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Complaint Details
Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.
Initial Complaint
09/04/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I need for them and ALL their affiliates to stop sending e-mails. I get 2 or 3 every day! It is harassment.
Business response
09/04/2024
We have unsubscribed this consumer from all Dotdash Meredith newsletter titles as of September 4, 2024. Please allow 5-7 days for the change to take effect, as our newsletters are pre-scheduled in advance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.Customer response
09/05/2024
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
***********************
Initial Complaint
08/12/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Customer Service Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I have been entering various sweepstakes/contests for years, even occasionally winning the prize offered in a sweepstakes. For the last three to four months I find myself being blocked from almost every sweepstakes offered by dotdash.meredith (******* *********** *************** *************** ******** etc.) with 'app' **************. I try to enter the contest, it says "unlimited entries" but if I try to enter more than a handful of times the screen goes blank and a red circle with a diagonal line through it appears and underneath it, it says "************** refuses to connect". I believe this is not legal. I may not have a subscription, but I do but them off the shelf from time-to-time.Business response
08/23/2024
Thank you for reaching out to us with the consumer's concern. Dotdash Meredith sponsors many sweepstakes and other promotions each year wherein we typically allow for unlimited entries. Recently, our online sweepstakes have been overwhelmed by bot entries. In an effort to reduce the bot activities, we engaged a third party to help detect and limit bot entries. Unfortunately, we have discovered that should a real person enter multiple times in rapid succession, they will be inadvertently tagged as a bot and will be blocked from entering for a period of time. It seems that this is what happened here. We have since had out vendor make some modifications so that something like the consumer describes in her complaint doesnt happen again.
We have reached out directly to the consumer as well and explained the above. We also recommended that she take her time submitting entries and should she be blocked again, take a break and return later.Initial Complaint
08/09/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I received a limited time offer subscription notice to received 75% off for a year subscription. I filled out subscription order form and enclosed a check for $25 (check #****) for the yearly subscription. I mailed this out on 6/30/24. I have not received a magazine as of today. Coastal ********************** cashed this check the beginning of last week. I went online and talked with the chat person who says they don't show me as ordering anything. I also e-mailed them and they say they have no record of me ordering anything. I would like to be reimbursed for the $25 I sent for this subscription.Business response
08/11/2024
We have processed a refund check of $25.00 for this customer. The refund check should arrive in two to four weeks. We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.Customer response
08/14/2024
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
***************************
Initial Complaint
07/24/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
To whom this may concern, we were told that if we go to a time share seminar, we would receive free 7 nights stay at many resorts that ******* has all over the US and the world. When checking for availability, it's extremely limited, to the point that it makes it impossible to go anywhere. When asking about this with an agent from the company, they instructed us to wait until 30 days before, where it will show many options of resorts to choose from. When it was 30 days before the planned trip, they said there was only one room available, and that they are "limited" in the amount of rooms they have. When calling the agent that handles reservations for the resort, they said there are plenty of options available. This is a classic bait and switch where the big guys take advantage of the little guy. There are plenty of options, just the company that gave us the certificates are "limited" in availability.Business response
07/29/2024
You have reached Dotdash Meredith Magazine subscription customer service. This complaint has been misdirected to us.Initial Complaint
05/20/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I am an author of a health/nutrition book that I am looking to advertise. I understand that this company offers advertising opportunities on the health-niche website Health.com. But I find it appalling that a minimum investment of $25,000 is required. Books are LOW-COST items. For every copy of a book that an author sells, the author gets only a few dollars. Therefore, it is not fair that I would have to fork over $25,000 just to promote something that would earn me a mere few dollars for each item sold!Back in the 1990's, health publications such as American Health and Your Health offered CLASSIFIED advertising opportunities in which the advertiser was changed based on WORD-count. Classified advertising has always been an affordable alternative to expensive DISPLAY advertising. But those 1990's magazine publications are now defunct. As a result, there is currently no America-published health publication that offers classified advertising in either their print magazine or on their website.All I am requesting from this business is to explain the reason why they do not offer CLASSIFIED WORD advertising opportunities as an alternative to much more expensive DISPLAY advertising for those advertisers (like myself) whose product is worth only a few dollars.Business response
06/12/2024
June 10, 2024
Dotdash Meredith offers Programmatic Private Marketplace campaigns without a minimum investment level if you have a buyer profile in ****** or another major ad exchange. Please let us know if you are interested by emailing ************************************************ and we'd be happy to introduce you to a sales contact to help.Customer response
08/09/2024
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
***************************
Initial Complaint
05/16/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Customer Service Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I am being sent People magazines and apparently someone opened a year subscription for me without any consent or notices. I want the subscription canceled, I never want to see a bill, and I don't want your magazines. I also want the name of the "agency" that signed me up without my permission. The account number seems to be **********.Business response
05/17/2024
We apologize for any inconvenience ****************** has experienced regarding People.
As requested, we have canceled the delivery of the issues. The June 3, 2024 issue will be the last issue sent.
Any refund or payment questions must be made to the independent sales agency from which the subscription was ordered. Please contact:
SYNAPSE/NEW SUB SERVICE
*******************
*************
******************
************ ******************************************** **************************Customer response
05/29/2024
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]
The account was created without my consent or my knowledge. I was not told who signed me up. I can not contact whoever signed me up because I don't know who signed me up. Please tell me who signed me up so I can contact them.
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
*****************************
Business response
06/04/2024
The June 3, 2024 issue will be the last issue sent.
Any refund or payment questions must be made to the independent sales agency from which the subscription was ordered as we do not have access to their records.
Please see agency information below:
SYNAPSE/NEW SUB SERVICE
*******************
*************
****************** ************ ******************************************** **************************Initial Complaint
04/24/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Unsolicited mail, advertising in my mailbox and lengthy process to opt out and cancel membership requiring logging in. I chatted with a robot and it didn't cancel. I emailed and it did not cancel yet. Automate and simplify cancellation, like other modern orgs such as: ******* Amazon and ******** This business must change its practices and not waste my time or anyone's.Business response
04/24/2024
You will need to contact Consumer Reports regarding their publication.Business response
04/25/2024
Consumer Reports can be contacted at ************** or:
********************************************************************
Initial Complaint
03/28/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
There is a database that has been shared with a VERY offensive addressee name attached to my address. This is the second complaint that I have filed with this issue. The first complaint was #******** against SmartEnergy. I had requested that the database be cleaned up, and it doesn't seem like it has been. My address is linked with an Addressee name as Animal Abuser. I want my address deleted from the database, and if this database has been shared with other companies, I want my address to be removed everywhere. I would like to know where this came from. I want to know that my address has been removed. And I want an apology.Business response
04/01/2024
We apologize for any inconvenience ************** has experienced regarding Dotdash Meredith.We are not locating an account with the information provided. Please have ************** provide a copy of what she is receiving.
Customer response
04/01/2024
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:I attached a copy of the one of the three Golf magazine labels with the offensive name. I want my address deleted from the database and do not want to receive any more unsolicited mail.
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
***********************
Customer response
05/16/2024
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:Who is Dot Dash ********, and what do they have to do with my complaint? And why can't you contact Golf Magazine?
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
***********************
Business response
05/22/2024
You will need to contact Golf Magazine regarding their publication.Initial Complaint
03/26/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I ordered two magazines from Magazines.com years ago. I asked them to cancel my order last year. They keep playing games and pretending that my address and payment information is not on file, yet I keep receiving magazines and charges from them despite me asking repeatedly to cancel.Sometimes, they do not respond at all. If I call them, then they pretend not to be able to find my information. They plan to not cancel my order regardless of my complaint.They are scammers and need to be put out of business.Customer response
03/26/2024
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
***************************
Initial Complaint
02/22/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I have just filed a similar complaint to this company regarding another magazine subscription which was paid for in October 2023(Real Simple .case # ********)This complaint refers to a magazine subscription Better *************** account #************. After over four months I finally spoke to representative Meredith who had that whole time told me the addresses were still incorrect! It has been at least 20 phone calls and emails with absolutely no results all of which Im going to attach to this complaint. Hopefully she corrected the information finally. Bottom line if my checked was ****** October 23, over four months ago why is it taking this long to get a magazine?And worse yet, why hasnt any representative corrected the information. Just horrible ,uneperienced customer service! three hours on the phone just today trying to get this settled! Hopefully Meredith corrected it but one of the representatives at a earlier phone call told me they cannot send two different magazines to two different addresses! Today alone I spoke to six different representatives attached are just the emails thank you.. Please note it is not the amount of money Im concerned about its a lack of professionalism and people know what theyre doing and to one others of the aggravation that they will face and just trying to order a simple magazine subscription!??Business response
02/22/2024
Again, we apologize for any inconvenience ********************** has experienced.
Our address labels are printed in advance and that is why it takes a few issues for subscriptions to begin.
We hope that excellent service from now on will compensate for any inconvenience you have experienced.
Customer response
02/23/2024
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:I will not accept this until I actually receive my magazines which I ordered or four months ago the answer then the labels were printed in advance is absolutely incorrect and does not apply to me since when I called the first few times, they didnt even have the correct information, the correct name for the correct address.tu[Your Answer Here]
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
***************************
Business response
03/22/2024
We corrected our records on January 27, 2024, to include the gift subscription to ***************************** to Real Simple magazine. The subscription started with the January/February ***************************************************** advance, the first issue will take six to eight weeks arrive.
We have extended the subscription one issue to compensate for the delayed start date.
Customer response
03/29/2024
Better Business Bureau:
Finally, after 5 months of paying for the subscription the first issue was delivered in3/26/24! Maybe the company thinks that customers would forget about receiving a magazine that was ordered after such an extended time..
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, the matter has been resolved,I hope now to continue receiving the yearly subscription that was ordered!tu BBB a for your help..
Sincerely,
***************************
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Contact Information
Customer Complaints Summary
105 total complaints in the last 3 years.
25 complaints closed in the last 12 months.