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Business Profile

Newspaper

Hearst Connecticut Media Group
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BBB Accredited BusinessA+Rated by BBB

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Hearst Connecticut Media Group's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 68 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 23 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/03/2025

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Today is March 1, 2025.
      On September 8,2024 I ordered a 26 week subscription to The Hour digital access edition.
      That subscription will end on March 8, 2025.
      On February 27, 2025 my **** card on file was charged $19.96. On February 28, 2025 I called the Hour to let them know I wished to cancel at the end of my original agreement (March 8) and asked for a reversal of the charge. They told me I was not eligible for a refund.
      Nowhere in the original confirmation does it state that they will charge my card 10 days in advance and not allow refunds.
      On February 28, 2025, I called the bank that issued my **** card to dispute the charge.
      I find it incredible that Hearst Media will not issue a credit for a subscription that hasn’t even started yet. If not illegal, I view their policy on refunds as disingenuous at best.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/04/2025

      To Whom It May Concern: My team reached out to the customer and has left messages for a call back. However, the customer did dispute the charge with his bank and in that instance, we cannot refund the customer as we would be charged back once the bank settles it.

      Thank you,
      Jessica

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/27/2025

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Hearst did not cancel my subscription for ** **** online when requested back in December. The last charge should be in January. Instead they charged me for an additional month. I called the company and asked to speak to a supervisor and was disconnected 4 times. I am incorrectly being charged for the month of Feb 2025.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/27/2025

      To whom it may concern,

      My inhouse team spoke to **** ****** and she is all set.

      thank you,
      Jessica

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/17/2025

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I was charged on my credit card and I did nor subscribe.

      Business Response

      Date: 01/23/2025

      To whom it may concern, 

      we have a signed ***** order that was started on 4/21/204 to start a Sunday only newspaper, at that time a credit card was provided. since then, only one payment went through successfully all other payments have been cancelled.

      we cannot process a refund as **** ******* stated this was fraud, she must contact her bank to file a fraud report.

       

      Thank you,

      Jessica

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/06/2025

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.

      Greetings,

      I would like to withdraw my complaint.

      The business and I are I communication to resolve the issue.

      Thank you.

      Sincerely,

      **** ***********

      Business Response

      Date: 01/08/2025

      To Whom It May Concern: My customer service team reached out to the customer and was able to save the customer with delivery. the customer agreed that if the paper does not arrive he will get a refund.

       

      thank you.

      Jessica

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/16/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I have called and emailed for 6 years to get the advertising papers from being thrown in my yard, they stop for a while then start again at this point I feel it is harassment and will now seek every means possible to stop this, please help since the company fails to even respond.

      Business Response

      Date: 12/18/2024

      To Whom It May Concern: we have spoken to the District Manager of the carrier and coded the account to not receive delivery.

      my team also left a voicemail with their direct line.

       

      thank you.

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/10/2024

      Type:Delivery Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      In the beginning of 2023 we ordered the Sunday edition paper from Hearst media group of ***********. We noticed after several months the paper was not arriving as per the agreement. We contacted their customer service group and told them we had never received the paper that we had paid $25 per month as per the subscription fee. They told us there was nothing they could do other than Refund $25 and fix the situation. Six months later we’re still not getting the newspaper and they are still charging us. When I contacted them saying that I’m still not receiving the product or have ever received any product and would like a refund they again told me they could only offer $25. I have spent more than $400 on a subscription that I never received and was only credited $50 through two separate occasions. Contacting customer service was unfruitful and I was only told it was my fault for not contacting them more often.

      Business Response

      Date: 12/12/2024

      To whom it may concern, we spoke to the customer, and applied credit to his account, provided a refund, and adjusted the account.

       

      Thank you,
      Jessica

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/25/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.


      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because: i never agreed to this subscription. Please cancel immediately.



      Sincerely,



      ***** ********

      Business Response

      Date: 10/25/2024

      To whom it may concern, 

      After checking the account, the charge is for an active digital subscription to the ** ******* that was started on 6/24/2024 under email ([email protected]) this was done online by the customer, and address of ******** was added. I can stop the account, however there is no refund due. this was a voluntary start.

      Thank you.

      Jessica

       

      Business Response

      Date: 10/25/2024

      the account has been stopped. if you feel this was done fraudulently, you should contact your credit card company.

       

      Thank you,
      Jessica 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 10/25/2024



      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. It still should be easier than contacting BBB to cancel an account at Hearst Media CT. There was no way to speak to a representative and I was hung up on.



      Sincerely,



      ***** ********

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/24/2024

      Type:Delivery Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      i placed an order an ********* for ct hearst sunday paper only and i still have not received my paper or did anyone reach out to me about what i pay up front for.it was 12.00 for four weeks

      Business Response

      Date: 10/25/2024

      To Whom It May Concern: My team reached out to **** ******* to inform her that she is not due a refund, she asked my team to call her back and then hung up on us when we did, however, we reached out to the carrier and he confirmed the paper is being delivered to the building, since it is a locked building, it is dropped off at the locked door. **** ******* also never called to report missed deliveries therefore we were unaware there was a delivery issue, I can add a credit for the next 2 weeks. this will extend the subscription; however, a refund will not be provided.

      Thank you.

      Jessica

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/19/2024

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      As I believe I said in my initial complaint, even though Hearst said it mailed me a refund check on July 30, I still have not received it 3 weeks later so if BBB can help me secure that refund, I would appreciate that. The Hearst reference for this issue is my cell phone number, ###-###-####. Thank you.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/26/2024

      To whom it may concern, my team has settled this issue. if the customer needs anything further they have our direct contact information.

       

      thank you,

      Jessica

       

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/27/2024



      Better Business Bureau:



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




      Sincerely,



      ******* *********

    Hearst Connecticut Media Group is BBB Accredited.

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