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From: joemu@nsc-pdc.UUCP (Joe Mueller)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.legal
Subject: Mail order scam -- BEWARE
Message-ID: <545@nsc-pdc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Mar-86 13:45:44 EST
Article-I.D.: nsc-pdc.545
Posted: Wed Mar  5 13:45:44 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 21:37:30 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: NSC Portland Development Center, Portland Oregon
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Xref: watmath net.consumers:4452 net.legal:3054

I just got burned for the insured return postage for a set of books from
the Harlequin Reader Service of "Harlequin Romance" fame. The way they suckered
me is they sent me a box with an envelope attached that states
"official sweepstakes entry" on it. The box is stamped "free sample enclosed".
I open the box and it contains a set of four romance novels and a free
steak knife. I open the envelope and it contains a #@!@&# bill for the books!!

I am under the impression that if I get a product that I did not send for
it's perfectly legal to keep the product. I have absolutely no desire to
read or posess romance novels so I decided to send them back anyway. The
mailperson wouldn't pick up the package so I went down to the post office to
send it back. They claim that the "return postage guaranteed" that is stamped
on the box only applies to UNOPENED parcels. Since I opened the box, I have to
pay the return postage. I wanted proof that I sent the books back so I sent
the books with a return receipt requested.

Is this legal? Can anything be done to punish them if it isn't? I personally
don't like to see them get away with this type of thing. I'm tempted to send
them a bill for the $3.00 postage that they screwed me out of.

I plan to file a postal fraud claim, I recommend that anyone else that receives
this "free sample" file a claim also; the more that complain the better.

What do you think netlanders?