Online Publications
World Biographical EncyclopediaThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Complaints
Customer Complaints Summary
- 69 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 8 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:01/11/2023
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus: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.
World Biographical Encyclopedia has listed a very detailed, publicly available listing on prabook.com. I have sent two requests for removal, neither have been answered. World Biographical Encyclopedia listed my information without my consent. I am the victim of identity theft. This has cost me many thousands of dollars. The information listed in World Biographical Encyclopedia includes my date of birth, birthplace, parents names, etc. It is an identity theft waiting to happen, again. The information appears at ********************************************************Business Response
Date: 01/15/2023
The requested information ***************************************************************** been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 01/18/2023
I cannot read your response. I just Googled my own name and the article still appears at ******************************. It shows up with the following:
**********************************************************
below that appears
**** ***************** ***** ********* *** ****** ******* ************When you click the link, it says it's broken. However, my full name and date of birth still is clearly displayed! It is an identity theft paradise.
Please stop these creeps from continuing to cause me problems. I have been out over $100,000 because of identity theft. I was also the victim of a home invasion. I live in fear! Please help me remove this from the web!
Initial Complaint
Date:01/09/2023
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus: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.
This website exposes my personal information in particular my date of birth. I did not give permission and do not like this. I do not appreciate it at all. I would like my information removed.Business Response
Date: 01/15/2023
The requested information ******************************************************************** been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 01/21/2023
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
******************
Initial Complaint
Date:12/05/2022
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus: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.
This company has posted all of my personal information to be available via a simple web search. I did not authorize it, and by doing this, the company is making me a target for identity theft. I want all of my personal information taken down as soon as possible.Business Response
Date: 12/29/2022
The requested information *************************************************** has been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 12/29/2022
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
*************************************
Initial Complaint
Date:11/21/2022
Type:Product IssuesStatus: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.
Prabook, a registered trademark of World Biographical Encyclopedia, ***** recently has published my date of birth, city of birth, and parents' full names on its webpage, *******************************************************. This will come up if someone should enter my full name in a search engine. The publication of this information invades my privacy and could jeopardize my credit and much more. I wrote to the company at the email address provided in its contact information, ******************** and received no response. This private information must be removed.Business Response
Date: 02/15/2023
The requested information **************************************************************** been removed.Initial Complaint
Date:11/04/2022
Type:Product IssuesStatus: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 recently discovered the Prabook has published my personal information on their website. I did not request nor authorize this. I tried to contact ******* directly, but it seems as if they want to shake me down for money in order to have the information removed. I simply want the information removed immediately. It puts me in danger of identity theft.Thank you.Business Response
Date: 11/14/2022
The requested information **************************************************** has been removed.Initial Complaint
Date:11/02/2022
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus: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 just discovered that ******* has compiled personal information (much of it wrong) about me and entered it in their online directory. They do not have permission to do this. I want the entry deleted NOW.Business Response
Date: 11/14/2022
The requested information ************************************************************** has been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 11/14/2022
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
*******************************
Initial Complaint
Date:10/28/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus: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.
*********** has posted my name, address, phone number , and other personal information on their website WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. This is a violation of my privacy. I want it removed.Business Response
Date: 11/14/2022
The requested information ************************************************* *** **** ********Customer Answer
Date: 11/15/2022
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
*********************
Initial Complaint
Date:09/28/2022
Type:Product IssuesStatus: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.
Company *********** is publishing personal data on their website without permission. Have sent three emails requesting the removal of my information or as they state - Right to be ForgottenBusiness Response
Date: 10/02/2022
The requested information ************************************************* has been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 12/08/2022
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:This is a follow-up to the above incident.... attached is a web search done on 12.07.2022 which clearly shows that prabook is still presenting my information.
Please advise
Thank you
*******************************
In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
*******************************
Business Response
Date: 12/29/2022
The requested information has been removed.
Prabook team has also requested Search providers to delete outdated content from cashed URLs in Search results.Initial Complaint
Date:09/26/2022
Type:Delivery IssuesStatus: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.
Prabook aka World Biographical Encyclopedia, **** posted my personally identifiable information, as well as that of my husband, in its Prabook directory without my or his consent. We ask that the profiles be deleted immediately. ******* posted my name, date of birth and place of birth, making it all available to the world via a simple web search. Entries at issue***************************************************** ********************************************** The above profiles should be immediately be removed and Prabook should instruct ****** and other search engines to remove such listing. I have attempted to contact directly but have received no response. Reference: ************************************************************************************************************Business Response
Date: 10/02/2022
The requested information ***************************************************** ********************************************** has been removed.Customer Answer
Date: 10/07/2022
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 and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
*************************
Initial Complaint
Date:09/09/2022
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus: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.
*********** is publishing my personal information, including my birth date. Their instructions say to set up an account to edit a profile. I was able to set up an account but cannot log into it.If you enter the login information, the site does not respond.If you click "forgot password", you get directed into a loop where they email you a link and after you click that link, advise you to check your email again. This loop never ends.I have been unsuccessful therefore at contacting them or removing my personal information, which they should not be publishing in any case. Thank you.Business Response
Date: 09/15/2022
The requested information ************************************************************************* has been removed.
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