[Resolved]  State Bank of India — False Promotional Promises

Reader's Digest — False Promotional Promises

I received a letter from Mr Manish Jain, Chief Marketing Officer, SBI Card informing me about an "attractive offer" from Readers Digest for their annual subscription. The offer included a "Super Premier prize of Rs 30,00,000, First prize of Rs 30,00,000, Second prize of Rs 1,00,000 and other 3260 prizes valued at Rs 68,16,200" by "simply mailing the sweepstakes documents to Reader's Digest". The offer also mentioned "winning a car by responding to the special subscription offer within the next 7 days" and also "free surprise gifts JUST for subscribing". I applied for the offer and paid through my SBI credit card.The subscription money was debited in my Jan'10 statement. The first magazine was also received in Jan'10. However there was neither any intimation about the promised prizes (who won them ???) nor were the assured free gifts "JUST for subscribing" delivered. To add insult to injury Readers Digest this month sent me the Feb'10 edition of the magazine along with that of Dec'09 ! Apparently they didn't know where to dump their old left over Dec'09 magazines. My annual subscription begins Jan'10 through Dec'10. Why I have been sent the Dec'09 edition of the magazine ? Does that mean my subscription will now be valid only upto Nov'10 ? Why a reputed magazine like Reader's Digest is indulging in such cheap promotions? Why is SBI the country's largest PSU bank supporting such promotions ??? The SBI letter was supported by a letter from Mr Vikas Malhotra, Sweepstakes Director, Reader's Digest.

I have a card saying"3 free gifts are waiting for you" You better square this up because I can see people are mad at you. This is the last subscription you'll see from me!!!

Even i've experienced the same... but i didn't went for subscription... though readers digest are good for all ages...

I completely agree with you Mate, that such kinda promotions is not all valid... at least NOT from reputed brands like SBI, Readers Digest

Well, I have also had the same experience with the promotional offers made by Mr. Manish Jain. I had subscribed to an offer made by him jointly with Richard Evans, President TIME International, wherein they had offered a set of Webster's Thesaurus and an explorer telescope with a subscription for TIME. While they were prompt in charging the subscription amount to my credit card, I have not received the gifts although several months have passed.

yes i am 100% agree with u they are also chited me same, all these busteds are co-handed with each other, they are sitting there to loot ordinary people who earn money with his blood.Busted cheeters Readers diggest and SBI both.

Hi I just received that cover with set of sample signed cheques and other gift voucher details which is mentioned in the first complaint. They askd me to send back yes copy so that 449 rupees will be debited from my credit card.

I called SBI customer care and they too said its genuine..

Shall I believe this or not? please suggest.

Thanks,
Bhaskar
Chennai

I also faced the same kind of humiliation by both Reders' Digest for false promise and SBI for being associated with such a false magazine

Dear chief marketing officer,
SBI card

I am a customer of SB I credit card – [protected]. I have a list of complaints which is yet to be rectified despite repeated conversation with your call centre[protected] guys.

The complaints are:

1) The card that I have been issued has my name written wrongly. My name is Rakesh Roshan, and not Rakesh Roushan. I lodged a complaint in this regard and thankfully got new card much to my satisfaction of getting it so faster. But alas! When I opened the envelope, I again found my name with the same Roushan spelling. And the same problem is with my gmail id also. My id is [protected]@gmail.com not [protected]@gmail.com. Your guys said, while talking to me, gmail id has been rectified and I will be getting a mail in this regard in few hours. But even after hundreds of hour, I have not received any mail or so.
2) My online account is locked by my mistake, I am sorry for the mistake and I curse myself why did I commit that mistake. It has been locked for the last one month. Every time I asked your guys, they said it would be rectified in 72 hours or within 3-4 working days. But unfortunately both (neither 72 hours nor working days) is yet to knock my door. I have been asked to pay my bill immediately, now you tell me how one can pay the bill if one is not able to open one’s online id nor getting mail about the bill.
3) My credit bill is generated on every 25th of the month. Since my online id was locked while paying online bill of December 2010, which I had to pay before January 14. One of your guys contacted me on my cell number ([protected]) on January 15, 2011. I narrated my problem, he said he would be sending his collection boy to my home and I would pay the bill. As per your guy vow he sent a boy to my house address, I submitted a cheque (671691) on January 17, 2011, against which I was issued a receipt[protected]. Shockingly, even after 13-14 days the amount is yet to be credited to my bill. Due to this my bill, as I was told, has been generated with Rs 5, 000 of two months.

You say, whenever one tries to contact you on your call centre number, that you’re the best in the country, even I believed that you were the best. But going to the way of services that you provide to you customer, I think you are the worst in the world, not just in the country.

Now, if my complaint is not adhered to at the earliest, I will drag you all in the court.

Thanks in advance, if my complaint is rectified

False Promotional Promises
I received a letter from Benjamin Soh, Prize AWARD Administrator, and "5 Big Cheques" Status confirmed 1% Card informing me about an "attractive offer" from Readers Digest for their special presentation ceremony with most compelling personalities like Michelle yeoh and David Beckham . The offer included a "Grant Prize Rm 200, 000, Super Bonus prize of Rm 20, 000, Multi - prizes Rm 150, 000 and President's Prize Rm 10, 000" by "simply mailing the sweepstakes documents to Reader's Digest". The offer also mentioned "winning a car by responding to the special subscription offer within the next 7 days" and also "free surprise gifts JUST for subscribing". I applied for the offer and paid through my SBI credit card.The subscription money was debited in my Jan'11 statement. The first magazine was also received in Jan'11. However there was neither any intimation about the promised prizes (who won them ???) nor were the assured free gifts "JUST for subscribing" delivered. To add insult to injury Readers Digest this month sent me the Feb'11 edition of the magazine alng with that of Dec'10 ! Apparently they didn't know where to dump their old left over Dec'10 magazines. such cheap promotions? Why is May bank supporting such promotions ??? I have keep all the SBI letter and will released to Sweepstakes Director, Reader's Digest.