Sacramento Bee

Review: On 11/21/2014 I authorized a payment on-line to the Sacramento Bee for $29.64. I received an acknowledgement from the Sacramento Bee the same day indicating they had received the authorization to charge our account. When I received a past due notice from the Sacramento Bee I called and spoke with several customer service people, the last being [redacted]. She asked me to forward our bank statement to them for verification and I explained we don't send a copy of statements to anyone and the fact she even asked told me she had limited real world experience. I sent her a copy of the acknowledgement and that was not sufficient! My husband [redacted] then got involved and asked to speak to a supervisor on 11/22/2014. He had to leave a voice mail and we were never contacted! On 12/12/2014 my husband called and spoke with [redacted] from Customer Service and then asked to speak with his supervisor! [redacted] came on the line and identified himself as the supervisor. He began an explanation and then part way through the conversation cut us off. I had to call back again and ask for [redacted]. When he came on the line I asked why he didn't call me back when we were cut off and he indicated other callers were waiting so it was more important to him to go to the next caller instead of finishing our conversation when we had already waited a long time. He then indicated the payment was not accepted by our bank which is an obvious lie! If that were the case, why didn't [redacted] indicate that to us? We would have known if the bank declined anything and that did not happen. Their customer service personnel are incompetent! I demanded he cancel our subscription and he indicated he would. He then stated we would have to pay around $16 for the service so far this month. I explained to him that it was his companies error in handling the situation from the start and I expected them to pay for their own mistakes!Desired Settlement: I want the outstanding charge reversed as it was their incompetence that allowed the problem to remain unresolved for so long. If we had been promptly notified of their indication we were declined it could have been resolved that day. We were not informed until 12/12/2014! I also want the subscription cancelled and I do not want any marketing calls fro the Sacramento Bee!

Business

Response:

Customer's account shows a last payment of $29.64 posted on 7/26/14. This paid the account to 10/19/14. This payment was done through our automated system. On 10/5/14 there was a vacation stop on the account that was also processed through our automated system. The restart date was on 10/19/14. On 11/21/14, there are notes on the account that Ms. [redacted] called regarding a lost payment. There were 3 more noted on the account 12/12/14 and 12/13/14 indicating a supervisor call and a dropped call as stated in this complaint. The stop was also entered as of 12/14/14. As of today, there is no payment on the account and no indication that the payment was declined by the bank. In this case, I am very sorry for the problems and the inconvenience this has caused the [redacted] residence. The account is now at a zero balance and the phone number has been placed on the do not call list. Our hope is Mr. & Mrs. [redacted] will try the subscription again sometime in the future by logging on to www.sacbee.com/subscribe. Pleae feel free to contact us at [redacted] or [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: I've tried cancelling three times due to unreliable delivery, yet they continue to bill me. I finally called again this morning and they said I will probably not be able to cancel for another period. I want the charges reverse asap. they have NO RIGHT to charge me for another month.the paper was missed at least a few times and every third day, the paper doesn't come until AFTER I LEAVE FOR WORK.You need to reverse the charges today!Desired Settlement: the charges need to be reversed NOW.

Business

Response:

The delivery was started 11/20/14. The initial payment of $18.85 was posted for the first 5 weeks. There were several complaints about late deliveries. The account was stopped on 12/23/14 for poor service. Since the account was just expiring, all additional billing was removed on time. There were no other payments on the account once it was stopped. We do apologize for the delivery problems. We have contacted the appropriate distributor and manager regarding the cancellation. Please feel free to contact us 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. I was told by the contractor my account was charged for the additional month because they require a month notice to stop the paper. But thanks to those who mitigated the issue.Best regards,

Review: Our family made the decision to stop renewing the Sacramento Bee last spring (2015) due to its escalating costs and the continued reduction of its content. The paper stopped arriving at our place of residence for a week or so after our subscription ran out, but then it began to appear at our home off and on for the next couple of months until we decided to call and remind them that we had not renewed our subscription and had no intention of doing so. It is then that the representative demanded payment for the papers that had arrived after the subscription expired. We reiterated to them that the paper had stopped per the subscription renewal time frames and then had restarted without our consent or approval. My wife made several contacts with the Sacramento Bee to try and resolve the matter until we received a demand letter from a collection agency. She then made the payment that was requested. I let this go until I found out the issue was on our credit reports. I find it incomprehensible that even though we decided it best just to put the matter behind us and move on the issue continues to haunt us. We subscribed to the Sacramento Bee for 20+ years, paid it thousands of dollars(and always on time)in renewal fees, and it was a difficult decision to stop the paper. We believe now that it was definitely the correct decision and wonder how many other persons that decided to not renew have been strong armed into paying for a product they no longer wished to receive. I have come to believe this is a well thought out strategy to recover "lost revenue" from a former customer with little to no cost to the Sacramento Bee itself . To demand monies for a product you did not wish to receive and then to harm that former customer by turning over the "collection" to a collection agency seems to be just about as low as a company can go. I find it disheartening that a paper I believed was above reproach could treat a long term customer so poorly as he/she would feel the need to complain to the Better Bureau.Desired Settlement: We would like any negative statements on our credit reports to be removed as we were not "substantially delinquent" on any bill or product we were obligated to make a payment for. Any return of monies would be a further sign of good faith towards a long term customer who was treated as if they were the enemy.

Business

Response:

Thank you for your email to The Sacramento Bee,

We apologize for the inconvenience however as per our records you have a zero balance. I will contact our collections and remove you from any collection lists as well. If you have any further questions please contact us at [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because: I would like to make sure that any negative notes on our credit reports ([redacted]) are removed as soon as possible, especially those stating that there was a "serious delinquency" with our account. The zero balance is because we ended up paying $120 for a product we did not request, or desire, and were threatened with a "collection" agency action. The $120 is secondary to having any issue associated with The Sacramento Bee being attached to our credit reports.

Thank you

Business

Response:

Thank you for response,

We do understand your concern however please note that [redacted] is not a credit reporting agency so there will be no impact to your credit report. If you have any further concerns please feel free to contact us at [redacted]

Review: When the Sacramento Bee sent me a renewal notice, I mailed it back canceling the subscription. Papers kept coming and another notice came and I again sent it back canceling AGAIN! Again the paper kept coming! A lady called to try to convince me to continue this subscription and I told her I did not want to continue this subscription. Again, papers kept coming even though I canceled three (3) times. The same lady called me AGAIN and I told her NO! She then sent this account to you for collection! I have experienced this before with the Bee and gave in and continued the subscription so I know the Bee plays this game. They continue to harass the subscriber and now sent it to collection.Desired Settlement: What am I to do? I don’t owe this money because I canceled three times to no avail. Yes, I continued to receive the paper but that was on the Bee, not me. I want a resolution to this matter, I don’t want my credit rating to be impacted by this and I will not be impacted by this and I will not be intimidated by your letter. I will contact the three reporting agencies and plead my case. I am also sending a copy of this letter to the Sacramento Bee and the Sacramento Revdex.com.

Business

Response:

The account has been adjusted to a zero balance and we will be submitting the account information to be removed from any collection list. If you have any further questions please contact us at [redacted]

Review: we receive the paper 7 days a week. On Sunday we pay extra for the tv log. We did not get the tv log on sunday. I called at 8:15 nd was told one would be brought out that day. No log. Called Mon. same response and still no log. Called Mon pm and still no log. We have 7 calls to get this resolved and still no log. I do not think your people knoiw how to follow through. You need better control over these situations. They need to follow up and make sure this is taken care of. I have wasted enough time on this problem. I am sure this is probably falling on deaf ears; as did my complaints. This is why your paper has declining subscribers. POOR SERVICE. Every call was automated and one person I could hardly understand. Please respond. Thank you [redacted]Desired Settlement: Get my tv log.

Business

Response:

This complaint was given to the distributor and the regional manager. Ms. [redacted]'s account includes the Sunday ONTV book and it should be delivered everyday. The last complaint on the account was for the Sunday 7/26 ONTV book. There were 3 requests sent to the distributor for a replacement. We do apologize the ONTV book was not delivered after the requests. The account was credited for the missing 7/26/15 ONTV book. Ms. [redacted] was contacted to follow up on the TV books from 8/2 & 8/9. Customer confirmed the service is back on track and the ONTV books were delivered.Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns.Thank you

I purchased a 10-week weekend subscription and was repeatedly ensured that the subscription would not renew past that 10 weeks, nor would I be charged for any weeks past that time. After ten weeks, the paper was still being delivered and I cancelled the subscription, although I shouldn't have had to, through the Bee's online service. The paper was still being delivered. Again, I cancelled through the online system.

Some weeks later I started receiving calls from the Bee stating I owed them for the paper subscription that continued past the 10 weeks. I explained that I was ensured the paper would not auto-renew, etc. and that I had attempted to cancel online multiple times. I was told I still owed them anyway, so rather than deal with the situation longer, I relented and tried to pay online (as I'm not comfortable giving payment information over the phone); but no matter the hour or day, my payment "could not be processed". I called the website account number and was told to just keep trying, after trying for an additional 4 weeks to pay, with the same website error message, I gave up.

This weekend I received a letter in the mail from a collections agency, on behalf of the Bee, for $24. That same $24 that I had tried for 5-6 weeks to pay, after initially being ensured multiple times this situation would not happen. To be clear: the Bee took me to collections for $24.

Review: Refusel to give credit for undelivered newspapers

I requested a three week vacation hold on our newspaper. The Bee customer service representative informed me that the Bee has changed it's policy and will not give me credit for undelivered newspapers. They gave me the other option of having the undelivered old newspapers delivered upon my return. Those papers a useless. or donating them to charity.

The Bee is cheating people. Charging people for newspapers not received or wanted. Desired Settlement: The Sacramento Bee needs to stop cheating subscribers and return to a more honest policy of crediting subscribers for newspapers not received during vacation holds.

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

Mr. [redacted] has been a subscriber for many years. In the past, customers were able to have the vacation credit extend out their expiration date. In October 2013, our vacation policy changed due to a change in our subscriptions. All subscriptions now include unlimited access to our digital access. This includes unlimited access to sacbee.com, e-Edition, and iPad apps using a PC, laptop, iPad, iPhone, Android or any other tablets. With access, our customers are able to read the paper wherever they go. With the change in our digital and print subscriptions, customers have 3 options when going on vacation.

1. Read the paper digitally

2. Stop the paper and donate the credit from their vacation to go to our local school program.

3. Have the papers held and delivered upon their return.

Mr. [redacted]'s account includes unlimited digital access. Mr. [redacted] spoke with our Customer Service representative on 9/3/13. The agent honored the one time vacation credit and explained the new options. Moving forward, the new policy does not allow for a credit extension while on vacation. The digital access information is also notated on the renewal notices. If a customer truly has no online access, there is an option to 'opt out' of the digital access. Currently, Mr. [redacted] has a temp stop for 9/9/13 - restarting 9/30/13.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. Our VIP team is also available and can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Final Consumer Response

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

1. I do not have the ability to read the paper on line while away.

2. I was not told about an "opt out" option or what that means.

3. Having a fourth option to take a credit for undelivered and unread papers is a fair and honest way for the Bee to treat subscribers who don't have use or access to all of the new technologies of today. Especially seniors and the economically disadvantaged.

Final Business Response

Thank you for the feedback regarding the vacation credit elimination policy. Mr. [redacted]'s account has been changed to a print only subscription without the digital access and digital fee. However, the policy has not changed on the vacation credit elimination process. The Bee has made 1 modification to the vacation stop process. If a customer is away for more than 21 days, then the account can be extended starting on the 22nd day of the vacation. Like other businesses (ie: cable, sateliite), the monthly service fee is still charged when a customer is away for a few days or weeks. We do thank you for your feedback and we are communicating this feedback with our management team.

Please feel free to contact our VIP team at XXX-XXX-XXXX if you have nay further questions or concerns.

Review: I have had a subscription for home delivery of the Bee newspaper for several years. Just before the most recent subscription expired, I received a bill from the Bee for renewal of my subscription. I chose not to renew, so I did send the Bee any money. The Bee continued to deliver their newspaper to me after the termination date. Since the Bee operates under a prepaid system, my option to not pay for renewal of the newspaper made newspapers delivered after the subscription termination date unsolicited merchandise. The Bee will contend, I am sure, that once a customer signs up for delivery service, the service can continue forever, requiring payment for all delivered newspapers. This is their stated policy. This is mere wishful thinking. If the Bee contract specifies a subscription termination date, as it does, no affirmative act is required by the subscriber to cancel the paper after a non-renewed termination date. A class-action lawsuit needs to filed against the Bee to stop this abuse.Desired Settlement: 1. Cancellation of any charges the Bee thinks I owe them. 2. Cessation of all calls regarding Bee renewal or collection of any money.3. Absolutely no reporting to anyone that I did not pay a bill. 4.Removal of any collection activity from my credit reports.

Business

Response:

This account expired on 9/24/15. Prior to the expiration date, The Bee sent out a first renewal on 9/7/15. On the renewal notice, The Bee states, " the paper will continue unless The Bee is notified otherwise." The Bee allows a 90 grace period for all customers to renew their subscriptions. If The Bee does not hear from the customer, the paper continues throughout the grace period. The Bee also sends 2 additional renewal notices with the same information. In this case, the second notice was sent on 10/22/15 and the third was sent on 11/26/15. Then, the account was stopped on 12/23/15. This process has not changed. On a few occasions, Mr. [redacted]'s renewal payments have come in and processed after his expiration date. The 90 grace period allowed his paper to continue without interruption. Since The Bee values our long term customers, this account will be cleared of any balance owing on the account. All collection efforts will be removed. The third party vendor, [redacted], will also be notified that this account has been cleared and is at a zero balance. This does not affect Mr. [redacted]'s credit and he will not see it on any credit report. This is strictly a vendor The Bee uses to make last payment collection efforts.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: We were taking the Sacramento Bee for a year and when it came up for renewal we wrote cancel on all the notices we received which they ignored and kept delivering. Then we starting getting phone calls and once again we told them we wanted our subscription cancelled. And still they kept delivering. And now they have taken it to collections so now they are ruining our credit. What part of the word cancel do they not understand?Desired Settlement: We want our credit restored and the harassment to stop. And if we do make payment to stop delivery. Never will we take the Bee again. They are the worst.

Business

Response:

Mr.[redacted]'s account was upgraded from Sunday only to Friday-Sunday delivery on 6/20/14. The Bee received a payment on 7/18/14 for 26 weeks. The account expired in January 2015. Prior to the expiration date, we did send a renewal notice (12/15/14). As I understand it, Mr. [redacted] sent in a request to cancel the service. As of today, 5/26/15, there is a zero balance on the account. I apologize for the error and the inconvenience. Please note, The Bee does not report your account to any credit bureau and this will not reflect on your credit report. A.R.M is a third party vendor The Bee contracts with to mail out these final notices. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us at ###-###-####.Thank you

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because:The business response is correct. We did subscribe to their publication. We canceled rather than renew our subscription. The papers continued to arrive, despite our repeated efforts to set the record straight. We paid $27.33 to a collection agency under protest to protect our credit. It was extortion. It is unforgivable. We reject the Busines's apology and demand a refund of $27.33. Oh, by the way, the Bee was delivered to our home on the 22, 23, and the 24th. Cease all deliveries at once!

Business

Response:

Thank you for the additional information. Since the payment was made to A.R.M instead of the Bee, the refund will take 7-10 business days to process. The refund of $27.33 can be generated on Friday 6/19/15. The check will be mailed to Mr.[redacted]. The account remains stopped as 3/28/15. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Review: Dear Revdex.coms, My name is [redacted].

Please help me in this troublesome catastrophe matter that is causeing me totality depression and stress.

By being takeing avenge of by makeing me pay for a product I don't need and I don't know how to uses.

My grievances complaint with the Sacramento Bee newspaper Managerial. [redacted].

Account Number: [redacted] The discrimination has been going on since subscription notice date payment options of Otcober 04, 2012.

Without my authorization the Sacramento Bee, started includeing their product Digital Plus at . 39 cent per week for my thirteen weeks supplement payment options.

It took me until October 20, 2014. That I recognizes I was being swindle by the Sacramento Bee payment processing center of chargeing me .39.cents for approximately seventyeight weeks.

Please examine the enclosed evidence number one through four. One. is a letter dated October 24, 2014. stateing I unvail their scheme, and I have enclosed a check of $26.42. representing the deductions from my calulations.

The Sacramento Bee payment processing center, cashed my check on October 28, 2014. According to my banking account.

On November one 2014. I'm receipt of the Sacramento Bee subscription notice for another thirteen weeks payment for $72.80. Extortion.

Please I look forward to your reply at the address listed below.

Sincerely.

[redacted]Desired Settlement: It took me until October 20, 2014. That I recognizes I was being swindle by the Sacramento Bee payment processing center of chargeing me .39.cents for approximately seventyeight weeks.

Business

Response:

The Sacramento Bee made a change in September 2012. All print subscriptions were updated to include unlimited digtial access. Digital access includes the iPad app, Sacbee.com, e-Edition and mobile apps on all devices and tablets. With this change, all renewal notices, promotional materials, in paper, and all letters and email notifications were updated to include the digital information. Mr. [redacted]'s account was not charged the additional fee of $0.38/week until 11/5/13. Since his account was on a promotional rate, The Bee honored that rate and did not make any changes to the account until 11/5/13. Mr.[redacted] made another renewal payment on 2/10/14. Again, the renewal notices sent on 12/19/13 and 1/30/14 included the digital information. Another renewal payment was made on 5/8/14. Again, on these renewal notices, we included the digital information. The renewal notice were sent on 3/17/14. Another renewal payment was made on 8/6/14. This also included the information on digital access. On 10/20/14, Mr. [redacted] contacted our Customer Service Department to request a credit for the digital sevice from 12/19/13-10/12/14. The credit was applied on the call on 10/20/14. The request to remove digital access was also processed per Mr. [redacted]'s request. The next payment on 10/28/14 did not include digital access since it was removed on 10/20/14. This account has been credited accordingly. If Mr. [redacted] changed his mind and would like digital access in the future, the rate would be an additional $0.38/week.Please feel free to contact us at ###-###-#### or ###-###-####.Thank you

Consumer

Response:

DEAR Revdex.comS, MY NAME IS CHARLES J. STALLWORTH IM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CORRESPONDENT DATED DECEMBER 10, 2014. FROM Revdex.com [redacted]. INFORMING ME THAT MY COMPLAINT DATED NOVEMBER 03, 2014. WITH THE SACRAMENTO BEE ACCOUNT NUMBER: [redacted]. HAS RECEVIED MESSAGE FROM THE BUSINESS. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE SACRAMENTO BEE MANAGERIAL KEEPS ME IN AN UNSAFELY STRESSFUL PARANOID DEMEANOR, THAT I HAV TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY FROM MY FIXED INCOME INORDER TO PROVE MY INNOCENT AGAINST THEIR DAMAGFJNG FALSE ACCUSATIONS, AND MONEY THEFT. I RESPECTIVELY ATTACHED TO MY NOVEMBER 03, 2014. COMPLAINT PROOF THAT THE SACRAMENTO BEE WAS MERGEING THE COST OF THEIR PRODUCT (DIGITAL PLUS ) RIGHT INTO MY SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT NOTICE FROM OCTOBER 2012 THROUGH OCTOBER 2014. WITH NO REMORSE. FOLLOW UP BY THEIR EXTORTIONS. THE SACRAMENTO BEE MANAGERIAL ADMINISTRATION MESSAGE FROM BUSINESS : IS DAMAGEING FALSE ACCUSATIONS. BY STATEING MY SACRAMENTO BEE ACCOUNT NUMBER: 16681122. HAS BEEN CREDITED ACCORDINGLY. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO MAKE THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR, I PAID THE SACRAMENTO BEE $26.42. FOR MY ESTIMATION OF $51.00. DEDUCTION RESPRESENTING 13 WEEKS, OF OCTOBER 2014. SUBSCRIPTION. THE SACRAMENTO BEE NEVER MAIL ME A CONFIRMATION LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUM $26.42 AS PAYMENT FOR 13 WEEKS OCTOBER 2014. SUBSCRIPT1ON. THE SACRAMENTO BEE MANAGERIAL STAFF CONSTANTLY FORWARDING ME EXTORTION RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTION NOTICES DATED OCTOBER 23, 14. AND NOVEMBER 13, 2014. DEMANDING MORE MONEY. WITH MY DEMEANOR OF DEPRESSION AND FEARFUL THE SACRAMENTO BEE IMPACT CAN RUiN MY GOOD FICO SCORE., I MAIL IN THEIR REQUIRED PAYMENTS OF $72.80. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2014. AND $72.00 ON DECEMBER 02, 2014. ALL PAYMENTS REPESENTS 13 WEEKS OF OCTOBER PAYMENTS. PLEASE I LOOK FORWARD O YOUR REPLY AT THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted]'s payment of $26.42 was received and posted for 5 weeks on 10/28/14. This paid the account to 12/2/14. The renewal notice for the next 13 weeks was on 11/13/14. The payment of $72.80 was paid on 11/25/14. With the payment, the account was updated with an expire date of 3/3/15. There were no further renewal notices sent after the 11/13/14 notice. However, we did receive another payment of $72.80 on 12/9/14 from Mr. [redacted]. This second payment has now paid the account to 5/31/15. We would be more than happy to send a refund of the second payment. I have tried to contact Mr. [redacted] this morning to review this with him. There was no answer, but I did leave a voicemail message. Just as a side note, The Sacramento Bee account will not effect Mr. [redacted]'s credit score in any way. We do not report subscritpions to a collection bureau. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.Thanks

Consumer

Response:

DEAR Revdex.comS, MY NAME IS [redacted] IM’ IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CORRESPONDENT DATED DECEMBER 17, 2014. FROM [redacted]. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THE SACRAMENTO BEE MANAGERIAL CONTINUE TO DISTRACT ME FROM THE FACTS THAT THEY WAS RIPPING ME OFF. BY PERPETRATEING THE OUT RIGHT STEALING FROM A FIX INCOME MINORITIE ETHNICITY CLIENT. COMMITTING FORGERY BY MERGEING TITE COST OF THEIR PRODUCT (DIGITAL PLUS ) RIGHT INTO MY SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT RENEWAL NOTICES FROM OCTOBER 2012. THROUGH OCTOBER 2014. WITH NO REMORSE. CAUSEING ME HARDSHIP AND STRESS BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP SPENDING EXPENDITURES IN THIS MATTER. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY I HAD TO SPEND S 26.42. $72.80. AND $72.00 ALL IN A THIRTY EIGHT DAYS PERIOD FOR THE SACRAMENTO BEE POINT BLANK EXTORTION, AND NEVER NO WRITTEN APOLOGY FOR STEALING MY FIX INCOME MONEY PUTI1NG ME IN A REAL STRESSFUL HARDSHIP BY TAKEING FUNDS OFF MY TABLE. FOR THEIR SATISFACTION AND LUXURY OF HAVING MY ACCOUNT NUMBER: 16681122 PAID IN FULL UNTIL NEXT YEAR, SUPPOSE I DIE TO DAY WILL THE SACRAMENTO BEE WOULD TAKE TIME THE AND FIND MY AIRS AND ISSUE OUT THE REMAINING FUNDS. Revdex.comS I KNOW IT IS WRONG THAT THE SACRAMENTO BEE COULD ALTER MY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS WITH FALSE CLAIMS TO STEAL UNINTERRUPTED. FINALLY I KNOW FIRST HAND IF I WOULD STEAL A NEWSPAPER OFF THEIR NEWS STAND I WILL GO TO JAIL AND PAY SOME TYPE OF PENALTY OR REPERCUSSION. PLEASE I LOOK FORWARD FOR YOUR REPLY AT THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.

Business

Response:

Thank you for your response Mr. [redacted]. I have tried contacting you by phone and I have left messages with the last message on 12/17/14. As previously stated, I have no problem refunding your $72.80 since you had made 2 payments back to back months. However, I do need for you to call me directly at ###-###-#### to verify this refund. Once I hear from you, I can have our Accounting Department issue the refund to you. If you prefer to send me an email, please send it to [redacted]. The Bee has removed the digital access and digital pricing from your account and also issued a credit for the digital portion.Thank you[redacted]###-###-####[redacted]

Review: I delivered the bee as a teenager in the 70's and 80's, I have been subscribed as an adult since the early 90's, and at different addresses. In 2012 after reading a politically slanted article that was so biased I determined I can no longer support the Bee if they cant be objective in their reporting. I cancelled my subscription of 20yrs. Soon there after I was contacted by phone and eventually accepted a offer of Sunday only for a year for $19.99. Prior to a year, about 3 or 4 months early I was told my subscription was expired and I must renew. It should have lasted till October and it was May or June. I argued with a few agents about how long a year is to the SAC BEE? At some point in August I renewed and for what I thought was a year again for $19.99, I was assurred that problem was resolved. Now in April I again have a expired notice and that I must renew. Again, this is a year. I spoke to [redacted] in customer service who 1st invormed me that it is due to holiday papers. I know I did not ask for Holiday papers and accpted a verbal offer from their staff for Sunday only for a year. So in small print THE BEE charges me $1.00 for every Holiday paper, and their policy is that all subscribers get them and you cannot not ask for them. I informed [redacted] that is Bait and switch. [redacted] transferred me to a supervisor that I should have to be charged a $1.00 per paper for Holiday's and that is why I have to renew in April, instead of August. I find this a scam. It is bait ans switch. I was offerred a year for Sunday only and expect to receive Sunday only for a year. I have said adamantly every time that I do not want the Holiday papers and I am not paying them for the holiday. [redacted] offerred at first to credit me the holidays but at the end disliked my attitude and then said she can no longer offer me the credit. I have two issues. One that The Bee offerred me Sunday only for a year and has not satisfied the verbal contract made over the phone with their representative and two to be liked to.Desired Settlement: give me my paper on Sunday. Omit the holidays and do this through August 31st 2014 as agreed. ( it should be through October, because they renewed me two months early in 2013, but not worth arguing about any longer). Also they have to agree to stop baiting and switching my offer for 19.99 a year by making me pay for Holiday papers I dont want. It is either 19.99 a year or it is not. I have never sent in a reply to a email or mail. the offers have always been verbal and over the phone.

Business

Response:

Customer started Sunday only back on 9/16/12. At that time, the rate was $19.99 for 52 weeks. The payment was made on 12/7/12. The expiration date was 9/15/13. The renewal payment for the next billing cycle should have been $19.99 for 26 weeks, not 52 weeks. This is the rate reflected on the renewal bills. However, since Mr. [redacted] claims he received a phone call offering him the same promotion of $19.99 for 52 weeks, the payment only posted for 26 weeks. We have honored the rate, which will be covering 52 weeks from 9/15/13 - 9/14/14. Mr. [redacted] will receive a renewal notice about a month before the expiration date. The paper does not stop automatically and the rate will change to $19.99 for 26 weeks or $39.98 for 52 weeks. This is still a significant discounted rate compared to the Sunday Published rate of $278.20.

Review: In may of 2013 a representative for the bee called me & asked me if I would like to accept a be promo offer of 6 months daily delivery of said paper, from may 7th -nov 5 2013; the rep's name is [redacted]; the promo price for this 6 months was $78.00.period. On june 19, 2013 , 11:29am [redacted] sent me this promo IN WRITING via email. He also sent me a vacation extension (free of charge), in writing via emaill, of 16 days, extending this subscription to 11/21/13. In july 2013 I got a bill from the bee dated 7/19/13 saying this subscription was expiring 8/20/13. I called & spoke with [redacted] on 8.2.13, who investigated my promo offer, said I was correct that I wouldn't owe anything until after 11.21.13. In nov. they called and said I owed them money. I reminded them of my promo in writing, and they basically saidk "so what', and refused my request of them to send me a detailed accounting. I requested they stop delivery as of Nov. 4. 13.Desired Settlement: To delivery the exact number of papers owed me that I paid for , starting at any time; to stop billing me $12.15 they think I owe. After this, sign me up for a subscription now being offered to me= weekend plus print (fri.-sun.) home delivery only @ $2.50 /wk for 10 wks = $25.00.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted] account was started on daily service 2/7/13 for a promotional rate of $3.00/week. The account was paid for 26 weeks for $78.00 from 4/27/13- 10/27/13. There should not be a grace amount of $12.15 on the account. The amount showing past due has been cleared as of 12/23/13. Ms. [redacted] will be contacted on Thursday 12/26/13 in regards to starting on a new offer of $2.50/week for 10 weeks Friday-Sunday only.

Please feel free to contact our VIP team at ###-###-#### if you have any further questions or concerns.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

My update to this case :

I have started receiving the newspapers since Jan. 8, 2014.

I also received, in writing, a release from JMC Collection agency for any debts.

Thank you.

I will now call the bee at ###-###-####

to sign up for a new subscription, sometime starting in later January, 2014.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

I am not sure why this response was rejected. Ms. [redacted] states the paper was started and she will contact me later in the month to subscribe. Currently, the subscription is expiring on 1/26/14. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Review: The news paper is not delivered 3 times a week.Customer service opens at 8:00 am. I need to wait until 8:00 am to call. Customer service always say the same "I am very sorry". They say the paper will be deliver in 1 hour.They do not deliver the paper in 1 hour. I call again, now customer service is very sorry but can not deliver the paper. They want to deliver the following day. I do not read old news and even take the word, they do not deliver the paper anyway.They say that they will credit the account. They never do.The advertise home deliver when I subscribedDesired Settlement: I want the credit in the accountI want to know if they can not deliver the paper why they advertise and charge for thatI want the paper to be delivered every dayI want for a supervisor to pickup the phone and give to me a solutionWhen customer service aid\: they will call you, I want for them to do it

Business

Response:

There have been several complaints on the account throughout the month of October. The last complaint registered was on 10/22/15. This information has been forwarded to the appropriate distributor and regional manager. The documentation also shows a credit of 14 days due to the poor service in October. The account is currently paid until 11/17/15.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:I got last week an invoice, the account was unpaid from 10/18/20152 days later I got another invoice and the last one. The paymento was due on 11/04/2015I e-mailed the Sacramento Bee referring the 2 invoices, and asking for a clarification. They never responded. Now I read the account is due on 11/14/2015, first time a read this thru Revdex.com, not on the invoices I receivedMy question now, on 10/18/2015 I paid for 5 weeks. When my next invoice is due 10/18/2015 per invoice of last week, 11/4/2015 per invoice of last Friday, 11/14/2015 as they wrote to Revdex.com. Where are the credits of the papers they did not delivered

Business

Response:

Mrs. [redacted]'s account was adjusted for 14 days credit on November 4 and an additional 30 day "good will" credit on November 25. Mrs. [redacted] was contacted by phone on November 25 and she was informed her account was now credited through January 21. Mrs. [redacted] reported the credit adjustment met her satisfaction and we will work to ensure consistent delivery going forward. There have been delivery service issues related to this account which are being addresses as well. If additional information is needed, please let me know. Thank you, [redacted]

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: My name is [redacted], an inmate at the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. I subscribed to the Sacramento Be on and off due to the bad delivery service I experienced with them. At times I received 10 papers on one day and some are 10-15 days old. Few times I cancelled my subscriptoin early because of these problem.

On or about September 20,2014, I received a letter from Ms. [redacted]. Sacramento Bee's Vice President of Audience Development who personally apologized for the service issues I had with them. At the same time, she offered me a money back guarantee that I will be provided with a world class service and a great discount offer of $2.98 per week for 10 weeks of daily service. My wife sent the payment in the amount of $33.75 (best deal) as a full payment for the subscription package I choosed ($2.98 per week for 10 weeks). of the 10 weeks that I paid, I received only twenty one (21) papers that begin in November 14, 2014 thru December 6, 2014. Listed below are the issue dates and when it was received.

Issue Dates:

November 14,2014

November 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,28,28

November 27,29,30

December 2,4

December 1,6

Dates Received:

November 18, 2014

December 1, 2014

December3, 2014

December 9, 2014

December 10, 2014

I received my last issue on December 6, 2014 and on December 13, 2014 my wife received a final notice to send/make a payment of $5.68 to resume the delivery.

Here are my complaints:

1. Of the 10 weeks that my wife paid. I received only 21 copies/issues which is equivalent to 3 weeks.

2. Sacramento Bee did not abide or fulfill their commitment to provide a world class service as they promised to satisify their customers.

3. They stopped delivery after 21 issues of the 70 issues that was already paid in full and will not resume delivery until I make another payment for $5.68 for what? I don't know. No explanation.

4. Newspapers are not mailed out everyday. Sometimes I am receiving 13 papers in one day and they are 10-15 days old.Desired Settlement: Sacramento Bee violated my consumer rights. My ten (10) weeks fully paid subscription was stopped after three (3) weeks and charging me more than what was on top of the package deal I have chosen. In this regard, I demand that Sacramento Bee will continue delivery and award me a one year full year free subscription as a punitive damages for their actions.

Your prompt and immediate response regarding this matter is highly appreciated. (Sacramento Bee Subscription No. [redacted])

[redacted] (Enclosure: 3 pieces of mail to support my claim/complaints)

Business

Response:

The account was started on a delivery by mail account 8/16/14, then stopped on 9/11/14. Customer claims it was due to poor service. A refund was generated on 9/19/14. The account was started again on 11/14/14. The account was started on a promotional rate, which is not offered to delivery by mail accounts. However, since the promotional rate was applied in error, The Bee honored the rate. The payment posted and the account was paid until 12/3/14.

Review: I subscribed to the Sacramento Bee and have yet to receive delivery of the newspaper. When someone representing the Bee called me, it was found that my address was changed - the number, type of street (i.e. Road to something else) and the zip code. All were very different from the information I provided. The lady said it would be fixed, I should start receiving the paper and she would request a credit for the few weeks missed at that point.About 10 days ago, I called the Sacramento Bee because we still had yet to receive the paper. I spoke with someone who was going to request our address be fixed. He said, "we'll handle this right away." I requested a call back to confirm our address was fixed and a credit for the weeks we've not received the newspaper.I have yet to receive a call back or the newspaper.Desired Settlement: Due to poor response and poor follow through with Customer Service, I no longer wish to deal with the Sacramento Bee. I wish a full refund of $18.85. I feel I should also be paid for my time in waiting and speaking with customer service and this Revdex.com complaint. In total, I've probably spent at least 30 minutes of my time on this problem.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted]'s account was started at an address in Chico, CA with the same address information on 1821 Devonshire Dr. We apologize for the error and for the trouble it has taken to get this resolved. Currently the account has been stopped and a refund of $7.52 has been credited back to Ms. [redacted]'s Mastercard. Unfortunately, the full refund was not generarted at the same time. As fo today, the remaining refund of $11.33 has been requested to be credited back to the same Mastercard. The remaining refund will be processed and credited on Friday 11/28/14. We are very sorry for the inconvenience. If Ms. [redacted] chooses to give us another chance, please go online to www.sacbee.com/subscribe our contact our VIP team at ###-###-####.

Please feel free to contact us at ###-###-#### if you have nay futher questions or concerns.

Thank you

Review: Receiving newspapers that didn't agree to, and being billed and threatened with collections.

I subscribed to the Sacramento Bee using frequent flier miles for a limited 6-month term, with no agreement to renew beyond the subscription term and with no agreement allow any kind of continued service. The subscription I agreed to was for a fixed time period only. This was through my American Airlines frequent flier program and Points.com. I saved all documentation from the subscription, including all terms of the agreement, and am happy to send it on to you if need be. The Bee decided to send their paper past the expiration date and then balance bill me for days that I did not agree to. This is not legal. I was working in the Bay Area over the past few months and the papers accumulated during this time, and then I was billed. Perplexed, I pulled up my original subscription information to see when the Sacramento Bee should have ceased delivery and found that the Bee had unilaterally decided to send papers past the expiration date, and then decided to bill me for them at the rate that they of course chose (since I had made no agreement for any of this). Then they started calling me and sending more bills, as if I had actually subscribed for the period in question. Their maneuver is a scam and is not legal. I know some magazines have continuous subscription services. That was not what I agreed to here and the Bee cannot unilaterally decide the agreement is something different than what it was, nor can the Bee ask me to opt out of something that I never agreed to have to opt out of in the first place. I subscribed for a fixed period and they should have honored that and ceased delivery upon the cessation of the term to which I had agreed. Period. I never authorized any extension of the subscription. Period. And I should not have to spend precious time looking up subscription data to see when they should have stopped sending papers per our agreement, and addressing their inappropriate and illegal business practices. To resolve this I called the number left in one of the phone messages and reached someone in "Promotions" who said he could do nothing and gave me a number in "Billing." I spoke with someone named "[redacted]" in "Billing" who said he would note my account for the "Collections" department. I'm not sure how many different billing types of departments they have but it seems the ball kept getting passed along without resolution. I then received a "Final Notice" bill dated 12/18/2013 saying I had to pay by 1/1/2014.Desired Settlement: 1. I want this supposed balance the Bee is trying to bill me of $74.86 wiped off of my supposed account, #[redacted], immediately, with the correct balance of $0.00 noted.

2. I also want to know that the Bee will discontinue this shady practice. I think especially of elderly people who might be taken in by this kind of scam and I find it all disappointing and disturbing. I would expect better from a supposedly caliber newspaper.

My thanks to you all at the Revdex.com. I am grateful for your service in addressing this and similar matters.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted] account was started on 3/30/13 for 26 weeks. The account expired on 9/23/13. Prior to the expiration date, The Bee mails out the first renewal notice, which states, "the paper will continue unless The Bee is notified otherwise." This first renewal is sent 4-5 prior to the expiration date to allow readers to call and cancel the service, change the delivery or make a payment. In this case, the first renewal was sent 8/22/13. The 2nd renewal with the same verbiage was sent 10/3/13. And, the 3rd renewal was sent 11/11/13 (same verbiage).

Since The Bee does not stop subscriptions on the expiration date, we allow a 90 grace period for our readers to renew the subscription. We do apologize for any inconvenience. The account for Heidi Lyss has been cleared of any past due balance as of today.

Please feel free to contact us at 916-650-2847 if you have any further questions or concerns.

Review: incessant "delivery of unordered newspapers"

This started a few years ago with a free 18 month trial for a childs school contest door to door. I gave the child $20., and when the 18 months ceased, the free papers kept coming in. Sac Bee has no contract with me at this or any other address. I, and my husband, have contacted them and told them to cease sending their free newspapers which they apparently want to give away. I really have had it with them, as A. I don't like the Sacramento Bee, as they are a one sided liberal rag, and B. When I am not home, I don't want a newspaper sitting on my front porch or driveway showing every tom, dick, or harry that I'm not home, and C. I don't have extra money to throw down a rat-hole.Desired Settlement: Stop delivery of this UNCONTRACTED FOR, AND UNSOLICITED NEWSPAPER at once!

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

Contact Name and Title: [redacted]

Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Contact Email: [redacted]@sacbee.com

In reviewing Ms. [redacted]'s account information, she was a Bee subscriber early this past year. A permanent stop was entered on April 5, 2013 with refund payment to her of the remaining balance ($3.50) processed on April 22, 2013. Ms. [redacted], however, is also listed in our records as a subscriber to the Grapevine Independent Newspaper in Rancho Cordova. As a GVI subscriber, she receives the Sunday Bee as part of her subscription through a joint delivery agreement that The Bee has with the Grapevine Independent. Per Ms. [redacted]'s request in this complaint I have stopped her Sunday Bee service that is associated with this subscription. I'm hopeful that this resolves this complaint. Please contact me as needed. Thank you.

Review: In October of 2015 I purchased a 26 week subscription of the Sacramento Bee off of [redacted] And applied it in mid November. I followed the steps to redeem the voucher and receive my weekend paper. After 7 weeks of service I received an invoice for renewal and called the business to find out why I was being double billed for something I had paid for in full. The customer service rep told me to just ignore the letter and that it had been noted that the [redacted] voucher had been applied. Two weeks later they stopped delivering my paper for not paying the bill that was already payed for. I contacted [redacted] and the bee to get this sorted out. Then on the 12th of this month I received a collections notice from the bee for $12.74. I had requested the service be stopped after the first hiccup in the service. I again contacted [redacted] and attempted to contact the bee( I sat on hold for 45 minutes and then was disconnected). The Sacramento bee is now messing with my credit for a bill that is not mine to pay. I am highly upset about this situation and I would just like the matter resolved and to no longer be a customer of the Sacramento bee as I have told them Three times to cancel the subscription immediately.Desired Settlement: I would like the collection note to be retracted and removed from my credit. I wish also to not receive this paper again. I have requested that the service be stopped though after contacting [redacted] they have started delivering again. I do not want to be billed for a service I do not wish to use or receive.

Business

Response:

Thank you for your email to The Sacramento Bee, We apologize for the inconvenience we may have caused you however as per our records we have adjusted your account for the $12.74 and cleared this balance, as well as cease collections. Please note [redacted] is not a credit reporting agency so there will be no affect on your credit. If you have any further questions or concerns please contact us [redacted].

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: I have constantly contacted The Sacramento Bee to STOP receiving their M.V.P. (Market Value Place) Coupon Mailer. I have received email responses from The Sacramento Bee assuring me that my address would be removed from their mailing list so that I would not continue to receive this junk constantly. They have suggested it may take a matter of weeks before the correction was actually applied and I have continued to receive their crap for months after requesting not to. The post office will not discontinue these deliveries and has refused to return them to sender. The Sacramento Bee has now officially become a Local Nuisance and has portrayed a lack of concern for the interests of their local community. This is absolute JUNK - and their inability to cease and desist from constantly insisting this JUNK on residents that have clearly asked them to stop is asinine.Desired Settlement: STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!

IMMEDIATELY STOP DELIVERY OF JUNK MAIL TO THE PROVIDED ADDRESS!

Provide an easier way for the community to contact and cancel delivery of M.V.P in the future and be diligent about satisfying the local residents by efficiently ending delivery of junk mailings when requested.

Business

Response:

This has been forwarded to the Production team to remove from the mail list. It appears there was an address with an apartment number and the same address without an apartment numbe. Both of these have been removed from all MVP mailing files. Please feel free to contact us at [redacted] if you have any further questions or concerns. Thank you

Review: I have tried to cancel my Sacramento Bee subscription by calling and sending a certified signature receipt cancelation. I am now getting calls saying I owe for papers being delivered which I asked to be cancelled at the end of December 2015.Desired Settlement: I just want them to cancel my subscription and stop telling me I owe them money.

Business

Response:

Customer's account has been adjusted to a zero balance and will be removed from all collections list moving forward. If you have any further questions please contact us at [redacted].