ComplaintsforDaily Breeze

• Initial Complaint

  08/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Last month I noticed an unfamiliar transaction debited from my bank account only to realize it had been recurring every month for more at least two years. It was originally a much smaller amount (thirtysometing dollars), but recent debits were $79.93!! I googled and searched online only to find other complaints about this company making mysterious charges on other peoples accounts, including on the newspapers yelp page and Reddit.The transaction description is intentionally vague to allow them to scam people like this. I had to ****** MNG METRO PPD ID to figure out what this was.I called my bank and so far they o my reversed three of the smaller, earlier charges. I called the newspaper on August 6 and finally got someone to confirm they canceled the account after much arguing about how I had never even opened a subscription with them.Well today I logged into my online banking app to see a NEW charge, this time for $199.84 (!!!), and with a new description next to it but the same code (I am entering it in the account field below) that seems to be unique to me every time they steal money from me. This time the transaction is called ****** ENTRY DESCR:BD SEC PPD ORIG IDThe below dollar amount is the total of all transactions debited from my account by MNG METRO in the last two years. The file attached shows two years worth of debits that I downloaded from my bank account for a subscription I NEVER opened with some little local newspaper Ive never even heard of. They have the gall to charge me more than the *** or LAT charge me!!HOW IS THIS COMPANY ALLOWED TO DO THIS AND CONTINUE OPERATING BY STEALING PEOPLES MONEY IN THIS MANNER? I will be calling both my bank and the newspaper tomorrow.

  Business response

  08/23/2024

  I have made contact with the customer and we have reached a resolution. The customer has my contact info should there be any questions or concerns regarding this matter. 

• Initial Complaint

  01/10/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been a subscriber to daily breeze off and on for over two decades. Sometimes I don't renew or I cancel my subscription because I find myself reading the news from other sources. Last month, December 18, 2023, I saw a $1.00 for six months promotion and signed up. A day later, TWO, $14.00 charges were pending on my credit card. I immediately Emailed them and to date, (1/08/2024), the issue has NOT been resolved with the customer service department simply telling me (via emails), they haven't heard back from their ******************* Then, this morning, I see ANOTHER pending $14.00 charge! I immediately called customer service and was told "we don't give refunds". This $1.00 promotion has cost me hours in trying to get these charges reversed. I will go through my bank and report the charges as unauthorized but I will never subscribe to the dailybreeze again and they should not be allowed to continue with these deceptive/fraudulent business practices.

  Business response

  01/12/2024

  I have spoke with the customer and resolved her complaint. The customer has my phone number should there be any questions or concerns. 

• Initial Complaint

  12/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I called to cancel my subscription to the Daily Breeze on ***** after realizing the renewal occurred while I was out of the country. I found it surprising that they do not prorate the price if you cancel within a reasonable amount of time. They also do not give credit to your account for the vacation holds, which I do not understand. If we are not using the paper, and we acknowledge it ahead of time, I think it is only fair to credit your account. As of today, I am stuck paying the $469.05 amount through March since they will not prorate the amount. I am a huge newspaper fan, but cannot keep paying these outrageous prices.

  Business response

  01/03/2024

  We have applied a credit for the duration of the vacation. We would like to speak with the customer directly in regards to the rate and refund policy.  A message has been left on the subscriber's voicemail with a call back number. 

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I put a vacation hold on my paper for ********************************* the full amount (automatic billing). I placed the Vacation Hold via my phone and nowhere did it tell me I would still be charged for the papers. They bill 2 months at a time. $155.27/2 months.

  Business response

  09/08/2023

  We apologize for any confusion there may have been regarding your vacation hold. The Daily Breeze does not offer vacation credits however you do have access to read your paper online using the eEdition. 

  I will go ahead and credit your account for the 18 day hold.  Please let me know if there is anything else I may do for you.  

  Customer response

  09/09/2023

   
  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

  05/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  After the death of *******************, the subscriber to The Daily Breeze online news, I have canceled this subscription "5" times per telephone conversations. Actually speaking to a representative each time. On 1/3/23, 3/16/23, 4/12/23 and 5/15/23. Yet they continue to auto debit my checking account. The email that we used for this account is ******************** I am owed $10 for each month that they wrongly continue to debit my checking account. February through May, totaling $40.00. When I asked to be reimbursed, I was told that they have no refund policy. This is not an acceptable policy, especially after numerous conversations of the issue. The phone number to customer service that we used is ************.Thank You for your help,******************* Note; They also go by the name of Ming Metro on my bank statement.

  Business response

  05/31/2023

  I'm sorry to hear the paper was not canceled as requested.  Please know the account has been stopped and I will issue a refund back to the credit card on file for $40.00.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  

• Initial Complaint

  03/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have been a faithful subscriber of The Daily Breeze for 25 years. For most of those years, I have paid my subscription on an annual basis, in advance. I always considered it as a form of a yearly contract; I paid for a one year subscription in advance, and the newspaper would be delivered for the period of one year. My current term began on October 1, 2022 and it expires on September 30, 2023.On March 15, I received a notice from The Daily Breeze stating that they are implementing a surcharge due to supply chain issues. They state the surcharge will result in the shortening of my subscription term. The surcharge begins on April 1, 2023. I have never heard of a company imposing a surcharge after such item has been fully paid for. I offered them two options:1)The Daily Breeze can honor our existing one year agreement, not assess any surcharge or shortening of the term of my subscription. I will receive the newspaper through September 30, 2023. 2)The Daily Breeze can cancel my subscription on March 31, 2023, and send me a refund for one half of the amount I paid you on September 13, 2023. I paid $130.52, so the refund would be $65.26.The Daily Breeze has refused both options. I consider the surcharge a breach of contract.

  Business response

  03/24/2023

  Thank you for reaching out and allowing us an opportunity to address your concern.  Please know that we've made the necessary steps to ensure your subscription will not be shortened.

  Please let me know if there is anything else I may do for you.  

  Customer response

  03/25/2023

   
  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

  01/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The Daily Breeze is not allowing me to cancel my subscription until the month before my subscription ends in October, claiming that this is the only way I can cancel. It shouldn't be this difficult to cancel a subscription. My guess is that someone is counting on me to forget to cancel 9 months from now.

  Business response

  01/25/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2023/01/19) */ This account was paid for 26 weeks in September at a discounted rate of $6.00 which is non refundable. The account until February 21, 2023 and will stop at the end of expiration. Our intention is give you the service at which you already paid for. There's is no need to call back to cancel the subscription. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2023/01/20) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I would not have filed this complaint if there was no need to call back to cancel the subscription. I ended up resubscribing last year precisely because the subscription didn't automatically cancel and I was receiving notifications that my past due balance would be sent to collections if I didn't update my payment method. The representative I spoke to at the time said that they would remove those "late payments" if I renewed my subscription. When I called again on 01/19/2023 to cancel the renewed subscription, the representative said that they would remove my credit card information so that I wouldn't automatically get charged if I forgot to cancel, but that I would still need to call in a month before the expiration date of February 21, 2023 to actually cancelotherwise I would get into the same situation where I would owe a balance to the Daily Breeze. He specifically told me that the system didn't allow them to cancel subscriptions until a month before expiration. As a subscriber who previously forgot to cancel my subscription, I'm sure there are many others like me who forget to cancel and end up paying for additional months. This is the first time I've ever been told that it's impossible to cancel a subscription until the last month so I can only surmise that someone set the system up this way to maximize profits. Please, cancel my subscription ASAP. I don't care if I don't receive the service I paid for since I'm never going to read the Daily Breeze for the rest of my life. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2023/01/24) */ Thank you for the added information. We will pull the recordings and speak with the agent as needed. The account was already set to stop at expire and I apologize that was not explained correctly. Your account is now closed. IF there is anything else I can do to get you back as a subscriber, please let me know. Consumer Response /* (4200, 11, 2023/01/24) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I was just able to login to my account (#XXXXXXXXX) and it shows that the status of my subscription is "Active". Please, close my account.

• Initial Complaint

  11/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  ************************************** managing my financial affairs until she became ill. She canceled delivery of the Daily Breeze in June 2022. I paid the final bill of ******* which covered the final 4 weeks from 6/7 - 7/5/2022. The paper continued to arrive, although I requested serviced to end. On October 3, I received a "Final Notice" that I owed them ******* for payment of a newspaper I did not ask to receive. When I called the billing office, I was told that they had no record of a call to cancel, though they did have a record of a complaint for non-delivery in March 2020. My daughter passed **** last week, so she cannot dispute this matter with me. When I asked the customer service rep why they continued to send the paper after the 4-week paid subscription was up, she had no answer. She just kept saying that I owed the ******* for non-payment of services and that my account was suspended for non-payment on October 3. I received no bills prior to that date. I believe they are preying on my weakness ********************** and continued to send the paper to force me to pay for a service I had already canceled.

  Business response

  11/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/11/07) */ I spoke with the subscriber's son regarding the past due balance. I advised him the balance has been cleared and to disregard any billing. I apologized for the inconvenience. They have my phone number if they need additional assistance. Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/11/13) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) The appropriate response from the business is acceptable. They provided a contact name and phone number is case there are any future issues related to this matter. Consumer Response /* (-5, 8, 2022/11/13) */ Consumer supplied email: ***************

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I noticed a charge on my bank account recently that I did not authorize. I called the Daily Breeze to see why they had charged me and they report that I have and auto-subscription that auto renews. I advised them that I have never given permission for auto renewal and that I have not received a notice or a newspaper in several years. They stated that they have not received any complaints from me about not receiving a paper and I tried to explain to them, why would I call and complain about a paper that I did not know was supposed to come. In fact I advised them that just this year I have not received a paper and cannot remember when I last received a paper but I do know that since the pandemic I have not received a paper. I was told that they have an no refund policy to which as asked to speak to someone over the supervisor and I was not provided any person that I could speak with, no name, address or phone number of anyone over the supervisor. I have a Ring camera and I do have the ability to review my stored recording which will show that I have not been receiving any papers from them. I have not received a renewal statement or I would have called a long time ago.

  Business response

  11/07/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/27) */ I have spoken with the customer regarding the charges on the account. We agreed to a refund amount and it will be sent back to her credit card on file. She has my name and number for any questions or concerns.

• Initial Complaint

  10/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Paper not being delivered. From September 19th,2022 through October 3rd,2022, I have received the paper one time, on Friday September 23,2022. I called the Daily Breeze to cancel my subscription. I was transferred to a Manager. He assured me the delivery problem would be corrected by the weekend of September XX XXXX and gave me 2 months free subscription to stop me from canceling. Bottom line paper still not being delivered. My account number is XXXXXXXXX

  Business response

  10/19/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/10/18) */ I did speak with the customer regarding the delivery issues and was able to confirm delivery concerns had been resolved. The customer has my phone number for future contact. Consumer Response /* (2000, 10, 2022/10/19) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) The Daily breeze response is exactly what happened. My paper is being delivered again on a daily basis. I want to thank you for your help in getting this complaint resolved.

*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. ↩