[Resolved]  Reader's Digest — Scam Cheating using V.P.P - cheating consumers to pay involuntarily for subscription

I have been a subscriber for a few years and I have not renewed my subscription recently. I recently got a VPP from Delhi and a request to pay Rs 479 for the parcel. After reaching the post office, I was amused to see a small packet from Readers Digest measuring about 9x6 inches. I declined it, but before doing it, I managed a sneak peak inside to find some little diary. Subsequently, I saw an ad in last month's copy that Rs 479 is the price of an year's subscription and that you could "suggest a gift" to anyone. All you had to do is provide the name and address of any arbitrary stranger to RD and RD would send them a complimentary diary along with a request to pay the amount.

1. This seems like a violation of privacy for abusively using address information without consent.

2. This definitely leaves ambiguous the source of address. RD might just be picking it from their database.

3. It is downright unethical to force someone to pay for something not ordered. RD must first send a notification intimating that they would like to send you this via VPP and get you to pay for an year. This notice must be sent with acknowledgement due.

4. As the scheme lies currently, it seems that it is a perfect way to cheat consumers. It is very likely that most people would get cheated by this.

I am sure they would value whatever is inside the packet at Rs 479 and thus try to be legally right. But it is definitely illegal to sell something without the express consent of the buyer.