Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Cision US, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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• 

  Cision US, Inc.

  130 E Randolph St Fl 7 Chicago, IL 60601-6164

• 

  Cision US, Inc.

  89 Main St Andover, MA 01810

• 

  Cision US, Inc.

  12051 Indian Creek Ct Beltsville, MD 20705-1246

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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/06/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 was added to Cision's Media Database without my consent, and they refuse to remove me. I've submitted the "Opt-Out" form on their website, emailed *********************************** emailed *********************************** and called their support line with no resolution. At this point, I'm receiving 3-5 emails PER DAY from various PR firms, when I never consented to be added to this database from the beginning. This is a huge inconvenience, and the fact that they've completely ignored my requests to be removed from their database is a major red flag. As a former journalist, I've recommended Cision to PR professionals in the past, but I will never be recommending this company again. They're selling journalists' information without their consent, and they're contributing to a massive influx of spam email.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/11/2023

  Hello,

  Cision complies with data subject requests of which we become aware.  But in this case, emails were not received; they were going directly to junk.  We have removed the media contact from our database and are investigating further to ensure similar requests are not being missed.  Thank you for calling it to our attention.

  Cision Inc

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/17/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 been trying to cancel this account for months now, but they keep sending bills and threatening to send to collections. They must have an auto-renew on with no reminder. We have never used the service and simply want a refund for the amount we just paid to avoid collections.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/21/2023

  I received correspondence for complaint # ******** (***********************).  I am providing the following response on behalf of Cision Inc:
   
   
  Customers auto-renewal was handled properly, and the customer and ********************** are working together to ensure the customers use and benefit from the subscription are optimized. 
   
   
  Please advise of status confirmation/inquiry closure
   
  Thank you,
   
  *************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/21/2023

  Here is the response from Cision. They are making no effort to maximize what we paid for

   

  Hi *****, 
  
  
  Thank you for the update! The account's auto-renewal clause for next year has been stopped, which will prevent the account from renewing the contract that is currently active. The services you have will still be valid for your use until January 7th, **** if you choose to use them. 
  
  If you need anything else in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me. 
  
  
  Best,
  ***********************************
  

   

   

   

  Complaint: 19948643
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Business Response

  Date: 05/11/2023

  Hello,

   

  Cision maintains that the account was properly auto-renewed.  We offer a user-driven platform which remains available for the customer's use and benefit, and the account rep is available to provide assistance, as needed.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/26/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 organization used Cision's services in March of 2021 and paid for them in full. When we switched to a different provider, we canceled Cision's services in 2021. We are still getting bills from them, despite repeatedly telling them that we canceled their services long ago and I've asked them to remove us from their list many times, but to no avail - they just keep sending bills and not responding to my requests.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/13/2023

   
  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

  Date:02/06/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 canceled Cision's service two years ago. They keep trying to bill me. INVUS6011483530Feb 3, 2022Feb 3, 2022$1,380.00 INVUS6011508840Apr 7, 2022May 7, 2022$1,910.00 INVUS6011531301Jun 2, 2022Jul 2, 2022$905.00 *They need to understand we owe them zero, they need to stop contacting me to pay, and they need to delete our account completely.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/17/2023

  In response to ******************************** data-identifyelement="447" style="color: rgb(24, 50, 71); font-size: 14px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">

   

  Digital *************************** sent 3 press releases using our services in 2022 - January 26, March 30, and May 25, for which they owe and have not paid - $1,380, $1,190, and $905.00, respectively.  Invoices are attached.

   

  Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information.

   

  Thank you,

   

   

  *******************************

  Assistant **************************************identifyelement="497">

  o ************ 

  ****************************************************

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/07/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 used PR Newswire, which is now Cision, I think back in 2019 ONCE. Each year they continue to bill me for a yearly membership plan. Each year I continue to email and call them and they FAIL to respond in any way whatsoever. I have not been able to reach them at all - no one returns phone and emails. I have been told by many other consultants that this is normal for them. They bill you every year even if you don't use the service and you can't get a response to calls or emails. I'm very concerned they are going report this to a credit agency. This company is very shady and continues to try to trick consultants into paying a yearly fee for services people do not use. They seriously need to be investigated by the BBB. I want them to cancel my account and remove me from ALL of their records/database/financial information. Please help?

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2023

  From: ******************************* <**********************************************************>
  Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2023 1:20 PM
  To: ******************* <***********************************************>; ********************* <************************************************>
  Cc: *********************** <**************************************************>
  Subject: Re: Question about my Cision BBB account

  Hi Jaida,

  Regarding Case No. 18700625 -

  Cision has looked into the history with this account (********************* + Media) and we have credited the two unpaid invoices (January 2022 and January 2023) and cancelled the customers subscription.

  Thank you for your assistance with the other two responses.

  *******************************
  

  Assistant General Counsel

  o ************ 

  ****************************************************

   
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/13/2023

   
  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

  Date:01/06/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  We have not done any business with Cision for several years. We cancelled all of their services as of 2020 and received a confirming e-mail that our contract would not be auto-renewed. Despite this, Cision continues to invoice us for services we asked to have cancelled.We've received invoices, dated Dec. 2021 and Dec. 2022, requesting $249 per year for a so-called "image archive" service from Cision. When I first received the invoices, I thought they were phishing attempts, since it seemed like such a shady tactic. I checked the BBB Web site and saw that Cision does this type of thing to other businesses, under the guise of "auto-renewal". Since they do not respond to repeated requests to cancel their services, we'd like the BBB to handle it. We'd like Cision to cancel the "service", remove the invoices for 2021 and 2022, and stop sending any additional invoices. We'll never do business with them again in the future.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2023

  From: ******************************* <**********************************************************>
  Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2023 1:20 PM
  To: ******************* <***********************************************>; ********************* <************************************************>
  Cc: *********************** <**************************************************>
  Subject: Re: Question about my Cision BBB account

  Hi Jaida,

  Regarding Case No. ******** -

  Cision has looked into the history with this account (We Create Goodness dba ******) and we have credited the two unpaid invoices and cancelled the customers subscription. 

  Thank you for your assistance with the other two responses.

  *******************************

  Assistant General Counsel

  o ************ 

  ****************************************************

   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/31/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  We submitted a press release on behalf of our client that went through the editing and review process with PR Newswire/Cision and they published it without any concerns. Then they pulled the press release saying it violated their terms, which they haven't clearly explained why. They said "PR Newswire tries as much as possible to not send out press releases that include any verbiage that bash another entity or competitor or accuses or alludes to illegal activity that has not been found in a a court of law." I've attached the press release, and no where does it mention another entity or competitor, it simply states the fact that our client was conned out of thousands of dollars. Our press release doesn't violate their terms of service.They have said they escalated this to their legal team, but refuse to give a timeframe, or a contact for me to follow up with and have threatened to hang up on our team if we call for a status update. We are completely left in the dark and unable to help our client without a full understanding as to why that press release cannot be distributed.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2022

  My colleague, *******************************, emailed the Better Business Bureau *************************************************************** on 11/18/22 with a formal response to this specific complaint.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/21/2022

   
  Complaint: 18336952
  
  I am rejecting this response because Cision seems to have a double standard or a bias on who they allow to submit press releases with the "legal verbiage" we weren't allowed to include.  I have attached the email correspondence from the owner of ****************************.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/26/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  Recently, I received mail from a collection agency, ************************************************************, on behalf of Cision demanding payment for a service that I had never renewed. I have an email from an Account Manager dated 12/17/2020 where she wanted to discuss renewing with me. When we had the phone discussion, I told her I wasnt going to renew since the return on investment was not worth it. That phone conversation ended where the account manager was aware that I was not going to renew. Since Cision had my credit card on file, I was relieved to see that they honored my wishes and did not renew my account. Imagine my shock when I received a letter from the collection agency. I want this charge removed and the collection agency stating as such.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/17/2023

   

  In response to Case # ******** -

   

  *********************** Publishing Consultant signed a 2021 contract.  The customer was invoiced in (4) quarterly installments, but no payments were received.  All amounts owed were written off and sent to 3rd party collections.  Contract and invoices are attached.

   

  *******************************

  Assistant **************************************identifyelement="497" style="color: rgb(24, 50, 71); font-size: 14px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">

  o ************ 

  ****************************************************

   
    

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/17/2023

   
  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

  Date:09/20/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  Cision added me--without my permission and without any request--to their marketing database which they sell to customers. They miscatergorized my field. I proceeded to receive multiple spam releases daily. Cision offers no way to remove the profiles they create without adding personal information and checking a box which enables them to use that information in further marketing. In effect, this seems to be both a scam and a spam nuisance.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/12/2022

  Our media research team processed an Opt Out request from ************************* on September 27 after he emailed our privacy team on September 20 asking to be removed. His listing would have been out of NGC3 (our database) on September 27, but there was a delay in the data feed processing, so his information was finally removed from our system as of October 10. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/12/2022

   
  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.
  

  
  

  That said, demanding extensive and irrelevant contact information as a condition of being removed from this company's database suggests this problem will reoccur with others as the company attempts to populate its database in unconventional and unethical ways.
  

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/06/2022

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  We haven't done business with Cision in over a year but they still keep sending us invoices for something that they call AP Archive ***************** Renewal - Subscription which we were never subscribed to in the 1st place. It's $275 so I'm guessing that some offices pay it without doing any research. This all seems very shady.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/07/2022

  Cision's accounts receivable team has credited the invoice and marked the account as inactive. They should no longer be receiving invoices from Cision.