Complaints

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:01/30/2025

  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.

  I, as a representative of *********, am submitting a complaint against Manufacturers' News, Inc. for unlawful debt collection practices, harassment, and extortion, in violation of the ***** and *** regulations.*** is attempting to collect payment for an unauthorized advertisement, which they claim my husband (Manager-engineer) verbally agreed to in March 2024. However, no signed contract or any other proof exists. My husband and I had explicitly decided in 2024 not to advertise in their publication. Furthermore, as a Member of the company, only I authorize any agreements, making their claim unfounded.Key **************************** *** imposed advertising services on my company without consent and is demanding payment. Lack of a Valid Contract: The company has failed to produce any written agreement to substantiate its claims.Lack of Invoice: The representative is demanding payment for an invoice I never received.Threats and Harassment: I have received emails containing threats of collections and legal action constituting coercive business practices.Extortion Attempts: The company uses intimidation and baseless legal threats to coerce payment.Failure to Provide Proof: Despite repeated requests, Manufacturers' News, Inc. has refused to provide any evidence, such as confirmed identity and date-stamped recordings to substantiate their claims.Misrepresentation and Coercion: The companys representative, ******* ******, stated, "Welcome to collections", while dismissing further discussion and insisting I "tell it to the Register." This exemplifies unethical collection practices meant to pressure consumers.Request:1. Immediate cessation of all collection activities related to this invoice.2. Formal written confirmation that the invoice is canceled.3. Regulatory investigation into *** for engaging in unfair and coercive debt collection practices.4. Intervention by the BBB to prevent further harassment and ensure compliance with consumer protection laws.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/03/2025

  First of all, this complaint is the first indication that *** management has received that there was any problem or dispute regarding this customer.  We do not force any customer to pay if not completely satisfied with our services, so we have credited the invoice and the customer will receive no further correspondence or contact regarding this matter.

  To give you some background, this customer has ordered and paid for advertising in our annual Kentucky Manufacturers Register every year since 2014.  Their first order, back in 2014, was in writing.  Every year since, our sales rep **** ****** has simply called ***** *****, quoted him a price to renew, and gotten Mr. ******* authorization to renew.  This verbal renewal process worked smoothly for nine years in a row.  On 4/26/24 Mr. ****** again called Mr. ***** and, according to Mr. ******* was given authorization to renew.  We immediately mailed out a confirmation of the renewal to Mr. ******* attention, and were never notified of any problem.  So in October 2024, the 2025 Kentucky Manufacturers Register was published and distributed with the customer's advertising included.

  Again, *** management credited this invoice the minute we were informed there was a dispute, so the customer will not receive anything further.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/05/2025

   
  Complaint: 22875164
  Dear BBB Representatives,
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Thank you for forwarding MNI's response to my complaint. While I appreciate their statement that the invoice has been credited, I request a verified document confirming that the invoice has been fully canceled and that I have no outstanding financial obligations.
  Please forward this request to ***. Once I receive a verified document confirming the cancellation, I will determine whether this matter is resolved.
  Thank you for your assistance.
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** *****

  Business Response

  Date: 02/07/2025

  See attached credited invoice.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/07/2025

   
  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:06/17/2024

  Type:Product 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.

  BBB complaint re mni directories and IndustryNet.com Arizona Manufacturers Directory (AMD)In February, 2024, we received a letter from mni that appeared to be a verification for a free listing in the **** It appears mni uses this inquiry letter as an order form. There is no indication that the letter is actually an order form.The letter begins with the statement: Your immediate response is needed to ensure that the listing for Sun Fashions Designs appears with full contact info alongside all of the other jewelry suppliers in the upcoming **** We sent the info, then received a statement for $233.00 in March, 2024 We have been receiving the advertisement letter from mni since 1997. We never purchased the advertising offer. The listing would appear automatically in the mni directory with normal print. Since 1997 through 2024, we have not received one inquiry from a prospect from ****** Is the Company not advertising?The letter we received is not titled as an invoice or purchase order. There is no indication, neither a notation nor a label on the letter describing that the letter is actually an order form. The letter is merely an advertisement, solicitation, requesting that an authorized person ensure the listing appears with full contact information. No representative from mni called to confirm a sale.In addition, the letter is confusing in that it refers to a basic listing. On the mni site, the search results refer to a preferred listing or a preferred supplier. Do positive reviews lead to the classification as a preferred supplier, or merely paying the money mni requests.*** says that if a customer is not completely satisfied with the service they do not have to pay. This is not true. When questioned, an mni rep insisted on payment to avoid collection. This solicitation letter is deceptive. We wish removal from their solicitation list, zero billing and a credit for the invoice. We have had the same experience as the other companies'complaints.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/19/2024

  We do not force any customer to pay if not completely satisfied with our services, so we have credited the invoice and the customer will receive no further invoices or statements.  This is our first notification of any problem.  We have no record of the customer ever informing us they ordered in error.  Our records indicate that our customer service rep made four phone calls to the customer (4/9, 5/10, 5/23 & 6/7) to make sure that everything was to the customer's satisfaction, but in each case he had to leave a message on their company voice mail and did not hear back.  In any case, we have credited the invoice and removed this company from our mailing list.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/20/2024

   
  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

  Date:06/28/2023

  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.

  This company solicits via correspondence, but does it in a way to fool the buyer into thinking its a free ad service. They also said they made several call attempts to try and verify our "purchase" which we have no record of. Their customer service reps called to threaten that if we do not pay we will be sent to collections. They say if you are not satisfied with service you do not have to pay but that is a lie! We have been trying to get this invoice voided for weeks now and they asked us for proof from our answering service that they never attempted to call us which we sent to them and they still have not responded. Along with this, they have the rudest, most disrespectful people working customer service who have no problem raising their voice and yelling at you even when you talk to them with respect to bully you into paying for this scam.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/12/2022

  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.

  This company has sent us a statement regarding past due invoice. They are now threating us if we do not pay by Sept 16, 2022 it will be forwarded to ********************** Services for collections. Which is so crazy because we had no idea we signed up for another year with them. We signed up for 2021 and have paid for the listing. Unfortunately, now they are stating we renewed for 2022. Which we do not have any signed documentation or authorization paperwork regarding renewing the listing. Our manager called to discuss the bill and the *** rep told them they called in Feb 2022 and we confirmed for another year. The bill was for the renewal for a full year for our company listing on their site and in their catalog which we had no record of ever giving them confirmation to renew. A statement showed up to our facility. When we called to get record of the conversation; the rep said they do not have recordings. You would think it be part of their policy if they run into issues like this; and by the looks of other complaints they have done others the same way. They need to do better and not assume and/or charge people for things they did or do NOT want. Also the rep had the audacity to mention how many visitors we have received on their site; unfortunately, as a company we have not seen any results from their site. We are not satisfied. It was a complete waste of resources. We will not be using them EVER again.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/13/2022

  We do not force any customer to pay if not completely satisfied with our services, so we have credited the invoice in question.

  As the customer states, they ordered and paid for a preferred listing in last year's edition.  On 2/18/22 our sales rep ******************************* called ******************, the person who authorized last year's listing, and simply asked her if she would like to renew the advertising for this year's edition.  According to ********************, ************** said yes she did wish to renew.  We immediately mailed ************** an order confirmation dated 2/18/22 confirming the $220 renewal.  We were never notified of any problem or dispute over the next few months.

  So in late May the Register was published and distributed with the customer's preferred listing included.  It wasn't until June 1 that we were first notified of a problem.  ******************** remains adamant that he was given verbal authorization to renew this on 2/18/22, and that ************** must have simply forgotten, but again, we do not force any customer to pay if not completely satisfied, so we have credited the invoice and the customer will receive nothing further.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/14/2022

  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 received a notice stating that a **** for advertising in the directory had been sent to collections. We did not authorize our business to be listed in the directory. Collections ****** calls demanding payment for a service we did not authorize. We had the same experience as other companies that have reviewed MNI. We did not want the service and never want the service in the future.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/15/2022

  ******************** ordered and paid for advertising in our 2021 edition (their check #***** for $185.22 received 5/10/21).  On 7/22/21 our sales rep *************************** called ***************************** and asked him if he wished to renew the advertising for the 2022 edition at a cost of $199.  According to ******************, ********************** said yes, and we mailed him a confirmation of the renewal a few days later 7/26/21.

  At no point thereafter did we receive any instructions to change or cancel the order, so in January 2022 our 2022 edition was published and distributed with K.D.K.'s advertising included.  We mailed the company an invoice for the agreed upon $199 on 1/15/22.  Our records show we called the company 3/1 & 5/24 to inquire about the status of the invoice, but we could never talk to anyone and our messages were not returned.  Today is the first we're hearing about any dispute.

  We do not force any customer to pay if not completely satisfied with our services, so we have instructed our collection agency to cancel the placement and cease all contact with the customer.  We never would have placed it with the collection agency to begin with had we known this was disputed, but again, this BBB complaint is our first indication of any problem.  The customer apparently never attempted to contact us directly to resolve the matter.