Do you get overwhelmed by renewal notices for magazines? Keeping track of the expiration dates for magazine subscriptions can get confusing, especially if you get several renewal notices for the same publication.
Here are tips from Colleen Tressler, consumer education specialist for the Federal Trace Commission to help keep track of magazine subscriptions:
- Keep a running list of your magazine subscriptions, including account numbers and expiration dates. Since this information is included on most magazine mailing labels, clip the label and add it to your list. That way, when you get a renewal notice, you can check the expiration date and decide whether to renew or wait.
- If you don’t like lists, contact the magazine publisher directly – or check the magazine's customer service site for account information and renewal prices. And remember, you can negotiate the price or shop around for a better deal.
- Understand that a renewal notice is not a bill or an invoice. Some renewal notices may look like invoices or bills, even though the fine print says otherwise. But a renewal notice is just a reminder about when your subscription expires.
- Know whom you’re dealing with. Renewal offers may come from magazine publishers directly or from third-party companies, unrelated to the publisher, that buy subscriber lists to solicit renewals. Third parties may charge much more for renewals than the publisher. Call the publisher using the phone number on its website or in the magazine to find out if it sent the solicitation and what it charges for renewal.
- Consider auto-renewal and payment. This way, you don’t have to rely on renewal notices. And, if the automatic renewal is on credit card, you’ll have better fraud protections. However, with auto-renewal your subscription will automatically renew until you cancel the subscription.
