Help Me Hank: Magazine Mess

A hairdryer, brushes, combs. Hairdresser Judy uses these tools to make her clients happy.

Judy Schuster, hairdresser
"I love the customers I have, I just love my work."

Judy loves her grandson Cole too. So when she saw a pop up on line about a sale on a kid’s magazine full of colorful characters, she signed up for a subscription for her darling four year old grandson.

Judy Schuster, hairdresser
"I thought that sounded nice for him."

Last August was in full swing when Judy paid for it with her credit card. The receipt said the magazine could take 6 to 12 weeks to arrive. But summer became fall, Thanksgiving came and went, and four months later Cole still didn't have his magazine!

Judy Schuster, hairdresser
"I felt very bad."

In December she e-mailed the company to find out what was going on. They wrote back the magazine "has ceased publication."

Judy Schuster, hairdresser
"That's when I asked for my money back."

But on her credit card statement, no refund. When she e-mailed again the company promised to "investigate the matter," but still no refund.

At the end of January with winter weather in full force five months and three seasons after she'd put in her original magazine order she wrote the company one last time and this time no response. Unsatisfied with no answer, she e-mailed someone else.

Judy Schuster, hairdresser
"Help Me Hank."

Judy had paid with a credit card, that's good. Problem is federal law gives you just 60 days to dispute a credit card charge. And Judy's complaint was way past that time. But here's the exception, credit card companies may consider the expected delivery date as the start time for the 60-day limit.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Could you look into that for me please?"

And that's what we told them about Judy's situation. In August Judy thought the subscription was on the way. Sixty days later she still thought so. It wasn't until December there was a problem, and that's when Judy complained.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"So you'll take care of that?"

Knowing that the credit card company said okay and gave her a refund. Now she'll be able to get Cole something else, and she can get back to business.

(Copyright (c) 2008 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)