Hopefully someone can give me some insight on this situation.
Background: In August I had some young guy come to my door trying to sell newspaper subscriptions. I felt bad for the guy so I told him I would buy a set (10 weeks worth) for $20. I wrote him a check and signed the little form he had for my subscription. I never got anything delivered to my house that I noticed and only ever saw emails from the publication. So I assumed that was how they were delivering their paper to me (online). I didn't care much anyway because I don't read the paper ever, I just did it to help the guy out. I had received an email back in October telling me my subscription had expired and if I wanted to continue it, I needed to call them or click on the email. I didn't want to renew it so I left it alone.
Fast forward to this week and I get a call asking me if I wanted to continue my subscription. I said I thought it was done already but no and they told me they would cancel it because it was still active. Apparently, I needed to call them to cancel it (unknown to me). Well today I get another call asking me why I cancelled and I explained. They told me that I had an outstanding balance (didn't say the amount) for the deliveries I was getting after the intial 10 weeks. I was surprised because A. I never received the paper to being with and B. I had no idea it was an ongoing subscription because the salesman said it would stop unless I renewed it. So I told her no I wasn't going to pay because I never even got the paper nor did I want it beyond my subscription. She said ok and said she would notate it on the account. I reviewed the paper I signed and apparently it does say it is an ongoing thing I need to call to cancel (stupid of me not to check.)
My question is, can I be sent to collections for the bill I supposedly owe them? The email I received does contradict the paper I signed but I realize the signed document is what actually matters. I never received any physical paper and I don't even know how they can prove I did. I paid by check so they don't really have any other personal info that would be necessary to send me to collections (I presume anyway).
I've heard of people being sent to collections for this type of stuff and I don't want any problems. Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated.
Background: In August I had some young guy come to my door trying to sell newspaper subscriptions. I felt bad for the guy so I told him I would buy a set (10 weeks worth) for $20. I wrote him a check and signed the little form he had for my subscription. I never got anything delivered to my house that I noticed and only ever saw emails from the publication. So I assumed that was how they were delivering their paper to me (online). I didn't care much anyway because I don't read the paper ever, I just did it to help the guy out. I had received an email back in October telling me my subscription had expired and if I wanted to continue it, I needed to call them or click on the email. I didn't want to renew it so I left it alone.
Fast forward to this week and I get a call asking me if I wanted to continue my subscription. I said I thought it was done already but no and they told me they would cancel it because it was still active. Apparently, I needed to call them to cancel it (unknown to me). Well today I get another call asking me why I cancelled and I explained. They told me that I had an outstanding balance (didn't say the amount) for the deliveries I was getting after the intial 10 weeks. I was surprised because A. I never received the paper to being with and B. I had no idea it was an ongoing subscription because the salesman said it would stop unless I renewed it. So I told her no I wasn't going to pay because I never even got the paper nor did I want it beyond my subscription. She said ok and said she would notate it on the account. I reviewed the paper I signed and apparently it does say it is an ongoing thing I need to call to cancel (stupid of me not to check.)
My question is, can I be sent to collections for the bill I supposedly owe them? The email I received does contradict the paper I signed but I realize the signed document is what actually matters. I never received any physical paper and I don't even know how they can prove I did. I paid by check so they don't really have any other personal info that would be necessary to send me to collections (I presume anyway).
I've heard of people being sent to collections for this type of stuff and I don't want any problems. Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated.
