Dear Leonard

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Dear Leonard

Dear Leonard,
A short time ago, I received a notice in the mail advising that my credit card would be debited for health supplements merchandise, and that I would have to reject the offer before a certain date if I did not want delivery. I never ordered the stated merchandise. I wrote and said that I did not wish to accept the order. I can’t understand how this happened. It’s just lucky I read this piece of mail. Did they confuse my name and address with some other person? The only possible way they may have received my name and address is possibly from an affiliate company when I responded to an “infomercial” and ordered vitamins on my credit card. What’s your opinion?—RPB, Silver Spring, MD

Dear RPB,
The FTC says that you are not responsible for something you do not lawfully order. Reputable direct marketing companies (such as many book or record clubs) give consumers a clear understanding of future purchase commitments and automatic shipment schedules from their company at the time of the initial order. In my opinion, you acted wisely and promptly—you did the right thing. You contacted the second company in writing and said NO, you did not want shipment of that unordered merchandise.

It is likely that the health supplement company may be tied to the vitamin group. If so, your name and address was undoubtedly passed on. Your name may also show up on one of the thousands of mailing lists purchased by mail order companies. It pays to review junk mail just to make certain you are not “hoodwinked” by such negative “opt-out” marketing strategies. If subsequent merchandise shipments are not disclosed at the time of your order, or if your name and address is passed on to a group that uses this sort of questionable marketing practice, it should be reported. Contact your local office of Consumer Affairs and state Attorney General’s office, and the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Response Line at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).

Leonard Burchman is president of Voice of the Elderly (VOTE), a private, non-profit organization that works to protect seniors from scams. If you have a question about a suspected scam send it to: The Social Security & Medicare Advisor, 4688 Spotswood Trail, Barboursville, VA 22923-8909. Or you can e-mail Mr. Burchman at Leonard@newsletter.tscl.org. Please do not send Social Security numbers or Medicare Explanation of Benefit Statements.

February 2002