In reference to Judy's question about changing expiration dates, we see this
occur most frequently with newspapers.  WHen the price goes up in the
middle of your subscription period, the amount you paid covers fewer
issues, and voila, you run out of money in Nov.! Maybe someone will
notify you with a renewal notice earlier, or a mailing label will help
you catch on, but usually you have no clue that this has happened (and
probably your subscription agent won't either).  At least in your
case someone knew ahead of time!  However, our experience with weeklies
such as the ones you mention (we don't subscribe to People) is that you
pay for a certain period, and the publisher is obligated to supply
you with issues for that period.  If special issues are published, they
usually come to you for more money and do not change the expiration date.
I would have your subscription agent investigate this more thoroughly,
particularly to see that it doesn't happen again next year.

Susan Davis          State University of New York at Buffalo
Head, Periodicals