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The Washington Post
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BBB Accredited BusinessA+Rated by BBB

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for The Washington Post's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 65 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 25 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:05/28/2025

      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 had my credit card ending in 4932 charged in the amount of $120.00 on Sunday May 25. I called *** customer service and they need an email. I provided it and all they could find was my current account which is billed at promotion rate of $2.00.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/02/2025

      Good morning, Mr. *********

      I am writing to follow up on the issue you reported regarding an unauthorized charge of $120.00 on your credit card ending in 4932 on Sunday, May 25. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

      I understand that one of our customer service representatives has since reached out to you via phone and resolved the matter. We were able to investigate the charge and address your concerns. If you have any further questions or issues, please do not hesitate to contact us.


      We value your subscription and appreciate your patience and cooperation in resolving this issue. If you need any additional assistance, our customer service team is available to help.
      Thank you for your loyalty to The Washington Post.

      Best regards,

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

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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/12/2025

      Type:Product 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 emailed back and forth with the Washington Post 9 times now requesting a refund for charges they made to my ****** account. Despite providing them all information available through ******, including the transaction ID, they are unable to locate my funds or issue a refund. Theyve charged me $181.90 three times over the last three years. This is rediculous!

      Business Response

      Date: 04/21/2025

      Dear ******,

      This is **** from the ************* team here at ******************. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with unexpected renewal charges.

      Please see the following email sent to you on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. 

       Thank you for contacting the Washington Post. As previously mentioned we were able to locate an active subscription under the email ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. The subscription under this email has been canceled and the most recent charge from 3/15/2025 has been refunded. Please allow 3-5 business days for the refund to process. According to ****** policy we are unable to refund any charges that occurred more than 180 days ago. Please contact ****** directly in regards to the other charges. 

      Rest assured, your subscription has been terminated , and you will not be charged any further for this subscription. Please see this link for more information on our billing policy and our Terms of Sale for Digital Products: **********************************.com/information/2022/06/17/terms-sale-digital-products/

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/25/2025

      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.
      They make it impossible to cancel my Delivered Subscription. I have called multiple times, only to be told they cannot stop the subscription since my term has started. I should pay the balance and then stop it, but the problem would remain...it won't stop. I called multiple times and get the same person located who knows where that I cannot hear or understand.I go online to the link provided on the Help site, *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** I had to create an account, I don't want an account but did it anyway! Once I did there is still nowhere to lookup or cancel my Print subscription, there is no link to my subscription and nowhere to add it. This seems to be for online subscriptions.I am at wits end, they obviously do not want me to cancel and make it nearly impossible. I only say "nearly" as there is a way, I file this complaint! They should do an editorial on themselves...

      Business Response

      Date: 03/26/2025

      Dear ****** ********:

      Thank you for reaching out.  Your Sunday only subscription was active from March 25, 2024 through March 16, 2025.  We acknowledge your decision to cancel your subscription and respect your perspective.  The service was suspended on March 30.  At that time, there was a remaining balance of $13.20 on your account, which has since been removed.  We apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may have caused.

      While we're sorry to see you go, we truly appreciate your past support and hope you'll consider rejoining our community of readers in the future.

      If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

      Thank you for being a valued subscriber.

      Regards,

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

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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/11/2025

      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.
      I am filing a complaint against The Washington Post regarding unauthorized subscription renewals and misleading website *********** 2023, I believed I had canceled my subscription due to how their website was set up. At that time, The Washington Post refunded me $63.96, which confirmed my understanding that the subscription was canceled. However, to my surprise, in March 2024 and March 2025, they secretly renewed my subscription without sending me a renewal bill or prior notification. Instead, they directly charged my bank account.I did not notice the unauthorized charge in 2024, but this time, I happened to catch it immediately. Upon reviewing my records, I found that The Washington Post neither sent me a billing notification before charging me nor an email confirmation after deducting the money. They discreetly withdrew funds from my account without any transparency, which I find completely unacceptable and deceptive.I have now canceled my 2025 subscription to prevent further unauthorized charges in 2026.Given these misleading practices and lack of proper notification, I demand a full refund for the 2024 and 2025 subscription fees, totaling $255.84.Account ID: ******* I request that ****************** process this refund immediately. I appreciate BBBs assistance in resolving this matter.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/26/2025

      Dear Yan,

      This is **** from the ************* team here at ******************. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with unexpected renewal charges. 

      Your digital subscription was first purchased on 3/11/20, with a promotional rate of *****, plus applicable taxes totaling $30.91 for the first year. Per our Terms of Sale for Digital Products, all of our subscriptions auto-renew at the frequency stated when first ordering. Thus, a year later, on 3/11/21 your subscription was automatically renewed at the regular rate of $100.00 plus applicable taxes totaling $106.60. Our system shows that on 5/16/23, you accepted an immediate offer for $60.00 plus applicable taxes. The refund that you received in the amount of $63.96 was the difference that you paid on 3/11/23, in the amount of $120.00 plus applicable taxes, and the $60.00 promotion that you accepted. We received no cancellation request, so your subscription was renewed on 3/9/24 and 3/9/25 for the amount of $120.00 plus applicable taxes totaling $127.92 annually.       

      As a one-time courtesy, we will issue a refund in the amount of $127.92. This amount reflects the period covering 3/9/25 - 3/8/26. Please allow 3-5 business days for the refund to process. Let us know if you do not receive your refund. 

      Rest assured, your subscription has been terminated, and you will not be charged any further for this subscription. Please see this link for more information on our billing policy and our Terms of Sale for Digital Products: **********************************.com/information/2022/06/17/terms-sale-digital-products/

      Best regards,

      **** ******
      ************* Specialist
      The Washington Post

      Customer Answer

      Date: 03/31/2025

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      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. 

      Regards,

      *** **

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/03/2025

      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.
      My annual digital-only Washington Post subscription auto-renewed in Sept 2024 for $120. I requested cancellation as of Feb 2025 and a refund of remaining subscription (Feb 2025-Sept 2025). I bought my original subscription several years ago with my ***** credit card. **** has subsequently auto-charged the card annually. This year, when I cancelled my subscription in Feb and contacted them last month for a refund, **** refused to refund for March 2025 through Sept 2025) and insists on both keeping my subscription active through 9/25 and retaining all my subscription money. Their response is as follows:"Re ticket #(4272994): You can cancel your subscription at any time. If you purchased your subscription directly through The Washington Post, you can go to ******* to cancel.Upon cancellation, you will have digital access for the remainder of the current billing period. Afterward, you will still be able to view a limited number of articles a month.We reserve the right to issue refunds or credits at our sole discretion. If we issue a refund or credit, we are under no obligation to issue the same or similar refund in the future. Please refer to our Terms of Sale."

      Business Response

      Date: 03/19/2025

      Dear *********,

      This is **** from the ************* team here at ******************. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with renewal charges. 

      As a one-time courtesy, we will refund the remaining balance of $56.37 to your account. Please allow 3-5 business days for the refund to process. Let us know if you do not receive your refund. 

      Rest assured, your subscription has been terminated, and you will not be charged any further for this subscription. Please see the following link for more information on our billing policy and our Terms of Sale for Digital Products:  ******************************************************************************************

      Best regards,

      **** ******
      ************* Specialist
      ******************

      Customer Answer

      Date: 03/19/2025

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      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. 

      Regards,

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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/03/2025

      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.
      We have a Washington Post premium digital subscription. Our account number is #********. We pay for it a year in advance. Our current subscription expires on August 8, 2025.We have already cancelled the renewal of the subscription. The Washington Post told us that they could not issue us a full or partial refund of the annual subscription amount, but they would not charge us again on August 8, 2025. However, this is not sufficient. Recent reporting and editorial changes at the Washington Post mean that the paper is no longer what we subscribed to. Essentially, we are being forced to continue paying for a product that we do not endorse and do not want. At this point, it is a bait and switch.We need help to get the Washington Post to cancel our subscription, AND give us a full or prorated refund for the amount we paid up to August 8, 2025.Thank you in advance for any advice and assistance.Sincerely,

      Business Response

      Date: 03/19/2025

      Good afternoon,

      The following email was sent on 3/17/25:

      Dear ****,

      This is **** from the ************* team here at ******************. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble cancelling your subscription. 

      As a one-time courtesy, we will refund the remaining balance of $70.49 to your account. Please allow 3-5 business days for the refund to process. Let us know if you do not receive your refund. 

      Rest assured, your subscription has been terminated, and you will not be charged any further for this subscription. Please see the following link for more information on our billing policy and our Terms of Sale for Digital Products:  ******************************************************************************************

      Best regards,

      **** Squire 
      ************* Specialist
      ******************
      **********************************************

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/01/2025

      Type:Product 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.
      The post has made it impossible to cancel my subscription. Last week I tried to cancel via their app but an error message was shown. I emailed to request a cancelation with no response. This week I tried to cancel again via their app and website but the "cancel subscription" button had been removed on both.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/04/2025

       

      Dear **** ********:

      Thank you for being a valued subscriber to The Washington Post.  We're sorry to see you go, but we appreciate the time you've spent with us.

      I apologize for any confusion. We have received your request to cancel your subscription, and it will take effect on March 16, 2025.  If you have any questions or if there's anything we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to reach out.

      We appreciate your support and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.

      Regards,

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

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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/23/2025

      Type:Customer Service 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.
      After paying $384.80 for my 2025 7-day a week home delivery subscription to the Washington Post on November 27, 2024, the mistakenly cancelled my subscription payment on December 27. The newspaper did not arrive on December 27. I called and was told that the account was cancelled. I did not cancel the account. I had only recently renewed it for another year. The representative apologized and said he could restart the delivery on December 28, which he did. On December 30 they refunded $381.02 of the $384.80. I expected them to recharge my ***** which they had on file. There was no bill due showing on my online account. When I checked back around January 7, they posted a bill for $519.52. Since that time, I have called the customer service line overseas and in the **** and started online tickets about two dozen times to get the bill corrected back to the $381.02 figure. I'm using that since they didn't refund the full amount paid. Despite the fact that I never cancelled my subscription and the fact that I paid for renewal on November 27 for this year, they insist I have to pay the increased rate. I have asked to speak to a supervisor several times but that has not happenned. This is a simple billing error on their part, but I don't know where else to turn. I hope that you will try to intervene on my behalf. I have attached a letter to the Washington Post editor, which I emailed today. It's not the correct forum for my complaint. I am grasping at straws.Respectfully yours,**** *****

      Business Response

      Date: 02/24/2025

      Dear ******* *****:

      I apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you have experienced with your Washington Post subscription.  We want to assure you that we will honor your initial payment of  $384.80. We acknowledge that you did not cancel your subscription and that you had recently renewed it for another year.  We are committed to making things right and ensuring that you are not charged the increased rate. We have corrected the billing error and ensure
      that your account is updated to reflect the original payment of $384.80. You will not be required to pay the increased rate.  We ensure that you continue to receive your newspaper without any further issues.

      Please be assured that we value your subscription and appreciate your loyalty to The Washington Post. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. I will be happy to assist you and ensure that your issue is resolved to your satisfaction.

      Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, and we apologize again for the inconvenience caused.

      Regards,

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

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

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/24/2025

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      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. 

      Regards,

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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/23/2024

      Type:Service or Repair 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.
      I subscribed to the Sunday Washington Post in August and havent received a single one. I havent complained every week but Ive made many complaints and received refunds as Ive complained and been promised up and down that Id get a paper and still never have as of November 23.Called the local delivery person several times with no response Ive used the chat feature and called the customer service number for the Post with no results

      Business Response

      Date: 12/23/2024

       

      Dear ***** ******:

      I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the missed deliveries and the lack of response to your calls.  This is not the level of service we strive to provide, and I understand how frustrating this situation must be.

      We are actively investigating the issue to ensure your newspaper deliveries are back on track immediately.  Additionally, we're reviewing our communication process to prevent delays in responding to our valued customers like you in the future.  As a step toward making this right, we will ensure your next month of delivery is free.

      Please let me know if there's anything else we can do to regain your trust.  You can reach me directly at **************; or contact ****** *******, VA Zone Manager, at **************.

      Thank you for your patience and for bring this to our attention.

      Regards,

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

      Customer Answer

      Date: 01/08/2025

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      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. 

      Regards,

      ***** ******

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/22/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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 subscribed to an initial reduced price offer. Near the conclusion of that term in November 2023, I received an email saying that my subscription would renew at the full price. Realizing that I rarely used my subscription, I immediately went online to cancel and followed the steps provided to do this. I contemporaneously reflected that I had canceled on a spreadsheet I use for all my subscriptions. I did not use the subscription or my account since that time. In November of this year I received an email saying my subscription would renew. I was able to gather my login information and check. I was able to see that, despite my cancellation previously, they charged me for the full amount. I went through the exact same cancellation process again. However, this time I received an email. I expect there was an error on their end the last time I sought to do this. I reported the issue to their customer support who refused to make the situation right. They are able to see that I did not use my account at all since cancelling it in 2023. Clearly a refund is appropriate.

      Business Response

      Date: 01/18/2025

      This is **** from the ************* team here at ******************. Sorry to hear that you had a problem cancelling your subscription. 

       We were not able to locate a cancellation request, prior to the request made on 11/20/24. Your subscription was cancelled on 12/20/24. 

      Rest assured, your subscription has been terminated, and you will not be charged any further for this subscription. Please see this link for more information on our billing policy and our Terms of Sale for Digital Products:  ******************************************************************************************

      Best regards, 

      **** ******

      Customer Answer

      Date: 01/18/2025

      [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]

       Complaint: 22593775

      I am rejecting this response because:

      I went through the same process I followed a year before to cancel this time. The fact that there must have been a website error on their end doesn't negate the fact that I did not agree to continue my subscription after the first year. I did not use the Washington Post after that and they are refusing to refund me despite my requested cancellation. 

       

      Their response is basically "too bad our website didn't work as designed, now we'll keep your money." This is inappropriate and unacceptable. I recommend everyone avoid subscribing to the Washington Post under any circumstances. 

      Regards,

      **** *. Mail, Esq.







      Business Response

      Date: 03/11/2025

      Unfortunately, we are unable to issue you a refund. Your subscription was purchased through ******, and their refund policy allows buyers to request refunds for eligible purchases and sellers to issue refunds within 180 days of the original payment date.  As previously stated, no cancellation request was found prior to the request made on 11/20/24. Your subscription was cancelled on 12/20/24. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 03/11/2025

      [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]

       Complaint: 22593775

      I am rejecting this response because:

      The fact that ****** has a time limit for issuing a refund does not prevent the business from making this right. That's
      a cop out. The reality is that the Washington Post set up the system for canceling subscriptions and failed to ensure
      that that system worked. Where it failed, I, the consumer, am stuck bearing the burden. That is unacceptable. 

      I certainly reject their non-resolution, and I will continue to pursue this in other forums and encourage others to do
      so as well. 

      Regards,

      **** Mail








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