Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Universal Advertising Associates Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Universal Advertising Associates Inc.

  2822 Mack Rd West Chester, OH 45014-5130

  
• 

  Universal Advertising Associates Inc.

  PO Box 31132 Cincinnati, OH 45231

  

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:06/06/2025

  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.

  We would like to cease contact with this company indefinitely. We have encountered them twice over the last couple of years. I am under the impression that this company looks at businesses in an area, places their logo on a cheap map, then shows up in person to intimidate you and says you owe him money even though no one ever agreed to this advertising. He is always intimidating, hateful, and in a hurry for you to pay him so that he can move on to the next unfortunate business. He is very quick to anger and makes everyone very uncomfortable. He says he has just left your local chamber to appear more legitimate. He drops free maps off to them and leaves the chamber staff just as confused as the unsuspecting businesses he visits and demands money from. He is known to possibly fake car trouble as well as a way to get you to hurrily give him money so that he can move along. THEN, the calls start. We all have some extent of PTSD when "Universal Advertising" shows up on the caller ID. Again, he gets very angry very quickly and is INSISTENT that you owe them money when you never agreed to such advertising. Local sheriff's department has been told about him and we have tried to warn other businesses in our community.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/09/2025

  To Whom it may concern,

  ***** ****** spoke with our sales associate back in February and we attempted to deliver in April (and she received multiple invoices confirming the order at the delivery address). Upon delivery, the 73 year old driver ***** is speaking about phoned me and I made attempts to speak to *****, to no avail. After I tried, other sponsors on the same project phoned  me, to inform me ***** had been calling them which I'm assuming to *****'s surprise, they informed her they're long term customers who enjoy participating on our maps. ***** insisted they not pay yet, that did not happen. After reaching *****, she asked me to play her the recording of her purchasing the ad, of course I did & she informed me not to call next year as she'd be paying this and not continuing our relationship. I said I understand, the maps aren't for everyone and since 4/10/25 I've called the same number we spoke on 9 other times (as she assured me she'd realized her error and would be paying the invoice yet, no payment arrived).
  

   I apologize this opportunity was not what you'd hoped for, ultimately we've decided to forgive this invoice as it's not worth pursuing and we value our customer & community relationships very much. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/09/2025

  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 under the condition that they no longer make contact via phone or in person for payment or future advertising. 
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  **** ******
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/17/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising 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 company called seval times during the week of June 17-21, 2024. I was out of the country on vacation at the time. On the last call June 20, 2024. They asked for the name of the person that answered the phone. They clearly didn't get her name right because it's misspelled on the invoice they mailed out. She didn't authorize an order for anything. She told them I wasn't in town. About a week or after the call an invoice came for $210.00 and I inquired with the company about it. They said an order was placed on June 20, 2024. I expressed to them that no order was placed nor did I want to place an order for maps. I hadn't heard anything else until today September 17, 2024. A guy cam to my house with a torn box holding up an invoice as he rang mu ring camera. I came outside just as he was walking towards his car and asked who was he and what was he leaving? He replied maps I ordered. I told him I never ordered anything and he needed to take whatever it was with him. He asked me for my name which I didn't give him. He then asked if it was my name on the invoice. I said no because the name on the invoice isn't my name. I am the sole owner of ** ** * ** ***** ** ******. It's clear that the caller asking for a name didn't her the person who answered because it's not her name either. I have called today and emailed. No one answered nor responded to the email. I wasn't in the country from June 17-21, 2024. I would never order maps when ****** exist. I feel like this company used a scam tactic to get you to say your name so you will be billed for a product you haven't ordered.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/17/2024

  To whom it may concern, 
  

  I'd spoke to **** ********* a few hours prior to this notification & after we realized the conversation was between her Daughter and not the owner of **** * ** ***** *** *****; I have already emailed her to inform her the invoice in question was cancelled and voided. At the end of our conversation, she said the terms were satisfactory and no further communication took place. We apologize about any inconvenience and thank all parties involved helping get this resolved. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/17/2024

  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:06/20/2024

  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.

  I was contacted by Sarah about advertising with them for a map that would represent portions of ****** County. She told me she had an ad of mine from another publication and could use it and just adjust the size. I received no further communication until the maps were delivered to my business. The ad had been altered with no proof provided. I called and left a voicemail and stated that I was upset and that if I had seen the ad before I gave the delivery person the check I wouldn't have paid. She was not in the office but forwarded my voicemail to an office manager- he had offered to place my correct ad in another publication but due to the lack of communication I don't trust them to publish another ad and I requested a refund. He then stated they couldn't refund because of buyers remorse which isn;t my issue- my issue is that for 11 years I have used the same ads for brand consistency and they changed it without my permission for it to be seen by 4,000-5,000 people.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/20/2024

  To whom it may concern,

  It has been brought to my attention, while trying to reach a resolution with our customer we failed to do so. The customers check has not been cashed and is being mailed back to them immediately. Thank you for everyone's time and I hope this resolution is satisfactory. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/20/2024

  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 will notify all parties when the check is received.

  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ******* ***********
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/05/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising 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.

  Darice H***** calls every single day to try to get us to advertise . They are too expensive and do not stop!
  I don’t care about the money previously spent. I just want her to stop calling .
  It’s becoming harassment !

  Business Response

  Date: 02/06/2024

  To all concerned parties:

      UAAI has received the complaint and the necessary notes have been made in the system. We apologize for any inconvenience that we may have cause in the attempt to renew your advertisement in the 2024 edition of the ********** ** *usiness director map. You should not receive any further calls.

   

   

  Thank you for your time.

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

  President

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/13/2023

  Type:Billing 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 received a bill in the mail from UAAI in September. We had advertised on their maps the year before. They misspelled our last name in the ad and we did not plan to use them again this year. In September **** called and spoke to my father and went over the info to be put on the ad. He did not agree to the ad. I spoke to **** and we talked about it. I told her we were not interested because of the issue last year. She said she would send me another proof and I agreed and said I would get back with her after I saw the proof. We talked about the fact that we no longer had a website and she said she would change that in the proof. I never received a proof, just a phone call from Victor to arrange delivery. I told him we had not agreed to the maps and **** called the next day and talked to my brother. He was here alone and busy so he said just drop them off not realizing what they were. Victor brought them and he paid him without realizing we did not order the maps. I looked at the maps and the ad was the same as the year before, wrong last name spelling and now a website we don't have. I have talked to **** and asked to be refunded and never contacted again. She said **** would reach out to me. He sent me an email with a new proof and I asked him to call me. I have not heard from him and left another message with ***** I tried other extensions and nobody answers the phone.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/14/2023

  To Whom it may concern,
  
  I'm very sorry we've failed to impress with the ad we ran for ***** **** * **** Inc., at the end of the day we operate 90% on return business & an unhappy customer is the last thing we want to happen. There's multiple points to address so, I'll try to just go down the list so to speak; I went back through the records to get a better idea of how this happened & to be fair she did slowly read the ad and the one thing brought up by the owner was the website wasn't correct (which at the time of conversation caused confusion because **** pulled up the website up fine and, I don't believe the owner was aware the website wasn't being renewed. A bit more diligence on our end could've prevented that issue, I'll be the first to admit). We don't automatically run proofs (particularly return business) unless the situations calls for it, that's part of the way we're able to keep our yearly cost down. That was yesterday I'd worked on correcting the information in your ad & you'd replied back so, I'm just now getting through to this. If you call the office and go to an extension that's unused (and admittedly, it needs updated, I see now you've called in and left a message on an extension not used anymore on top of ****** who's in/out for the next two weeks. All that out of the way, customer satisfaction is a guarantee we proudly stand behind and based on the situation, I 100% agree a refund should be issued & by the time you're reading this the check should already be in the mailbox (I'll have it addressed to the shop itself, same as delivery). I do hope with thorough proofing and dealing directly with *** relating to marketing that one day, we can earn the opportunity to feature your business again. Please accept my sincerest apology on printing an ad with incorrect information. Thank you for your time & also thanks to everyone at the BBB for assisting in this matter. 
  

  Sincerely, 
  **** ***********
  Office Manager
  ************** *** ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/28/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ******** *****

  I filed a complaint on 12-13-2023. The business responded and said they were sending a check. I was waiting to receive the check before I responded. I still have not received the check and now I can't respond because it has been closed. I am not at all satisfied with the outcome of the claim. I would like the chance to respond. Is that at all possible? My complaint number is #********.
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/03/2024

  To ******** ***** & Whom it may concern,
  

  I apologize about any extra delay to get your refund, the Holidays basically tied my hands for an extra week. The check is already en route to the ** *** * in *****. though, I assure you (If not there by the time of reading this). Let me provide my direct extension as well as mobile cell phone number just to ensure you don't have to make it through any automated menus/prompts to speak to someone. ###-###-#### (office) & ###-###-#### (work mobile). Don't hesitate to reach out & I sincerely apologize about the inconvenience & delay once again.
  
  Todd S**********
  Office Manager

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/09/2024

  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 would ask one more thing of this business and that is that they do not contact us again.
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ******** *****