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Business Profile

Book, Compact Disc, and DVD Club

Harlequin Sales Corporation

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Book, Compact Disc, and DVD Club.

Complaints

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

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 29 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:11/27/2023

      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 sent in the mail of the 2 free books after having purchased a book at walmart and nowhere on the pamphlet did it say I would be charged nor of the making of an account with the information I had given. After finding out about the first shipment of books I contacted customer support to cancel the subscription and was confirmed that was done. The following month I yet again received another shipment continuing to pester me to pay in either a check or online, in which I don’t have access to. The account # im assuming is *********. A total or 136.26 is being asked of me even after only owing 45.42 after the first shipment.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/28/2023

      Thank you for your recent correspondence.  We appreciate your concern regarding the
      products sent to ***** ******* and want to help settle any questions or
      problems. Our membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible. We have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have
      been made.  We cancelled the above listed
      account and removed ***** *******’s name and mailing address from our mailing
      list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to
      take effect.  Additionally, we have
      removed all charges from the account. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.   If I can be of further assistance, please do
      not hesitate to contact me at ###-###-####. Sincerely, Susan K********* Manager, Customer Service

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/26/2023

      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.
      Grandmother started book delivery. Herself and my mother have tried to cancel numerous times via phone call and mail. Her account is *********. Stop sending books.

      This seems to be a scam targeting elderly. She wasn’t no more books, no more payments will be made.

      There was literally no option to cancel on the phone even though we have an account number. And on the “invoice slip” there is no option to cancel. She had been writing in please cancel.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/28/2023

      Thank you for your recent correspondence.  We appreciate your concern regarding the
      products sent to ****** ***** and want to help settle any questions or
      problems. Our membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible. We have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have
      been made.  We cancelled the above listed
      account and removed ****** *****’s name and mailing address from our mailing
      list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to
      take effect.  Additionally, we have
      removed all charges from the account. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.   If I can be of further assistance, please do
      not hesitate to contact me at ###-###-####. Sincerely, Susan K********* Manager, Customer Service

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/17/2023

      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 am an international academician who entered the US on August 7, 2023. I received a notice of a severely overdue account of $173.86 and booked delivery for May–June 2023. This is a scam, and they are threatening me for the overdue I never received a book or a pamplet from the Harlequin, but there are multiple reminders of overdue payments since I came to the US. I am not going to pay anything for anyone trying to scam me.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/20/2023

      November
      20, 2023


      Better
      Business Bureau

      File
      No: ********
      Account
      No.:    *********        

      Dear *** ***:

      Thank
      you for your recent correspondence.  We
      appreciate your concern regarding the products sent to ******* ************ and
      want to help settle any questions or problems.

      Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible.

      We
      have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have been made.  We cancelled the above listed account and removed
      ******* ************** name and mailing address from our mailing list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect.  Additionally, we have removed all charges
      from the account.

      We
      sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.  
      If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
      at 1*************.

      Sincerely,


      Sue
      K*********
      Manager,
      Customer Service

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:11/15/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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.
      Several months ago, my husband and I received some books (low quality, subjects neither of us is interested in), which we had NOT ordered. We later received more of these books. I called the company, Harlequin, who said we got our "subscription" by filling out some survey, which is not something we would do. After numerous calls, I got MY subscription canceled and the account zeroed out. They canceled my husband's subscription but would not zero out his account. I told them I would send the books back, but that I didn't want to pay for the shipping -- and they don't want to either. We just received this bill -- I don't want this to affect our credit, but I also don't want to pay for something we did NOT order.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/20/2023

      Thank
      you for your recent correspondence.  We
      appreciate your concern regarding the products sent to ***** **** and want to
      help settle any questions or problems. Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible. We
      have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have been made.  We cancelled the above listed account and removed
      ***** ****** name and mailing address from our mailing list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect.  Additionally, we have removed all charges
      from the account. We
      sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.  
      If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
      at *************** Sincerely, Sue
      K********* Manager,
      Customer Service

      Customer Answer

      Date: 11/21/2023

      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:09/05/2023

      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 bought a subscription to Harlequin Plus for a year and was suppose to get 6 books a month to read forever. I have been very busy and didn't get to read my books so most of them are sitting on my bookshelf unread. I tried about a month or so ago to start reading them again and every book I tried to read says "unavailable this book is currently unavailable please try again later." I called the 800 number and they said they would get someone working on the problem. I waited about a week or so the problem was not fixed so I emailed them and got an answer a week later that they was working on the problem still now the problem is not fixed. I cancelled my subscription a few days ago till they fix problem because my year was about up and I didn't want to pay for another year with this problem. I saw today that they are doing away with this service. I want them to either send me the books , in printed form, I have on my bookshelf or to give me a refund. Thank you.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/06/2023

       

      September
      6, 2023


      Better
      Business Bureau

      File
      No: ********


      Dear
      *** ***:

      Thank
      you for your recent correspondence.  We
      appreciate your concern regarding ***** ******** Harlequin Plus subscription and
      want to help settle any questions or problems.

      We
      have reached out to the customer apologizing for the inability to read her ebooks
      on the Harlequin Plus app. We have been working diligently to resolve the
      issue and will continue to work towards a resolution. As it stands now, ***** can
      read her ebooks on any browser by going to HarlequinPlus.com and logging into her
      account on a PC, Mac, tablet or phone, as it is just the Harlequin Plus app
      that is experiencing the technical issue.

      We
      understand that this has been a frustrating experience and we don’t want to
      disappoint our readers. In addition, as communicated in the email sent to ***** ****** on August 30th, her purchased ebooks will be transferred to a
      Harlequin.com account upon the closure of Harlequin Plus. We can expedite that
      for her now and transfer all of ******* ebooks so that she is able to read them
      without delay on Harlequin.com and through our Glose app.  Since ***** already has a Harlequin.com
      account, we can transfer her ebooks now and are just waiting to hear back from
      the customer.

      We
      sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.  
      If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
      at 1-***-*********

      Sincerely,


      *** **********
      Supervisor,
      Customer Service

      Customer Answer

      Date: 09/16/2023

      When I purchased this subscription, I was told the books would be there forever plus there were other books on the site I could read for at least the last two months maybe longer I have not been able to get onto the books at all and I don't know if ill be able to get them. So that's the reason I am asking for a refund or the printed version of the books. thank you.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/19/2023

       

      September 19, 2023


      Better Business Bureau

      File No: ********


      Dear *** ***:

      Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding ***** ******** response
      to our offer to correct the problem with her Harlequin Plus account.

      As per the customer’s request, we have cancelled and refunded her
      yearly subscription with Harlequin Plus for the full amount of $164.61. 
      Please allow 3-5 business days for processing.

      Please note that the ebook selections she has redeemed will no
      longer be accessible via Harlequin Plus and will not be migrated to
      Harlequin.com.

      If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.

      Sincerely,


      *** **********
      Supervisor, Customer Service

      Customer Answer

      Date: 09/21/2023

      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:08/29/2023

      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.
      Like many of the other complaints I filled out a sheet for 2 free books. After that I received 2 additional packages of books I never requested. I did not see any mention of needing to call to stop a service. I assumed they were additional gifts or my initial sheet request for free books was processed again. After receiving the additional packages I received a bill. Thinking it was a mistake because I assumed the books were a gift I ignored the bill. I have now received multiple additional letters threatening to send my bill to an outside collection agency. I think it is incredibly deceiving they claimed to send me free books then continued to send additional ones I never requested and then proceeded to send me a bill for them. They weren’t books I was interested in nor picked out. I donated the books after receiving them because I had no interest in them.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/30/2023

        Thank
      you for your recent correspondence.  We
      appreciate your concern regarding the products sent to **** **** and want to
      help settle any questions or problems. Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible. We
      have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have been made.  We cancelled the above listed account and removed
      **** ****’s name and mailing address from our mailing list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect.  Additionally, we have removed all charges
      from the account. We
      sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.  
      If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
      at *************** Sincerely, Susan
      K********* Supervisor,
      Customer Service 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/31/2023

      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:06/27/2023

      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 was charged for the starter kit and I don't want it and I never did want it and I want my humble like my $35 back because I can't afford this I need my money back please onto my credit card

      Business Response

      Date: 07/13/2023

             Thank
      you for your recent correspondence. We appreciate your concern regarding the
      products sent to ******* ***** and want to help settle any questions or
      problems. Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books. Upon receipt of a request,
      a free introductory shipment of books will be mailed. The offer also advises,
      if we do not receive the shipping statement that accompanies the free books
      marked cancelled or otherwise hear from the customer, the next shipment will be
      sent out within 30 days. Customers are informed they can cancel at any time. Occasionally,
      we experience problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly
      as possible. We
      have reviewed our records and we have refunded ******* ******* credit card in
      the amount of $35.26 on 7/10/23.  Please
      allow 2-4 business days for processing. We cancelled the above listed account
      and removed ******* ******* name and mailing address from our mailing list. Please
      allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect. We
      apologize for any inconvenience. Please contact us at ************** if further
      assistance is needed. Sincerely, Susan
      K********* Supervisor,
      Customer Service 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/23/2023

      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.
      Hello, I did not agree to a subscription plan. I did not receive any books from this company and would request being removed from your mailing list.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/13/2023

      Thank
      you for your recent correspondence.  We
      appreciate your concern regarding the products sent to ********* ****** and
      want to help settle any questions or problems. Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books.  Upon receipt of a request, a free
      introductory shipment of books will be mailed. 
      The offer also advises, if we do not receive the shipping statement that
      accompanies the free books marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer,
      the next shipment will be sent out within 30 days.  Customers are informed they can cancel at any
      time.  Occasionally, we experience
      problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly as possible. We
      have reviewed our records and the necessary adjustments have been made.  We cancelled the above listed account and removed
      ********* Warner’s name and mailing address from our mailing list.  Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect.  Additionally, all returned shipments have
      been credited and we have removed all outstanding charges from the account.  We
      sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.  
      Please contact us at ************** if further assistance is needed. Sincerely, Susan
      K********* Supervisor,
      Customer Service

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:05/22/2023

      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 found an advertisement for two free novels from the above business if I simply fill out my name and address. This post card (inside of my book) did not request credit card information, nor ask for my permission or acknowledgment to be a part of a paid subscription. There was zero mention of anything other than the two free books if I mailed the postcard. After doing so, I received the two free books in the mail. However, I’ve now (to my shock) received a box of four more books including a bill for these books! I never requested, agreed, or ordered these books and absolutely never agreed to be a part of a monthly program that would be billing me. This is not ok and feels very scam like to me. I do not want these books or these bills! And I'll be sure to not use the flyers in the books anymore...

      Business Response

      Date: 05/24/2023

      Hello,

      We did receive a response to our offer to try 2 free books;  that offer says of you do not cancel within 30 days you will continue to receive books monthly.   We never received a cancellation after the initial offer was accepted. 

      Account numbe* ********* is now cancelled and we have removed the charges of $69.97.   

      We have opted this name/address out of all future offers.  

      Customer Answer

      Date: 05/24/2023

      Better Business Bureau:

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

      Regards,

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








    • Initial Complaint

      Date:05/04/2023

      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 have never signed up for this service, nor have I ever received anything from this company. However, on May 3, 2023, I noticed that there was a charge in my bank Account for $35.59. Since I had no idea what this charge was, I called the 800 number associated with it, spoke with Sandra, who told me that I had ordered a starter subscription, and that I was being charged for my new box of books. She told me the only way to get a refund was to send the box back unopened. I told her that I never received any introductory shipment so what made her think that I was going to receive this one, and she said that she was absolutely sure that I would be receiving it. This is unacceptable and I want a refund immediately because this is a service that I never signed up for.

      Business Response

      Date: 05/10/2023

      Thank
      you for your recent correspondence. We appreciate your concern regarding the
      products sent and want to help settle any questions or problems.Our
      membership offers invite customers to try our books. Upon receipt of a request,
      a free introductory shipment of books will be mailed. The offer also advises,
      if we do not receive the shipping statement that accompanies the free books
      marked canceled or otherwise hear from the customer, the next shipment will be
      sent out within 30 days. Customers are informed they can cancel at any time. Occasionally,
      we experience problems, and we do our utmost to have them corrected as quickly
      as possible. We
      have reviewed our records and we have refunded ***** ***** ***** **** credit
      card for two charges:  One in the amount
      of $1.08 and the other for $35.59. She will receive the refunds within 2-4
      business days. We cancelled the above listed account and removed her name and
      mailing address from our mailing list. Please allow 3-5 weeks for this to take effect. We
      apologize for any inconvenience. If I can be of further assistance, please do
      not hesitate to contact me at ###-###-####.Sincerely,Susan
      K**********Supervisor,
      Customer Service

      Customer Answer

      Date: 05/11/2023

      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,



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








    Harlequin Sales Corporation is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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