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3.2 93 Reviews

Hearst Communications Complaints Summary

51 Resolved
42 Unresolved
Our verdict: While Hearst Communications has an above-average resolution rate, there’s room for improvement. Investigate common issues reported by customers and understand how they were resolved. Be prepared to follow up on your queries if needed, and keep detailed records of all interactions.
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Hearst Communications reviews & complaints 93

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Hearst Communications - scam and cheating

I have received a 'third notice of payment past due' from the Hearst Corporation for Cosmopolitan Magazine. They claim that in October 2008 I requested my subscription be renewed and be billed at a later date. I never requested renewal of the magazine, in fact, my subscription doesn't even expire until January 2010. Also I have always paid for my...

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Hearst Communications scam charges

After subscribing to Men's Health Magazine, I received 2 books from Rodale Inc in the mail as a preview, (Total Fitness Guide 2009 and I will be charged if I don't send them back (at my own cost) in 21 days.

Other reports say that the books cost $50.90. I did not get an invoice yet for the books, and do not see an easy way to return the books until I have the invoice.

Total Scam. This company was taken to court for this a couple years ago, and are apparently up to their same tricks again.

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gmarlett
Tucson, US
Aug 16, 2009 4:48 am EDT

This past year (2009) I have had the EXACT same experience. Two years back I got a magazine subscription for Men's Health from a friend, and this year Rodale sent me like 3 large hard-cover books with muscle-building recipes, then a month later sent me a bill for them. I called MULTIPLE times and they keep saying it's up to ME to prove that I did not order these products they are trying to charge me for and REFUSE to give me a method of returning them without charging me for shipping and handling. I hope this scam feels the wrath of the public, who knows how many innocent people they are scamming the $60 for the books from.

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12:16 pm EST
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Hearst Communications bill for book did'nt get

i have contacted Rodale twice when they sent me a bill that i never recieved the book that they clamed that they sent.Now i'm receiving letters from you consuring this matter and want to know what happen.Would like this matter taking care of because i'm not going to pay for a book that i didn't get. Please find out what has happened and send letter to me letting me know. Sincerly, debi callen

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The English Teacher Corrected
, US
Feb 09, 2009 5:18 pm EST

To Jason Tillo:

There should be a semicolon after book in sentence one.
You didn't spell punctuation correctly.
It's "Rodale" not "Dodale" and there is no need for give to be capitalized.

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8:28 am EST
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Hearst Communications terrible company

Much like everyone else, I received two books that I did not order. I called the number that is listed for Rodale Inc and spoke with customer service. They told me that they would mail me a postage paid return label and that I could return them at no cost. Be advised, I called them today and I will follow up as to whether or not it actually happened. Just be advised, there appears to be a remedy to return them. Class action lawsuits require a lot of energy and time. Good luck and look for my follow up.

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Hearst Communications unauthorized shipment of books

I ordered the Flat Belly Diet book and about two months later received two other diet books for my "preview." They claimed that I had authorized being used for previewing other books on related topics when I sent in my order form for the Flat Belly Diet books.

Within a week after receiving the books for previewing, I received a bill for the full price of both.

I was forced to pay for the return postage, with insurance and proof of receipt, for something I didn't know I was signing up for when I ordered the original book.

Unethical! Too bad a company with quality products would stoop to these tactics. I won't be ordering from them again.

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Lollipopgirl
, US
Aug 12, 2009 11:38 pm EDT

You actually don't have to pay the postage. You can call or email Rodale and they will send you a return label for you to return it free of charge. Also, books are only sent if there has been an order card filled out. If you did not order the book, then someone filled a card out for you. The order card states in fine print that by ordering whatever book (in your case, flat belly) you agree to preview the annual book-if you like it, keep and pay for it. If you don't like it, you can contact them and tehy will send you a prepaid return label-and you can cancel out of the program. Many people claim they have not ordered the series, but really they did. They just failed to read the fine print. I'm not saying it's right, but you really did order it. If you want to order a book and not get the series-just cross it out and indicate you do not want the series when you order.

Crappy, but legal.

Good luck!

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Mia5853
Miami, US
Apr 14, 2009 6:36 pm EDT

I ordered a subscription to Prevention magazine and received these two books I never ordered from Rolale on weight loss. I had to return the books at my expense with confirmation to avoid paying an overpriced fee of $54.00. Rodale and Prevention have lost my business for good.

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1:43 pm EST
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Hearst Communications sending magazines without my wanting to renew subscription

I previously had a subscription to Good Housekeeping, they send billings every issue to extend, but I never opened them, after receiving them each month and NOT wanting to extend. Well, now I get a threat because they have been sending me Good Housekeeping issues past my subscription and without my written okay to do so! If I wanted to continue the magazine, I'd do so, but I wouldn't now even if they paid ME! Very bad business ethics with Hearst and Good Houskeeping, and this whole ordeal better not mess with my great credit report! Connie Wagner 6223 "J" Street Omaha, NE 68117

Now, I'm going into go to their website and tell them I've complained here and I'll contact Better Business Bureau, also.

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Hearst Communications unauthorized billing

I wish I read all your reports before I sent this card they lured me with, honestly I don't even remember if I agreed to subscribe to this pathetic magazine or not, but I do remember they promised to send 3 free reports of interest to me (well, you guessed right - weight loss, etc.), so I thought - $11.98 is ok, I'll read this magazine and cancel if I don't like it.

Instead of 3 free reports they sent me their magazine and free report on diabetics! Thanks a lot! I called them, and waited for my reports, but as you know, what follows - collection agency North Shore in a period of 14 (!) days. Their ( Prevention) invoice was of 12/16/2008, North Shore Agency request for payment was of 12/30/2008.

Like the only thing to do in December, 2008 is to dispute with Prevention magazine and Rodale, Inc. I don't care much about $11.98, but it's a matter of principle - they are scam and I refuse to pay a penny to them.

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Hearst Communications - scam

I ordered a book from Rodale Books a couple of months ago, came as requested and I paid for the book. Today I received two (not just one, but two) unsolicited books! I did not want the books, did not order the books and sure as heck am not going to pay for the stupid books. Unfortunately, you can return the unsolicited books by printing a return label...

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Hearst Communications - fraud and scam

Several months ago I suscribed to Prevention Magazine, a Rodale publication. After realizing what a stupid magazine it is, I cancelled the subscription. While I never received a refund, I was just happy not to receive this trash in my mail every week. Just recently I received a large package containing two books from Rodale. I called customer service to...

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Hearst Communications - subscription/renewal scam

I received a subscription notice to Good Housekeeping, a magazine I have not received and have not ordered. I returned it marked CANCELLED. I have now received several letters from G. L. Valk of the Subscription Service Department that were threatening and irritating. I did not subscribed to this magazine and have twice returned invoices to cancel. Upon...

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Hearst Communications unauthroized renewal of o at home magazine subscription

I ordered the magazine through Oprah.com and my subscription expires March of 09, but I have just gotten a bill from The Hearst Corporation saying I agreed to auto renewal and that they had previously written me about this, which they did not. There is no phone number or website given except on that accepts payments only, so there is no way for me to cancel this unsolicited invoice. What do I do? Thanks, Bernadine Young

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Reneepls2
, US
Mar 27, 2015 10:32 pm EDT

You can go to: http://www.oprah.com and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Click on
Customer service. Enter your account number and the security code listed.
Then on the left hand side of the page click on cancel subscription.

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irene f shaw
Surrey, CA
Mar 24, 2014 4:06 pm EDT
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i also did not renew theoprahmag. i got a bill for 33.00 dollars today...i am not going to pay for something i didnt ask for...no phone on bill so cant cancel it...now what do i do. ladyfate43@hotmail.com

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Bill in Chgo
Chicago, US
Jul 23, 2013 9:56 am EDT

Add me to the list, cancelled my mother's subscription to O ages ago, stopped receiving the mag, yet got a bill for $15.00.

When I went to the website "paytheoprahmag.com", my virus shield blocked the site as a malicious site.

I called the 800 number given in a previous post, and voice robot took information to cancel... fingers crossed.

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Loretta Tisdom
Shreveport, US
Jun 16, 2013 9:46 pm EDT

I got an invoice from O Magazine stating that I agreed to be billed later for my magazines, First of all I sent a check for the full amount on March 21, 2013. I have been receiving them since you guys first came out with them. This is the second time you all have pulled this about a bill I didn't owe. For all the years that I've purchased these Magazines I should get a year free! Thanks Loretta Leonard-Tisdom

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Lindasue2
Pembroke, US
May 17, 2013 10:58 am EDT

I got an invoice saying I ordered oprah magazine...I DID NOT, , , , , DO NOT WANT, , , , , , ,

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ESnavely
, US
Mar 25, 2013 6:34 am EDT

Add me to the list of complaints against The Hearst Corporation. I ordered O Magazine, paid for it. When it was time for my subscription to renew, I started receiving past due notices that indicated that they were extending the "privilege" and that I had agreed to be billed and am several months past due. No phone number was provided or even an email address. I went through my records and confirmed that I did send them a check for the first year and returned the notice with the check number and my phone number and had not received a single word back from them. Many other people would have just paid it. I really think this company needs to be held accountable for their practices.

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Carol Joyce
Msrysville, US
Feb 03, 2012 7:28 pm EST
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I did not order your "0" magazine for another. I do not appreciate you doing this automatically without my permission. Please cancel.

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lkraanz
Tierra Verde, US
Nov 29, 2011 2:13 am EST

I receive an invoice for The Hearst corporation invoice bureau charge me for a subscription I do not want to renew!
Please can somebody cancel-void this charges ?invoice payment number GHK10356033471123718085631012000000000000A2400 . Just to let everybody know this corporation dare to ask me to return a envelop with payment for a magazine I do not want to have anymore and I sent to them a letter asked politely to avoid the "charges" they impouse to me.Let me go out, what's going on here... help ! Look all this complains !This type of negative billing shoud be actualy illegal! Lou

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SallyLindsay
New York, US
May 31, 2011 2:10 pm EDT

Call Hearst Corporation at [protected] to cancel subscription. I don't agree with automatic invoicing it's like forcing you to buy something every year just because you subscripted once. The first year I went ahead and paid the invoice but this year I decided to take a stand. I cancelled my subscription. Sally

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SallyLindsay
New York, US
May 31, 2011 1:54 pm EDT

I was surprised the first last year when I received a bill stating that I owe for another year's subscription. So I paid the charges last year but recently I just received another invoice for this year stating the same thing. I am not renewing again. I will not be subscribing to this magazine again. Subscription should be by choice and automatic invoicing is not by choice. It is like forcing me to buy something just because I purchased it once. Sally

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8:41 pm EST

Hearst Communications being sent invoices a auto renewal that was never made.

Sending invoice for the o, the oprah magazine that claims I agreed to "be billed later for"all orders of renewal were paid for at time of ordering this was a scam for auto renewal which I paid and still getting invoices for from the hearst corp of red oak iowa. From g. L valk vice president/ there is no way to track this account #. If someone from o magazine would let me know how your accounts are tracked I would love a response. I feel like I was scamed and will never subscribe again.

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bg2
, CA
Jul 12, 2012 2:03 pm EDT

This happened to my elderly mom this month (July 2012). Nasty repeat invoices for a renewal she never agreed to, and which in fact she had sent written reply that she did NOT want. No phone number or email contact info on the invoice / harassing reminders to enable her to get in touch with them to discuss. No phone number on the website given for paying account.

She is very disillusioned with Oprah that she would be associated with this type of behaviour. After much scouring, I found that you can contact O Magazines subscriptions by phone at [protected]. It should be illegal to send invoices without a contact phone number.

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Sandyca
Yorktown, US
Dec 18, 2010 4:23 pm EST

I thought the law says, if you receive something for which you did not order, you could use it with even sending a response back that it was not ordered by you. Is this correct? I have been having the same problem as others with Hearst and Good Housekeeping Mag. After reading these responses, I am NOT going to renew or send any letters to them! Sandy

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SCAMMED BY HEARST
, US
Dec 08, 2010 1:40 pm EST

I am getting the same postal mail from the Hearst Corporation, Invoicing Bureau from Red Oak, Iowa stating I was choosing to be a part of their Continous Service Program. It states that "as we recently notified you, your renewal to House Beautiful has been processed". I DID NOT ask to be a part of this, I did not check any box to be a part of this, and they are saying payment is due NOW. What a scam! I will NEVER order magazines again as I can find what I want, when I want, online.

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FlamingoNana
Naples, US
Sep 03, 2010 2:49 pm EDT

I emailed Good Housekeeping re receipt of a bill for a renewal of my subscription that doesn't even expire until September 2011! It says I have chosen to be part of their Continuous Service Program, but I have no record of having some that. I got a "canned" response to my email, saying someone would be contacting me in about 48 hours or something like that. Instead, today I got another reminder that I owe them $15.97 for my renewal. All attempts to find a phone number to call were futile until I came across this website. Wish me luck. I'm going to try to call them. I refuse to waste 44 cents by writing them a letter.

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Joan R
Placentia, US
Apr 06, 2010 12:30 pm EDT
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I have sent two requests to cancel my Oprah subscription by USPS and emailed (scanned a copy of the invoice with "CANCELLED" written all over it. Received a fourth invoice and thanks to the postings on this site I was finally able to locate a phone number and spoke to a representative that was quite nice and assured me it was cancelled. Time will tell, but I think this time we got it taken care of. Thanks! Joanne

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JR Lozano
Grapevine, US
Mar 15, 2010 11:23 am EDT

Same thing happened to me; it really turned me off to ordering the O magazine again but also wary of ever ordering any magazines through any program. I started this one through a school band program raising funds. I thought the Oprah organization would take better care to ensure their business is handled through a corporation with higher integrity and standards...it's very juvenile to not even have a phone number listed anywhere on the invoice or later on the regular bill. I appreciate ya'll's help in locating phone numbers; it was on my "to do" list and you've cut my job in half. Thanks! Renee L. Grapevine, Texas

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nobody123
, US
Jan 21, 2010 1:31 pm EST

I was also automatically signed up for a renewal to the Oprah Magazine. I did not want this, but there was no number on the invoice to call. I did some research. For anyone wanting to cancel and talk to a real person, try this number : [protected]
The lady I spoke with was really nice and canceled it for no fee.

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Paul Bargiel
Collinsville, US
Jan 04, 2010 8:33 pm EST

I agree the same is happening to me. I have sent e-mails and returned us mail stating I did not order to no avail. I will try calling tomorrow.

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Mary Dee
,
Nov 18, 2008 10:38 am EST

Here is some information: I just cancelled my subscription to
Good Housekeeping.

Assistant to the. Publishing Director. PUBLISHED BY THE HEARST CORPORATION ... Box 7146, Red Oak, IA 51591, or call [protected] or [protected]. ...

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10:57 am EDT

Hearst Communications gift subscription

I sent back a business reply card for a gift subsrciption to mens health for my boyfriend. After a week or so I decided since my parents get the magazine I was not going to Pay for the gift subcription because I did not want it. They would bill me and I did not pay them, I did not want the subcription. Little did I know I was already subsribed, they had been sending the magazines to him without recieving the $ for the subsrciption. Now a year later I recieve a letter from a collection agency for the 19.95. I am gonna tell my parents to cancel their subscription, too. Any company that has to do these types of practices must be pretty desperate. It is insulting seeing that collection letter since my credit I have always been very careful with. To put it simply I am pissed. Don't even bother with this mens health magazine. It's not worth it.

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Sherril Martin
, US
Nov 10, 2019 1:40 pm EST

Where are my magazine subscriptions ? I subscribe to 3 magazines and they are not getting delivered. I am going to tally up the news stand price for all missing issues and submit the bill to Doorfront Direct. Hire some competent delivery people ! Enough is enough !

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Gaye Weinman
, US
Dec 12, 2018 6:26 pm EST

11/17/18

I just received a request for payment for a magazine called Veranda. I had never heard of Veranda Magazine until it showed up in my email. I never enter sweepstakes. I did not subscribe to Veranda Magazine at any time.

Please look in to this matter as your billing is in error.

gayeweinman@gmail.com

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Jeff
VIenna, US
Apr 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

I'm a subscriber to the magazine for 15 years and I 've never had a problem. When I moved they were the first to send their magazine to my new - and they were the last magazine I contacted, about a week after I contacted others. No complaints at all with them or Rodale.

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