Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Gatekeeper Press LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Gatekeeper Press LLC

  7853 Gunn Hwy PMB 209 Tampa, FL 33626-1611

  
• 

  Gatekeeper Press LLC

  7853 Gunn Hwy PMB 209 Tampa, FL 33626-1611

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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/11/2024

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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 been receiving royalties from my published book for approximately two years and have never been charged any "fees" for depositing the royalties into my bank; however, within the past 30 days we (authors who have chosen to have our works published with gatekeeper press) have been notified that we are now going to be charged $1.05 just to deposit our payments into our bank accounts via ACH, which should cost NOTHING. This ACH fee was never a part of our contract and I never agreed to this. Moreover, this ACH fee was just initiated within the past 30 days without our (authors who have published with gatekeeper press) permission or consent.While it may seem like a trivial amount the point is that I have been receiving only about $7.00 (or even $3.00) per deposit. With a $7.00 deposit a $1.05 fee is approximately FOURTEEN PERCENT - again, for simply depositing the royalty into a bank via ACH which should cost NOTHING. If the royalty is only $3.00 (which I have received in the past) the $1.05 fee amounts to more than THIRTY-THREE PERCENT. Again, this is for an ACH which should cost NOTHING and was never charged to us in the past, nor did we ever agree to this as authors.When contacted via e-mail about the issue, gatekeeper press responded that it was "not their fault" because they did not charge the fees; however, they have CHOSEN to do business with a company which DOES charge the fees, so it IS ABSOLUTELY 'their fault". I never agreed to these fees and want the fees to be waived.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/14/2024

  We are currently working with this customer to address his concerns regarding the impact of service fees on his book sales royalties. We recognize that smaller royalty payments can make these fees feel more significant.

  Historically, Gatekeeper Press has absorbed these fees on behalf of our authors. However, in order to maintain our ability to offer services at low prices and given that we do not take any percentage of author sales, we have had to pass these costs on to the author.

  To help mitigate the impact of these fees, we have offered the author the option to transfer the accounts to his name, enabling him to manage the accounts directly and bypass Gatekeeper Press for sales reporting. We also explained that the author has the ability to adjust the minimum payout threshold, allowing him to choose a higher threshold before receiving a payout. For example, the author could choose to wait until reaching $50 in royalties, at which point a single transaction fee of $1.05 would be applied per deposit.

  We are dedicated to finding a solution that best meets the authors needs and are committed to continuing our work with him to resolve this matter.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/18/2024

   
  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,
  
  Nike Nickel

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/08/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  On 3/8/24 I paid $2500 to this company for what I was told would be a full service upload of my self-published book to platforms. I was having trouble navigating the do-it-yourself platform. I came to them with a nearly finished product. They, being proclaimed publishing experts, promised me quality books and guaranteed satisfaction. This fee was to include ISBNs and all formats completed. I then spent close to $1100 on author copies that have not all arrived. The ones that did had printing problems. There have also been quality control issues concerning the printings of the books that are being sold on all platforms. The *** called me with solutions last week, which seemed helpful and reasonable. However, I became extremely uncomfortable when he offered a $500 author copy coupon in exchange for me signing an NDA which would not allow me to express any problems I have had with their company. When I expressed my concern and discomfort they told me my contract was being canceled because I violated clauses which stated I was abusive an unprofessional. They then offered to refund $750 for e-book formatting, to turn my ****** account over to me, and to give me the ISBNs and transfers. While I agree that we should not work together and some of these things seemed acceptable, I asked for examples of my abuse and unprofessional demeanor, and asked that these things be done more quickly than three weeks. I also asked they refund more than $750, which does not cover the money I am out for the author copies, the money I am out for having to order other copies from a local press, or the money I spent to sponsor and sell at a festival that I now do not have enough copies to sell at. It is very disappointing. They have now said they will not even do what they said they would do and have threatened me with their lawyers. I am also consulting mine, but it seems a ridiculous thing to bring to court. I would like a resolution. They have caused me stress and a huge loss of money.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 04/21/2024

  This author was abusive to our staff and threatened to disparage us in an attempt to extort a refund for services rendered and approved by her at her specific direction. We terminated our relationship with her as a result, and she has now followed through on her threat. This complaint contains verifiably false statements and is under legal review for defamation.
  
  Gatekeeper Press has worked with more than ***** authors worldwide and paid out more than $3 million in royalties. Author satisfaction is sacrosanct to us, which is why fewer than 0.1% of our authors have ever expressed displeasure.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/22/2024

   
  Complaint: 21542358
  
  I am rejecting this response because: they never accused me of being abusive or canceled my contract until I began asking very detailed questions. I also would never have reached out to you all had they not begun accusing me of these things. I have asked for proof of abuseexamples, I do not know how it is defamatory to simply speak the truth. I have screenshots of emails where they were promising me things that were not delivered. They did finally release my ISBNs, but they never sent me a copy of this contract, they never gave me examples of this abuse. My emails actually show that they did not end the relationship until I told them I would not be signing an NDA in exchange for the proposals they were offering to fix the situation. A consumer should not have to sign an NDA if a company is doing the right thing. In my point of view, they are disparaging me. I was the one who was misled. I was the one who handed over an extremely large amount of money with the promise that they would handle everything beautifully. Now they are intimidating me claiming that I am engaging in defamation? Because I want them to take some responsibility and be truthful? This is very bizarre to me. I am very confused by this. I had to pay someone else to regenerate and fix files when they would not release them. I have the screenshots and evidence of dates and timelines they promised me and pressure they applied on me. Again, this is very confusing to me. I have never been in such a predicament. I am completely baffled. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  

  Business Response

  Date: 04/28/2024

  Attached are all email communications with the customer from the time our CEO got involved directly through April 12 11:31 am ET when we retained outside legal counsel. We would provide additional annotated information, however, that information has already been sent to our outside counsel and we have been advised that sharing it may ****** attorney-client privilege.

  Please contact our attorney directly for any additional information you may need.

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

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/29/2024

   
  Complaint: 21542358
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  Complaint: 21542358
  
  I am rejecting this response because even these emails prove that I was not abusive to employees. That is their claim against me. I got heated, sure, as they were pressuring me to sign an NDA in order to even get $750 returned. I am working on getting my evidence in the correct format so that I can upload. I will send once I can. Part of the evidence shows that they did not provide full services, also these emails will indicate that there was no accusation of abuse until I expressed I was unhappy with their way of fixing things which depended on me signing an NDA. I have had lawyers review everything and there is nothing that either them or myself could share that would interfere with any type of lawsuit that they seem to be threatening me with. This is all so disappointing.

  For the record, I am not trying to extort money. But, this company pressured me into a package deal that I didnt need. They promised they would be able to do things that I was unable to figure out or do myself. They directed me which ink packages to pick, they told me I would be happy with the printing and it was unnecessary for me to have a proof book (which I also have in an email). They offered a minimum of $750 refund, but guess whatthey didnt release my files, they said the $750 would go back to my card, but then they sent an NDA that basically said they would not refund that money unless I signed itwhich also included taking my complaint from you, taking down negative reviews, all with the threat of the lawyer. My lawyer told me not to sign it. I was advised it was a severe overreach. You can see from the emails they sent that I was unable to open those files, I was on a deadlinea deadline they promised me they could help me make by April 11 (I verified this before paying them) they didnt. I was in a situation and I found and  I paid someone else. I had to pay other companies to give me the products which cost even more to have expedited on short noticewhich when using these companies I had no problems. I also have these products printing on their own with no problems.

  I dont know how or why they think they have a case against me, a customer. I have never had a situation quite like this before. Its really upsetting. I am out way more than the $3500+ I spent here. I spent $2500 on advertising and a festival that had a million visitors, but guess what I didnt have but a few books to sell that I got from a local printer and the book was still being sold online with their mistakes uploaded, it was very sad and disheartening for me, but by that point they had stopped answering meits not okay. I am entitled to be mad over this, I was not abusive, I did not curse at anyone (and I curse like a sailor by nature) it didnt happen.

  They sent a final email last week when I tried one last time to connect and communicate with ****** was pretty threateningit said they would give me the $750. They didnt mention the books that havent arrived and gave a link on how to return other books. I had been giving away those books because, as an email I will share with you later will show, *** promised to send nicer books and I could keep the ones I hadbut that I would have to sign an NDA and that is when the upset began. If I signed one I could never talk to you all , leave a review, or anything. Every lawyer I talked to said it was not a good idea to signI am an unhappy customer. Why am I being threatened with a lawsuit for them not delivering on promises they made? Because I wouldnt sign an NDA? They should not have promised me thingspart of my evidence is the copyright page (that they changed) which said they had nothing to do with the cover design, the formatting, or any of thatbut the package they made me buy is for that. So, what did I  pay for? When I began asking, they became agitated. So, did I pay for the stress? To be threatened with a lawyer because I was unhappy and wont sign an NDA?
  

  I am currently very busy today because I am still trying to repair everything that got messed up. From marketing to sales to metadata. Its been a mess. The odd thing is that if they had done the right thing I wouldnt have put any reviews up, I wouldnt have messaged yall. They accuse me of trying to extort money, but they have damaged me and my start to this far more than I ever could do them. Its simply unbelievable to me. As you see from my emails, I am a small business owner, it is never my wish to go through this with anyone and if we were just talking $100 I would happily walk away, but they are claiming my savings for services not rendered and what was done was not done properly which whether in their emails or mine, there is an acceptance of that. We shouldnt even be here going back and forth. Again, unbelievable to me. I would love to resolve this.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************