Celebrity Justice
O No!! Lawsuit Alleges Fraud

O MagazineAn angry O Magazine reader has filed a class action lawsuit against the mag and the publishers, alleging a scam designed to "trick, deceive and scare" subscribers into paying money they don't owe.

According to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ, Linda Hall claims that in December, 2005 she ordered two one-year subscriptions to O Magazine -- one for her, the other a gift. She says she paid in full for both subscriptions the same month she ordered them.

In April, 2006, Hall claims she received a letter from Hearst Magazine, informing her she was "past due" and threatening that if she did not pay for the subscriptions, her credit standing would be put "at risk."

Hall claims she paid the invoice even though she had already paid for the mags.

Hall alleges the letter and invoice she received "are part of a nationwide scheme and artifice designed and implementedOprah photo gallery: Click to launch by defendants to trick, deceive and scare their subscribers into paying money to defendants for subscriptions which subscribers have already paid for in full."

Hall's class action lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as an injunction barring the alleged practice.

In addition to O Magazine, the Hearst Corporation and Hearst Magazines are named as defendants. The talk show queen is not personally named as a defendant.

Calls made to O Magazine and Hearst were not immediately returned.




Tags: Oprah, Oprah Magazine, Oprah Winfrey, OprahMagazine, OprahWinfrey

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(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK THIS OREO WANNABE CRACKER BITCH GOT ALL HER MONEY?

OPRAH IS A FRAUD..ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

WAKE UP WORLD.

I HATE HER NASTY ASS CELLULITE FAT BITCH ASS.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Posted at 8:48PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Jessica

17. NICE TRY LADY, WHOEVER YOU ARE. YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY HIRING A LAWYER AND FILING THAT BOGUS LAWSUIT THAN YOU WILL EVER GET OUT OF OPRAH. IT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE YOU TO JUST COME UP WITH ANYTHING TO TRY AND GET SOME MONEY. YOU WILL BE LAUGHED RIGHT OUT THE DOOR. YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!!

Posted at 8:28PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Tommie

18. Kovel the antique newletter send me a bill about once every 6 month and my subscription is paid 12/2007.They always said this will be your last subscription if it not paid within the next 30 days.I think they are a bunch of crooks.I would cancel this one but my husband like it because he like to use it for finding and buying antique.But I will not send them a cent until Nov.2007.I just file them in the (13) trash can. It is a waste of time and paper. To me they are dumb or maybe think we are dumber.

Posted at 8:14PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Doris A.Butler

19. Kovel the antique newletter send me a bill about once every 6 month and my subscription is paid 12/2007.They always said this will be your last subscription if it not paid within the next 30 days.I think they are a bunch of crooks.I would cancel this one but my husband like it because he like to use it for finding and buying antique.But I will not send them a cent until Nov.2007.I just file them in the (13) trash can. It is a waste of time and paper. To me they are dumb or maybe think we are dumber.

Posted at 8:14PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Doris A.Butler

20. Kovel the antique newletter send me a bill about once every 6 month and my subscription is paid 12/2007.They always said this will be your last subscription if it not paid within the next 30 days.I think they are a bunch of crooks.I would cancel this one but my husband like it because he like to use it for finding and buying antique.But I will not send them a cent until Nov.2007.I just file them in the (13) trash can. It is a waste of time and paper. To me they are dumb or maybe think we are dumber.

Posted at 8:14PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Doris A.Butler

21. Kovel the antique newletter send me a bill about once every 6 month and my subscription is paid 12/2007.They always said this will be your last subscription if it not paid within the next 30 days.I think they are a bunch of crooks.I would cancel this one but my husband like it because he like to use it for finding and buying antique.But I will not send them a cent until Nov.2007.I just file them in the (13) trash can. It is a waste of time and paper. To me they are dumb or maybe think we are dumber.

Posted at 8:13PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Doris A.Butler

22. I, too, have encountered this same problem with several different magazines. It was far too coincidental that the same exact problem occurred to be considered merely an"oversight" or "billing error". I did not sue, but I did call the business offices of the various publications and explained the problem. Their attitude was very blasé as they tried to skirt around the subject by claiming that it was in order to extend my subscription without interruption. There is no rhyme or reason for a magazine publisher to "strong arm" money from subscribers unless it is to make a lot more money! On a year's subscription, any publisher or business for that matter, to bully subscribers/clients into paying once again after only be it 3 months or 6 months, clearly is up to no good. Frequently, people may not bother to keep track of the check or credit card receipt for the publication. Unfortunately, it is far more common than you think for companies to double bill -- in what may start out as a billing error -- but never inform the party who this is happening to. They will give a credit if they are called on it. However, if they are not called, they gladly pocket the additional sum, and to be sure, will do it again. It is called, THEFT and SCAM. There are many large companies that are counting on the fact that your record-keeping is sloppy and you won't notice the oversight. When all of these little bits of money are added up, it is a HUGE bonus for the companies involved! I was a employed by a division of WeightWatcher's International and witnessed this practice firsthand. When I questioned the double billing and as to why they would not automatically reverse the "error", I was told that it would be "too time consuming" and that if it was such a problem, the person affected would pick up the phone to call! (NOT!) And, if they didn't, then "clearly the person didn't care". I was so disgusted by this and similar practices within the company, that I quit. Go try to prove it, however... In addition, these tactics have been reconfirmed and verified by my bank and other authorities. If you simply allow them to continue the practice, you are giving them carte blanche to scam you and everyone else. It is time that attention be called to these horrendous business practices! Kudos for Ms. Hall!

Posted at 8:48AM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Miffed

23. Domino magazine sent me a "free" magazine to introduce their magazine, then about two months later they sent me the notice saying my subscription was past due, that my subscription would be canceled and my name would be sent to a creditor. One phone call took care of that real quick.
Yes this lady is mad, but a lawsuit? I am sorry but she is seeing $$$ in her eyes just like these magazine companies.

Posted at 8:57AM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Lynnd

24. This is not a billing error! Hearst Magazines is notorious for this crap and have been doing for at least a decade. I caught the lying company over a Town & Country subscription. And for the record Hearst is not the only crap operation doing this deception add Conde Nast to the list as well. Too bad "O" magazine is caught up in this garbage.

Posted at 4:22PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by wil

25. This magazine company that carries Oprah magazine did the same thing to me. When my year subscription ran out, they sent me a letter that I owe them or else! I called and there is an option, if you did not chose this magazine press 1. after that they never bothered me again!

Posted at 3:51PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by Sam

26. DOES OPAHR THINKS SHES SO GREAT AND GOOD LOOKING THAT ALL HER MAG. HAVE TO HAVE JUST HER MUG ON THEM THATS GETING TIREING IVE NEVER BOUGHT ONE AND NEVER PLAN ON IT EATHER

Posted at 7:16PM on Dec 2nd 2006 by MONA

27. I let a young man in my home,(my mistake) to sell me a subscribtion. I was looking for an Art Magazine he did not carry. I couldn't get him to leave, so I figuredI'd order Nickolodean doubtful it would be suitable for my grandson. He assured me i coud do this an told me to wait two days before I cancelled. I did and was told I had to respond withing 24 hours to cancel and I did not read the contract. I felt I i had to buy something to get this young man out of my House.. I called a number of times and told them the incident was harassment and they said I could have dialed 911. The magazine never took responsibity for the subcription companies they hired. And I was out $54.00.

Posted at 12:39AM on Dec 3rd 2006 by Sally Baldino

28. Even though I called in August to inform the magazines I did not want to continue the subscriptions I got $165 charged to one of my credit cards mid November. I called again and got the charges reversed but before giving me a confirmation number I had to listen to schpiel trying to get me to subscribe to other magazines. I don't think so!! I'm glad that someone is pursuing the scam. This is one case I'm going to follow.

Posted at 12:35AM on Dec 3rd 2006 by Mo Shan

29. Has anyone tried to call and correct an error???? I have been trying to cancel a magazine for several months that is billed to my checking account, no luck. When you call you never get a human being and on hold for almost an hour, at this point you give up.

Posted at 8:25AM on Dec 3rd 2006 by Sharon

30. This woman and her rediculous lawsuit are in a "nut" shell (pun intended) everything that is wrong with this country. How is it even possible that nonesense like this is allowed in our court system? Might I suggest that this woman get a life and a job at the same time and quit looking for ways to make a "con-job-buck". Life is complicated you putz - get over it! People like you jam the court system for people with legitimate problems.

Posted at 11:23PM on Dec 3rd 2006 by sickofsuers

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