Complaints

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:07/30/2024

  Type:Product 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.

  Hello my name is *****************************. I am from **********,****. I am an author that has been scammed by a fradulante publishing company claming that they are from ********. They asked for money up front a 200 dollar fee I paid that and then another fee of 275, I paid that. they asked for another fee of 700 dolloars I said no and asked for my manuscript back and my money back. The person that I talked to over the phone refuses to do any of this. I asked them to stop doing anything eles with my book, and he refuses and would not let me speak. This happened here in July 2024. I want to file a report to report this fraud company..

  Business Response

  Date: 07/31/2024

  ********* Publishers takes all client concerns seriously and is committed to transparent,ethical business practices. In this case, there appears to be a misunderstanding regarding our services and fees.
  
  The client initially agreed to a $749 publishing package, with an accommodation made for a partial initial payment. All subsequent payments were part of the agreed-upon package, not additional fees.The $749 (not $700) amount mentioned was for optional recommended services, not a required payment.
  Throughout the project, the client expressed satisfaction with our services. When concerns were raised about the book cover, revisions will be provided as per our standard process. We have made multiple attempts to contact the client to address their concerns and find a resolution.
  
  We deny any fraudulent activity and are fully prepared to provide documentation of our communications and services rendered. We remain open to discussing this matter further with the client to reach an amicable resolution.
  
  ********* Publishers is committed to client satisfaction and maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct in the publishing industry.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/18/2024

  Type:Service or Repair 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 paid Hemingway Publishers $1844 to publish two books and build a website in January, 2024. As of June 18, 2024, neither book has been published and the website was never completed. They have stopped returning my emails and have blocked me on social media

  Business Response

  Date: 08/09/2024

  I am writing in response to your complaint regarding the services provided by our company, as documented in BBB Complaint Case # ********.

  To the Better Business Bureau,
  Case #: ********

  
  We are writing to address the concerns raised by the client regarding their experience with Hemingway Publishers.
  Firstly, we want to clarify that both of the client's books were published before June 18, 2024. We regret if there was any miscommunication regarding the publication dates.

  
  Regarding the website development, we acknowledge that there have been delays in completion. Our team has been in communication with the client throughout the process to ensure the website meets their criteria and is delivered before the project's completion. Despite our efforts to engage and resolve the issue, the client has shown disinterest in continuing the project and has focused solely on requesting a refund.

  
  The client has requested a partial refund for the website upgrade. However, this request was made without specific reasons being provided and before the agreed-upon project milestones were reached. Additionally, the client has aligned their interests with a different organization for the website upgrade, which has further complicated the project's completion on our end.
  It is important to note that a refund is not acceptable or eligible in this case, as it does not align with ethical business practices. We believe the clients request for a refund is premature and was made without giving us the opportunity to meet their criteria and complete the project.

  
  We remain committed to providing quality service and are ready to complete the website as per the original agreement. We believe this approach is fair and in the best interest of both parties.
  Thank you for your attention to this matter.
  
  Warm regards,

  Team Hemingway Publishers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/20/2024

  Type:Order 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.

  The business is deceptive in using one name to draw in and collect payments, farming out work to entities that are not part of the original agreement and they are baiting and switching on their website. Design Prodigy has disguised their true fraudulent business practices under the name of ********** Publishers, a well-articulated marketing strategy to attract first time authors vulnerable to deceptive business practices. ********** Publishers AKA Design Prodigy received payment to publish my manuscript on December 2, 2023 with a clear understanding that the manuscript would be published and placed on the Amazon website by March 2024 in the forms first an E-book, second as paperback and their as hardcover. In February of 2024, ********** Publishers displayed signs of great concern through unprofessional business practices of high staff turnover, emails being unanswered and finally the disconnection of their phone line which was still advertised and continued to be used in their marketing strategy to defraud. Hemmingways Publishing AKA Design Prodigy in their response to my dispute is totally invalid, dishonest, and shameful at face value. They have shown a total disregard for the client and *************** by presenting customer reviews, terms and conditions of a non-existing company and a description of a non-existing company, no proof was provided that the manuscript was even in receipt of the said company or proof that the manuscript was published on Amazon. I am hopeful that *************** will pursue ********** Publishers AKA design Prodigy in prosecuting the main culprit, not allowing anyone else to be defrauded or worse, preventing them from establishing other shell companies. *************************** ************ Additional Information: On May 17th, 2024, I received a letter from *************** notifying me that the provisional credit of $349 was reversed. ********** has refused refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/09/2024

  I am writing in response to your complaint regarding the services provided by our company, as documented in BBB Complaint Case # ********.

  We appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention through the Better Business Bureau. We take all feedback seriously and strive to address any issues our clients may encounter.

  Firstly, we want to clarify that Design Prodigy is our payment merchant, a detail that is transparently mentioned on our website. This arrangement allows us to handle payments securely and efficiently. We understand that this may cause some confusion, but please rest assured that all transactions are managed with the utmost professionalism.

  Regarding your concerns about **************** we would like to clarify that we have no direct relationship with them. Any disputes or issues involving your bank should be addressed directly with Credit One Bank.

  The reviews and testimonials shared by our clients on our website are genuine and reflect their individual experiences with ********** Publishers. We take pride in the positive feedback we receive from our authors and remain committed to maintaining high standards of service.

  We acknowledge that there have been some operational difficulties, including staff turnover and communication issues. Please understand that these challenges are being actively addressed to enhance our customer service and ensure a better experience for all our clients.

  For any further queries or to resolve any outstanding issues, we encourage you to reach out to us directly at *******************************. We are committed to assisting you and ensuring that your concerns are resolved promptly.

  Warm regards,

  Team Hemingway Publishers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/29/2024

  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.

  This is a dual complaint against Book Writing Pioneer (not listed) and a related business partner of them called Hemingway Publishers. Both use email addresses interchangeably. In February I contracted them to publish my book, including editing. In the first week of March, I submitted the book electronically the first week of March. in two months' time they (Hemingway a subcontractor?) only edited two chapters. I agreed to pay circa $250 to "speed things along," putting a down payment of $100. Since then, over three weeks ago, they have edited nothing. Two weeks ago and today I called: All the Pioneer telephone lines were disconnected. Reached manager *********************** in *************************** assured me more chapters coming. Called today- phones still disconnected. Called ***** ************. **************. A man (posing as *****?) answered whose voice, language, syntax, vocabulary was completely different than either ***** or *********************, whom I had spoken previously; had hint of Indian or Pakistan accent. I asked the person to validate our last dialogue, which he only was able to say in general terms - when I pressed him for the last things he said to me, he could not. I went online and found another person wrote the same complaint about the telephone lines (pioneer) being disconnected. There are just too many red flags. Am I being scammed into paying extra for a service that was supposed to be included in the contract? why are the telephone lines down for a month? Why the different voice? Please investigate. They wish to charge me the remaining $150. Of course, I do not know what else they will charge in the future to "expedite" the book. Help.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/09/2024

  I am writing in response to your complaint regarding the services provided by our company, as documented in BBB Complaint Case # ********.

  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We deeply regret any inconvenience and confusion you have experienced.

  First and foremost, we would like to clarify that Book Writing Pioneer is not accredited with Hemingway Publishers. Although both companies might use similar communication channels, they are distinct entities with separate operations.

  As per our records, your book was published under Book Writing Pioneer on Amazon. We have no affiliation with the editing services you mentioned or the additional payments requested. Hemingway Publishers has not been involved in the editing process or any subsequent charges related to your book.

  We understand your frustration with the delays and lack of communication from Book Writing Pioneer. However, it is important to note that these issues fall outside the purview of Hemingway Publishers.

  For a resolution, we recommend contacting Book Writing Pioneer directly to address the discrepancies in their service and the additional charges they have imposed. If they remain unresponsive or if you suspect fraudulent activity, you may consider reporting your experience to the appropriate consumer protection authorities.

  Warm regards,

  Team Hemingway Publishers

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/12/2024

   
  Complaint: 21641732
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  I do not accept the explanation offered by Hemingway Publishers.
  The complex, business inter-relationship between the two entities is
  obscunded by a multitude of corporate legal dealings regading parent
  and child corporate ownership relationships. Their washing their hands
  of the complaint and asking me to contact the original entity (again) is but
  a way of diverting responsibility and accountability. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/14/2024

  Dear Concern,

  I fail to understand how Hemingway Publishers is associated with Book Writing Pioneer. If the respondent had issues with Book Writing Pioneer, they should probably take up with them. We are a professional publishing company, and per our records, we dont have **************************** on our portfolio. Regarding the edits and progress of the work, we dont know if the job was slow or not complete and whether they employed people from different cultural backgrounds.

  All our telephone lines are working, and to the best of our knowledge, they are still working. If the phone numbers of Book Writing Pioneer are not in service, why should we be blamed for their ethics and conduct? Many publishers leverage our name to their advantage, and we receive unsolicited calls from those with whom we are not interested. If **************************** has an issue with the publication of his book, then it is advised that he please take it up with Book Writing Pioneer and not us.

  We hope you understand the gravity of the situation, and please close this complaint. At the same time, please ask the client if he can confirm if he is being scammed or if the book is published on any of the online platforms. If it is published, kindly provide us with the name of the imprint.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/02/2024

  Type:Service or Repair 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.

  There was a package deal of $699.00 to publish my book. I was charge $700.00. (It was a sale for $749.00. Supposed to be $50) This was around July 22nd 2023. The representative said it's only a dollar. The manager apologized for the attitude. During the service they gave my personal phone number out to someone who contacted me to give my opinion of the company. The book has been published for months now and it is not on every platform that they promised that made me move forward with the company. One main one is Smashwords. I was considering going with them to publish, but since Hemingway said it would be on that platform I figure I would still have what I want going with them (Hemingway). The rest was ********************, ******* ****** Books, Apple Books, Chapters Indigo along with the others that they did. I also informed them I had a new bank account so if it was uploaded on these platforms I still wouldn't get paid because Hemingway wouldn't take my new information. Also, they promised the copywrite with a letter and this was not given to me either. The copywrite wasn't on the list. The sales person promised it to me once I said I would go with another publisher that gives that to me. This was my 9th book so I knew what was available through other publishers.This company was saying anything to get me to publish with them and they have not delivered everything and now they are not even responding to my emails.Is this legal? can they give my number out and can they not give me all they promised?

  Business Response

  Date: 08/09/2024

  I hope this message finds you well. I am writing in response to the concerns you raised regarding your recent publishing experience with Hemingway Publishers.
  First and foremost, we deeply regret any dissatisfaction you have experienced. It is our priority to ensure that all our clients are satisfied with our services, and we take your feedback very seriously.
  Regarding the pricing discrepancy, our records indicate that the initial package deal was for $749.00, and during a promotional period, it was offered at $699.00. We acknowledge the $1.00 difference and have already acknowledged a refund for this amount. Our records also show that you were satisfied with this resolution and did not express further concerns at that time.
   
  As for your personal phone number, it is standard practice for us to conduct follow-up surveys to improve our services. We apologize if this caused any inconvenience, and we assure you that your privacy is of utmost importance to us.
  Concerning the distribution of your book, we acknowledge that certain platforms such as Smashwords were mentioned. However, the aggregation platform we use for distribution recently cut its ties with Smashwords, which impacted our ability to list your book there. Nonetheless, your book has been successfully published on multiple other major platforms, including ****** ***** ******* ****** Books, Apple Books, and Chapters Indigo, as promised.
  Regarding the payment issue, our team is more than willing to update your bank account information to ensure you receive your royalties promptly. Please reach out to our customer service team to provide your new details.
  As for the copyright registration and letter, it was not mentioned in our agreement. Instead, we provided ISBN registration, which is a standard and crucial part of our service, and this has already been provided to you. We have documentation to support this.
   
  Finally, it is important to note that we have fulfilled our contractual obligations and have provided all services as promised. We strive to maintain transparent communication and to deliver on all commitments made to our clients.
  If you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at ********************************* We value your business and are committed to resolving any outstanding issues to your satisfaction
   
  Warm regards,
  Team Hemingway Publishers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/24/2024

  Type:Service or Repair 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.

  A 16 2023 I typed my autobiography of life growing up in ******* from the sixties up to now. So I told the truth if they didn't like my material they should have so said and gave me back my money right then. What they did was first they changed words like I might say ain't that a shame they would change it to aren't that a shame. Which took away from what I said on purpose. Then when I read there manuscript I read up to where I was in the Military then started read *********** stuff so my project Manager now was always in a meeting never had time help me fix the problem so I went to my bank to stop payment. Then the Big called me to make a retraction at the bank. He made me all kinds of fake promises so I told my bank to hold off and there unless I need them as soon as they were comfortable me taking off my retraction they kept to me about my Book till finally they quit answering the phone when I called. So I got friends to call together we determined they were a scam. They still on social media advertising and what happened to me I can't let happen to nobody else

  Business Response

  Date: 08/09/2024

  I am writing in response to your complaint regarding the services provided by our company, as documented in BBB Complaint Case # ********.

   

  We are truly sorry to hear about your concerns and experiences. It is our utmost priority to ensure that our clients are satisfied with the services we provide.

  Upon reviewing your project, I want to address a few key points to ensure clarity and transparency:

   

  1.      Manuscript Edits: Our team made edits to your manuscript with the intention of enhancing readability and maintaining grammatical standards. We understand and appreciate the importance of preserving your unique voice and expressions. If specific stylistic choices were changed in a way that detracted from your intended meaning, we sincerely apologize.

  2.      Project Management: We regret any inconvenience caused by our project manager's availability. Effective communication is crucial, and we are sorry for any frustrations you faced in this regard.

  3.      Service Delivery: We have reviewed our records and can confirm that all services outlined in your agreement have been provided. We believe the project has been delivered in line with our standard and commitment.

  4.      Communication and Support: We understand that there were instances where communication may not have met your expectations. We strive to be transparent and uphold our commitments, and it is concerning to hear about these issues.

   

  Given that the project has been closed and delivered, we regret any dissatisfaction you feel. We have provided all the services as agreed upon, and our goal was always to support you in bringing your book to life. If there are specific unresolved issues or if you believe there were aspects that were not delivered as per our agreement, we would appreciate your detailed feedback so we can address them appropriately. If you have any concerns, you can send them over to our email: *******************************

   

  Warm regards,

  Team Hemingway Publishers