The Observation Deck

The PLAIN DEALER is running a scam with their subscription services. When you pay for a specific time period, they deduct for newspaper add-ins, and then your subscription period shortens. There was a unanticipated and unwanted MORNINGSTAR financial magazine a month ago. It shortened my subscription period from 10/31 to 10/26.

Here is the fine print from my current renewal notice:
"Subscription includes the print edition and access to the to the electronic edition, plus the premium Thanksgiving edition for an additional $4.00 and up to 4 premium additions for an additional $2.99 each. Charges for the THANKSGIVING Day edition and premium editions will be deducted from your subscription payments and will shorten your paid-though date."

So if I pay $57 for my quarterly subscription, it will not end on 1/31/17 as the form states, since I will be paying $4 for the special Thanksgiving paper. Maybe they will squeeze in another $2.99 brochure that I don't want.

I would report them to Theresa Dixon Murray...but I don't think she can criticize her employer. The PEE DEE has just lost another household subscription.

John Viglianco

You have to watch your PD subscription like a hawk. What I would do is let your subscription lapse. They'll call you in a couple weeks with a good renewal deal. Or you can keep an eye on cleveland.com for deals. The last time I did this I ended up getting 13 weeks for $1.79 a week but you have to (1) make sure you confirm your subscription end-date with the person on the phone, and (2) put a note in your calendar to call them a couple weeks before that date to cancel. Then do the same thing all over. If like me you keep your calendar online you can just roll the notes from quarter to quarter, including when you talked to them, who you talked to, and what was said.

You could also just call and cancel, then renew a couple weeks later, but you'll play hell getting a refund check for the lapsed portion. They'll tell you it's coming but it's not. Then they'll say they used it to extend your subscription. Which they honestly do. But better to just let it lapse.

I've not encountered what you referred to in your post, the unwanted material. But I can tell you at a moment's notice what my subscription end date is (12/11/16) and who told me that, and when, so I can get it restored if I need to. Maybe they know that.

The only good news is that the PD is slightly better than Cox Cable. In order to get a good deal with Cox you have to disconnect your boxes and take them to the store. Then wait about three weeks for the phone call with the promotional deal. Uverse doesn't serve my neighborhood, I think Cox knows that, and it's hard to get treated right. I can't wait for G5 to put Cox out of business.

Digital radio (Sirius/XM) is easy to manage. Just keep track of your renewal date, call them a week ahead to cancel, you'll immediately get transferred to the retention person and get an offer. I pay about $8/month/radio for three radios.

All these subscriptions need to be actively managed. I also use Amazon for a handful of magazines. The deals are OK, managing it is easy, and as a good customer Amazon takes care of me.