We use cookies to give users the best content and online experience. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to allow us to use all cookies. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Manage Cookies
Resources for Businesses My BBB
Share
Business Profile

Newspaper

Free Lance-Star Publishing, LLC

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Newspaper.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 5 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint 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:03/27/2025

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 discovered on Feb. 27, 2025, that I was subscribed to the e-edition of the Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg) since August 28, 2024. I was unaware of this subscription. I canceled this subscription the same day I started it in May of 2024. Since then, I never accessed it. Also, I checked my email, and the last edition of this newspaper is dated 7/1/2024. I reviewed my checking account and I see that I have been charged a total of $149.93 ($14.99 in August and Sept., then $23.99 Oct. Through Feb.). I cancelled the subscription Feb. 27, 2025, and I requested that this amount be refunded to me. I emailed the above information in an email on Feb. 27, 2025, and I received no response to that email. Further, I saw today (Mar. 27, 2025) that my checking account was scheduled to be charged $23.99 again. I called and spoke with a customer representative. She stated that the charge had gone through, and that she could not return the charge. She stated that my account was still active, despite the fact that I canceled it (yet again) on Feb. 27, 2025. She then canceled it today. But I was still charged $23.99 today. The fact that I was charged $173.92 for a subscription I canceled twice, and the fact that they never responded to my emails, is not right. I strongly recommend against this newspaper.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/11/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 news outlet offered a "deal" for $1.00 for 6 months of service. I have repeatedly attempted to cancel any subscriptions, dispute transactions, etc. I cannot get anything on their website to work, and emails directly to them bounce back. Their cancellation button is a DEAD LINK, their "contact us" tab is a DEAD LINK, their help center is a DEAD LINK. They randomly started just charging me for NOTHING. $10.99 twice, then $21.99 three times! I keep trying to make this stop, and they just keep charging. I'm going to have to cancel my credit card to try and make it stop, which is extra hassle for me and my bank. This is fraudulent behavior to keep billing people for nothing and hope they don't notice and/or can't make it stop!

    Customer Answer

    Date: 02/03/2024

    [A default letter is provided here which indicates that the business has not responded to you directly.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

    Better Business Bureau:

    At this time, I have not been contacted by Free Lance-Star Publishing, LLC regarding complaint ID ********.

    Regards,

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

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/22/2023

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 had a problem longer than 6 months reference the delivery of the Free Lance. THE CARRIER REFUSES TO PUT THE ***** IN THE DESIGNATED BOX ATTACHED TO MY MAILBOX instead it is tossed in the ditch, in the driveway, in the middle of the street. I AM SICK OF THIS TERRIBLE JACKED-UP SERVICE.I have called several times and talked to a dozen different people with NO resolution. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR WE WILL LET SOMEONE KNOW, WE WILL GIVE YOU A CREDIT ETC- WRONG ANSWER!!!FIX THE PROBLEM, this is not about finding the chemical mixture of the contents of the moon for God' sake.I am sick of being blown off whenever I call about this matter.Bottom line, the carrier is sorry or cannot follow directions, or could care less about customer service.None of my neighbors have this issue, why am I being singled -out and discrimated.???Please look into this matter,and I want a resolution. Why should I stop the paper because of gross screwed up service.? What kind of a nickel an dime operation are you running down there?I want some type of response, and a final resolution. ***************************

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/20/2023

    Type:Sales and Advertising 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.
    On January 20, 2023 BHM*FLS Circulation made an unauthorized credit card charge for $132.08. After reporting it to my bank I learned that the charge was made for an on-line subscription to the Free Lance Star in Fredericksburg. I had an on-line subscription to the Free Lance Star for one year in 2021 for $26. At the end of the year, I cancelled the subscription over the phone. The company restarted the subscription without my permission and upgraded it; as the charge was $132.08. I called the Free ********* billing department immediately, ************, and they said there was no way to cancel or return my money. I called my bank and cancelled the credit card that was charged. The person in Free Lance Star billing department refused to let me speak with a supervisor or return the money to my account.

Free Lance-Star Publishing, LLC is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

To become accredited, a business must agree to BBB Standards for Trust and pass BBB's vetting process.

Why choose a BBB Accredited Business?

BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.

BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period, except for customer reviews. Customer reviews posted prior to July 5, 2024, will no longer be published when they reach three years from their submission date. Customer reviews posted on/after July 5, 2024, will be published indefinitely unless otherwise voluntarily retracted by the user who submitted the content, or BBB no longer believes the review is authentic. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this company, please let them know that you checked their record with BBB.

As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.