Is this legal? Magazine Ad Contract?

[just me]

I have a small business and advertised in a local magazine. At the time I was told I could cancel at anytime and later found out it was a 1 year contract. Sales rep had a laptop and had me sign it. I didn't get a copy of the contract until I called the company a few months later and had them fax me a copy. So, I stuck it out for a year and now that the contract is over I get a new bill for another monthly charge, a higher dollar amount than I was paying before. They claim that the contract "automatically renews" at the end of the year unless I call and cancel. Is there such a thing? and is it legal? Why make me sign for a year then?

[Marci]

Those terms were probably included in your first contract and you might have missed it. It is legal if it is the first contract you signed unfortunately. Norton Symantec (among many other companies) is famous for doing this, if you buy your product and activate it online, the auto renewal kicks in. It is next to impossible to get them to stop charging because you can't even contact the right people. So it is legal, but is a bad business decision on their part to operate this way. Check your first contract to see if the terms are in there.