ComplaintsforRanger Rick Magazine

• Initial Complaint

  08/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In the fall of 2022, I subscribed to Ranger Rick and purchased 1-year magazine subscriptions for 3 of my grandchildren. A few months later, I started recieving renewal notices far ahead of the renewal date of the fall of 2023. I called and requested the renewals not be sent until a month or two before the expiration dates. I was assured they would stop but they didn't. So, I called and cancelled the subscriptions in late April / early May. Ranger Rick charged my card again, so I called on June 5th and spoke with '****'. **** confirmed that the subscriptions were cancelled, and a credit would be issued. I received the credit within a couple of weeks. On August 14, 2023, Ranger Rick charged my credit card again in the amount of $26.70. I called Ranger Rick today (8/21) once I saw the charge and again spoke with an '****'. Again, I was told that a credit would be issued, that the subscriptions were cancelled and that I would receive an email confirming the details of our discussion. **** stated that the 6/5 'cancellation ' did not get processed even though she told me it had during our conversation on that day (6/5). At a minimum, this is a bad business practice and it would seem that charging my credit card after confirming the subscriptions were cancelled may be unlawful.

  Business response

  10/06/2023

  Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this issue has caused. It has been confirmed the two active subscriptions were canceled on 8/21 as requested and a refund was provided. Actions have been taken to avoid this type of incident happening again. The accounts are closed and no further charges will be made to the customer's card. Customer has been removed from future mailings/emails (note any mailings in progress will still be received). Again, our sincere apologies. 

  Customer response

  10/09/2023

  Good morning, I read the business response and it is the same as previous responses I made directly to the business.  We recently had another unauthorized charge to our card which, at the surface, appears to be related to the business.  The transaction is being researched at this time.  Because of this, we've gone through the effort of cancelling the card we've been using and updating the various companies that have been using it.

  I will not 'accept' the business response as it does not meet the requested actions I made while submitting this complaint.

  However, for the BBB records, this matter can be considered closed since the credit card is no longer valid.

  Thanks very much for your consideration and actions in this matter.

  Please contact me with any questions.
  

  Regards,

  Customer response

  10/09/2023

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
   Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: PLEASE SEE MY SEPARATE EMAIL TO THE BBB REGARDING THIS MATTER.
  
  Regards,
  
  *********************
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in the magazine subscription for a year and was offered an additional membership in a book club for my child. The book club was an additional cost, that appeared to be a yearly cost. Since February, they have been billing me $18.88 per month without email notifications. I just noticed it on my credit card receipt. The “book club” apparently is an extra magazine that is smaller than the actually Ranger Rick, Jr. and would be about $1.50 in any bookstore or short stop.

  Business response

  09/08/2023

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ****** ****** <*******@***.org>
  Date: Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 10:42 AM
  Subject: BBB Complaint # ******** ******* ***
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached letter from BBB in reference to Complaint ******** – ******* ***.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by ******* ***. In response to the complaint ID ******** ******* ***, who’s complaint stated he ordered the Ranger Rick Book Club which he thought was a annual charge not a monthly charge and states charges were applied to his card without notification. In reviewing ******* ***’s account it was noted the email on file in his account  ************  is the same email included in the attached correspondence.  When a book club order is placed an email is sent to the customer confirming the order was processed. Each month before charges are applied an email is sent notifying customer of an upcoming charge. When the order is shipped another email is sent at the time the credit card charge is applied.  All emailed communications includes instructions for canceling the order with a link to Customer Service. A full refund will be issued as requested.  Customer Service will be reaching out to confirm the refund has been processed and assist with any further questions.    

  The details of the book club are clearly noted on the order page and placed where customers see this information before ordering. Included are instructions for how to cancel the order (see below). 

  OFFER DETAILS

  Join one of the book clubs now for just $6.95. We will continue to send 2 more books about every 4 weeks for just $13.90 plus $4.98 shipping and handling, conveniently charged to your credit card at the time of each shipment. When your child receives all the books at one level, we begin shipping books at the next level. If you feel like your child is ready for a greater challenge, just call to step up a level. Applicable sales tax will apply. All rates are in US dollars.

  100% Satisfaction Guarantee: There is no minimum number of books to buy, and you are free to cancel at any time. Your introductory shipment will arrive within 4-8 weeks.

  Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration ******* *** has experienced.

   Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

  Thanks,

  ****** ******

• Initial Complaint

  04/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I had cancelled my subscription for the dinosaur magazine due to the $10 jump in price, over a month in advance and this was in February and yesterday I was charged for this magazine. This is the second time in 3 months this has happened: for, I had cancelled the Ranger Rick magazine with the same results. Being this is 2 months later I had thrown away all information on the subscriptions. and I did try to contact them, but the site keeps saying my email address is not on file, so I don't know any other way to contact them and I don't want the magazine renewed. I would appreciate any help you could give me in this matter. Sincerely, *********** ******** 

  Business response

  05/24/2023

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ****** ****** <*******@nwf.org>
  Date: Mon, May 22, 2023 at 2:44 PM
  Subject: Complaint ******** – *********** ********
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached letter in reference to Complaint ******** – *********** ********.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by this customer. In response to the complaint ID ******** *********** ********, who’s complaint is the magazine was not to be renewed and canceled the Auto Renewal program. The Ranger Rick Dinosaurs subscriptions has been canceled per customer’s request. A refund to the credit card will be issued for the charges processed as an auto renewal and no further charges will be applied to the credit card. In this situation the Auto Renew was canceled for single and not the gift which led to **** ********’s subscription being auto renewed. This has been reviewed with the CSRs and noted if a customer requests to be removed from the auto renewal program both single and gift should be marked as non-auto renewal.

  Please also note when customers purchase with a credit card they automatically are enrolled into Auto Renew/Continuous Service. The below information is included on all order pages at the location of Amount Due and Order Now button which provides details of the Auto Renewal program and how to discontinue the continuous service if they desire. 

  Continuous Service: By ordering I understand that I am agreeing to the purchase of the selected subscription at the above price and to the convenience of continuous service. I'll enjoy uninterrupted service without the need to renew my subscription at the end of each annual term. My subscription will be automatically renewed, I will not be bothered by renewal notices and I will receive a clearly stated reminder notification with the then current rate about 30 days prior to any charge to my credit/debit card. I authorize you to fulfill my subscription and charge my credit/debit card accordingly. In addition, as my child grows, their subscription can grow with them. I may change any subscription to the next age-appropriate level at any time. Of course, I am free to discontinue any further automatic charges by simply contacting customer service. I can also cancel my subscription and receive a full refund for all undelivered issues. Sales tax will apply, where applicable. My complete satisfaction is guaranteed, no questions asked.

  Again we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this has caused. Please let me know if you or the customer has any further questions or concerns and if anything else is needed.

  Thanks,

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Mid November of 2022 I placed an order for 3 subscriptions and sent a check for $45.00 in payment. The check was cashed. These were for 3 of my grandchildren but 2 magazines go to one of them(******), 1 to Asa, and Lauren hasn’t received any. Asa lives at 1078 Fenton St. in Richmond,VA. ****** address is PO Box ***, Bayse, VA and ******'s address is **** ***** *****, Front Royal, VA. I am requesting that 1 copy of Ranger Rick JR. Be sent to ******, one RR JR. To ****** and 1 RR(age 7 and up) to *** as originally ordered. If this can not be fixed I request a refund. Thank you, ****** ******* *** ******* **. Jamestown, New York. *****

• Initial Complaint

  02/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I received a postcard in the mail about a magazine subscription that ended around November 2021. It said thank you for being a Premier Ranger Rick Cub member (which I am not). Then is states the above subscription will be automatically renewed for $24.95 for one year and I will be sent a bill. A year and a half AFTER it expired they will automatically renew it???? If I didn't get this post card I would have had no idea they were billing me. I didn't ask for the renewal of any kind. How dare they just look up old subscriptions and start billing people. Sounds unethical to me. I did call them to complain and they had a different person's name and credit card attached to my account which sounds even more messed up.

  Business response

  04/21/2023

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ****** ****** <*******@nwf.org>
  Date: Tue, Apr 18, 2023 at 5:08 PM
  Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Ranger Rick Magazine
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  I wanted to revise my response to include the below.

  In checking further it seems a postcard was sent to **** *** for a second recipient ******* ***** account # ********.  She is correct there was an older order which was marked as auto renew with a 9-12-19 order date. ******* did have another non-gift order and two single auto orders applied after her original order.  This pushed Derrick’s expire out to June of 2023.  Since the order came over marked as auto and ******* has an 2306 expire and was selected with the 2306 auto renewal selection.  The postcard was sent back on Feb 1st letting her know that we would be applying an order.  She has since called and asked her account be marked as Do Not Promote, so there was no order applied to renew her gift to *******.

  As noted below **** *** has another recipient  ****** ******, but since she is now marked as a Do Not Promote, she won’t get anything to renew his order.

  Again, please let me know if you need any further information on this and we apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this has caused.

  Thanks,

  ******

  Customer response

  04/21/2023

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
   Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
    I have three other active gift subscriptions, not just ******, that I have not heard from you about. If you wanted to try to automatically renew one of those that would make sense. ******* and ****** ***** are not active and haven't been for some time. ******* ended quite a while ago and that was the one you chose to automatically renew. Again it seems like a scam, automatically renewing a subscription that had ended over a year prior. Your account sign in page doesn't seem to show dates at all. Also, I still have no explanation as to why someone else's name and credit card number was joined with my account. That seems like poor record keeping also. I do not need any further action. I will renew my subscriptions, on my own, if I decide to in the future.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ***
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In August I ordered a Ranger Rick subscription for my great nephew (age 4). At the same time, I ordered a subscription to a book club that was supposed to be $6.95 for the first book and $13.90 thereafter, plus an additional $2.98 shipping. There was no minimum order and anytime cancellation. After a few months, I decided that because of the quality of the books being sent, I would do better to go buy him relevant books each month. I went online at the beginning of December and cancelled the book club subscription. On December 30, I was again charged $16.88 for another set of books to be sent. I called to complain and to remind them that my subscription had been cancelled online earlier that month. The customer service representative said that she could see that it had been cancelled and would refund my money. On January 2, they refunded only $6. Where was the remaining $10.88 that they charged me without my authorization? I went online to try to figure this out. What I found was the record of where I had cancelled the book club subscription back on December 8. I also found that they had cancelled my magazine subscription and reinstated my book club subscription on January 2. They cancelled by magazine subscription instead of the book club subscription... even though we specifically discussed that I wanted to retain the magazine and eliminate the book club??? They are inept. I tried to go in to delete my credit card from my account. I can add a new one but cannot remove an existing one. I consider their refusal to cancel the subscription upon my request no different than someone stealing my identity. If they are charging items when I have specifically stated both online in writing and verbally on the phone not to charge them, then it is stealing... in the name of the National Wildlife Federation. I have used the subscriptions off and on for 20 years...Never again!! My great nephew actually enjoyed the magazines....the subscription that NWF cancelled....but I will be able to replace it easily.

  Business response

  03/14/2023

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: Debbie W***** <*******@nwf.org>
  Date: Mon, Mar 13, 2023 at 10:52 AM
  Subject: Complaint ********: ***** ******
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached BBB letter in reference to Complaint ********: ***** ******.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by this customer. In response to the complaint ID ********: ***** ******, as requested a full refund for book sets 3 transactions #*************** and 4 transaction #*************** has been processed and applied to the customer’s credit card on January 14, 2023.  

  Please let me know if there are any further questions or if any further information is needed in reference to this complaint.  We are happy to assist however we can to have this issue resolved.

  Thank You

  Debbie

• Initial Complaint

  10/31/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Company will not stop charging my card, I only allowed 2 charges and there is 3 as of now....they will not help me.....please see below details ????????????????????????????????????????????????No reply as of yet..not happy!Hello,** account # *******. Can you please tell me why I am being charged more then I approved? It should have been Ranger Rick for $12.00 and have 10 issues included. And I added a $6.95 for one time book club charge on 9/3/2022 and now I see another $16.88 charge…Please explain! Thank you! ***** From: Ranger Rick Book Club [mailto:***********@**************.com] Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2022 4:53 PM To: ***** ***** Subject: Thank you for contacting Ranger Rick Book Club Customer Service. * (**********************) Thank you for contacting Ranger Rick Book Club Customer Service. We have received your email and it has been forwarded to a Customer Service Representative for review and resolution. We understand that your time is precious, so we appreciate you taking some of it to write to us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you, Ranger Rick Book Club Customer Service ***********@**************.com 

  Business response

  01/18/2023

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ****** ****** <*******@***.org>
  Date: Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 9:22 AM
  Subject: BBB Complaint - ******** – ***** *****
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached letter in reference to Complaint ******** – ***** *****.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by **** *****. In response to the complaint ID ******** ***** *****, who’s complaint is being charged monthly for additional books that were not ordered. 

  Records show an order was placed online to Ranger Rick magazine on September 2nd for $12.00 for a one year subscription which also  included an additional special offer for Just For Fun and Comic book club offer for 6.95. Just For Fun and Comic book club is a continuous program where each month a new book set would be sent for an additional cost of $16.88 (including tax and shipping). With each new book set an email is sent to the customer a head of the monthly charge letting them know an upcoming charge is going to take place and a link to cancel at any time. The charge for the second book set of $16.88 took place on October 21, 2022^t and was fully refunded on November 3, 2022 and the order canceled at the request of the customer. We are happy to assist *** ***** with any further adjustments to her account if needed. 

   Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by *** *****.

   Thanks,

  Debbie W*****

• Initial Complaint

  10/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I made what was displayed as a one time purchase in August. The item was supposed to be sent. I have not received the item. Then I received an invoice for a subscription that I did not want. There are no options on the website to cancel the subscription or stop credit card charges. I have messaged them numerous times and haven't received any response.

  Business response

  12/06/2022

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: Debbie W***** <*******@***.org>
  Date: Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 1:46 PM
  Subject: Complaint ID ******** - ***** *****
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached letter from BBB in reference to Complaint ******** – ***** *****.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by *** *****. In response to the complaint ID ******** ***** *****, who’s complaint stated he was charged, has not received the product, received an invoice and no option on the website to stop credit card charges.  

  Records show an order was placed for Ranger Rick Jr. on August 26, 2022. An inquiry was made on the account by email on September 22, 2022. There have been no further communications noted and no additional charges on the account. The account is setup as an Auto Renew account. Given *** ***** request to not receive any further charges the account has since been removed from the Auto Renew Program. The address on file was checked and it is noted as a deliverable address in USPS.

  The first issue served was November 2022 with the current issue December/January 22/23 in process with an projected delivery date of Dec 15, 2022. Expire date for the order is October 2023 with 8 issues remaining. 

  When a customer logs into their account on Customer Care they have the ability to make changes to their account including canceling subscriptions, stop auto renew, renew, update mailing address and order new gifts along with other actions. The current address on file was checked with USPS and is noted as a good address.

  We are happy to assist *** ***** with any further adjustments to his account as needed.    

  Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration *** ***** has experienced.

   Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

  Thanks,

  Debbie W*****

• Initial Complaint

  09/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ranger Rick is a SCAM 100% Yes they send your kids cute animal books or magazines but they charge you 3-4 times a month! The charges never stop. I looked into and get charged $50+ bucks a month for books and get one set of books every 5-6 weeks. This is seriously a scam for old people who don't check into their bank accounts. I have emailed them several times to cancel my account and after the 3rd harsh email to cancel my account. They finally did it. But guess what I was charged again today! For more animal books. This is borderline harassment and have canceled my cars in hopes of Ranger Rick to stop charging me! Shame on them! ZERO stars and should be investigated.

  Business response

  10/31/2022

  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ************************* <***************>
  Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 8:40 AM
  Subject: BBB letter Complaint ******** ***************************
  To: Dispute Resolution Team <drteam@mybbb.org>
  

  
  

  Hello,

  We received the attached letter in reference to Complaint ******** *************************.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by ********************. In response to the complaint ID ******** ***************************, who's complaint is being charged monthly for books and magazines that were not ordered.  

  Records show an order was placed online to Ranger Rick Cub magazine on May 24th for $12.00 for a one year subscription and cancelled on 9/5/2022 with refund.

  An ordered was place online on 5/22/2022 to Ranger Rick Jr. for $15.00 a one year subscription.  This account is still active when checked. Also an order was placed to the Critters Book Club which started May 24th and was discontinued on 9/23/2022.  Ranger Rick Cub and Ranger Rick Jr. magazines are both onetime charge for a 1 year subscription and renewed annually. Critters Book Club is a continuous monthly book club service and includes a monthly fee with 2 new book sets shipped every month. It seems the 3 products were ordered around the same time and this may have been why there were multiple charged in one month. We are happy to assist *** ******** with any further adjustments to his account if needed.  

  Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration experienced by ********************.

  Thanks,

  Debbie W********

• Initial Complaint

  07/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  In 2020, when the pandemic started, I subscribed to Zoobooks for my young daughter so she'd have some good educational things to read. Not really happy with the quality and very thin issues of the magazine, but figured it was a cheap subscription and good for my daughter to read. After 1 year, it renewed without my knowledge and the price went up. Automatically charged my credit card in 2021. Didn't really notice it much because we only received a few issues. Now I find out we were renewed again without my knowledge and this time the price is $24.99 (I believe) for 9 issues. I can't find a phone number to call and cancel. I have tried emailing to cancel, but no luck. I do not want this magazine.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩