This is an odd complaint to file, but from reading the complaints on other web forums, it is a common one. Over a year ago I went to a web site that offered free trade magazines. So I put in my info, and then signed up for several magazines. They arrived, I read them, then I recycled them. Then last year around November I started getting phone calls asking for me to renew; which I just told them no. After a few more weeks I realized that the company "Advantage Business Media", working on the behalf of magazines like Wireless Week, weren't going to let me go that easily. The calls starting coming from normal numbers, which when called back went nowhere. Then they started coming from three digital numbers (303, 225, 212, 221, 428, 213, 417) you get the point. I ignored most of them, but they don't seem to get the hint. The few times I did pick up, I didn't hear anyone. The few times I did speak with someone, I told them to leave me alone. Then a week later the calls would start again. After getting more then 50 of these calls, I filed charges with the police Dept and my cell phone company. Today I received four phone calls from 303 and 225. I finally got sick of them and answered. A woman I could barely understand, starting nagging me to renew. I told her "No." So she kept nagging me, until she just hung up. So after telling the first person back in November of 2007 to stop calling me, they have kept this up to this day of March 21 2008. The phone numbers that I have for Advantage Business Media don't ever yield any help. Short of pushing my complaint through Sprint and the police Dept, I'm not sure what else I can do.

I know these magazines, like all others, make their profit from advertisements, but is this the way to go about keeping readers??!! Is having people from India call readers from dawn to dusk everyday for months going to make people want to read these mag's? And would it even be worth renewing knowing that in a year you would start getting harassed again to renew. All the time knowing that these people don't want to hear the word "NO." So when you tell them NO, they just hangup.

If you are just starting to get these calls, first ask them to stop. Maybe they will honor your request on day one. But if they don't, here is the info listed below that you will need to file a harassment complaint with the police, to start the process with your phone company. Phone companies can't access certain records, so you will have to file a police report like I have to get the process started. Take my advice (((DO NOT SIGN UP FOR ANY FREE TRADE MAGAZINES!!!))) You will see crazy amounts of complaints of this and other companies harassing people for months. These people DO NOT CARE about you! All they care about is getting the companies that they work for renewals. This means money to them and the expense of any kind of compassion. 5 months so far, almost 6, of calls!

FREE doesn't always mean FREE. Now at least you know who these people are and have a better idea how to fight them.

Company: Advantage Business Media
Web Site: www.advantagemedia.com
Email: AdvantageCommunications@advantagemedia.com
Circulation Manager: Donald Ross - donald.ross@advantagemedia.com - 973-920-7477