Taking online surveys can be interesting. We love the good parts of the experience; the ability to make your opinions heard and count, not to mention the extra money that can be earned. But there are downsides as well. Spam, viruses, spy-ware are sometimes by-products of an otherwise rewarding experience taking online paid surveys. Jennifer reminded me of something that had happened to me a few years back. Until I received her email, I didn’t realize that others had had the same issue. From Jennifer’s email:
 
I wanted to contact you concerning an issue which may be related to Magazine surveys, via on-line survey sites.  I’ve not been able to narrow it to a particular site [I'm a member of several], and in fact, this may be coincidental.
 
Recently I’ve received Magazine “Subscription” invoices, though I’d not subscribed to these companies [nor any on-line,...the last subscription was to Readers Digest more than nine [9] years earlier, via mail ordering, and since have cancelled].
 
The two [2] Magazine companies have sent invoices independently, each for a year’s subscription:  one [1] had an available 1-800 phone #, but the “Better Homes & Gardens” doesn’t have a phone# anywhere, including their website!!  After much researching, indicated were numerous [that's an understatement, actually] similar complaints!   A member had noted a contact phone # for anyone interested, in her “blog” – thank God!   I was about to lose my marbles!].
 
Concerning the Magazine company which had a contact phone#, the CSR stated I’d placed an order in 2009, though no credit card information was available [being an order never existed - imagine that!]. She was informed to remove my name, address, and charge from their records immediately!  Next I’m going to contact the “Better Homes & Gardens” and hope there’s a CSR so this issue may be resolved.
 
I’m not certain whether these supposed “subscription” invoices are coincidental to completing surveys recently, but it’s odd nonetheless,…there’s no other explanation. There’s never been a link where a surveyor subscribes to Magazines; answered are whether the surveyor reads, purchases at the store, or subscribes, only,  relating the listing at the time of the surveys. That’s it!   So this is odd!!  
 
I’m curious as to whether other survey members [of any sites] have had the same problem? Have they received invoices? If so, what actions were taken?
 
I too received an invoice from Better Homes and Gardens for the subscription that I “ordered”. It happened a month or so after I started taking surveys. Of course, I had joined a hundred or so survey sites during that time, so I was never able to narrow it down as to who may be responsible. I assumed it was from one of the “offer sites” with a “take a survey and receive a $500 gift card”. You know, the ones that never have an end and you get nothing in return. I fell for that once when I didn’t know better. That’s still my guess as to who was responsible for my experience with a magazine subscription scam.
So, like Jennifer, I am curious to know if this has happened to you before. Have you ever gotten strange invoices for magazines or products you didn’t order? Were you able to track down the source?
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