The Economist

Having written a lengthy complaint about incredibly unresponsive service from the Economist (trying to get my print edition delivered to a different address required me to cancel my subscription; repeated requests for a response from Customer Service etc) I immediately received a response about 2 hours after I posted a review
The response asked for my telephone number which I supplied. Since then nothing despite 3 further follow-up e-mails from me. Completely useless to the point where I feel I will cancel my subscription after 20 years

My subscription was taken out in Hong Kong where my print edition was delivered. I was stranded in UK in early 2021 and arranged for my print copy to be delivered to a UK address for 3 months. I then returned to HK mid-year and asked for my print edition to be re-directed back to my HK address. I was told this was not possible - I would have to cancel my subscription and open a new one. After several e-mails it was explained that the database was being changed over so they could not accommodate my request. (At this point I had been passed between Print & Digital desks).I then asked what would be the refund on my outstanding subscription, I e-mailed 5 times and received no response. Eventually I got a response saying I would have to cancel my subscription and take out a new one. If it were not for the fact that I have been a subscriber for decades I seriously considered not bothering. How can the Economist be such a slave to its systems? Customer No. 04823903 (Economist: just look at the e-mail trail over the last 6 weeks)

Terrible experience. I although I paid for the subscription the economist does not allow me to aceess the paper. Sent three e mails already. Just machine answer no humans at the other side.

Revdex.com:At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted] Once I do, I will inform the Revdex.com ASAP.Sincerely, [redacted]

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolvedThe company issued a refund through the original method stated on their site Sincerely, [redacted] ***

Revdex.com:At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding The Economist has been resolved (By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.) Sincerely, [redacted]

Revdex.com:At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]

We will respond to this query via our internal email management system, thanks

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved...

because:

They said they would respond via email and they have not responded as of yet. 
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted]. They have never contacted me when promised; even though they have promised a refund, they refuse to send it.
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Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted]. Once I do, I will inform the Revdex.com ASAP.Sincerely,[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved. The company issued a refund through the original method stated on their...

site. 
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding The Economist has been resolved.
(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as...

Resolved.)
Sincerely,[redacted]

Review: I canceled my subscription to the Economist ** January (Customer Reference Number:-[redacted]). I was told that I would receive a refund of $60.28. I was told that it would be refunded to the original account to which the subscription was billed. I informed the Economist that that card and the corresponding account were no longer valid. I was told that once the refund was declined by my old bank, I would be mailed a check and that this process would take two weeks. A check has yet to be sent, and every time I call the Economist I get a different story. First I was told it would be sent. Then, I was told that the matter would be investigated, and someone would call me (no one did). Finally, I was told that my bank had received the refund and must issue me a check. My old bank confirmed what is widely known, refunds cannot be given to nonexistent accounts. Another call was promised with someone would look into it and call me, no one has. At this stage, it seems that the Economist simply does not wish to issue me a refund and provides a different excuse every time I call and ask for it. Promises for follow up are never kept.Desired Settlement: I would like to receive my refund; I would gladly provide another account or can receive a check.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted]. They have never contacted me when promised; even though they have promised a refund, they refuse to send it.

Sincerely,

Review: I've made several attempts to request to be removed from The Economist mailing list. I was a customer in the past, so I can understand why they mail past customers - the attempt is for them to return.Desired Settlement: Please remove my name, address and any other related information from your direct marketing database so that I do not receive anymore mailings requesting my return.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted]. Once I do, I will inform the Revdex.com ASAP.Sincerely,[redacted]

Review: I signed up for The Economist on January **, 2015 because it was required for a class. I then canceled my subscription on April [redacted]. Unfortunately my subscription was never canceled. A few months later My husband called later and was canceled the subscription, they credited $45 for the most recent charge but refused to credit the rest. I called back again to explain the situation. I was told that my concern would be researched and I would be given a call back. I never recieved a call back. I called again and was told that they could not find my call and they could not credit the two months between my first call and the time my subscription was actually canceled.Desired Settlement: I would like $90 credited for the two months that lapsed between my first call and the time my subscription was finally canceled.

Business

Response:

We will respond to this query via our internal email management system, thanks

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

They said they would respond via email and they have not responded as of yet.

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

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: I have been getting the Economist magazine for over 6 months now. I have never subscribed to it. It is impossible to reach anyone - they say it is a distributor who ships them. I can not verify with our credit if we are billed for this as they do not know the billing company.Desired Settlement: Please refund me for the months we have been getting the magazine and have never requested it.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by The Economist regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]

Review: In the Fall of 2014, I subscribed to The Economist magazine (printed version). That first subscription was due to expire at the end of March 2015. In February 2015, I decided to extend the magazine subscription for a full year. In mid-February 2015, I mailed a personal check in the amount of $ 155 made payable to The Economist and I indicated in the check "for Journal Subscription". According to bank records, the journal cashed the check on March [redacted], 2015. About a week after the payment check had been cashed, I received a mail confirmation of "cancellation" of my subscription. At first I did not pay too much attention to the notice because I believed that it was simply due to my renewal check being cashed just two weeks before the old subscription was due to expire. On April **, 2015, noticing that one month had passed since the payment had been received with no magazine being delivered, I decided to call the magazine directly. On this first phone call, I was told that I needed to "demonstrate" that I had indeed sent the check for a subscription to the magazine. I agreed to make a PDF copy of the image of the cashed check and email it to the magazine immediately that day, which I did (April **, 2015). Nothing happened afterward. On April [redacted], I contacted the magazine again complaining about the absurd situation where I had to fight to get delivery of a service I had already paid two months earlier. I was told again that I needed to “explain” what was the purpose of my check and what exactly the check read in the “for” section. Angrily, I explained again what the check was for (by the way the person on the other line of the phone had the same image in front of him). At the end of this ridiculous conversation, I was thanked for "explaining that". As of today, I have not received any promised emails or phone calls from the magazine.

This is the first time in my life (I am in my early **) that I find myself in a situation where I have to fight to receive a service paid fully in advance several months earlier.

This is totally unacceptable and makes me reconsider the great esteem I used to have for this magazine.Desired Settlement: Immediate delivery of all paid for past and future magazine issues.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding The Economist has been resolved.

(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

Sincerely,[redacted]