ComplaintsforMediaAlpha

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The date of the transaction was July 7, 2023. The company claim to be a healthcare marketplace and that they provide healthcare policies. This was done over the phone and they charge $327.90 to my credit card. I tried calling back several times to get a refund immediately after realizing I have been duped . I told them that I suspected that the company was fraudulent, they refused to speak with me whenever I would ask for a refund. I got hung up on four times. I have included a copy of their website. The toll-free number is **************. They go under the affordable healthcare/Obamacare. The website is Obamacareplans.com. They gave me a temporary policy number of S 176-8339.. my bank says the only thing that they could tell me about them is that they are out of *****. They text the following information to me and advised to click on the link to authorize the charge which I did. The phone number that the text came from is ************* (see the text below ):********, To complete your health plan enrollment, please click here. ********************************* Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

  Business response

  07/17/2023

  Please note that MediaAlpha does not issue policies or collect money from consumers.  We also do not have live operators.  The MediaAlpha Exchange is meant to connect consumers with insurance brokers and carriers, who can help consumers find the policy they need.  

  We understand that an advertiser in our exchange has charged you money, and you are looking for a refund.  We have reached out to the brokers we connected you with and are asking them to contact you or simply refund your money.  As we have not received indication from the broker that this was resolved, we will continue to follow up with them.

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  01/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This company is using my phone number and selling it to insurance agents and/or robo-call centers. Upon a request of an erasure of all my contact information through an online form, I have yet to have the issue resolved.I am receiving numerous malicious and annoying calls (***** calls per day). And I would like them to put an end to the harassment. While technically their business practices may be legal, it allows them to sell my information for profit and have shell companies harass me without any repercussions to their credibility. They do not deserve such a high rating on BBB as they are actively profiting off of harassment by proxy.

  Business response

  02/21/2023

  Based on the phone number provided, this user completed a form on our website and consented to his information being shared with third-party advertisers.  However, his information was never sold to any third party. Therefore, any calls he is getting are from interactions unrelated to MediaAlpha.  We did delete the user's information and added him to our do not contact list.  But given that we have not and are not selling his information. there is nothing further we can do to assist the user.

  Customer response

  02/21/2023

   
  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

  01/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I logged on to ************************************ today in search of information. Since then I have received fofty calls from telemarketers. I have emailed them twice, filled out their "Do not contact me" form three times, and called three times (each time I was hung up on).

  Business response

  02/04/2023

  This user submitted a Do Not Contact and a Data Deletion request on 1/12.  These were both completed on 1/13, and any advertisers were notified on that date.  As we have not heard further from this user, we trust that his request has been fully satisfied and this complaint was unnecessary.

• Initial Complaint

  01/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I have asked multiple times ( over 20 times) to be taken off their call list. They have multiple agents at 1 call center... as soon as I say no and ask to be taken off their call list, they agree over the phone verbally but 1 minute afterwards, they have someone else call from a different phone number at that same call center. It's harassment. They agreed to stop yesterday and today early morning, they are starting to harass me again. I want them to stop, furthermore, this is happening to a lot of people I imgagine and doesn't seem like an appropriate way of conducting business - to harass people every minute of the day with phone calls. F*** those ghetto a** people at that call center!If you go to their website and enter in your information, you will see exactly what I'm talking about.

  Business response

  01/18/2023

  This user did not make any request directly to AffordableCareCalifornia.org or MediaAlpha. Any requests made during a phone call would have been to a third party advertiser (though that advertiser should then have notified us, which they did not). We will contact the relevant advertisers to ensure they are following proper policies and procedures.
  
  In the meantime, we have processed this user's do not contact request, and will notify advertisers of the same.
  
  in the future, please make requests directly at our *************** which is linked from the footer on every page of our site.

  Customer response

  01/24/2023

  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  I made several requests. It is a lie that they say I have not made any requests to them directly. I even asked to speak with Supervisors to ensure proper action would be taken. It never was handled properly, adversely, I was harassed by phone call after phone call. I have the names if people who harassed me as well if that helps narrow down where I was complaining and requesting to be taken off the call list.
  
  I'm sure this company does this upon every complaint... just claim it was 3rd party. Bottom line is it didn't stop when I asked multiple times. I'm still getting phone calls every now and then and am just ignoring it.
  
  It's apparent this company knows its legal loopholes and how to get out of trouble. It's a shame this company will most likely keep doing this and claim innocence to any complaints by pointing the finger at their 3rd party vendors.
  
  I hope they keep getting BBB complaints by others not wanting to be harassed but it seems like nothing will be done to really stop their s***** business tactics.

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  While ****** searching for ********** insurence, the first hit was ******************************** thinking this was an offical site (not seeing it was an AD) I started to seek a quote. Thats all, just to see what the price points are at. After submitting my infomation, I was FLOODED with calls from every insurance provider. When I say they called me...I mean called me... approx every 10mins since yesterday... I woke up this am with over 50 missed calls...I called the main 800 number requesting that they take my number off any call list, only to have them hangup on me, so I was hoping that**** could step in and do something here? Its to the point that I have sigened up for ************************* however that is not working. My number is for my small business, so I fear that I could be missing important calls because I am heavily screening. Anything you can do would be appreciated here! -***********

  Business response

  01/19/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/12/28) */ The user's Do Not Contact request was processed within 24 hours, however he filed this complaint before receiving that confirmation. The website clearly discloses in multiple places that it is not a government site, and any ads on ****** are clearly labeled as Ads. We do however connect thousands of users with insurance carriers and brokers who successfully help them find the coverage they need.

• Initial Complaint

  11/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I'm receiving over TWENTY...TWENTY...that's right, 20...two zero, phone calls per day from this company wanting me to buy cremation and burial insurance. It's for seniors. I'm 40!!!! I have tried to tell them to remove my number but they just hang up on me. I try to speak fast, and they will not acknowledge me and again, hang up. I have NEVER given them permission to call me. I read the past complaints on BBB. I have never been on healthcare.com. I have told the telephone agents to remove my number back in late August 2022, it's now November 2022! They wouldn't even tell me who they were with! I would ask over and over again. The agents would say, we're with Mutual of Omaha. They sell and want to transfer me to Mutual of Omaha, but they are NOT mutual of Omaha. They are lying. I have recorded many of the phone calls as I'm in Colorado and Colorado is a one party state!

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/11/22) */ This is a case of mistaken identity. The user cites ************** - this site is not owned or operated by MediaAlpha. Further, we have no record of any interaction with this user, other than him making a Data Deletion request, which we honored even though we did not previously have his information. Please remove this complaint from our business profile. thank you Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/12/22) */ They are lying. They just called again and confirmed they were from MediaAlpha. I recorded the call and have sent the call to the Colorado Attorney General! Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/12/22) */ They are lying. They just called again and confirmed they were from MediaAlpha. I recorded the call and have sent the call to the Colorado Attorney General! Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/12/22) */ They are lying. They just called again and confirmed they were from MediaAlpha. I recorded the call and have sent the call to the Colorado Attorney General! Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/12/22) */ They are lying. They just called again and confirmed they were from MediaAlpha. I recorded the call and have sent the call to the Colorado Attorney General!

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  This is a case of mistaken identity. The user cites healthcare.com - this site is not owned or operated by MediaAlpha.
  
  Further, we have no record of any interaction with this user, other than him making a Data Deletion request, which we honored even though we did not previously have his information.
  
  Please remove this complaint from our business profile.
  thank you

  Customer response

  12/22/2022

  They are lying. They just called again and confirmed they were from MediaAlpha. I recorded the call and have sent the call to the ******** Attorney General!

• Initial Complaint

  11/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  11/16/2022 Though the company's official name is MediaAlpha, it is operated by ************* and the website is *********************** The website is misleading upon first look, making users think it operates on behalf of the state of*********, though it does give a disclaimer in fine print at the bottom of the page. Shortly after entering your phone number for a health insurance quote, you become inundated with phone calls, repeatedly. I received over 30 phone calls from this company in a span of 15 minutes. After answering the 20th call, the marketer claimed to work for the state of*********. I asked them repeatedly if they worked for a third party and they said no and assured me they worked for the state. After asking for my information I let them know I already had health insurance and they accused ME of wasting THEIR time, then hung up on me. I then called their main number and asked to have my number removed. I kept receiving calls and asked 4 different representatives to remove my number. One of them cussed at me, one of them just screamed into the phone and all of them hung up on me. I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor and was hung up on. These calls will not stop coming to my phone and blocking each number does not help, as the numbers this company calls from keep changing. There is definitely illegal activity happening here that needs to stop.

  Business response

  12/21/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/12/06) */ Just want to clarify that calls would be coming from advertisers, not *********MediaAlpha. And thus, any request this user made to be removed from a call list was made to advertisers directly. Upon receiving this complaint from****, the user was added to ********** Do Not Call list, and all advertisers were notified. We expect that calls have ceased or substantially decreased at this point. If not, the user can contact us at **************** so that we can be of further assistance. For future reference, requests can also be made through our Privacy Center. ************************************************************

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Signed up to get health insurance information and have been receiving terroristic threats by one insecure employee who calls me from different numbers despite me being asked to be removed from all the lists. Person made threats to me and my family after telling them that they called me and I want of the call list. Contacted company via phone was advised that wasn't their number, no way to contact the company and I will be filing a police report if this continues I don't want contracted BY ANY AFFILIATED COMPANIES since this is how they act

  Business response

  12/09/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/11/21) */ Contact Name and Title:***************, Deputy GC Contact Phone: ********** Contact Email: ******************** This user submitted information and requested to be contacted by insurance providers. On November 3, she requested that we no longer contact her. We process this request and responded to the user within 2 hours. We also notified any providers who we had shared her information with. We are sorry to hear of the harassment and foul language and are investigating with our advertisers to ensure that the individual responsible no longer is placed in contact with our users.

• Initial Complaint

  10/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I filled out information on this website believing that it was the healthcare comparison site. Instead of providing the promised healthcare plans to compare, it took my information and then distributed it to countless healthcare companies who have been repeatedly calling me. These calls are non-stop and this company is clearly only a marketing front. Furthermore, when I called the company to request that they remove my information, they hung up on me. I would like confirmation that my data has been deleted and that any partners will also no longer receive any of my information. The email used with this company was *******************

  Business response

  11/17/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/11/01) */ This user completed a form on our site and consented to be contacted by our advertisers on 10/17. On 10/18, she requested that we cease contact. This request was completed within 24 hours of request. She was also notified that her request was completed. However, before we had a chance to complete the request, she had already filed her complaint here. I would request that this complaint be withdrawn since the user was granted her desired resolution within 24 hours of request.

• Initial Complaint

  09/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up through their site, and immediately started to receive solicitation calls which I had not agreed to. I received 26 calls within 1.5 hours, amounting to harassment. I began to pick up the calls and ask to be removed from any call lists, but this is still ongoing nearly 2 hours after the fact. I have unsubscribed from their list and written to them, but this is an absolute abuse of someone simply trying to understand what public healthcare options exist.

  Business response

  10/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/29) */ As the consumer acknowledges, he or she signed up through our site and consented to receive phone calls from agents who could help find the healthcare options that would best fit his or her needs. We received a request to withdraw consent to be contacted on September 15. That request was processed at 2:00 am on September 16, and any partners who we shared the consumer's information with were also notified. However, this complaint appears to have been filed immediately after making the request to us, thus we did not even have a chance to satisfy the request. If the consumer has continued issues, he or she can reach us directly at********************

*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. ↩