Modesto Bee

Review: Since a subscription was established with The Modesto Bee to receive the weekender (Fri-Mon) newspaper, we had not receive Fridays, Saturdays, or Mondays paper. We had received the Sunday paper, consistently.Every week (five weeks now) I had to call to request a refund for not receiving three papers for five weeks. I've also requested that communication to the delivery personnel be established to correct the issue. Unfortunately, this must not have been done, for I still did not receive a Friday, Saturday, nor a Monday paper every week thereafter.Customer service personnel have been very good about crediting the account for missed papers. What I do not understand, aside from not receiving the papers, is that it will take over two weeks to process a cancellation of service. Three weeks the most.Desired Settlement: I request a complete refund by the end of the week and NOT 2-3 weeks from now, considering the time I had to put into calling/requesting/complaining about the service (or lack thereof). Thank you.

Business

Response:

The account was started on 10/18/15. We apologize for the delivery problems the Visser residence has experienced. The reason for the cancellation has been given to the distributor and the regional manager. This account was stopped 11/24/15. The refund was processed on 11/30/15 and refunded back to the credit card on 12/4/15.Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because: [redacted]Thank you for letting me know about the redundant complaint. Unfortunately, we never received any correspondence regarding the first complaint, which prompted me to file another one. Our credit card shows no credit from The Modesto Bee nor any contact from The Modesto Bee regarding the complaint.I do hope this can get resolved quickly.Thank you,[redacted]

Business

Response:

The card on file ending with XXXX-[redacted] was refunded $15.75. This was confirmed by our Finance Department. Please contact us locally at [redacted] if this refund is not showing on your statement.Thank you

Review: I subscribed to the Modesto Bee a couple years ago, then cancel my service/ModBee continued to deliver/bill/sent to collections/Now doing it again.

I order the Modesto Bee out of the kindness of my heart. I used to sell newspapers in Contra Costa and know workers paid minimal. I have internet, dishnetwork, siriusxm for news, don't necessarily "need" newspapers. I order a couple years, decided to cancel my service. The Modesto Bee continued delivery, kept calling me, continued billing me, even though I cancel my service several times. They sent me to collections for $16.00 dollars, for papers, that I'd never requested. Everytime I pay a final bill, they'll start a new subscription all over again. I received another bill from the Modesto Bee for $18.10. They refuse to cancel and have stopped delivery last year. I'm sick and tired of these harassing practices and desperate measures from this corporate newspaper and want them to stop.Desired Settlement: I'd like to be refunded the $16.00 that I paid, for no delivery; for no subscription to their services. I've been robbed of hard earned money, from a company that I want to have no further business with. Now, they're sending me bills again for $18.10! I want the $18.00 reversed, I want them to stop all transactions pertaining to me. I don't want their paper, don't want their subscriptions, don't want to be called by this company.

Business

Response:

Business' Initial Response

Contact Name and Title: [redacted], President

Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Contact Email: [redacted]@modbee.com

Good evening,

After reviewing this customer's account we are able to provide a response to her complaint.

In checking her account history, it does show that she was a subscriber on an auto-debit account (her credit card was automatically billed). Her account only shows requests to stop her delivery for vacations (temporarily), but never requests to stop permanently.

At one point her credit card was declined for payment. We have a program called 'grace delivery,' where customers continue to receive newspapers after their payment expires, knowing that sometimes checks bounce or cards are declined or payment is forgotten or missed.

In this case, the paper continued to be delivered after the card declined. After not receiving payment for the amount that was declined (and for the papers that were still being delivered to the residence), we sent the matter to our collections agency. This was the $16 balance.

As for the $18 balance, that was an error on our part. Our system did not register the permanent stop on her account and it was not caught in time to prevent a bill from being issued.

I have instructed my staff to write off the $18 balance due, to add her to our internal 'Do Not Call' so she will not be called by our telemarketers and will instruct our collections agency to cease all attempts to collect further money from Ms. [redacted].

I apologize for the trouble and hope that our remedy is acceptable to Ms. [redacted].

Best regards,

Review: I have called Modesto Bee 4 times and e mailed them once for 2 months now there sister paper ([redacted]. Is delivering their Spanish paper to my home.I have asked them to stop that I did not want a Spanish /English paper.I told them I am a green person ie: want trees to be saved from not being cut down to create a paper that people don't want.I AM 79 YEARS OLD AND IT IS A HARD SHIP FOR ME TO GO OUT AND BEND TO THROW THEIR VIDA PAPER AWAY.I was told 4 times it would not be delivered again. it has not stopped, every Thursday. Please tell them do not deliver any of their papers to me.Thank you [redacted]Desired Settlement: I WANT MODESTO BEE/VIDA TO STOP DELIVERING ANY AND ALL PAPERS TO MY HOME WHETHER IT IS VIDA,OR FREE.

Business

Response:

Thank you for the information on this Revdex.com complaint. I see a message was entered on this customer's address on 6/12/14 & 8/7/14. The messages and instructions indicate the removal of any delivery going to this address. As of today, I understand this is not happening per the customer's request. I have taken action today. I have notified the distributor and the regional manager in this area to have all deliveries stopped immediately. I will also be making a follow call to the distributor tomorrow morning to ensure this is resolved. My VIP staff and I will be following up with the customer and the distributor over the next few weeks to confirm the delivery of the Vida paper has been stopped and this has been resolved. Our VIP phone number will also be given directly to the customer, if needed for any future requests.

Review: Dear Sirs:

I am a subscriber to the Modesto Bee. Their home delivery has deteriorated to the point that they no longer

seem to be able to deliver a missed paper to my address. I renewed on 8-8-15, they have been missing several papers on a 7 day a week subscription, so I changed to "Sunday Only".

I didn't notify them because they apparently charge back the carrier approximately" two, and a half times the cost of the paper." I did not receive the paper yesterday 9-20-15.

I did report it, and did not receive a replacement paper, nor did I receive the [redacted] as they also deliver that paper as well. I met [redacted], last December, I seriously can't believe that he is still the carrier of record as he was terminally ill at the time. I called the [redacted] this morning, and they advised me that they would credit me for yesterdays missed paper, and that they would contact [redacted], the district manager of the Modesto Bee.Desired Settlement: I believe that the entire Modesto Bee operations have been moved to Sacramento, this means that there isn't a manager in Modesto, to replace a missed paper. Suffice it to say that [redacted], hasn't called regarding the delivery problem. I don't know if you can ameliorate this problem, but I sincerely hope so.

Sincerely yours,

Business

Response:

This customer stopped the subscription on 10/13/15. The reason on the account states, 'customer thinks the paper is terrible. She does not like the news and the content.' The account was changed from daily service to Sunday only service on 8/9/15. The Modesto Bee is printed in Sacramento, but the Regional Manager for the Modesto Bee is located in Modesto. If there are service problems, we always encourage our readers to contact us so we can notify the appropriate manager. In this case, Ms. [redacted]'s information has been given to the local Modesto office and manager for follow up on the delivery problems. Our hope is Ms. [redacted] will gives us another chance to improve on service. Ms. [redacted] should have already received a call from the Regional Manager. However, a second request has been sent for follow up on Ms. [redacted]'s account.

Review: So I am beyond disappointed and to the point where I don't know what to do anymore. I have reached out to The Modesto Bee 4 times already! I received a letter From A debt collector ([redacted]) stating I had not payed for my subscription ! Which was a scam because I never subscribed in the first place. It was all a misunderstanding. So I contacted Modesto bee after receiving the Collection letter. Spoke to [redacted] she said she would take care of the issue and I would no longer be subscribed or owe [redacted] anything. I kept receiving the paper and emails from Modesto Bee ! I contacted them 3 times afterwards and same thing happened they said they would cancel my "Subscription" . To this day I still had to Call and ask them to cancel for the 4th time. And I'm still receiving emails saying I am still subscribed! I called [redacted] and they said MODESTO BEE NEVER CONTACTED THEM SO I STILL OWED THE COLLECTION DEBTH! I payed it off because my credit is very important to me! I don't want to be subscribed to Modesto bee or have to pay another Collection DEBTH! I am very disappointed and need someone to fix this issue and cancel my subscription for me! I have the last Modesto Bee employees ID number and name. I don't understand what is going on!Desired Settlement: Please CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION I DONT WANT THE PAPER OR EMAILS FROM MODESTO BEE NEWS ! Much less do I want another Collection sent to my CREDIT LINE!

Business

Response:

This account was originally started on 7/19/15 with a payment for 10 weeks. The Modesto Bee does not stop subscriptions on the expiration date. The Bee allows a grace period for subscribers to renew their acconts. The Bee send out a first renewal notice 3-4 weeks prior to the expiration date (renewal notice was sent on 9/9/15). The renewal notice states, the paper will continue unless The Bee is notified otherwise. If The Bee does not hear back from the customer, the account enters the grace period and then a second renewal notice sent out (in this case, it was sent 11/4/15). The account was stopped on 12/16/15 and the customer service representative cleared the account to a zero balance. Unfortunately, after the account was cleared, there was a system error in restarting the account. As of today, the account is closed and cleared of any balance. The collection vendor ARM Solutions has been notified and all collection efforts have stopped. As a side note, this collection company is a thrid party vendor The Bee uses to make final collection attempt. It is not reported to a credit bureau and does not show up on a credit report.Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns. Thank you

Review: I have been contacted by the Modesto bee on two occasions that I can recall. They offer to send a months worth of Sundays newspapers for free to try to see if I want to continental service. They assure me there will be no cost and I can continue the service after the 4 free issues by calling them and starting service. Both times I have received a bill in the mail after the free service, which I do not pay. I then subsequently receive a bill from a debt collector trying to collect the funds. The first time I called the debt collector they cleared the account to zero, saying that this happens often. This happened again this week and the debt collector will not clear the account. As this is the second time this has happened, it has come to my attention the poor and unacceptable billing practices of THE Modesto Bee. Most other unsuspecting people would just pay the amount not realizing what they're doing and that is wrong!Desired Settlement: I would like them to be investigated for how often they are doing this. It is a sneaky way to collect money from people, many I'm assuming are elderly. I would also like my account cleared.

Business

Response:

The account under the name [redacted] shows a location of [redacted]. The account was started 1/18/15. Unfortunately, there are no free subscriptions. This information has been given tot the Sales Manager for follow up on the subscription process. After the subscription was started, The Bee sent out 3 invoices (1/28/15, 2/16/15, 4/11/15). The Sunday paper continued to be delivered on a grace period until it stopped on 4/18/15. This resulted in the balance due. As of 6/24/15, the account has been cleared to a zero balance and all collection efforts have been ceased. We do apologize for the salesperson giving the incorrect information. In the future, please note all subscriptions are paid subscriptions. Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

Review: I've had many delivery problems with the Modesto Bee, and have gotten on their website to file a complaint. Their options are to either to have your account credited or have the paper delivered. I usually ask that the paper be delivered but usually don't ever get the paper. Every time the paper is missing I send in a Missing Paper complaint and also send a message to the Modesto Bee. Not once have I ever been contacted by the Customer Service department either by phone or email. It's obvious to me they don't care about their customers and since they already have my money they refuse to do anything about the delivery problem.Desired Settlement: I would like to be reimbursed for all the missed papers and also have an email sent to me with the explanation of the credit. If this isn't done I would like to cancel my subscription and be reimbursed for the remaining weeks I paid for.

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted]'s account was handled by the [redacted] of The Modesto Bee. Since the start start date of 1/16/16, Mr. [redacted] has called in 5 complaints for no paper. His account has been credited for a total of 14 days (2 weeks).The most recent credit was given by the Regional Manager on 3/25/16. There have been no complaints on the account since 3/17/16.Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns. Thank you

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Review: The Modesto Bee continues to deliver the free Neighborhood Weekly advertising paper to my home. I have made four calls so far to have this delivery stopped. The paper is left on my driveway even if I am not home for a period of days. This indicates to everybody that my home is not occupied making it subject to break-ins. Four calls over a period of one month should be enough to stop delivery. It seems that the Modesto Bee is more interested in the advertising dollar than the security of my home.Desired Settlement: I want delivery of this paper stopped. Leaving this paper on my driveway tags my house as being unoccupied. I will hold the Modesto Bee to be negligent if delivery continues and my house is broken into as a result.

Business

Response:

This information was given directly to the Regional Manager on 11/10/15. We apologize for the inconvenience. The manager followed up on this 11/10/15 and responded to the customer. He spoke with Mr. [redacted] earlier in the day and he contacted the distributor, [redacted]. The distributor drove by Mr.[redacted]'s residence to remove the paper, but it was already gone. The Regional Manager and the distributor will send photo confirmation for the next 3 weeks.

Review: I purchased 10 weeks of the newspaper due to the sob story of the young man that came to my door. He explained that he was in a youth group and that selling the papers was helping them to stay off the streets and that he'd been out all day and had only sold to one person. I purchased the 10 weeks after he guaranteed me that's all I would need to do. He said that I would need to renew afterwards if I still wanted them. I told him that I was only doing it to help him out and that I probably wouldn't even open the papers. I never read a single one, so of course had no reason to renew. I received several automated sales calls to renew, and just hung up since I had no desire to renew. Now I am receiving collection notices from [redacted] for a product that I never wanted!! What a scam!!!Desired Settlement: Remove me from your billings, emails, calls, etc. correct the situation with ARMS solutions.

Business

Response:

This account was started 8/30/15 and paid for 10 weeks. The expiration date was 11/3/15. As standard business practice, the Modesto Bee sends a renewal notice out 3-4 weeks prior to the expiration date. In this case, it was sent on 10/18/15. A 2nd renewal notice was sent on 12/9/15 and a last notice on 1/9/16. On all renewal notices, the Bee states, "the paper will continue unless The Bee is notified otherwise." Since we were not notified, the subscription continues automatically on a 90 day grace period. As a one time adjustment, the account will be cleared as of today, 4/26/16.As requested, Ms. [redacted]'s phone number has been added to the do not call list and the email address has been added to the do not email list. The mailing address will also be forwarded to the Sales Manager to be removed from any mail promotions. We do apologize for the inconvenience. Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

Review: I have tried for nearly 6 months to get the free paper the Modesto Bee publishes called Valle en Valle from being thrown on my driveway each week. I have called their customer service four times, emailed their customer service department I estimate at least 25 times and I am always told the same thing. That they are very sorry and are working on getting this resolved. After all this time it appears they are just ignoring my request. Today I was told they are trying to find a way to contact the person who delivers it ! Come on after nearly 6 months? I might add I even provided them with a description of the vehicle which the paper is thrown from.Desired Settlement: All I ask is they stop delivering the free paper I do not want it thrown in my drive way each week. NO more No less and such a simple request. Seems like a terrible waste of paper in todays Go Green society to me.

Business

Response:

We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration. This request was sent to the distributor and the regional manager. The regional manager sent confirmation that this delivery has been stopped. The distributor was notified that the Vida paper should not be delivered at this location. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-776-4233 if you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

Business

Response:

In response to the concern identified as #10664258. The provided address has been removed from our records to receive any future deliveries of Vida. The delivery business has been contacted and informed to halt delivery as well. It is our understanding that delivery has been halted as per conversation with the resident. Spot check verifications will be completed in future weeks to ensure deliveries continue to remaine halted as per request. Our apologies for the delay in follow up.

Review: On September 2,2013 we received from A.R.M Solutions a letter stating that we owe Modesto Bee $23.21 for the newspaper. We did not pay the bill as we do not want the newspaper delivered to our home. We were sent to collection agency over the newspaper that we do not want! We feel this unfair if consumer does not pay the bill then drop the service. We never did receive the paper after the first three months that we had signed up for and feel this is poor management and money hungry company.Desired Settlement: We will pay this bill on April 4,2014. We would like our money back for a service that we did not want and a paper we did not get.

Business

Response:

Customer's account was started 1/29/13. Customer paid $20.00 for 13 weeks. The account expired on 4/17/13. The Modesto Bee does not stop customer accounts automatically on the expiration date. A few weeks before the expiration date, the customer is sent a renewal notice to allow time to make a payment, change the service or call to stop the account. In this case, a renewal notice was sent 3/25/13 and 5/24/13. On 9/3/13, the account was stopped after the 90 grace period with an amount due of $23.21. The notice received is from our internal vendor ARM to attempt collection of the balance due. However, as of 9/28/13, Ms. [redacted]'s account has been cleared of any balance on the account. I understand from this complaint that she had no intention of continuing the service. I have called Ms. [redacted] today 4/3/14 at 12:45pm. I left a voicemail to call me if she had any further questions or concerns. In the meantime, I also informed Ms. [redacted] that the account was cleared back on 9/28/13. There is no need to send in any type of payment unless Ms. [redacted] would like to restart the delivery.

Review: I paid for 52-weeks of the Modesto Bee in mid-November, 2014, to expire 11/11/15. I keep getting "Renewal" bills in the mail every month. I have called several times and spoke to a [redacted] (in November), and recently with [redacted] in Customer Service. Both have agreed my sub expires in November but I still keep getting the bills. I've spent enough time on the phone haggling with their customer service and being assured my expiration date is correct, 11/11/15. I am sick of this company's lack of regard for their customers of which I have been a customer since 1993, 22-years!! I have even received a collection call when I had paid my subscription well in advance and have documentation that I have done so. This company NEVER sends you emails for returns calls when I complain about the repeated billing when no bill is due.Desired Settlement: I want a hard-copy of my expiration date, never received one in November nor to this date, just verbal which is not good. [redacted], my last contact, agreed my bill was not due and she would send an email or letter confirming this. I want a hard copy of when my expiration date is and, due to the extreme inconvenience of a collection call and out-right lies by their staff, I want a 12-months extension on my subscription due to my anxiety and concern created to this senior citizen. No excuses anymore!

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted]'s account was updated and adjusted on 7/20/15. We have tried to make phone contact with Mr. [redacted] to confirm the account is paid until 1/8/16. The latest call was made on 8/4/15. A message was left by our VIP lead supervisor in my absence. As of today, 8/10/15, we have not received a return call back. As requested, I will be mailing a hard copy of the correction on this account to confirm the current expiration date of 1/8/16. This new expiration date exceeds the old one of 11/11/15.

Review: Last year I signed up for a Sunday only subscription for a finite period of time (26 weeks I think) to see if we would enjoy receiving the Sunday paper. It turned out we didnt read it most of the time so I never renewed my subscription. Months later I received a phone call from the Modesto Bee trying to collect additional money from me. I told them that I signed up for a specific period of time and never had any intent to continue my subscription. The woman who called said something to the effect of "ok we wont bother you anymore." Months later I received a letter from A.R.M (a collection agency) saying that I owe the Modesto Bee $20.25 (which works out to about 16 weeks @ $1.20 per week).I entered into an agreement with the Modesto Bee for a specific period of time and never had any intention of renewing my subscription. I understand that newspapers have been hit hard by the changing media landscape but charging customers for something they didnt ask for and selling those debts to a collection agency is not the right way to generate additional revenue streams.Desired Settlement: I would like Modesto Bee to clear this debt with A.R.M.

Business

Response:

Customer started the subscription 6/1/14. It was a Sunday only subscription. There was a payment for 10 weeks. The account expired 7/27/14. The Modesto Bee does not stop a subscription automatically on the expiration date. We allow a 90 grace period to make the renewal payment. Prior to the expiration date, we send out a first renewal. In this case, it was sent on 7/9/14. A second notice was sent on 9/3/14 before stopping on 10/18/14. All renewal notices state, "The paper will continue unless The Bee is notified otherwise." Our records do not show any notes or messsages regarding the continuation of the delivery by the customer. It also does not show any documentation of a phone call from a lady contacting the customer. We understand Mr. [redacted] did not want to continue the service and he thought the account would be stopped. As of today, the account will be cleared on any balance. If Mr. [redacted] would like to restart the service in the future, please be advised that the subscription will not be stoppped automatically unless The Bee is notified.Please feel free to contact The Modesto Beenif you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

Review: The newspaper, The Modesto Bee, has been delivering one of their publications, Vida en el valle, to my driveway. I have never subscribed to nor have I requested these deliveries.Despite four phone calls over a two month period to the ModBee subscription desk asking them to cease delivery of these papers to my residence ([redacted] Drive, Oakdale, CA [redacted]), the Modbee has ignored my requests to stop these deliveries. These unwanted deliveries are a home security risk. When I am not home, these papers accumulate and pose a security risk for burglary. I have told them this.Please assist me in getting the Modbee to cease delivering these papers to my residence.You attention in this matter is sincerely appreciated,[redacted]Desired Settlement: For the Modesto Bee to cease delivery of unwanted advertising and publications.

Business

Response:

Thank you for your information in regards to this improper delivery. We are very sorry to hear this has not been resolved. In reviewing your address, there are several notes on the account 3/17/14, 4/4/14 and 4/21/14. The request to have all the deliveries stopped has been submitted to the distributor. You definitely should not be receiving any papers at your home. This information has been provided to our Home Delivery Services Manager to follow up and resolve. If possible, please let us know either way if the papers get stopped or continue to be delivered. We will straightened this out with the distributor in your area.

Review: turned me into collections for 14.08, wasnt owed

I was at wal mart and some guy want to know if I wanted the paper for 6 months for $20.00, I said yes and I got the paper, then when the 6 months was up they sent me a bill to continue and I sent it back and said NO.. I really dont remember if I got the paper or not as I never read it. anyway, I get a letter in the mail from a ARM company stating they were attempting to collect a debt after several attempts from the modesto bee, (which there was never any attempt) long story short when I called the collection place and asked for proof of the charges they were going after they said they would send it to me and I never got anything as they knew there was nothing and then I called [redacted] at Modesto bee and he said they are trying to collect 1000.00's of dollars in lost revenue, (that they chose to deliver) and as long as I promised that I sent in the not interested bill back he would write it off, I dont care if I sent it back or not if they delivered it after the date I paid for it, that was their choice, THis is fraud for the collection agency, arent they suppose to know what they are collecting and how can mode bee go after something that wasnt ordered, they said they didnt want the customer to miss a day incase they still wanted it, and I said then have a customer service rep and pay her $8.00 and hour to make follow up calls, but billing me for something I didnt request, is your fault and what about all the people that were scared with this ARM collection letter and paid when they didnt owe it. I WANT THEM TO HAVE REFUNDS and the bess to post a apoligy letter in the bee. Desired Settlement: I want everyone that they turned to collections, and made them pay for a paper that they did not request to have their money refunded. I paid in advance for the paper I wanted, if they delivered it they did so on their own, and they need to write that off and not brow beat people for their choices.

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

The Modesto Bee has a long-standing policy to continue delivery to customers after their account payment has been depleted. This is to prevent disruption of service in the event of a missed payment.

Our bills notify customers that service is continuous unless we are notified. Should their 'grace' period end after 90 days of delivery with non-payment (often with multiple contacts during that time to re-engage the customer), we ask a collections company to collect the due balance.

The collection agency does not report the issues to credit agencies.

We will credit back Mrs. [redacted] her $14.08

Final Consumer Response

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)

First of all, I am shocked that Modesto bee doesnt have the respect to research what I am actually saying & not treat this complaint as a general lip service response, I never paid the $14.08 so how & when did you refund me. I dont care what it says on your renewal & invoice, I agreed to 6 mnths @ $20.00, if you would have stilled charge the same amount that might have been different but I paid 20.00 for 6 months & you charged me $14.08 for several days. the Bill I got as others is at a much higher rate, I never agreed to get the paper at that rate, The Modesto Bee will change its policy as will the Sacramento Bee b/c what I am reading online is your customers are tired of being raped by your practice. I find it amazing that you think losing your daily paper is detrimental when it is a newspaper not an oxygen tank, [redacted] all have grace periods and final bills but after that, the phone goes off..& no bill for any time that it was left on. You state that you gave a 75 day grace period, 21 day bill & notice & a courtsey call, well I didnt get a call as you didnt have my correct phone number, I sent the bill back, but regardless, when the grace period runs out so should the newspaper, if you have people that pay late, then either tag those account, have reps handle them, but people who are on a trial run, paid ahead of time, or brand new then you should cancel it when the time they paid is up, and if YOU KEEP DELIVERING TO THEM TO TRY AND GET THEM TO STILL READ**YOUR DOING SO AT YOUR EXPENCE. ( and how hard is it to start the paper back up with a phone call, GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE is when they call you run a paper out to them and welcome them back, Bad Customer service is.. you turn innocent people into credit collections and then say OH IT WASNT REAL..You prey on the weak & the ones that are afraid of you & toss lip service at the ones that stand up to you, How can you make someone pay for something they didnt order, they only ordered from one date to another and paid in advance... to brow beat them on something that was your choice, is illegal, Just like a magazine company that sends you a book you didnt order and when you call them & say I never ordered this, they send you a bill for the ones you got. BUT I DIDNT ORDER IT... they lost a big law suit considered FRAUD. so that is what I am trying to say. & the fact that you are throwing words in here that are not correct shows you havent taken my complaint seriously. and I have troed to post a comment on the letters to the editor to advise others of this, and you blocked it three times. You need to stop this practice, it is illegal, & not very good for your business, when I called I was told that your company is trying to recoop thousands of dollars, REALLY... HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PRINT A PAPER THAT YOU OVER CHARGE FOR, THAT PEOPLE ADVERTISE IN AND ASSIST IN THE CHARGE. AGAIN HOW CAN YOU TELL THE Revdex.com. THAT YOU HAVE REFUNDED MS [redacted] THE BALANCE, when you didnt, Your words are lies and hope that this will stop, it isnt going to, I am going to go on the internet, I am going to stand in front of wal mart and ruin all the guys standing there trying to sell paper subscriptions, I am not done with this. so dont insult me again, I am suggesting that someone pull my account, actually look at the facts and speak with correct information. when you try to cover up the issue, it only makes things worse. what do I want... I want this practice of turning people over to collections agency on something they didnt order to stop, burden of proof is not on them it is on you and I BELEVIE that the law states. that a collections agency has to have proof of the debt or they cant accept it, so how are you proving, that someone owes for something you are chosing to do. I think someone else needs to get involved in this, and I have no problem doing a class action on this and from what I have read regarding this, it wont be hard.

Final Business Response

The Modesto Bee has refunded Ms. [redacted] the balance she paid. On all of our renewals and invoices we state that delivery is continuous unless otherwise notified. The Modesto Bee will not change this business practice. It would have a detrimental effect to our subscribers who pay their bills late if we were to turn off service when their money ran out. We do make every effort to contact customers to let them know that they are up for renewal. We send a bill 21 days before their money runs out then we send a second renewal 10 days after expiration date. We give customers 75 day grace period to pay after their expiration date. Two weeks before their grace is set to run out, we give them a courtesy call to assist in making a payment. After grace runs out we send a notification that a balance is due. Only after all of these measures have been taken do we turn them over to our collection agency.

Review: I purchased a [redacted] for the Sunday Modesto Bee paper to be delivered to my home for a year for $28.50. I never got the paper and have requested a refund many times via phone calls and emails. It has been 5 months and I would like my money back.Desired Settlement: I would like to be given my $28.50 back since the paper has never been delivered.

Business

Response:

The account for [redacted] was submitted for refund a month ago. Here are some details. On 9/24/14, the refund was returned to the Modesto Bee. On 9/25/14, a voicemail message was left for Ms. [redacted] regrading the returned refund. On 9/29/14, the refund was resent to [redacted]. On 10/1/14, customer service agent notated, "informed customer about the status of the refund check, informed customer about the refund address."

ON our end, the account has been resolved and the money has been refunded.

Thank you

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.