Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 17:39:10 -0500
From: Liz Linton <melinton@SBC.EDU>
Subject: sleazy scam - Maximum Linux

Hi all:

You are not even going to believe this - its the most sleazy scam I've
ever witnesses in 12 years working with serials.

Back in the fall our Director ordered Maximum Linux (published by
Imagine Media) directly from the publisher. After we received and
examined a couple of issues we canceled the direct order and ordered for
2001 through EBSCO.

Today I got a "Collection Notice" in the mail. It is addressed to our
Director. The notice is from "National Credit Audit Corporation". The
notice asserts that he owes $29.00 on the original direct magazine order.

I called the agency but none of the push button options worked. Finally
my call timed out and their machine disconnected me.

I got online to go to Maximum Linux website to get a phone number to
call. Strangely, all of the customer service pages are inoperative. At
last I found a number for "Print Advertising" on the site, so I called it.

That number took me to Imagine Media where I was informed that Maximum
Linux *was* published by them, but will no longer be published in the
future. So the collection notice is for a nonexistent magazine ... that
we canceled back in the fall!

The operator gave me a customer service number which is still in use
because Imagine Media publishes more than one magazine. When I called
customer service and complained about the collection notice, I was told
that "National Credit Audit Corporation" is an in-house operation. In
other words, a bogus collection agency!

The operator offered to cancel my "order" immediately, assuring me that
there would be no more communication from the "collection agency". These
shinnanigans amazed me and I thought if anyone subscribes to any of
their other publications forewarned is forearmed:

https://secure.imaginemedia.com/group/imagine.html

*Almost* speechless,
Liz Linton
Sweet Briar College