ComplaintsforHearst Corporation

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  HEARST Corporation which is the distributor for the magazine Mens Health, automatically billed me for another year, and which I cancelled for the automatic renewal earlier in 2022. I have also sent numerous requests through ***********, a junk mail app that contacted Mens Health to stop sending their magazine, because I was not renewing. Today I received an email from my bank account stating a debit is pending and I was automatically renewed for another year. I also contacted the email for HEARST, and its a dead link, it returned back to my email box.

  Business response

  01/17/2023

  This ****** represents The Hearst Corporation and your email of January 3, 2023 concerning the subscription of ********************* to Mens Health magazine, which is published by Hearst Magazines, has been referred to me for reply.  Please be advised that the automatic renewal subscription order that processed for this account has been cancelled.   A refund check for the full amount of $35.00 has been processed.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

   

  If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

   

   

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

  Customer response

  01/17/2023

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

• Initial Complaint

  11/15/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Date: *** 23,2021 Amount of purchase: $1780.00 Product purchased: Sleep Country "****" mattress Complaint: I was never informed that the company fulfilling orders for Sleep Country Living had filed for bankruptcy. It should be the responsibility of Country Living to refund my purchase price for the mattress. I should not have to file a claim with the company, Idle Sleep, to get my refund.

  Business response

  12/08/2021

  This Office represents The Hearst Corporation and your email of November 19, 2021  concerning *** ******* ********  refund for her purchase of a Sleep Country Living mattress, has been referred to me for reply.   We are very sorry to hear about the trouble with your mattress order.  The mattresses were manufactured and sold by Idle Sleep who we have recently learned is undergoing an insolvency proceeding.  *********** managing the insolvency proceeding provided us with the following information which we are sharing below.  It appears from their message that creditors and customers of Idle Sleep will be receiving communication regarding potential claims in the near future.    
  
   
  
  Idle Sleep Customer,
  
   
  
  Please note that on August 27, 2021, *********** LLC (the Company or Idle) entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (Assignment). An Assignment is a state level insolvency proceeding undertaken under state law, in this case **********, where the primary governing law is found in the California Code of Civil Procedure sections ******* to *******, sections **** to ****, and section 1204.
  
   
  
  The Assignment entity is a ********** limited liability company, Idle Sleep (assignment for the benefit of creditors), LLC (Assignee).  The Assignee is a special purpose entity established to liquidate the assets of the Company, compile claims, and distribute proceeds, if any, to creditors according to the priority established in the California Code.  You should note that with the exception of the relationship created by the Assignment, the Company and Assignee have no corporate affiliations to each other.
  
   
  
  Creditors will be notified within 30 days of the general assignment by a written notice. This notice outlines the process by which creditors may file a proof of claim to establish a claim for any obligations due and provides a deadline to file a claim (approximately 180 days from the date of the Assignment). For your convenience, Im attaching to this email an electronic version of such notice.
  
   
  
  You can go to the following link to file a claim: *****************************************  
  
  If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.
  
   
  
   
  
  *********************************/ Hearst Corporation

  Customer response

  12/11/2021

  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 Sleep Country mattress in question is a product that was advertised in Country Living magazine. It was advertised as being a new product line that Country Living magazine was offering. ALL communication with Sleep Country Living was addressed as being associated with Country Living magazine. With that being said, I feel that it is Country Living magazine that owes me a refund on my purchase of this mattress. I was not notified of the current circumstances until AFTER I sent a letter to *******************************, senior vice president of Country Living magazine, that I found out about Idle Sleep and their business situation. The answer I have just received with this complaint is the the same answer that I received from her. I expect my reimbursement check of $1780.00 to be mailed to me soon from Country Living magazine. I paid for a mattress from Sleep COUNTRY LIVING. It is not my responsibility to track down and wait for your prevoryor to settle my refund. Your company advertised the product in your magazine. My refund should come from your company. ********* *** *** ******* *

  [Your Answer Here]

   

   

   

   

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

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

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have to CONTINUOUSLY reach out to them about magazine subscriptions I pay for that never show up, yet they will act like I'm receiving them. I have called them multiple times about Elle Decor and they had to send me a stack of prior issues I've missed, and now my other 3 subscriptions aren't being sent. I've received one magazine from one, and the other two, nothing. One is being sent digitally, when I didn't order a digital subscription. Y'all can give me my money or give me my magazines.

  Business response

  11/16/2021

  This ****** represents The Hearst Corporation and your email of October 15, 2021 concerning the subscriptions of ***************************** to Elle Dcor and Food Network magazines, which are published by Hearst Magazines, has been referred to me for reply.  Please be advised that we change the address to the current one on February 14, 2020, on Elle Dcor and Food Network active subscriptions.

   

  Back issues of Elle Decor were mailed to **************** on July 16, 2021.

   

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

   

  Elle Dcor subscription was extended on May 1, 2020 an additional 4 issues and June 3, 2020 an additional 1 issue.  Her Elle Dcor subscription serves through May 2023.  The order was received through a third party agency.  The agencys information is as follows:           

   

  SYNAPSE (NEW SUB SERVICE)    

  *******************          

  EAST BUILDING                 

  ********         State:  **  

  *****                        

  ************        

      

  Her Food Network subscription serves from June 2021 through May 2022. This order was also through the third party agency SYNAPSE (NEW SUB SERVICE).    

  On April 17, 2021 we removed both Elle Dcor and Food Network from all promotions.

   

  Elle Magazine expired December 2019 and Womans Day magazines expired February 2020. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

   

  *********************************| Hearst Corporation| ****** of ******* Counsel| ********************************************************************* Fax: ************| **************************************

  Customer response

  11/16/2021

  These subscriptions were paid for through the promo AND through Amazon (Elle Decor) . If they CHOSE to discontinue my subscriptions, the least they could do is notify me. Is that not breach of contract? You offer something in writing, then you revoke it? This is abysmal customer service. I am appalled as a long time Hearst subscriber (I have stacks of their magazines through PAID subscriptions) to all of the sudden be treated in this manner. I will NEVER support any of their publications, AND I will be sure to share publicly with my social media followers on how you opted to cancel my paid for subscriptions because they came third party. 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]

   

   

   

   

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

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

• Initial Complaint

  08/26/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY I HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION WITH THEM. THEY SENT A BILL I SENT IT BACK TELLING THEM I DON'T HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION NOW I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER BILL 8/26/21 SAYING THE CONTIINUOUS SERVICE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE EA.YR.UNLESS I ASK TO STOP BUT I NEVER HAD ANY SUBSCRIPTION I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE I BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS (TRUCK DRIVER) I DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR MAGAZINE OR TV AND NOW THEY GAVE ME A REVISED RATE $12.00 REPLYBY 09/10/2021 I WANT THEM TO STOP SENDING ME MAIL(BILL'S) AND GET THEIR PAPERWORK TOGETHER $12.00 NOT MUCH BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT IT ABOUT THEM TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE PAY MONEY THEY DON'T OWE . THANK YOU!!

  Business response

  10/26/2021

  This Office represents The Hearst Corporation and your email of August 26, 2021 concerning the subscriptions of ***** ******** to Food Network and HGTV  Magazines, which are published by Hearst Magazines, has been referred to me for reply.  Please be advised that his original subscription orders were received via order card (see attachment). The Food Network subscription auto renewal billing of $12.00 was canceled on June 28, 2021. The auto renewal date was February 17, 2021.  The HGTV Magazine subscription auto renewal billing of $19.97 was canceled on July 28, 2021. The auto renewal date was March 16, 2021. We have removed his name and address from all promotions. We apologize for the inconvenience.

   

  If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

   

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

  Customer response

  10/26/2021

  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,
  
  ***** ********
  
  
  
   
  
  

*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. ↩