ComplaintsforDorrance Publishing Company Inc

• Initial Complaint

  06/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Dorrance Publishing Company is only in business to make money off of authors and not to sell books. I had to do all the proofreading and editing. I constantly had to correct their mistakes and errors. There was no way someone was doing the job. They take several days to respond to emails and their customer service is poor and unsatisfactory. I have typos on both Dorrance and Amazon website they haven’t corrected.They withholding my earning because I refuse to pay until these errors are corrected and I am asking for compensation for this poor and unprofessional service. I’ve had to pay out of pocket to promote and market my book while still pay them to do nothing at this point. Instead of asking for the entire amount I asked for half and for them to take what I owed and give me the remaining and they refused the offer. I’ve paid $3888 and I asked for $696.80. Dorrance Publishing Company is not for the authors or for selling books. I have all the corrections and the typos on a usb if needed. I also have all the bank statements of payments I paid to them on a usb.

  Customer response

  07/01/2024

  I also will like to add that I have to come out of pocket and pay for my own promoting and marketing plus pay Dorrance Publishing Company to do nothing else with my book or it’s book sales. 
  
  I’ve constantly had to correct them on their errors and mistakes and have them ignored me and continue to have my author page look unprofessional. 
  
  My author page on Amazon is not updated with my picture and they seem to point the finger at Amazon when Amazon said it was Dorrance who is supposed to update the page with my photo and name. 
  
  When told them I was reporting them I get an email stating they will fix their errors. 
  
  I wholeheartedly believe I deserve some compensation for all the errors mistakes, poor communication and customer service and they seem not to want to work with me. 
  
  The total I have paid so far is $3888 and I’m only asking to end my contract, take what my remaining balance and pay me $696.80 but they won’t hear of it. 
  
  I had my own media kit. Book trailers done. Social media pages done. And build a website without their help. So instead of even asking for half my money back I’m only asking for less. 
  
  If probably I would like half of what I have paid and to have my book on their website for the two years as promised. I have put too much of my own hard work for them to pull my book and not let my book be available for my readers. 
  
  Also the bookstore for Dorrance promises 10 to 12 days shipping and when you order a copy of my book it’s been starting 25 days out. It’s been like that for the pass month photo included. 
  

  What I’m asking for is reasonable but Dorrance doesn’t treat their authors with any respect for the authors hard work while they collect a monthly payment to do nothing at this point. 
  
  Thanking you in advance 

  Business response

  07/02/2024

  *** ****** agreed to a contract fee of $5,400, and we offered a payment plan that allowed her to pay this off in monthly installments, without interest. *** ****** has now defaulted on that payment plan. It is untrue that she had to pay for promotion out of pocket. Her contract included a specified promotion plan, as well as distribution of the book. If she did choose to pay for additional marketing on her own -- things that were not included in her contract - that was entirely optional. 
  
  As she stated, we have informed her we are correcting the typo in the online listing for her book. But we cannot continue providing services to her (which at this point is distribution of the book for sale) when she has not made the agreed upon payments. No refund of any sort is due to her - we have already completed the creation, publication, and promotion of her book, in accordance with the terms of our contract.

  Customer response

  07/02/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Hello ******** as we talked over the phone, I am writing to let you know about my concerns about Dorrance publishing services. Unfortunately, the services I have encountered so far have been unsatisfactory. I had to handle most of the editing and proofreading. Even though I sent them multiple times, I had to make sure all the chapters were included.
  

  Could you tell me why I had to oversee generating the email list that I'm paying Dorrance for, and I'm handling all the work? Shouldn't Dorrance possess a list of email addresses for readers and readers of organizations?
  
  I have been going back and forth with Amazon and Dorrance regarding my author's page on Amazon, where my picture is not appearing. A typo in the About the Author section on Dorrance and Amazon websites needs to be addressed.
  
  Getting in touch with personnel, specifically Meghan, has been challenging. Her delayed response to my emails was frustrating, but I'm grateful I no longer must deal with her inadequate customer support.
  
  I received an email that my account is on hold. What is being withheld? There’s no promoting or marketing of my book. And what will I be paying for in the next 6 months? Having my book on your Dorrance and Amazon websites? Is that $1,500?
  
  The bookstore is another issue. I have had customers complain to me that it’s taking a month to get a copy of my book. Why is it taking 25 days to be ordered, processed, and delivered when you highly state 10 to 12 business days?
  
  Please let me know if my earnings are going to be withheld because of this dispute. I think I worked very hard, again promoting and marketing, monies I had to pay out of pocket to get those book sales. I deserve my earnings. It seems your company is only into getting money from the author and not selling books and keeping good relationships with your authors and readers.
  
  How long will my book be on Dorrance and Amazon website? I would like to know what will happen once my payments are completed.
  
  I also deserve half the compensation that I have already paid for completing Dorrance's tasks and mistakes. Here’s a number I came up with, and will I still have to pay the last 7 payments? I believe I have already paid $3,672 up until May 2024. I believe I owe $1,512. If my math is correct, half will be $1,836 and if you take what I owe, that will be $324 plus my earnings of $372.80 so that’s $696.80 that goes to me. I think that would be fair.
  
   Also, my book continues to be in the Dorrance bookstore, and am asking could my book be on the feature page. My book is doing well with good and multiple reviews, and I think I deserve to be featured. Plus, on Amazon website with the corrections for the next 24 months.
  
  Please and thank you for your time and efforts. I hope this agreement is sufficient and we can continue our relationship as publishing company and author. 
  
  Michael K****
  Jun 28, 2024, 10:21?AM (4 days ago)
  to me
  
  If you can provide me with the details of any typo that needs to be corrected in the "About the Author" text, I can take care of that for you.
  
  The $5400 contract fee is for the full set of services included in the contract. We allowed you to make the payments in monthly installments instead of requiring full payment up front. It is not that the remaining payments are solely for upcoming services, but rather that you are still making the monthly payments toward the complete publication. The balance of the full amount continues to be due. We would not be obligated to issue earnings payments if your contract account is past due. While the book is currently still for sale on the bookstore, we can also pull the book from distribution due to the past due status. Per the terms of the contract, the book is available for sale for a minimum of two years after the book is first printed and released, however, we cannot continue providing services for which you have not paid.
  
  Dorrance compiles the majority of the promotion. Part of the promotion included in the contract is sending to a list of *personal* contacts provided by the author. We, of course, would not be able to put together your personal contact list. This portion of the promotion is entirely optional should you not wish to provide a list. Dorrance already compiles the lists of media contacts, bookstores, and libraries.
  
  --
  Michael K****
  
  Author Services Representative
  
  877-592-0237
  
  Fax: 412-387-1319
  
  Dorrance Logo 1.6.21.jpg
  
   "Trusted by Authors for over100 years"
  
   
  
  Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc.
  585 Alpha Dr Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15238
  
   
  
  If you would like to schedule a phone appointment, please use the following link: ************************************************************************************
  
  Find more ways to promote your book at *********************************
  
  In our efforts to provide clear and concise communication, we ask that you consolidate your questions into as few emails as possible. When sending corrections, please send only one comprehensive list, do not send multiple lists. We will respond to your email as soon as possible. Multiple emails may cause delay.
  --
  Jessica S********
  Author Services Director
  Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.
  Michael K****
  
  Author Services Representative
  
  877-592-0237
  
  Fax: 412-387-1319
  
  Dorrance Logo 1.6.21.jpg
  
   "Trusted by Authors for over100 years"
  Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc.
  585 Alpha Dr Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15238
  If you would like to schedule a phone appointment, please use the following link: ************************************************************************************
  Find more ways to promote your book at *********************************
  In our efforts to provide clear and concise communication, we ask that you consolidate your questions into as few emails as possible. When sending corrections, please send only one comprehensive list, do not send multiple lists. We will respond to your email as soon as possible. Multiple emails may cause delay.
  ******* ***** ****** **************************
  Jun 29, 2024, 12:55?PM (3 days ago)
  ** *******
  I have sent the typos in a separate email. 
  So you tell me you won't be able to compensate me for the errors and poor service. Dorrance will just simply be withholding my earrings until I pay in full. My book will no longer be on the Dorrance and Amamzon website for purchase. How fair are you? What I am asking for is to rectify the situation. The Company seems to not care about the author but to only make money off the author. I will take this up with my bank and dispute the charges. I was only asking for $696.80, and at the end of my contract, you seem not to want to negotiate with me. Let me be clear, if my book is being pulled, I can relaunch my book with a different more sufficient publisher, correct maybe even self-publish? I will change the name and cover art so I can do this. For the record, you are not being fair and you know your customer service is poor and unsatisfactory. Thank you for nothing, I see how your company does business and zi will report this to the BBB and I will write a review about my experience with your company. 
  ** *******
  Jessica S********
  8:55?AM (2 hours ago)
  to me
  **** *** *******
  I am the Author Services Director at Dorrance. I am sorry to hear that you have been disappointed with your experience.
  As Michael has stated, we will certainly fix the typo in the "About the Author" section of your book's online listing. However, we cannot be expected to continue to provide services when your account is in arrears. When signing the contract, you agree to paid a fee of $5400 for the services included. We allowed you to make monthly payments (without interest) instead of paying in full upfront. We have completed publication and promotion of your book in accordance with the contract, and we expect that you will also fulfill your legal obligation to the contract as well by making your remaining payment as agreed.
  ******* ***** ****** **************************
  9:49?AM (1 hour ago)
  Forwarded Conversation
  Subject: RE: **** ****** * ****** ***** **** ****** ** ********
  ------------------------
  From: ******* ***** ****** **************************
  Date: Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 12:13?PM
  To: ******* ***** *******************************
  Hello Michael, as we talked over the phone, I am writing to let you know about my concerns about Dorrance publishing services. Unfortunately, the services I have encountered so far have been unsatisfactory. I had to handle most of the editing and proofreading. Even though I sent them multiple times, I had to make sure all the chapters were included.
   Could you tell me why I had to oversee generating the email list that I'm paying Dorrance for, and I'm handling all the work? Shouldn't Dorrance possess a list of email addresses for readers and readers of organizations?
  
  I have been going back and forth with Amazon and Dorrance regarding my author's page on Amazon, where my picture is not appearing. A typo in the About the Author section on Dorrance and Amazon websites needs to be addressed.
  
  Getting in touch with personnel, specifically Meghan, has been challenging. Her delayed response to my emails was frustrating, but I'm grateful I no longer must deal with her inadequate customer support.
  I received an email that my account is on hold. What is being withheld? There’s no promoting or marketing of my book. And what will I be paying for in the next 6 months? Having my book on your Dorrance and Amazon websites? Is that $1,500?
  
  The bookstore is another issue. I have had customers complain to me that it’s taking a month to get a copy of my book. Why is it taking 25 days to be ordered, processed, and delivered when you highly state 10 to 12 business days?
  Please let me know if my earnings are going to be withheld because of this dispute. I think I worked very hard, again promoting and marketing, monies I had to pay out of pocket to get those book sales. I deserve my earnings. It seems your company is only into getting money from the author and not selling books and keeping good relationships with your authors and readers.
  How long will my book be on Dorrance and Amazon website? I would like to know what will happen once my payments are completed.
  I also deserve half the compensation that I have already paid for completing Dorrance's tasks and mistakes. Here’s a number I came up with, and will I still have to pay the last 7 payments? I believe I have already paid $3,672 up until May 2024. I believe I owe $1,512. If my math is correct, half will be $1,836 and if you take what I owe, that will be $324 plus my earnings of $372.80 so that’s $696.80 that goes to me. I think that would be fair.
   Also, my book continues to be in the Dorrance bookstore, and am asking could my book be on the feature page. My book is doing well with good and multiple reviews, and I think I deserve to be featured. Plus, on Amazon website with the corrections for the next 24 months.
  Please and thank you for your time and efforts. I hope this agreement is sufficient and we can continue our relationship as publishing company and author. 
  ----------
  From: Michael K**** ******************************>
  Date: Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 10:21?AM
  To: ******* ***** ****** **************************
  If you can provide me with the details of any typo that needs to be corrected in the "About the Author" text, I can take care of that for you.
  The $5400 contract fee is for the full set of services included in the contract. We allowed you to make the payments in monthly installments instead of requiring full payment up front. It is not that the remaining payments are solely for upcoming services, but rather that you are still making the monthly payments toward the complete publication. The balance of the full amount continues to be due. We would not be obligated to issue earnings payments if your contract account is past due. While the book is currently still for sale on the bookstore, we can also pull the book from distribution due to the past due status. Per the terms of the contract, the book is available for sale for a minimum of two years after the book is first printed and released, however, we cannot continue providing services for which you have not paid.
  Dorrance compiles the majority of the promotion. Part of the promotion included in the contract is sending to a list of *personal* contacts provided by the author. We, of course, would not be able to put together your personal contact list. This portion of the promotion is entirely optional should you not wish to provide a list. Dorrance already compiles the lists of media contacts, bookstores, and libraries.
  ----------
  From: ******* ***** ****** *************************>
  Date: Sat, Jun 29, 2024 at 12:55?PM
  To: Michael K**** *******************************
  I have sent the typos in a separate email. 
  So you tell me you won't be able to compensate me for the errors and poor service. Dorrance will just simply be withholding my earrings until I pay in full. My book will no longer be on the Dorrance and Amamzon website for purchase. How fair are you? What I am asking for is to rectify the situation. The Company seems to not care about the author but to only make money off the author. I will take this up with my bank and dispute the charges. I was only asking for $696.80, and at the end of my contract, you seem not to want to negotiate with me. Let me be clear, if my book is being pulled, I can relaunch my book with a different more sufficient publisher, correct maybe even self-publish? I will change the name and cover art so I can do this. For the record, you are not being fair and you know your customer service is poor and unsatisfactory. Thank you for nothing, I see how your company does business and zi will report this to the BBB and I will write a review about my experience with your company. 
  ** *******
  ----------
  From: Jessica S******** **********************************>
  Date: Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 8:55?AM
  To: ******* ***** ****** **************************
  ******* ***** ****** *************************>
  9:50?AM (1 hour ago)
  ---------- Forwarded message ---------
  From: ******* ***** ****** *************************>
  Date: Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 12:13?PM
  Subject: *** **** ****** * ****** ***** **** ******
  To: Michael ***** *******************************
  ******* ***** ****** **************************
  10:47?AM (8 minutes ago)
  
  *** ********** I did pay for book trailers, a media kit, and a website. I have sent my invoice and emails to the BBB to handle. I may have signed a contract but your poor and unsatisfactory services don't give you the right to treat authors this way. I ask for a fair and reasonable solution and you smack it away. You weren't even willing to meet me in the middle. 
  I need to know the consequences if I don't meet your demands.
   I have my bank working on this and I am disputing half the charges due to poor and unsatisfactory service. Again, I am asking for half of what I paid because I did half your job. I am asking to be reimbursed for the trailers, media kit, and website. 
  Please and thank you. 
  
  ReplyForward
  
  Add reaction
  

  
  

  Regards,
  ******* ******

  Business response

  07/08/2024

  As we have stated, we will certainly fix the typo in the ****** *** ******* section of your book's online listing. However, we cannot be expected to continue to provide services when your account is in arrears. When signing the contract, you agree to paid a fee of $5400 for the services included. We allowed you to make monthly payments (without interest) instead of paying in full upfront. We have completed publication and promotion of your book in accordance with the contract, and we expect that you will also fulfill your legal obligation to the contract as well by making your remaining payment as agreed.

  The email list you are referring to is the "personal mailing list" included in your contract. While Dorrance of course puts together marketing contacts in media, retail, and libraries, the personal mailing list is in addition to those. It allows you the chance to have postcards mailed to individuals of your choosing. There is no way that Dorrance would be able to create your "personal mailing list" for you, this is intended for friends, family, colleagues, etc.

  There is no one named Meghan working for us, so we are uncertain to whom you are referring in that statement.

  The fact remains, that we have fulfilled the terms of your contract, however you have not completed the payments that you committed to making when you signed the agreement.

  Customer response

  07/08/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ******

• Initial Complaint

  06/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Dorrance publishing charge me $4500 to publish my book ***** *** ***** I signed up for the payment plan which has been completed months ago. My initial down payment was $1350.00 I have had all my illustrations sent through to Dorrance which was the final requirement they needed to complete the book. Since Feb 2024 I have not had a response, I have called left messages, I have emailed the numerous different contacts I have for them and some will get sent back as the contact may not work there), My husband called and left voice messages, we have had not had one response since the finalization of the book, as it should have been printed as of now. I have download a copy of the Contract, and Dorrance have not lived up to their end. I am requesting my Manuscript back, all my illustrations, THE FULL amount of $4500.oo , also a portion of the money I spent on illustrations by a designer in Australia of $1000.oo At the beginning of signing up with Dorrance Publishing, I was inundated will emails, calls, notices of contracts, how to make payments etc. A few in-between which now when I look back and read some seem to be generated emails responses. As of Feb 2024 radio silence . We have a very disabled son at home to who I wanted to write the book for, and not only has Dorrance Publishing taken money from us, the potential future royalties that could help with our families cost of supporting of son.

  Business response

  06/14/2024

  Thank you for the opportunity to address these concerns. Our Project Manager reached out to *** ********** on June 11th to discuss the communication issues and make sure we are all on the same page. There were files that *** ********* was supposed to be providing from her illustrator that we were waiting on. We are committed to fulfilling the terms of the contract and completing publication of the book, and we are in communication with *** ********* about the steps to move forward.

  Customer response

  06/14/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
    After the appointment I set up, I got a call from a NEW Project manager Named Wiley  S********* who only had emails with the files the that I had  attached to the other 3 people who were in charge of my book ( however come to find out they left the company and no files nor  EMAILS were able to be found)

  Wiley also advised I would get a call from her SUPERVISOR, nothing!

  After numerous attempts at calls and emails to Dorrance, I found a random page with appointment set ups, that I INITIATED, because I am 100% sure I would not have had anyone reach out to me .

  As it stands I have every email ever sent alone with all the attachments and files needed to complete the book, the front cover is what Wiley said was "MISSING" , I paid my illustrator to fulfill the requirements needed for the front cover ,ie= size, borders etc. 

  I also believe like 100s of other complaints that this is a scam of sorts!

  I spent over $6000 between Dorrance, my illustrator, to have a book written for my disabled son, to which I have nothing to show for it!

  It goes to show you what type of company this is, when all the prior "project managers leave" and forward on nothing !! 

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** **********

• Initial Complaint

  06/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 30, 2023, My daughter and I entered into a contract with Dorrance Publishing to edit and publish a book of poems that she wrote. It was to have 13 poems and her original artwork with each poem in the book and we were told it would be out early this summer 2024. We were told that we needed to pay $500 down and then $255.56 each month would be drafted from my account each month for the next 17 months with one payment of approximately $238 on the last payment for a total of $5100. This was to cover the cost of purchasing the copyright, advertising, and our purchase of 25 copies of the book to hand out or sell at whatever cost we chose. In the beginning, they contacted my daughter regularly, however, we have not heard anything from them since December 2024, despite multiple emails and calls with messages left on voicemails that have gone unanswered. In April my debit card got hacked that the payment was being drafted from and I had to cancel it and get a new one. I expected that would at least prompt a call from them at that time wondering about their payments, as they come out on the 10th of each month. June will make the 3rd missed payment and still no word from them and as I have said we have contacted them several times. My daughter is 16 and heartbroken, with ambitions of becoming a writer.

  Business response

  06/14/2024

  Our records show that we have been waiting on information from *** ****** since March 2024. The Project Manager reached out to *** ****** on 6/11/24 again to let her know the status. They have communicated multiple times this week about what is needed and how to move the project forward. As mentioned in this message, the contract is also past due multiple payments. We look forward to continuing work on this project.

• Initial Complaint

  05/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  There is a valid contract between Dorrance Publishing and my father ***** **** ***t (dec) for the publishing and promotion of a book. The title is ****** ****** ** ***. All fees have been prepaid. Between October and January, emails to and from a Dorrance manager and myself were exchanged, and all information and forms requested were completed and returned. Those were the obstacles preventing the completion of the contract. Since that time, I have left many voicemails as well as e-mails requesting status, and have had no response. I am asking for Dorrance to abide by the terms of the contract and publish and promote the book. thank you ******** ****

  Business response

  05/14/2024

  Our project manager was in touch with *** **** last week about the status of the project. We are making a last update to the files and will supply him with final page proofs to review and give approval for printing.

• Initial Complaint

  04/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My current concerns involve my estimated published date being 3/29/2024 and my email to Beez and her assistant being rejected by my.google.com. There was no email from Dorrance on or after 3/29/2024 telling me that my book wasn't published or why. I only found out when I asked: my emails to my coordinator and her assistant were being blocked by a 'glitch.' I'm not paying until it is published because my coordinators have been changed twice from Taryn to Beez to Tracy. This makes it look like I’m being passed around from person to person. By the publish date of 3/29/2024, I paid $4,500 and the total that I was told that this would cost was $6,100. After I reached out to Taryn on November 12, 2023, I was contacted by Beez who let me know that Taryn was no longer with the company. I only found out that I was reassigned to a new one after the fact when I asked what was going on. Ashley described the problem and contacted Beez or Kaitlyn as a glitch and I was assigned to Tracy. All of this together makes me worried that further payments will not guarantee that my book will be published. I hope they understand my situation as I’m on social security disability and working part-time while living with my parents at 32 years old. The $500 a month would be better spent paying off my car loan early.

  Business response

  04/19/2024

  We informed *** *****k on April 9th that we had all of his necessary approvals and we were moving forward with sending the book to print. We again assured him of this in an email from our Author Services Director on April 16th. This process takes approximately 4-6 weeks. We also explained that the "glitch" was that very temporarily emails were not being appropriately forwarded from the account of the previous project manager. That has since been resolved and we have all of the communications. We look forward to being able to send *** ****** the first copy of his book soon!

• Initial Complaint

  02/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In 2020 I had Dorrance Publishing Company publish a book for me. I paid over three thousand dollars which paid for everything. They only offered thirty percent of the royalties to me and they took the rest. I had never had a book published before. They gave me no accountability of books sold. When they sent me an email telling they had $25. to pay me, they said they would send a check or send it to my bank account. After waiting a month, I called and asked why I hadn't received the check, they said I had to fill out a paper for the gocvernment. I did that and mailed it to them. After a couple of months, I again asked why I didn't get the check, they again said I had to fill out the paper. I told them I already did it. In October of last year I published another book with another company and have already received royalties from them. There is something wrong with Dorrance Publishing Company. It seems the they don't want to pay me. Even though it is a small amount, it is the principle of the whole thing.

  Business response

  02/26/2024

  Payment in full of $25.19 has already been issued to *** ******** bank account, after it was initially delayed while we were waiting for *** ******** required W9 form. All of our authors have access to an online portal where they can track their sales and earnings whenever they wish. The terms regarding earnings are clearly stated in our contracts, and we offer a generous earnings percentage that is higher than industry average. Dorrance does not "keep" the entire balance - the retail price of the book must cover printing costs, significant discounts required by retailers, and the author earnings. We'd be happy to answer any additional questions *** ****** may have.

• Initial Complaint

  02/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I contracted with this publishing company and they told me it would be anywhere from 9 months to a year. They have had multiple people tell me they will get this book done. They take weeks to get back to you. I missed a very important conference because of the deadline date. I have had five people from the company tell me they will get this book done. I decided I want my money back and done with them

  Business response

  02/28/2024

  We cannot complete *** ********** project until we receive her approval of all materials. We most recently prompted her for a response on February 14th and February 15th. We are committed to fulfilling the terms of the contract and producing a book for *** *********

  Customer response

  03/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ********

• Initial Complaint

  01/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Oct. 27, 2023, I entered into a contract with Dorrance Publishing Company to ghostwrite a book for me. They identified a ghostwriter and I began working with her. The ghostwriter worked on the project for 2 days and expressed her inability to continue with the project as she felt she did not have the skills for the assignment. Disappointed by this experience, I requested the business, Dorrance Publishing, to refund the amount paid and consider the contract canceled. They only refunded $250, claiming that the ghostwriter had worked on the project and hence they were entitled to some compensation. This is outright unfair. The ghostwriter was expected to submit a chapter consisting of about 4000 words but she only submitted less than 200 words. Does this entitle the business to deduct half the amount paid? I request a refund of the balance $250.

  Business response

  03/12/2024

  Dorrance had no obligation to refund this project as it was fully our intention to complete the project and fulfill the terms of the contract. When the initial ghostwriter was unable to continue, it would be our normal procedure to assign the project to a different writer and carry on. The same would apply if the client had concerns about the quality of work. It was, in fact, the client who elected to sever the relationship at that point and end the contract. The client acknowledged that we did not have the obligation to refund but asked for compensation. We agreed to partial refund of $250 because some work had been completed. The client accepted this offer, the refund was made, and the contract was terminated.

• Initial Complaint

  01/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  For half a year now I've been dealing with Dorrance Publishing Company. I think that they take a perverse pleasure into brainwashing people about being reputable and going back to 1920. In addition, I think that for every client whose book they actually publish satisfactorily, they defraud quite a few others either with low quality shoddy work or by frustrating them without actually publishing anything. They give you the runaround for months on simple edits. In the end, they might not fix anything. They charged $600 for what they claimed were coaching services. Pretty much this was someone with barely high-school level writing knowledge giving you dubious advice. Then they look to see how much money they can get out of you. If you can pay a lot, they keep you with the Dorrance name to defraud you. If you can't, they send you to lower tier RoseDog to defraud for less. I've already given $1620 to RoseDog. In all, I've disbursed $2220. In recent weeks, just as my last $280 payment is due, they stopped responding to me. It is as if, they want me to default to pocket the money with impunity. They have ignored my requests for revision. They have produced the worse possible quality for the book content and for the cover. The typesetting and page layout of the book are the worse you could ever get. They are worse than the original Word file that I gave them. The cover artwork and typesetting are incredibly bad. On the one hand they seem to hire the lowest quality personnel for that work at RoseDog. On the other hand, I get a feeling that they do this on purpose to frustrate and defraud authors. I ended up getting my own cover design. They wouldn't even respond to tell me if they will be able to use it. They are not as reputable as they say or seem. People might go to them based on your ratings and be sorry. I want them to complete the production work on my book to my satisfaction and give me the files to take the publication elsewhere.

  Business response

  03/12/2024

  We're sorry to hear that *** ***** is so frustrated. We are currently working on a series of revisions that she had submitted. We certainly work with the author to achieve the final product that they want, and we don't send the project to print until the author has given the final approval of all materials. 

• Initial Complaint

  01/07/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I want to complain about Dorrance Publishing because they have not lived up to their promises to help me publish my book. All they are interested in is getting payments from prospective authors who are eager to see their books in print. I paid that company more than $5K and they never delivered anything acceptable. Each time I sent the document with comments for review, they would return it with more errors. I am sure they wanted to make the most money out of me and they did. I sent them an email a few months ago to express my dissatisfaction about the poor quality of their services. I have received no response, no apology, no phone call to explain anything. All I keep receiving is their reminders that my monthly installments are due. They have to stop. I will never recommend them to anyone. In fact, I warn everyone to stay away from them. They are useless. I want my money back.

  Business response

  01/18/2024

  We are sorry to hear that *** ****** has concerns about her project. Through every step of our process, we prepare materials for the author to review and approve, or make changes to if they see fit. *** ****** was first given the opportunity to review the edited manuscript, which she approved to move forward to our page design stage. We then prepared page proofs which put the approved text into the page design format along with any images. Back and forth with author is a normal part of the process, as we want to ensure that the final product is exactly how they want it. In March 2023, a third set of page proofs was sent to *** ******. We cannot move forward without her response to these materials. If there are further adjustments needed, we are certainly willing to make them. It is fully our intention to fulfill the terms of the contract and publish *** ******'s book. However, we cannot do so without her review of the materials.

  Customer response

  01/24/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** **

*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. ↩