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Business Profile

Newspaper

Lakeland Ledger

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Lakeland Ledger's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Lakeland Ledger has 2 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 9 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/30/2024

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On August 20, 2024, I received a letter stating that there would be an adjustment to my billing date, and there might be a slight adjustment in the amount that I would pay (current payment was $26). I look at my online bank statement today (8/31) and they took a payment of *****! I am a senior citizen on social security and every ***** of my check is accounted for. Thirty dollars ($30) is half of my food budget for the month. When I cancelled and asked for a refund the girl tells me they don't give refunds. When I asked for the supervisor, she states she is the supervisor.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/21/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On August 11, 2023 I was called by the Ledger telemarketing sales rep. I was offered 9.99 per month for the online edition and I declined that offer as it was quite a step increase from the 9.99 per year i had just a few months earlier. I explained to the girl what I had and she said she would check if I could still get that 9.99 per year and then said yes I could. i agreed to the subscription and after one month on 9/12 i got a notice on my credit card i was charged agian for 9.99. i called and spoke to Jake at customer service and he said he couldn't help me but a supervisor would call me back. i waited a week and no call. i called today 9/18 and spoke to another rep and he said he could not help either and i was able to speak to a supervisor named Leo. (they don't give last names). He understood my issue and said they do not give refunds. I asked that if they had recorded the sales call (and he said they do) they could see i was lied to but he still said no refunds are allowed and my account was cancelled per my request and that was all i could do. i asked for a contact to his supervisor but he couldn't provide me a phone number (imagine that). So regardless how I was scammed there is no recourse for me. I expect to receive better customer service from a reputable company. As a matter of fact, I retired from this same company as the Circulation Operations Manager in 2012. I am fully aware of how newspapers circulation departments/customer service departments/telemarketing departments etc. used to operate in a reputable manner. It is a real shame that they now will commit fraud and completely ignore your complaint without any satisfaction. I hope you can communicate my disgust with the Gannet Newspaper Groups local paper here in Lakeland, Florida called the Lakeland Ledger how very wrong and probably illegal the way they lie and take your money without recourse! If you need anything else from me, just ask. Thanks for any help.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/07/2023

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I have had delivery issues with the Ledger for three months with NO HELP from their "customer service" representatives. They are all offshore.They have my money but I can't get my paper delivered.Have they gone out of business?

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/18/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I Moved on 9/11/22 & requested paper delivery to my new address. I Pay in advance & the Monthly subscription cost has Deducted from my bank account on 9/20/22, again in November, again on 1/17/23. Three months paid after moving. Have never received a paper at the new address. After week 1, I began calling the Ledger, no less than 20 complaints have been filed, each ending in promise of delivery tomorrow. Requested supervisor & corporate information, but was always refused. I’ve been told “we don’t deliver in that area (I see papers lying in driveways across from me); I’ve been told I have to call every day, and I question why, 20+ complaints should be enough. Also, I can’t see we’ll enough to read from my phone, so I drive every day to get a paper, costing more for the paper itself, plus my time & gas/vehicle expense. The Ledger Should either deliver the paper to new address with 3 months credited, or refund the money.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/16/2022

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On Dec 1, 2022 I called the Lakeland Ledger to resolve my father's issues about not receiving the Lakeland Ledger and the News Chief. The lady looked into the account noticed my mother had called numerous times concerning the same issue beginning in October 2022. She apologized and said she would pass the information on. I then asked if perhaps the subscriptions had expired could that be the reason for the papers not being delivered. She confirmed the Lakeland Ledger was good thru June 2023 yet the News Chief had lasped. I paid $600 to renew the News Chief , which she said would be delivered the following day. No delivery. Called back next day. Explained no paper. Yet another apology and forward the information. Papers arrived on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nothing on Wednesday. Thursday drove to the Lakeland offer to find the Lobby closed. Called again while sitting in the parking lot. Recieved another apology and another promised to pass on the information. I told her I knew the name of the carrier as they had sent a Christmas card to my dad. She said that information wasn't available at her end yet included it her report. No paper Wednesday, Thursday . Started again on Friday yet today mom texted no paper my dad is ******. Dad is 90 , looks forward to getting the papers daily. He is old school and enjoys the actual feel of the paper in his hands. He is the same way with his books. The Lakeland Ledger offers home delivery then they should find reliable people to provide that service. The person delivering his paper doesn't even live in Winter Haven. Not once did customer service offer to extend or reimburse my dad for papers not recieved. From what I read here cancelling the delivery may take an act from a higher being. My dad serviced this country proudly for 29yrs in the USMC and is a Vietnam veteran, the least the Lakeland Ledger can do is deliver his paper daily. I have sent an email regarding this issue to the Lakeland Ledger as well.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/12/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      My husband passed away 11/9/21, shortly after paying a year's subscription to The Lakeland Ledger. I stopped the subscription on 11/18/21, and was told that a refund of $325.16 was due me and would be sent. I have not received it. I have called them 8 times, initiated a Live Chat 1 time, written 2 emails, sent 1 letter, and filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Ledger has not returned 1 single contact attempt, and did not respond to the FDA's request. I have been given conflicting information over the phone, all of which were untrue. I even tried to go speak to someone in person, but their door was locked, with a sign instructing me to call a number. Again, no one has ever responded to my attempts to clear up this matter.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/11/2022

      Type:Delivery Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On October 11th I wrote a check to **************** (Ledger) for $128,14 for the newspaper to be delivered. I have not received one. My bank has received the check. I have called and written numerous times. (perhaps 20). They promise to look into the problem but I have no results. I have asked to talk to a supervisor, but they say I can't.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/14/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Subscription Information Subscription Account #: ********* Subscription Title: The Ledger Subscription Type: Print + Digital Delivery Type: 7-Day Delivery Initial Payment Term: 1 month Auto-Renew: Yes Total Charge: $23.65- none of the above was explained to me when I signed up.NONE of it! Shady, dishonest company. I had zero idea that I was signing up for a 23.65/month newspaper when a young man at*******'s grocery store asked me if i wanted to sign up for $5 and receive $45 worth of coupon. I said sure, thinking it was no more than $5/month. I received no newspaper for four months and no coupons, but I was charged over $90 for those months and all they could do was launch an investigation to see if I'd received those newspapers or not and if they decided I had then I'd get no refund. What a dishonest, underhanded way to run a company. unbelievable. I'd never recommend the ledger to anyone and I'll continue to tell people to go anywhere else for news. And as part owner of a company, I see a lot of people.

    Lakeland Ledger is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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