ComplaintsforBradenton Herald

• Initial Complaint

  03/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I received renewal for July 30'23 and extended for 17 weeks. I cancelled my paper in Oct '23 but they continued to deliver until sometime in Dec. (I called to let them know but no response.) I kept receiving renewal notices and would call and check pricing but continued to say no to renewal. All of a sudden, I received a bill for $73.10. Then I called to dispute the bill (the Bradenton herald is always prepay) , I spoke to ******, ******, *****, and numerous other "phone employees". No one would give me a supervisor and now they have reported me to a collection agency ! I visited the Bradenton Herald office in downtown Bradenton, to find it empty and a note on the door they had moved - even the *************** didn't know that ! I have emailed thru the Chamber and made a call to all extensions of the phone numbers listed for the Herald - NO ONE answers and must leave voice mail - No one answers ! After being a Bradenton Herald customer for over 20 years, this is despicable !!!

  Business response

  03/22/2024

  Thank you for your message to The Bradenton Herald. We are sorry to hear about your customer experience. Our records do show a note on your account 10/30/23. However, a cancelation was not processed on the account at the same time of the call 10/30/23. As of today, 3/22/24, your account has been cleared with the Bradenton Herald and ARM Solutions.

  Please note, ARM Solutions is a non-reporting collection company and this will not appear on any credit report.

  Please feel free to contact us at ************ or **************************************** if you have any questions or concerns.

  Thank you

  Customer response

  03/25/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  Thank you very much for your help !!
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Rippoff newspaper does not cancel when you ask, then sends to collections 2/14/24. Got call from collections to pay for Bradenton Herald. Told them Id was cancelled in October or November. Said I 'd even had my cc company charge back ***** from a billing on 11/18 . On 2/14/24 called Bradenton Herald about collections call. Told them not only about charge $***** credit card charge off but they billed me for .88 on same day. Demanded they call collections and withdraw this from collections. **************** Y 526 said he will have someone call me back as I have a zero balance. I doubt I will ever hear from this shoddy business and will never subscribe again. Customer Service Phone is **************.

  Business response

  02/16/2024

  Thank you for your message to the Bradenton Herald. We have looked at *********************** account and are showing a cancellation request effective on November 14,2023 and the account was officially cancelled on November 19,2024. We sincerely apologize the auto pay renewal was not stopped at this time. We received information on December 2, 2023 that customer disputed the charge on November ******* with the credit card company and this caused for the balance to be owed for service on the account from 10/14/2023 to 11/14/2023 in the amount of $15.99. As of today, February 16, 2024 we have put the account to a $0.00 balance owed and closed the account with A.R.M. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our *************************** at ************. Thank you,

  Customer response

  02/18/2024

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  Although I specifically asked for this, there is no mention about withdrawing this mistake from their collections agency and no mention if this error was reported to any of the credit reporting bureaus.  If so, how will that mistake be corrected?  What does this mean;   "and closed the account with A.R.M"?  If that is their collections agency, have they reported an erroneous default to any of the credit bureaus?  If so, what action will be taken?
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Business response

  02/20/2024

  Thank you for your reply to The Bradenton Herald. Please note, ARM Solutions is a non-reporting collection company. This will not appear on any credit report. Please look for a separate email, which will be a letter showing the balance has been cleared with ARM.

  Please feel free to contact us at ************ if you have any further questions or concerns.

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  02/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Paid subscription for 1 yr by check in the mail on Nov 17,2023 for $365.88 Was sent a second bill on on Dec 4th saying they did not receive called **** serv said it was not received sol paid over the phone by debit card for $365.88. That nite our check we sent cleared. Called the next day to ask for the money to be refund and was told they did not give refunds. I said I want my money back because I paid twice they .Was told they had to talk to finance they said they refund this time. called today said they refunded $148.59 said it was sent Jan2,2024. I said did not receive. they said check with your bank. I did receive that amount today Feb 2,2024. but this check was dated Jan25,2024 .and was told that was all the were going to refund me!

  Business response

  02/02/2024

  Thank you for contacting the Bradenton Herald. The account for ******************************* has been reviewed. We apologize that the 2nd payment from your account was not refunded correctly and in a timely manner. The remaining refund amount of $217.29 has been sent to the finance department to be processed. You should receive an email from ***************************** once you get this email you can click the link and enter your information to get your refund processed quickly into your account. If the email is not responded within a certain time period then a check will be issued to you and mailed out. I apologize that this issue occurred. Please call our customer service department if you have any further questions or concerns at *************. 

  Customer response

  02/03/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  12/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Trying to cancel a subscription ********** from the Bradenton ****** newspaper and I keep calling the number and every time I say I want to cancel. *** had two hangups and I have a lady thats refusing to cancel it re-absolutely refusing to cancel it. That was the third time I need help to cancel my subscription please because they will not cancel it.

  Business response

  12/17/2023

  Thank you for your message to The Bradenton Herald. Our records show you signed up for a digital subscription 12/15/23 for the promotional rate of $1.00. This payment pays for 12/15/23-1/14/24. The agent has processed your request to cancel the subscription on the expiration date. At this time, the account is set to ******/14/24.

  Please feel free to contact us at ************ or **************************************** if you have any further questions or concerns.

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  12/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I will try this again. I have a digital subscription with The Bradenton Herald. Last year in 2022 I was charged ***** for my 2023 subscription. This year I was looking at my credit card statement and saw a ***** charge from The Bradenton Herald on Nov 27th. I would not pay that kind of money for a digital subscription. I have been going back and forth with them for the last week both by email and phone even talking to a supervisor with all of them telling me no refunds. The agreement says no refunds but also says I should have been given at least a 30 day notice of a rate change. I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY NOTICE ABOUT ANY RATE CHANGE. I have enclosed the agreement that you can read. I would have cancelled my subscription if I would have know about the price increase. I would like a full refund of $***** Thank You ********************* ********************* **********

  Business response

  12/07/2023

  Thank you for contacting the Bradenton Herald. The account for ********************* has been updated and changed to the previous discounted rate of $49.99 for 52weeks. A refund request for the difference has been sent to the finance department to refund $46. A customer service agent offered to put sub back on $49.99 the subscriber agreed and will receive a refund for the difference. We are looking into the matter of ********************* not receiving the increase letter advising him of the price change. We apologize and will work to ensure this is corrected. If you have any questions please contact our customer service department at ************.

  Customer response

  12/09/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The Bradenton Herald has provided poor delivery for years. I left messages and the Bradenton Herald news room message at The Bradenton Herald they somehow adjusted my bill to be $5.34. The billing department states its $41 a month. No one will call me back from The Bradenton Herald and the billing department never has a supervisor available on the telephone.

  Business response

  06/15/2023

  Thank you for contacting the Bradenton Herald. The account for ******************* has been reviewed the last several payments made have only been for the print bill fee. The renewal notice has a section for payment options giving options from 8 weeks to 52 weeks and the amount owed for each. There is a balance due on the account because the incorrect amount is being sent in. Our Customer Experience Specialist tried calling the number on file today 6/15/2023 but the phone rang with no option to leave a message. An email was sent to the email address given on this complaint. A renewal payment was due on 5/29/2023. You can call our customer service department at *********** or mail in your renewal notice along with a full payment for the option of your choice. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Invoice dated Feb, 19/2023 Complaint: Bradenton Herald The Bradenton Herald started to deliver their news paper to my address, without notifying or an authorization from me. In fact they started delivery BEFORE I ever returned to *******. When I received an invoice from the Herald I phoned immediately and expressed to them that I did NOT authorize it, and I would NOT be paying for it.The paper continued, and an invoice would arrive in the mail. EVERY SINGLE time, I immediately phoned, and I returned the invoice stating as such.On the last phone call, the representative read his form stating that the call may be recorded, and I told him, let me stop you right there as I too am recording this conversation. I explained to him, the same story as above. He said, I understand, and the amount would be taken off the bill, and it would now appear at zero.I again received another invoice from the Herald in the amount of $55.15, and IF, I did not pay the bill, they would turn it into collections. Which they have now done.Every time I received an invoice I called and also returned the invoice stating everything on the invoice AGAIN!NO ONE is listening, and they have ignored every phone call and letter. And now they are going to ruin my credit! And this over something I did NOT order or authorize.I have been contacted by A.R.M. Solutions at P.O. Box ****, *********, ********** 93011-**** concerning this debt, that I do NOT owe. Please help with solving this dilemma.Thank You,************************* ************

  Business response

  04/14/2023

  Thank you for your message to The Bradenton Herald. Our records show there was a payment poste on 2/6/23 for $5.34. We are sorry to hear you requested to cancel and the stop was not processed. The notes on 2/13/23 indicate the possibility of getting a Sunday only delivery. We apologize if this was not correct. As of today 4/14/23, the account has been cleared with Bradenton Herald and with ARM Solutions. Please note ARM is non-reporting credit company. This will not appear on any credit report.

  Please feel free to contact us at ************ or **************************************** if you have any further questions or concerns.

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  03/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We are snowbirds who in previous ******* in Bradenton had ordered, paid for, and received the Herald. This winter we did NOT request delivery of the Herald. They did send us an invoice for the Herald proposed service but did not deliver any newspapers until early January when we received the newspaper for three consecutive days. We telephoned and explained that we had at no time requested delivery of the newspaper. No further newspapers were received. We were informed on January 26, 2023 that incident #Y0525 cleared the account leaving no balance. On January 30 we received a call requesting $57.46 to which we replied that there was no balance and we did not wish to receive the paper. On Feb 5, 23 Herald "renewal" called and suggested that they would be charging our credit card - presumably for the same $57.46. I objected strenuously and said any such action would result in a letter to the BBB. To date that charge has not happened.However, a week ago we received a collection letter from ARM Solutions claiming that we owe the Bradenton Herald $57.46 for account 16965661.I am disappointed with the Herald. The actual newspaper is of quite good quality BUT the business practices are discourage any involvement with this business.As settlement, we would be satisfied with clearance of any debt on our part and no further contact from the Herald.*********************

  Business response

  04/13/2023

  We apologize for this and the balance of $ ***** has been cleared from the account and ARM Solutions have been notified this has been cleared also.

   

  Thank you,

  Bradenton Herald

• Initial Complaint

  12/27/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We have had 4 times a delivery problem, the problem did not get solved as they said it would.Asked **** if we get get a paper delivered for that day,we did not get it until the following Saturday and it was a Thursday paper not The Friday which we did not get.Dec 26,2022 no paper, spoke with ******,asked if they where delivering a paper today, she was not sure, will check , I said could you please send us one, yes she said between 9 am and 2 pm, did not get a paper.They both said that they will credit the account and that my delivery will be extended.I told them both that is not possible since we leave on April 11th 2023 I need to know when I come back in the fall Oct 2023 that I will have a Credit sitting with Bradenton Herald to have a paper delivered free of charge.Thank you sure hope we can get this resolved

  Business response

  12/30/2022

  To: BBB
  
  Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Its important that we hear from our customers when they are not satisfied with the services. We have received the complaint on 12/30/22 with assigned ID #********
  Account #******** - *****************************
  Dear Subscriber;
  We have forwarded your information/concerns to the Carrier's Leader and the Distribution Manager for the delivery issues you are experiencing.  Thank you for reporting the repeated problem.  We are working on the delivery issues per the Distributor. The account was credited for the missed papers on 12/23/22 and 12/26/22.

  Customer Care Department

  McClatchy Newspapers

  
  
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On 10/27/22 check number **** for **** was paid in full and canceled the paper.talked to *************************** told me zero balance . We are still getting the paper and we do not want to charged for a paper we canceled all ready

  Business response

  11/15/2022

  We apologize for the delivery error.  We will notify the carrier immediately to stop delivery.  The account has been cleared of any balance owing.   

  Customer response

  11/15/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I like to add the account is in my wifes name ************************ not sure if it makes a difference but the address is correct . Thank you 
  
  Sincerely, *******************
  
  ********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩