ComplaintsforInternational Association of Professional Writers & Editors

• Initial Complaint

  06/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have gone through their process of cancelling my membership for months and they will not end my subscription and keep charging me 9.99/month

  Business response

  06/02/2022

  We are sorry to hear that the complainant has been experiencing issues.

  We are showing that the complainant never reached out to us requesting assistance, however, we have canceled their subscription using the information provided in this complaint.

  Customer response

  06/02/2022

  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 and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The organization charged a flat rate of $5.25 / month for membership. Finding I was not really using the membership I sought to cancel, at which point I noticed they had started charging me more, up to $15 / month. I asked for the difference to be paid back into my account (a paltry $60 or so, but money that I could definitely use). They responded: "We are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with our price change, however, we sent out an email several prior advising of the upcoming price increase and that we were rolling this out in two increments over the course of three months.We also explained that members continuing to be financially affected by COVID can contact us to retain a reduced rate. Even though we feel that we gave adequate notice of the upcoming price increases, we are issuing a refund for any charges within the last 60 days a courtesy since you are saying that you were unaware of this increase. This is as far back as we are able to issue refunds on our end."__They never sent that email (or at least I never received it), which is pretty easy to see in the record of emails. And then they never reimbursed any money. I don't see why 60 days would be the limit, at any rate. They were drawing money from my account without my consent. Full stop.

  Business response

  04/26/2022

  We we are showing that the complainant was already reimbursed on 2/3/2022. 

  We immediately responded to the complainant's last email on 4/25/2022 offering our assistance and we did not receive a response. Instead of responding to our attempt to assist, the complainant filed a complaint here.

  The complainant was sent an email from us as well as a second additional email directly from ****** at least 30 days prior to any price changes and the complainant could have canceled their membership at any time.

  With all due respect, the complainant was given more than ample notice and we are unable to control if the complainant does not check their email or their monthly billing statements for several months at a time.

  As explained to the complainant previously, we were able to offer a refund for any charges made within the last 60 days. While we understand that the complainant is not satisfied with this outcome, we can offer no further resolution beyond what was initially offered. 

  We have followed up with ****** and have submitted an inquiry on the complainant's behalf regarding the refunds that were issued on 2/3/2022.

• Initial Complaint

  04/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been a member of this organization since 2019 in order to help boost my resume. The monthly fee for membership was $5 but apparently increased in September 2021 without prior notice. The organization has been auto drafting three times that amount from my Paypal account, yet claims that I do not have a membership with them. I went as far as un-linking my bank account and cards to my Paypal account and deleting the organization's permissions from my Paypal in order to end the payments. I have reached out to the company requesting a refund for the most recent month which was billed on 4/22/22 for $15 as I will no longer be utilizing their "services" for the month that was billed.

  Business response

  05/16/2022

  The complainant was provided with advanced notice regarding any price changes via email by both us and via a separate email directly from PayPal.

  We are not showing any account under the information provided by the complainant, however, we have reached out to the complainant via the email provided and will be happy to offer a refund or billing adjustment if the complainant can provide account information that is associated with an actual account with us.

  While the complainant can cancel themselves through PayPal, we will be happy to assist with cancelation as well if the complainant provides the necessary information to locate their account.

• Initial Complaint

  03/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I saw an ad for a freelance writer with IAPWE and applied. It seemed like a good opportunity. I was notified I was accepted as a writer. I had to sign up immediately as there are only so many spots available and another spot might not come along for months, the email stated. I also had to sign up for a "free" trial that would then go into a paid trial after 30 days, if I didn't cancel by a certain date. Immediately after signing up and seeing the "service" was nothing like the ad, I went in and canceled my account and the recurring payment. That should have immediately stopped withdrawal for the monthly fee. It did not. Unfortunately, I did not do my due diligence and discovered on the BBB that this company has a poor reputation. I believe it's a scam for money, and I want my money refunded. I've lodged a complaint will PayPal and will do the same with my credit card. The ad is incredibly misleading - it is stated in a way that writers will think there is work available. There's not. It's just a bunch of job leads, which any of us can find ourselves for free. I want my money refunded. Stop trying to scam writers with misleading ads and emails.

  Business response

  03/07/2022

  We are sorry that the complainant was not happy with their membership, however, their claims are demonstrably false.

  The complainant has neglected to mention that they were specifically instructed in the very first email that they received, to join our freelancer portal where we assign work directly to our freelancers.

  No payment of any kind is required to work for us and any paid memberships that we offer are entirely optional.

  The complainant was also instructed to check their email immediately upon initiating the cancellation process and has acknowledged that they did not receive the email. At this point, we would have no way of knowing this unless the complainant contacted us, which they did not do.

  We are not sure if the complainant has neglected to include this information deliberately or in error, however, in either case, their statements are misleading. 
  

  Since the complainant has already filed a complaint through PayPal, all mediation and any resolution will have to take place there.

• Initial Complaint

  02/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ive been trying to close my account through many different routes (directly through IAPWE several times and through ******* for 3 years. Yet this scam business continues to ignore my requests and deduct $5.25/month (for an excess total of $189). I expect a full refund and closure of my account.

  Business response

  02/07/2022

  ********* NOTE TO COMPLAINT ANALYST ******

  This complaint contains defamatory language and false statements. Complainant was provided with clear instructions for canceling their membership during the registration process. Complainant's own screenshot confirms they refused to follow through with the cancellation process (an email confirmation request is common practice to prevent anyone else from being able to make a cancellation request on behalf of the account owner). Despite this, we have located and canceled the complainant's subscription so there will be no future charges. No refund is warranted due to the fact that the complainant was provided with clear cancelation steps that they themselves have acknowledged they refused to follow.

• Initial Complaint

  01/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have tried several times to cancel my account. The Iawpe never cancels, keeps charging me, and won't respond to my request to cancel my account.

  Business response

  02/07/2022

  ****** NOTE TO  BBB COMPLAINT ANALYST ************

  Complainant already canceled their own subscription through ****** on January 22, 2022 prior to filing this complaint, which makes this complaint outright false and it does not meet the BBB's own criteria for being accepted as a valid complaint. Buyer has already filed a dispute through ****** and this complaint is being mediated by them to determine outcome of refund request. 

  **********

  Customer response

  02/08/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

   While I had to go to ****** on numerous occasions to get them to cancel the account and get a refund, this company continued to charge me. I have finally received a refund through ****** and ****** has marked this business as potentially fraudulent based on the fact that I tried on numerous occasions to cancel my account and never got any confirmation email or response from this company. Additionally, they offer now benefit, service, or product that is worth $15 a month much less anything else.If the company was not operating fraudulently and had a legitimate way to cancel your account without complaining, then I would agree with their response. However, they make it impossible to cancel without lots of effort and they offer absolutely no support, they have no working phone number, and they don't respond to any contacts via email, social media or otherwise.

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  Business response

  02/11/2022

  **** ATTENTION BBB COMPLAINT ANALYST - We provided a response directly to the complaint analyst and it should not have been published in our response. The analyst still has not addressed the false claims in the complainant's complaint so we cannot respond until this is done please. Please also not customer has already received a refund through ****** yet is claiming they haven't. ********* 

• Initial Complaint

  01/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In Nov 2021, I realized that there had been a massive jump in my membership fee, from **** in Jan to ***** in Oct. I don't believe I received notification of the increase. The membership never benefitted me, and I decided $***** was too much, so I canceled my membership using their form. A notification popped up that I would receive an email confirming cancellation. I never got it and forgot until December, when I got charged again. I tried the form again with the same result, and sent an email with my profile and transaction ID and the request to cancel. 4 days later, they replied asking if I had followed their instructions to cancel through XXXXXX. XXXXXX they said the cancellation needed to be requested from IAPWE, corroborated by the monthly transaction email. I contacted my bank to dispute the charge, which was approved. I thought it was over. On Jan 3, I got charged again. I've filed another dispute with my bank, which will address the charge. Their cancellation policy is that you can cancel at any time going through XXXXXX or using their form, but that has not worked. Based on other similar complaints, I feel like this won't get resolved without going to the extreme of contacting the BBB. Canceling a membership shouldn't be this hard.

  Business response

  01/04/2022

  The information provided in this complainant is not accurate and does not reflect the information provided to the complainant.

  After submitting the cancellation form, the complainant was immediately instructed to cancel their subscription via ******. 

  The complainant reached out to us on Dec 14, 2021 and we responded on Dec 18, 2021, reiterating these cancellation instructions.

  The complainant refused to follow these steps until today January 4, 2022, which is when ****** is showing that they canceled their subscription as per our instructions.

  The complainant has filed this complaint the same day that they canceled their subscription, following the instructions that we provided to them several weeks ago.

  Customer response

  01/04/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  The organization's history of my attempts to cancel my membership are inaccurate. I began the cancellation process in November, 2021, using their cancellation form, which does not include instructions about contacting ****** (instructions are detailed on the membership page, nowhere near the cancellation form). I submitted the form and a message popped up on their website stating that a confirmation email would be sent to me. I never received a confirmation email or any instructions about contacting ****** in November. As my complaint states, I forgot that I was supposed to receive a confirmation email from the organization until I got charged again in December.

  In December, I used the form again, figuring the first time was a technical glitch, got the same automated message on their website, and no confirmation email. I called the number published on the website which went unanswered. I emailed the customer service department on 12/14 with all of the necessary transaction ID and member ID information, with a request to cancel my membership.

  The only communication I have ever received from IAPWE was on 12/18, 4 days later, (screenshot of email attached to my complaint) explaining that I needed to contact ******, which I did. IAPWE's characterization that I "refused" to take the action is pretty dramatic. I could not find the automatic payment record in either of my ****** accounts and called them. ****** stated that I had to cancel the membership with the organization. The receipt email from ****** on behalf of IAPWE for the completed transaction states at the bottom that members need to contact IAPWE to cancel; a screenshot of that receipt is attached.

  Unsatisfied that the two organizations were going back and forth with me, I filed a dispute for the charge with my bank which was accepted. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that there was a step I was supposed to take with the bank, which has since been rectified. Also unfortunately, I mistook the accepted dispute as the resolution of cancellation of my membership.

  On January 3, I found that I had been charged ***** (up from the **** I was paying from Jan-July 2021) again. Because I now know that using the cancellation form does nothing, I emailed customer service again, but am not interested in waiting another 4 days to receive another deflective email that it is someone else's responsibility to record the cancellation. I filed another dispute for the charges with my bank, which are moving forward along with the earlier charge. But, that doesn't resolve the issue of canceling my membership. 

  I called ****** again and had to give them the transaction ID# from the payment receipt email, because they could not find the automatic payment in either of my accounts without it. I was informed by ****** that while IAPWE uses ****** to process payments, automatic payments are not set up through ******. I explained the situation I was experiencing with IAPWE and they were able to find the transaction and cancel it. ****** said that I would still have to get confirmation of cancellation of membership from IAPWE. As of this writing (9:11 PM EST, 1/4/22), I STILL do not have an email from IAPWE confirming the cancellation. 

  Again, IAPWE's website states that I can EITHER cancel through ****** OR use their cancellation form; a screenshot of their website is also attached to the complaint. I followed the instructions to cancel in November and December, and now in January. After reading 17 other complaints on the BBB website with the exact same issue I'm having, I have had enough. I want my membership canceled, I want the fees from November, December, and January reimbursed and I want the organization to go away permanently. And I want my report made public so that other, wiser writers and editors who do homework before joining associations, will have a ****** scope of what to expect should you try to cancel your membership with IAPWE.

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

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

  Business response

  01/05/2022

  Whether deliberately or inadvertently, the complainant continues to misrepresent the cancellation process.

  Upon submitting the cancellation form, the complainant was immediately sent an email with final cancellation instructions. The complainant was also immediately taken to a page specifically instructing the complainant to check their email.

  
  As acknowledged by the complainant, we also responded to the complainant in a timely manner, reiterating these cancellation instructions.
  
  

  We are sorry that the complainant may have misunderstood the process or believed that their subscription was canceled after filing disputes, through which the complainant already received money back.

  Since the complainant has already filed - and continues to file - disputes through ****** regarding this issue, any and all resolutions to this matter will now be at their discretion. 

• Initial Complaint

  12/29/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up for a membership through IAPWE.org and then canceled when they kept charging me for other services i did not subscribe to.I went through ****** and canceled all 3rd party subscriptions, including any from IAPWE. They are still somehow taking money from my bank account. I never gave my card/bank info, but somehow they got it through ******. Spoke with ***************** ago and they assured me there was no more IAPWE on my account. I've filed several cancelation forms through IAPWE and have never gotten any responses. The first one had an email link to cancel, and that was how I found out I had to go through multiple steps through ****** to cancel.But they are still charging me $14.99 per month, I can't get it to stop. Please just stop taking my money! I have no account with IAPWE, so i can't login to anything. They don't have people at all to talk to when you call their number. Same automated message each time I've tried to resolve this over the past few YEARS! Please shut this scam down BBB!

  Business response

  01/03/2022

  The complainant has provided false information in their complaint. 

  The complainant was instructed by ****** to contact us through our email for any cancellation requests and the complainant never followed these instructions.

  Complainant sent us an email for the first time on 12/30/2021, which was four days ago, and we have since canceled their subscription.

• Initial Complaint

  11/24/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have tried multiple times to cancel my account - I signed up for a paid membership (somehow, I get charged twice a month) - after filling out their 'cancellation form' MULTIPLE TIMES, I still got charged again this month. I do not benefit from the paid services of this organization, have emailed multiple times, and still have not heard back. I do not want to pay for this service anymore, but do not know how to get a response from this company. Please, IAPWE, cancel my account. Thank you.

  Business response

  11/24/2021

  The complainant was sent cancellation instructions on July 7, 2021.

  The complainant then proceeded to first reach out to us on 11/19, expressing difficulty canceling, sending us 5 emails over the course of the next two days.

  Our response times have been slightly delayed at 3-5 business days going into this holiday weekend, and the complainant proceeded to file this complaint before allowing an adequate timeframe for us to respond.

  As per the cancellation instructions that were sent to the buyer on July 7, 2021, the buyer could have canceled his subscription in his ****** account at any time.

  We have reached out to ****** on the complainant's behalf and have submitted a cancellation request.

• Initial Complaint

  08/25/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I do not know how they got my Cash App credit card info but they have been trying to take $49.92 from my account for the past 4 months even after I sent them a cancellation for something I never signed up for!

  Business response

  08/25/2021

  This individual never made any attempt to contact us to resolve this issue. 
  
  We do not process nor do we receive any customer financial information at any point since all of our optional paid memberships are processed directly through ******. 

  ****** will use any payment method on file when trying to **** a customer, including any credit card the buyer has on file with ******. We do not have access to this information; only ****** does.

  We have canceled the complainant's subscription and would have been happy to do so sooner if they had gone through the cancellation process or contacted us at any point requesting cancellation.

  
  

*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. ↩