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Business Profile

Newspaper

Advocate

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

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

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Advocate has 3 locations, listed below.

*This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

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    • Advocate

      203 W 3rd St Lafayette, LA 70501-7017

    • Advocate

      P.O. Box 3767 Lafayette, LA 70502

    • Advocate

      PO Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588

    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 9 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 4 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.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/13/2025

      Type:Customer Service 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.
      Have been trying to contact The advocate since November 2024 to obtain information on our billing ----1. can not get contact-can not leave a message--cannot get cancel due to getting the run around

      Business Response

      Date: 01/15/2025

      After review, multiple accounts were found. After speaking with Sha'Brian *********, we cancelled the duplicate account and transferred funds to the main account. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/12/2024

      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.
      The Advocate charged $119.88 on my credit card on 11/30/24. I had signed up for a trial period for only a dollar or two with them over a year ago. Their service was not user friendly, so I did not wish to continue . The Advocate billed my Discover Card a renewal amount of 119.88 without notification even though I now have a new credit card number. I’m asking for a full reimbursement. Discover says I must wait 15 days to file a complaint. I am a senior citizen and this is a scam. I tried to reach them by phone with no luck.

      Business Response

      Date: 12/27/2024

      Valencia **** emailed the following with no response on 12/12. 

      Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Upon reviewing the account, it is a digital only subscription that was started online in December 2023 for the promotion of $12 for 12 months then auto renews to $119.88 every 52 weeks.
      If interested in continuing, I'm happy to lower the renewal rate to be $83.88 every 52 weeks.
      As requested, your subscription will be cancelled. Digital subscriptions are non-refundable so funds left on the account will give you access until December 6, 2025. To prevent future charges, we will remove your automatic billing. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/19/2024

      Type:Customer Service 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.
      Subject: Improper Billing and Unresponsive Customer Service

      Complaint Summary:
      I am an American citizen who lives and works in ********, Serbia.

      I am filing this complaint due to improper billing practices and unresponsive customer service from The Baton Rouge Advocate regarding my digital subscription.

      Details:

      I subscribed to The Baton Rouge Advocate's digital service, paid for a year, and later decided to cancel.
      The Advocate does not provide an online cancellation option.
      I called their customer service line multiple times on 14 November and selected the "Cancel Subscription" option. Each time, I received a recorded message stating no one was available and was instructed to send an email.
      I sent two emails to the addresses provided on 14 November , including my account number, full name, address, and a clear statement requesting cancellation. I also explicitly asked them not to charge my bank account in Baton Rouge further.
      Receiving no response, I called the "New Subscriptions" line, and an employee with ID number ***** assured me that my subscription would be canceled within 24-48 hours.
      Following this conversation, I received two confirmation emails on 15 November stating that my subscription was canceled.
      Despite this, my bank account was charged again on 17 November.
      Efforts to resolve the issue since then have been ignored. I have tried contacting The Advocate through phone and email, but I have not received any responses or assistance.

      Desired Resolution:
      I request:

      A full refund of the unauthorized charge.
      Written confirmation that my account is permanently canceled.
      Assurance that no further charges will be made to my bank account.
      I believe The Baton Rouge Advocate has engaged in unethical billing practices and failed to provide adequate customer service, leaving me no choice but to escalate the matter.

      Thank you for addressing this issue.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/25/2024

      The refund is being processed and should be received in the next 7-14 business days. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/24/2024

      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.
      We are long time subscription holders with The Advocate. Over the past several years the cost increases have gone from 6.9% in 2022, 6.4% in 2023, 10.5% in March 2024 (March 1 to Sept 30, 2024). My July statement from America Express showed a payment to The Advocate for $235.86. This payment was only 4 months after the previous 6-month payment on March 1 and is a 19.2% increase in subscription rate. The frequency and amount of cost increases is untenable.

      I have attempted numerous times to call all numbers associated with The Advocate to discuss this matter. All attempts route one through a menu and ultimately end in a disconnected call. I have emailed the Advocate and received a follow up reply (Ticket #18346). However, each time I respond I am told they are only notifying me of a rate increase. I have been billed, charged and the monies collected by American Express.

      I need the following 3 actions completed by The Advocate:
      1. A full refund of the final payment of $235.86 withdrawn from my American Express account on July 17, 2024.
      2, Cancel my subscription to The Advocate effective July 31, 2024.
      3. A prorated refund of $32.98 for the remaining month of August on current subscription.

      I am requesting the help of the BBB to achieve these outcomes for which I can not do with The Advocate due to their lack of contact and communication.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/01/2024

      ******** **** called and left a Voicemail. The account was cancelled and the refund is processing. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/11/2024

      Type:Delivery Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      during the last two weeks or so i have not received my daily paper. i have talked to the paper by phone and by email but have not gotten an answer to my problem. i am 86 years old and cannot drive and i enjoy drinking coffee while reading my paper, this keeps me alert and aware of news in our world.please help me resolve this problem.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/26/2024

      We spoke to subscriber on 3/11/2024 explaining that the carrier was in an accident and passed away. The delivery issue should be addressed. Please reach out to [email protected] if you need further assistance. Thank you!

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/11/2024

      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.
      $295 was deducted from my credit card in December for a NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION. I finally cancelled my subscription after several attempts (the advocate makes it very hard to contact them. they don't answre the phone). I was due a refund of $108.14 and was rold it was forthcoming. I have n'treceived a refund to date

      Business Response

      Date: 01/17/2024

      Hello -I believe you spoke to ***** on 12/17. I see notes that you decided to keep your subscription, but were given refund of $108.14. I see you also spoke to ***** again on 1/4 in regards to refund, she mentioned that it was in the mail. If you have not received your refund yet, can you please contact us at ********************? Thank you. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/13/2023

      Type:Customer Service 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 received The Advocate in Baton Rouge for 40 years. I would merely like to change from home delivery to electronic delivery. For the past seven days I have called, emailed, chatted, to no avail. When someone answers the phone, they say they will transfer me and I am immediately disconnected.

      This is not rocket science, I merely need to have an adjustment made to the delivery and to billing. No one at the Advocate (when I can get someone to answer the phone) is even remotely interested in assisting me.

      This has become completely ludicrous and ridiculous.
      I hope you can intervene on my behalf and get someone to contact me to adjust the delivery and the billing.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/28/2023

      We apologize for any inconveniences. Our records show that you spoke with our representative Valencia via email on 11/14/2023. I see that she converted your account to digital only. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do. You may always reach out to [email protected] for assistance. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/24/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I had a subscription with the Morning Advocate for many years , it began with us not getting the
      paper I called and reported it, and I still didn't get it again after calling again I was told there wasn't
      a carrier for my rural route, and the paper would be put in my P. O. Box that did not happen I called
      and requested that they do not charge my Visa credit card, but it was charged anyway in the amount of 187.70 on August 13 2023 and they refuse to give me a refund.

      Thank You, Charles and Jeanne ******.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/07/2023

      Account was stopped on 8/17/23 and a check was issued on 8/24/23. Please let us know if we can assist further by reaching out to [email protected]. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 11/07/2023

       

      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 20775757, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

      Sincerely,

      Jeanne ******

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/02/2023

      Type:Delivery 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.
      this complaint is about delivery or lack of it. i have made several calls to resolve the complaints to no avail. i have been a coustomer of the paper for many years and have had great service,but not with the latest person who i have never seen. i have a paper box under my mail box that is never used.my paper is tossed in my yard or my driveway or my ditch. i am a 86 year old male with mobility problems and have trouble stooping.when the paper in on time my neighbor is nice enough to bring it to my doorstep during his walk. ive had many times not had a paper or afternoon delivery. as an example,i went to get my mail at 11.30 am and as yet to get a paper!! ive even asked the paper that if they want me to cancel due to the fact that they cannot control their carrier to let me know. at my age i have few things i can enjoy in life and reading my paper in the morn while drinking my coffee is one of them i after one of my complaints i did get two papers put in my paper box. one was a week old and the other a **** ****** *******, makes me wonder who is running the paper. thanks for hearing my complaints and hope to resolve this issue.

      Business Response

      Date: 10/24/2023

      Spoke to subscriber and spoke to carrier - the carrier will put the paper in the box. Subscriber also has manager's number to call directly in future if needed. 

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