Complaints
This profile includes complaints for Chicago Tribune's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Complaints Summary
- 280 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 85 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe 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:10/09/2022
Type: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.
Repeated failure to home deliver by The Chicago Tribune, as part of my contractual agreement for Sunday delivery of the newspaper by 8am. Dozens of phone calls, numerous e-mails and filing with the BBB, and the results are still the same. I am sick and tired of this.Apparently The Chicago Tribune Company is only interested in taking my money and not pro viding service. I cannot comprehnd how this company continues to not care about its customer and proper service.Why are they in business other than collect money for something they cant provide?Me having to call weekly at 9am to ask where my paper is??? It is not part of my agreement with them.Today is Sunday October 9th 2022 at 12:15 pm, and I have called 3 times and was promised I would receive paper today.Still NO PAPER.THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING OVER 3 YEARS
Business Response
Date: 10/17/2022
October 17, 2022
Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience or frustration you have experienced with your Sunday Only Chicago Tribune newspaper subscription.
We are reviewing your ongoing missed delivery concern with your local Distributor for resolution. They will discuss with your local Delivery Contractor to check that you will receive your deliveries each Sunday. Please be advised that due to open routes and Production concerns causing delivery delays in the area at this time, your deliveries may be missed or received after standard delivery times. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work towards a resolution to your delivery concerns in your local delivery area.
After reviewing your missed deliveries notated on this ********** **************** has already escalated and processed missed delivery credits back onto your account. Sunday, October 16th delivery was confirmed to be received. I was able to authorize a one-time lower promotional home delivery rate on to your account. Also, as our gratitude for being a valued subscriber, I had extended your subscription paid thru date for an additional two weeks. This has extended your paid thru date until December 31, 2022.
Once again,sincerest apologies involving your Chicago Tribune deliveries. Should you have any further questions or delivery concerns regarding your home delivery account, please do not hesitate to contact our **************** Department at ************.
Thank you,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 10/18/2022
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,
*********************Initial Complaint
Date:10/07/2022
Type: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 cancelled my newspaper subscription with the Chicago Tribune on October 3 using their email system. The cancellation was not easy and required a few emails back and forth. Chicago Tribune really wanted to keep me as a paying customer. I was also expecting a refund for the balance undelivered newspaper (about 30 days worth). This morning (October 7), I called Chicago Tribune to ensure the newspaper has been stopped and see how much I should be expecting on the refund. I was told that the subscription was stopped but there was no refund for the unused newspaper. There is a no refund policy in Chicago Tribune, apparently.I would like to fill a complaint against Chicago Tribune and ask them to proceed my refund P.S. The newspaper subscription is for my ********, ** address.Business Response
Date: 10/14/2022
October 14, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience associated with your Chicago Tribune newspaper subscription.
Please be advised that our Refund policy is reflected on all our correspondence and billing statements as part of our terms and conditions - Any cancellation will take effect at the end of the then-current subscription term and payments are non-refundable. We reserve the right,however, to issue refunds or credits at our sole discretion. If we issue a refund or credit in one instance, we are under no obligation to issue the same refund or credit in the future.
Due to the information you provided within your complaint,I have processed the cancellation on your home delivery effective October 15th and will processed a refund in the amount of $121.42 which will be applied back to your credit card charged. Please allow ***** business days for the refund to finalize back to your credit card.
If would like any further assistance or to restart your home delivery subscription,please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Thank you,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 10/14/2022
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,
******************* ***Initial Complaint
Date:10/04/2022
Type: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.
To whom it may concern:My complaint is about the inside shopper. I've made numerous calls (for four months now) to get the inside shopper delivered to me and my parent's house with no avail. I'm sure you probably have record of my calls. We used to get the paper delivered and then it just stopped on both homes. I have noticed that for the most part, the paper gets delivered to the east side of the block on Laramie. I've noticed that the west side of Laramie doesn't get the paper delivered. Any reason why this is happening? Seems to me like the delivery people aren't doing their job. I also have a ring camera which I will probably go back and see if I can see when they are delivering the paper only across the street.Business Response
Date: 10/10/2022
October 10, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the inability to start receiving the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to begin immediately these free deliveries to your household. Your feedback regarding your inability to start these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
***************************Initial Complaint
Date:10/03/2022
Type: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 asked the Tribune to please stop delivering the Inside Shopper circulator to my house. It just gets thrown away, and it is not environmentally friendly. Despite repeated request, the Tribune continues to leave the Inside Shopper at my house each week. Please stop. Thank you.Business Response
Date: 10/11/2022
October 11, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the ongoing deliveries and inability to stop the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to cease those free deliveries to your household. There are no active accounts at your address currently therefore this request to stop will be escalated to ensure no further Inside Shopper free papers will be delivered. The processing time may take up to 14 business days for the deliveries to ultimately stop but I have expedited your request due to the urgency and information you provided within this complaint. Your feedback regarding your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 10/12/2022
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,
*************************Initial Complaint
Date:09/28/2022
Type: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.
Over the past month and a half we've made five requests for Chicago Tribune to stop littering our building with Inside Shopper papers. Nobody ever asked for these to be delivered but they will not stop. They block the steps and create risk of fall, get wet and make a mess, and are a total waste. We've been promised that these deliveries will stop over and over again but they just keep coming. Please stop dumping trash on our property.Business Response
Date: 10/07/2022
October 7, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the ongoing deliveries and inability to stop the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to cease immediately these free deliveries to your household. There are no active accounts at this address currently therefore this request to stop will be escalated to ensure no further Inside Shopper free papers will be delivered. Your feedback regarding your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
***************************Customer Answer
Date: 10/12/2022
Complaint: 18141981
I am rejecting this response because: The business' response is 100% false. Our building was littered with the business' trash again just today (10/12/22). Despite the well-crafted response, this business has no intention of putting an end to this practice. I've been asking for this to stop for months now yet it continues. Just look online. There are dozens, if not hundreds of identical complaints. Most of them say that the business promises to stop over and over again yet nothing changes. I've attached a picture.
Sincerely,
W TownBusiness Response
Date: 10/17/2022
October 17, 2022
Once again, our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the inability to start receiving the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been contacted to cease the Inside Shopper deliveries to your residence. Your feedback regarding your inability to start these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
***************************Customer Answer
Date: 10/18/2022
Complaint: 18141981
I am rejecting this response because: The business clearly didn't even read the original complaint and gave a response that would accomplish the opposite of what we're trying to do. I am NOT trying to START receiving service. We're trying to STOP your business from littering our building with trash every week. STOP PLEASE!
Sincerely,
W TownBusiness Response
Date: 10/25/2022
October 25, 2022
Once again, sincere apologies for any frustration or misunderstanding due to this concern of the inability to stop receiving the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to stop immediately these free deliveries to your household. Your feedback regarding your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed. Apologies for any prior misunderstanding and your request has been expedited for assistance.
If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 10/25/2022
Complaint: 18141981
I am rejecting this response because: The business continues to leave trash on our building despite their empty promises. Here's a picture from 10/22.Are you doing anything other than "notifying the distributor"? Because there are dozens of identical complaints that say you just give the same token response and do nothing. What's actually being done?
Sincerely,
W TownBusiness Response
Date: 11/01/2022
November 1, 2022
Once again, very sincere apologies for any ongoing frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the inability to discontinue receiving the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to cease immediately these free deliveries to your household. Your feedback regarding your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed as well and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
***************************Customer Answer
Date: 11/03/2022
Complaint: 18141981
I am rejecting this response because: This business dumped trash on our building again two days after sending the last message. This has been ongoing since August 11th. It's clear they have no intention of stopping. They merely pay lip service over and over again then continue trashing our neighborhood with garbage nobody wants or asked for. Here's a picture from today.
Sincerely,
W TownInitial Complaint
Date:09/28/2022
Type: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.
I have called numerous times within the past year to stop delivery of the Chicago Tribune Inside shopper that is thrown on to my driveway each week. Each time I call, the person on the other end states my prior complaint is not in the system but assures me it will be taken care of and stopped. I have also emailed but the email domain that was listed did not go through. I try calling different numbers for the Tribune but the automated dialing makes it difficult to get through the system to resolve the issue. Chicago Tribune has now removed their email from the plastic covering.Business Response
Date: 10/07/2022
October 7, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the ongoing deliveries and inability to stop the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor have been notified to cease immediately these free deliveries to your household. There are no active accounts at this address currently therefore this request to stop will be escalated to ensure no further Inside Shopper free papers will be delivered. Your feedback regarding your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
***************************Initial Complaint
Date:09/23/2022
Type: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.
The Chicago Tribune has an extremely irritating sales paper full of ads on Tuesdays. They're LYING about their circulation to the companies paying for advertising about their circulation. You'll request one newspaper and they dump this junk everywhere, sometimes even where the building is OBVIOUSLY vacant and been so for a long time. For every ONE paper, there will be 4 or 5 ad papers! So, obviously they're saying they have a circulation of X and it's really 25% of the lying that the Tribune SAYS it is. That's fraud, last time I checked. I said, put it INSIDE the paper, so it's not such a huge waste, and a big soggy mess all over the minute it rains. But they ignore you, both the paper (called 7 or 8 times and emails) and the delivery people, who don't understand any English. I had to cancel the subscription and I guarantee that Tuesday, they'll STILL leave the ad paper here! Anyone can go around Tuesday am in Chicago and see there's easily 4 ads in the red sleeve for 1 legit paper sale. Anyone can see that people in IN and WI who don't have these stupid ad things, have much cleaner neighborhoods. Asking the rude delivery people to not leave junk at your house means they'll just throw it in the street to be disrespectful. Nobody else was here but that guy.Business Response
Date: 10/01/2022
October 1, 2022
Sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced due to the ongoing deliveries and inability to stop the free Inside Shopper papers to your residence.
The local Distributor has been notified to cease those free deliveries to your household. After researching your information, there are no active accounts at your address currently. Your request to stop the Inside Shopper deliveries will be escalated to ensure no further free papers will be received at your household. Thank you for your feedback. Your feedback as well as your inability to stop these free deliveries will be reviewed and forwarded.
Once again, sincere apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterInitial Complaint
Date:09/23/2022
Type: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.
I've tried to cancel my Tribune subscription multiple times by phone in the past few months. Every time they said that that subscription is cancelled, but it is not true. I need to resolve this issue asap.Business Response
Date: 09/23/2022
September 23, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced associated with your Chicago Tribune digital subscription.
Due to the information you provided within this complaint, I have cancelled your digital subscription effective immediately and processed a refund of your last payment in the amount of $7.96. This refund will process back to your credit card within the next 14 business days. Also, apologies for your inability to stop this subscription as you had requested. Your **************** experience will be reviewed and proper course of action will be taken, if needed.
If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact the Chicago Tribune **************** Department at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterInitial Complaint
Date:09/20/2022
Type: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.
Last bill of $91.50 was paid on May 12, 2022. At this time I requested my subscription to be cancelled. Paper kept coming and again I requested cancellatiom on July 15,2022 and again on Aug 12, 2022. Paper finally stopped and then I get a collection agency letter for $43,76 as a deliquent account! It appears that the Tribune will not let you end you subscribtion and sends it to collection. Final call made to customer service at ******************** on Sept 20, 2022 at 2:56 PM. Thank you,Business Response
Date: 09/29/2022
September 29, 2022
Sincere apologies for any inconvenience or misunderstanding that you may have experienced as a Chicago Tribune Wednesday thru Friday and Sunday subscriber.
After reviewing your former account and information you provided within your BBB complaint, it seems that you were able to cancel your Chicago Tribune subscription on August 8th during your **************** contact. No other notations on this account with a cancellation request therefore no stop was processed for this subscription. On September 20th **************** adjusted the account in the outstanding amount therefore no further balance is due at this time. Collections has been advised to cease any further contact and your former account is in good standing at this time.
If would you require any further assistance or would like to restart your subscription, please contact the Chicago Tribune **************** Department at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 10/24/2022
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.I am satisfied with the results and credit agency action regarding my account. *********************************; Thanks again for your assistance.
Sincerely,***************************************
Initial Complaint
Date:09/13/2022
Type: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 cancelled an account with the Chicago Tribune because I no longer wanted to receive their newspaper. Now I receive calls from a call center on a frequent basis trying to badger me into resubscribing. When I tell the person on the phone that I do not wish to re-subscribe, they ask why not, and continue to press. This is the same for every call; clearly a script that the company have given to their employees. I have asked to be taken off their call list, but have continued to receive multiple calls from the call center. It is incredibly frustrating that I cannot get this company to just let me be, as requested. I would advise against anyone taking out a subscription for any duration with this company unless you wish to be harrassed forever.Business Response
Date: 09/22/2022
September 22, 2022
Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience you have experienced with the inability to get the new start solicitation calls to stop or any correspondence associated with your former Chicago Tribune home delivery subscription.
I will forward your contact information to be removed from *********** records and place you on our Do not Call listing. Please allow ***** business days to finalize the removal of your information from our system. I will expedite this request due to the information you provided within this complaint. After researching your complaint, it seems no request of cancellation was notated on your former account therefore deliveries continued and ultimately stopped.
Once again, our sincere apologizes for this concern. If you would like any further assistance, please contact our Chicago Tribune *************************** at ************.
Sincerely,
******
Executive Resolution CenterCustomer Answer
Date: 09/23/2022
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,
*******************
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