish them to cease all communication with me per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I would send it certified, return receipt. This is standard operating procedure whenever I get anything from a collection agency. They're crooks.

By law, they cannot contact you again once they receive it.

I would then pay the $5.52 to the Sun-Times and send it along with a blistering letter.

I would probably also write a letter to the editor about it to the other papers (who would probably love to get them).

And I would never give money to anyone coming to my door without seeing documentation of exactly what I was receiving.

[Hugin]

6. Great advice skygazer...

:thumbsup:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. In retrospect, does anyone think the "neighborhood guy" who

came to my door was really working for the Sun-Times?

...nahhhh, that's too cynical even for me.

[dropkickpa]

7. Where's my two dollars?!?!?

No advice, but this reminded me of that.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. I'm not familiar with the reference.

[dropkickpa]

10. It's from the John Cusack movie

Better Off Dead. A crazed paper-boy is stalking him for $2.

[lildreamer316]

11. HA!!

"I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!"

[leftofthedial]

9. armed revolution

overthrowing the capitalist oppressors

it's the only way to deal with these people