Complaints

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:01/10/2024

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 paid this company $599.00 on February 2, 2023, with the assurance that an advertisement for my business would be created and distributed to three local restaurants within my community within 2-3 months. It's been nearly a year. I've had conversations with two representatives, *** and ***, who have promised that the ads were printed and distributed (even that a copy was sent to me at my home, which it was not). I visited the establishments and they've never heard of this company. I also emailed the individuals who are listed as owners/managers of the restaurants and no one heard of this company. After reading reviews on ******* it is clear this business is fraudulently collecting payments from small, local businesses while claiming to partner with other local establishments when they are not. They are making this common practice and DEFRAUDING small, family owned businesses like mine. I will be filing a complaint with the *********************** in both ****** and Washington as well. I want a refund but more importantly I want this business to be stopped from stealing from other hard working businesses in our community.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/13/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 signed a contract with this company to deliver an Advertisement for me through an agreement with a restaurant in my area. They have stated they would do it within 120 days. Its been 150 days and they have not delivered and started ignoring my countless emails and calls.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/12/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 signed up for advertising where they were going to design an ad and put it in a folder for a real estate company. They never created the folders or put out my ad.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/01/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 approached via phone by a man named *********************** who offered my business an ad space in the Helena ********************** Times. It has been almost 10months and now theyve stopped returning my calls/messages and wont even answer my emails. *** told them I think theyre a scam and want a refund. Im really upset and just want my money back so I can invest in advertisement thats actually legit. Please call me if theres anything else I can do to help.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/23/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  There are many things wrong with this company. First I paid $1000.00 for a first-page ad this was five months ago. At this time the person I was talking to made it seem that the money I gave them or what I was paying for would supply me with magazines that I would hand out to my guests they also made it seem that said magazines would be handed out at other local restaurants. That being said I have not seen anything yet. I have called this company multiple times. The only time they got back to me was after I called the president of the company *********************** ************** who seemed confused about my complaints. After talking with him I received a phone call minutes later about my account the person said they have six months to get the magazines out of the restaurants. Now up until this time I was under the impression that we would also be getting them to hand out to our guests until he told me that we only be receiving one hard copy and yet I still do not even have that. fast forward to now five going on six months later still nothing. Now at this point in time I have come to the conclusion that I have been scammed. Now with that being said. I recommend you do your advertising through a different company and here are some of the other reasons why besides what I have gone over.* They called my competitors and used me to get more sales telling them I placed an ad and that they should too, using my company name to generate more sales for their shelves. * The verbiage in the script they use is misleading especially when they hype you up to distract you from the wording, It also does not help that they read the script fast while you are distracted with the supposedly good deal they are giving you.* The way they have you sign the contract is sketchy. They have you do it through your email and the contract itself is a plain **** * They tried to use the exact same verbiage from my website instead of working with me to come up with new material.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/28/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  In October 2022, I was contacted by a salesperson at the Takeout Times and sold a paid advertisement in a publication that was supposed to be printed and distributed no later than January 2023 to three different local restaurants. I was contacted a couple of weeks later and sold an "upgraded" ad space, and paid an additional sum of money for this purpose. I called and emailed several times and the publication was delayed until MAY of 2023. I received two of the three publications in my own mailing, but not the third one. Over the next couple of months, a colleague and I ordered takeout from each of these restaurants, and visited two of them on different occasions. Each time, there was NO advertisement included with my order as was supposed to be the case (the ad exposure that I actually paid for). After speaking with management and staff at each of these restaurants, I learned that they either had never heard of the publication, or they had the ads but were never instructed or encouraged or told to distribute the as I was promised they would be distributed. So basically, I paid for a print ad that took months longer than planned to actually publish, and are not being distributed at the volume and to the intended audience that was promised by the company. I have contacted *************** (customer service manager) NUMEROUS **********************, always promised a call back, and never actually getting one. The one time he actually answered the phone, he told me that he would get me a refund, and that he would call me back to confirm the following monday. That day came and left, I never received a call. Since then I have left four additional voicemails and sent an email. This company is in breach of contract. I want my money back at this point. They are a total scam.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/20/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore 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 am writing to you today because I have been dealing with The Takeout Times in ****** since September of 2022. I purchased an ad that was to be printed on the back of a menu used on tabletops at The **************************** a local diner in my hometown. The Takeout times has been very difficult to communicate with via phone and email. Now the menus have been delivered to the restaurant, but there are no prices in the menus so the restaurant is equally frustrated and isnt going to use them on tabletops. I believe the Takeout Times has duped me and the restaurant. I have been trying to contact the Takeout Times via email and phone but they will not respond to me. We had a call set up for today that they didn't answer on. I have emails and documentation to show how they are ignoring me. Can you please help me with this issue?? All I want is my money back for the ad that isnt being used like my contract said it would.Sent from *************************** **************************

  Business Response

  Date: 05/05/2023

  To whom it may concern,
  
  This is false and is a poor representation of what actually happened. We contacted ****** about a possible advertising opportunity with **********************************. ********************************** has been a client of ours for several years now. We have provided their takeout menus for a little over three years. We started offering a new program where we would provide the restaurant with custom designed table top menus. We worked back and forth with the restaurant to get everything approved. On 2/3/23 we reached out via email to the restaurant as we showed they had received the menus on 1/27/23 and we wanted to verify they were using them. I have downloaded the emails and attached them. Here is that conversation: 
  
  On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 1:33 PM ***************** <********************************> wrote:
  
  Hello,
  
  I wanted to reach out to make sure you received your In-House menus that were shipped on 1/24/2023. Our tracking says that they were delivered on 1/27/2023 I just wanted to verify that with you and make sure that everything looked ok. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. 
  
  Thank you,
  
  *******************
  The Takeout Times
  Customer Service Engineer
  O: ************** x **** 
  D: (971) ***-****
  
  On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 9:59 PM Friendship House <*****************@gmail.com> wrote:
  
  Yes, we received it and everything looks good.
  Thank you very much.
  
  On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 1:33 PM ***************** <********************************> wrote:
  
  Hello,
  
  Thank you for responding, please remember if you need changes throughout the year to please let us know. 
  
  Thank you,
  
  *******************
  The Takeout Times
  Customer Service Engineer
  O: ************** x **** 
  D: (971) ***-****
  
  
  We are currently working with the restaurant because they had some changes they needed done. When I spoke to our contact I asked him about a client stopping by and he immediately knew exactly who I was referring to. Before I was able to explain which product they had purchased he began explaining they interaction. I apologized because no matter what at the end of the day this is supposed to be a stress free and easy process for all involved. He didn't say she was out of line but again this isn't supposed to be stressful and we fully understand that could be. He explained that she had stopped buy when they had first received them and that they hadn't even had a chance to put them in place. He said they had made a mistake when first receiving them and had thought we had just made some extremely fancy takeout menus. He apologized and explained they are using them as their menus now. 
  ****** threatened to do exactly this and leave reviews everywhere she could. It was clear that she was going to resort to blackmail t
  
  If we refund the client for materials that have been produced and are in use, then our company is forced to eat the cost of building the ad, producing the product, shipping the product, as well as the man hours that were dedicated to making this all happen. It feels as though they are trying to take advantage of a small business as they waited to seek a chargeback until the product was delivered.
  If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We committed to addressing any questions you may have.
  
  Thank you,
  *********************
  The Takeout Times
  Production Manager
  ************** x **** | **************
  ***************************************
  
  
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/10/2023

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the response from The Takeout Times regarding complaint number ********. Despite our signed contract and email communication, The Takeout Times has not followed through on their commitment to display our full-color advertisement on the back cover of every tabletop menu at ********************************** in ***********, **.
  
  To support my claim, I have provided email communication where The Takeout Times clearly agreed to display our ad. Please click on the following link to access the full file of our communications:  *******************************************************************************;  Furthermore, the following is a video link demonstrating that our advertisement is still not being used on the tabletop menus ******************************************* as of May 5, 2023.  We were told that they cant use them because they dont have prices on them by DT the manager of Friendship House. 
  
  I take issue with The Takeout Times portraying themselves as a small business being threatened when we are also a small business required to pay for our own marketing. We cannot afford to lose $1600 for advertising that is not in circulation. I have attached evidence of the credit card statement showing where we paid $1596 on September 8, 2022, eight months ago.
  
  Despite agreeing to two separate appointments for phone and ****** Meet to resolve this issue, the Takeout Times did not show up to any of the meetings and calls that they set - please see attached where they invited me to ****** Meet. This behavior, raises red flags about their willingness to resolve this issue.  For whatever reason, the Friendship House is not using and does not intend to use the menus that the Takeout Times produced.  We were charged by the Takeout Times for advertising on the back of the menus that are used at the restaurant for one full year from when they start using the menus.  We are not getting what we paid for.   
  
  The Takeout Times is making misleading statements. Notice their responses only have to do with their interaction with the restaurant and do not directly address their lack of communication and stonewalling of our claims.  The fact is that the restaurant is not using the menus that we paid for advertising on.  This is a problem between Friendship House and the Takeout Times.  We have a separate contract with Takeout Times and they have not fulfilled their obligation to us.  I hope the BBB recognizes the errors on The Takeout Times' side of the story and can assist us in obtaining a refund for the advertising they failed to deliver.
  
  Thank you for your attention to this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/19/2023

  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.

  I was cold called by this company, claiming they could advertise my business to hundreds of people each month, locally. I agreed and paid $399 on 2/9/22. They told me it would be a year long contract. I never received one call or lead from their advertising service. I called about this issue 2 times and always got the same response "we'll have someone call you back about this." They blamed my ad design as the reason i didn't get any leads, yet their own team helped me design it! They never put in any effort or care to assist me and I honestly feel like I have been scammed. I spent almost $400 for unhelpful customer support and got absolutely no leads! I think this company honestly does not care about helping anyone. Only taking people's money from struggling small businesses.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/20/2023

  While we apologize that the client didn't get any leads from this, it is an advertisement. There is no guarantee that you will get a client from it. It is an opportunity to present your business to the people you want to purchase your services. We did offer to change the ad up. We did not put it off on her. We stated that if the ad isn't working we can try something different. As outlined in the attached contract, we do not offer cancelation. Especially not on printed materials. It is unfair to our company to have to refund this when we have done everything we were supposed to. Again advertising is not a guarantee and to say that we prayed on her company because she didn't get a client out of this is not accurate. We work with thousands of businesses nationwide. This advertising doesn't work for everyone but we are always willing to try and help them build their brand. We can not refund this purchase. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/25/2023

   
  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.
  
  *************************************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/29/2023

  Type:Service or Repair 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.

  I was contacted by The Takeout times in October of 2022 to advertise in their booklet that would be at 4 local restaurants in my city as they would be giving out the booklets with every takeout order from those restaurants . I never received the booklet Like *** the manager promised . I paid $500 dollars for This so called advertisement . Once January came I called them and asked then what was goin on *** said one of the restaurants changed their name so they are just waiting for the new logo and they will print the booklets . February came and nothing still I called again and *** said they sent them out I said I never got one he said he send it again it's now March and still nothing . So I went and talked to one of the owners that I know from the restaurant they said these booklets would be at. He had no clue what o was taking about said he has no booklets to place in the to go orders . So I then contacted another restaurant they said they be at and they said the same thing nope we have never even heard of this company and have no booklets to be placed in the **** orders . I then Called *** again am he straight up told me he talked to the one owner in March 16th and sent him more booklets . I said no you didn't as I just talked to hi on March 28th and he has no idea about these so called booklets with advertisement . I asked *** for my money back he said no. I said yeah cause this is a scam. I have since restored them to The Attorney general and will be filing a police report as well. I tried to file fraud with the credit card but it was past 60 days . This company is a total fraud and scam . People need to know what they are doing and I contacted all the restaurants to let them know they are using there company's to try and get business for this false advertisement !

  Business Response

  Date: 04/17/2023

  Hello and thank you for your time. I have attached our contract with the client as well as the electronic agreement and delivery notices. I attached 2 examples and if needed can provide the other 2 electronic copies of the items. The clients contract states, The duration of the sponsorship begins when the menus are delivered to the host, which TOT estimates to be approximately 120 days from the date of approved ad. Our contract also states *THIS CONTRACT SHALL NOT BE CHANGED, MODIFIED OR CANCELED. All sales are final. With that being said, we printed and delivered these on 1/20/23. As she didn't approve the ad until 11/15/23, we were well within the timeline we asked for which gave us until 3/15/23. ***** called last month demanding that we refund her. I explained we can not refund on printed material. She was very hostile but as we have done everything we are supposed to and are continuing to print and deliver for the restaurants, we will not be able to refund her. Please let me know if you need anything else. Please let me know if you need anything else.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/06/2023

  Type:Delivery 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.

  On 9/14/22 I signed up for advertising services with ******** at Takeout Times for $499. She assured me that the advertising would be completed within 90 days. A week later I received multiple phone calls from her coworker harassing me to buy more advertising slots. Although initially told this man I did not need this he continued to harass me until I agreed. During the following months I received mock-*** for approval. However on two separate occasions I received another companies information for approval. This is very concerning as now Im wondering who they may have sent my information to. The organization with this company is profound and now 5 months later I have yet to receive the services Ive paid for. I have sent several emails to them asking for a refund. The first on 1/18/23. Almost two weeks later I did get a response but still not from ******** my account manager. At this point they are declining my refund and have yet to even produce an ETA as to when my services will be rendered. I am also not the only client having the exact same issues. I have an associate ************************* from ****************** asking for the same a refund. However after several weeks she has yet to get a response.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/09/2023

  Hello,

  Thank you for your time today. I have attached our contracts with the client as well as the electronic agreements. The clients contract states The duration of the sponsorship begins when the menus are delivered to the host, which TOT estimates to be approximately 120 days from the date of ad approval. I have attached the ad approval from 10/12/22. Again as outlined in the contract it is estimated to deliver approximately 120 days later. which would be 2/10/23. We are within the confines of our contract and have explained this to the client on several occasions. We have not breached our contract nor done anything to merit a refund. As well, our contract also states *THIS CONTRACT SHALL NOT BE CHANGED, MODIFIED OR CANCELED. All sales are final. This has also been explained. Please let me know if you need anything else.

  Thank You!
  
  *********************
  The Takeout Times
  Production Manager
  ***.wall@thetakeouttimescom
  O: ***********************
  D: **************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 19341203
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I have attached screenshots of two instances where they have sent other companies information to me causing me to be very concerned about my own information being sent out.  I have also sent a screenshot were it can be seen how it can be understood to be 90 days not 120. I have highlighted the section of 90 days.  Either way they have failed to to be a quality company on several areas.  I have yet to get my service,  I have not been in contact with my account manager since day one, I was harassed into spending extra money, I was on several occasions emailed other companies information, and they have failed to respond to my emails effectively.  I want a refund.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************