Elyria woman signed up for a wine club membership she didn't order

ELYRIA, Ohio - Blossom Walker of Elyria admits she doesn't like wine. Blossom would rather drink a wide variety of other beverages when she sits by her swimming pool, but wine is not one of them.

Just four weeks ago, Blossom had a large package delivered to her home, but was left puzzled, as she tried to guess what was inside the big box. When she finally opened the package that weighed about 40 pounds, she was stunned to find an entire case of wine inside.

Blossom discovered she had been signed up for a wine club membership that she never ordered. Blossom called 5 On Your Side Troubleshooter Joe Pagonakis, wondering what she should do next.

The case of wine was worth $198 and Blossom wanted to make sure she wasn't going to be charged for the bottles. She contacted the wine company and reported the problem, but Blossom said the customer service representative still asked her if she wanted to keep the order.

Blossom refused, and asked the company to send her a shipping lable, so she could return the wine to the person that actually ordered the wine club membership. Blossom said weeks later, she was still waiting for the shipping lable. Troubleshooter Joe Pagonakis instructed Blossom to call the wine company one more time, and ask for a customer service supervisor.

One week later, Blossom was finally sent the shipping label she was looking for and the wine was returned to the proper owner.  

Blossom reacted correctly, carefully looking at all of her credit card accounts and statements, making sure she wasn't charged for the wine membership. She also examined her credit report to insure criminals hadn't opened a new account in her name, which could have been used to order the wine club membership.

If you are signed up for a membership you didn't order, or receive merchandise you didn't ask for, communicate with the company immediately.  It's also important to follow-up days later to make sure the membership has been cancelled, so you don't get a surprise in your credit card statement the following month.