Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth

Great

I purchased this deal for a 52 week subscription. There was nothing in the deal which said the subscription would automatically renew, but they renewed it anyway. My description of my experience follows. On February 16, 2017, I purchased a Groupon for a 52-week print subscription to the Wednesday and Sunday editions with digital access (a copy of the offer is enclosed. Nothing in the offer says anything about an automatic continuation of the subscription). I began receiving newspapers a short time later. This Spring I received at least three phone calls from the Star-Telegram saying my account was overdue. Each time I told the caller I had paid for a subscription for 52 weeks only. I never requested a continuation of the subscription. Each caller said something a little different in response. One caller said the Star-Telegram has a grace period and will continue to deliver the paper for ninety days. I said, “You can do what you want, but I don’t want the paper, and I’m not going to pay for it.” I made it very clear in every call that I did not want the subscription to continue. Each call ended with the caller reassuring me they would take care of it. I told the second and third callers that I had already spoken to someone at the paper and had told them I did not want the subscription to continue. They said they would take care of it. On July 23, 2018, the Star-Telegram referred my account to A.R.M. Solutions for collection. I received a collection letter dated July 24, 2018. On September 1, 2018, I spoke with Raymond at the Star-Telegram. During the conversation I read Raymond the entirety of the “Fine Print” in the Groupon offer I purchased. Raymond Googled the Groupon offer on his computer. Raymond accused me of leaving out part of the “Fine Print”. He said I left out, “After promotional period, your subscription rate will automatically renew at the current rate applicable unless the subscription is canceled. You may cancel at any time, call (800) 776-7827.” Raymond said the offer had to include that language or people could sue the Star-Telegram. I said I agree. The Star-Telegram changed the “Fine Print” sometime between the time I purchased and now. (I mailed the Star-Telegram copies of the offer I bought and the changed language of the current offer). The fact that the Star-Telegram changed the language of the “Fine Print” after I purchased the offer proves my point. I have no desire to sue the Star-Telegram at this time. I want this resolved with the Star-Telegram and with A.R.M. Solutions. I do not owe any money to the Star-Telegram or to A.R.M. Solutions. The Star-Telegram finally stopped the collection efforts. I understand a little bit about the difficulty business environment for print newspapers as they seek to adjust to the digital age, but treating their customers like this is not going to help.

This was great at first. Before the date specified on the letter FWST sent me, I called & notified them I was moving/cancelling. It auto renewed anyway. I was never sent a bill for the auto renewal & instead I received a bill from a collections agency for $11 from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Beware!

I ordered the newspaper subscription with the groupon expecting delivery to expire when the introductory period was completed. Instead, they continued to deliver the paper, sent me an additional bill and now has sent that bill to a collections agency. I checked with others in my 10,000+ Nextdoor group and many people said that this had also happened to them. I enjoyed the paper, but if I want a paper in the future I will purchase at the store - but it will not be the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Good luck staying in business treating potential subscribers like this.