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    ComplaintsforOrange County Register

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    Complaint Details

    Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.

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    Complaint Status
    Complaint Type
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      I renewed my annual subscription June 10, 2024. On October 14, 2024 The Register charged my credit card $182.00. No notice given to me, so I have no explanation for the charge. I called them 3 times to cancel my subscription and ask that they refund the $182.00 (10/14, 10/15, and 10/18). Each time I was told my subscription was cancelled and the money would be refunded. On the last call I spoke with Coby who said it takes 5 to 7 days to process the refund. At no time was I provided with an explanation for the charge. To date my subscription has not been cancelled, nor have I received a refund. I am not seeking a refund for the money paid last June.

      Business response

      10/24/2024

      Thank you for contacting us via the Better Business Bureau portal.

      The information you were provided is accurate. As explained we sell non-refundable term subscriptions. After receiving your first call, the request to refund was escalated for review and your refund was ordered. I can confirm that your refund in the amount of $183.59 will be returned to your **** card used for payment. You can expect to receive the funds within the next day or two. 

       

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

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

      email: *************************

      Customer response

      10/24/2024


      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

      Regards,

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

       
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I have been trying to cancel my electronic subscription to the OC Register for about 4 months and can't get any resolution.I have emailed them on 6/27/2024 - asking to cancel the subscription.6/27/2024 - They responded and said it would be canceled in December.6/27/2024 - I replied that was unacceptable and to cancel it ************** Reply 10/22/2024 - Emailed and asked why it has not been canceled and why am I still paying.

      Business response

      10/30/2024

      Mr. ********,

      In review of the account, I see that you subscribed to the digital edition on 12/6/2023 and paid $3.00 for 52 weeks of service.

      Our records indicate you stopped the subscription, using our online portal, and scheduled the subscription to end on the expiration date.  Your digital subscription is scheduled to end  on 12/5/2024. You have not been charged anything other than the initial pre-paid amount of $3.00.   

    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      On July 13, 2011, the Orange County Register published a news report about a "peeping ***" incident in *******************************. This report also mentioned my arrest for burglary and breaking and entering on the same day. While the report is factual regarding my arrest, it creates a false and misleading association between myself and the unrelated "peeping ***" incident.This has caused significant damage to my reputation, as anyone reading the report or encountering it through online searches is led to believe I was involved in both crimes. This is untrue and constitutes defamation.I have contacted the Orange County Register to request a retraction and removal of the report, but they have not taken appropriate action. I am filing this complaint with the Better Business Bureau in hopes that you can assist in resolving this matter and holding the Orange County Register accountable for their inaccurate and damaging reporting.
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      I was contacted by the OC Register to ask me to renew a subscription that I was going to let lapse because I was not to happy with the company. The agent offered me a good deal to renew for 52 weeks with some perks. In the end, I have been charged too much and the perks were not delivered. I emailed OCR for resolution. I got an email stating that my credit card will be refunded the proper amount. There was no mention of the $10 gift card. To make matters worse, I was only given a 36 week subscription. Furthermore, when I checked my credit card statement, there were no credits. The OC Register seems to be more if a scam/ponzi scheme then a business.

      Business response

      10/17/2024

      Mr. ******

      Thank you for contacting us via the Better Business Bureau portal.

      In review of your account, I see that you contacted our customer contact center last week and at that time your account was credited to reimburse the Premium Edition charges on your account. The Premium Editions re the glossy magazines that we offer. We do not bill separately for these, and the charges will shorten your subscription dates. This is something printed on all out renewal invoices. I have opted you out of the Premium Edition charges for all editions going forward.  

      In addition, a second gift card has been requested. Cards are sent via email and depending on your email security level, sometimes cards end up in the Spam or Junk Email box.  

      With the adjustments made to your account and with the payment you made on 10/7, your subscription is now covered through date 11/8/2026

      Please reach out to me directly with any questions on this matter.

       

      Regards,

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

      Manager of Customer Relations

      email: d*******@scng.com

      Customer response

      10/17/2024


      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

      Regards,

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

       
    • Complaint Type:
      Delivery Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      This is a service issue. I did not receive my newspaper on Sept 19 and 20. I called and was told my paper would be delivered on Monday it was not. I called Mon. And was told it would be delivered on Tuesday it was not. I called and was told it would be delivered same day. It didnt come at 2 pm I called and was told it would be delivered in 40 min it was not delivered.

      Business response

      09/25/2024

      I am sorry to learn of the delivery failure. I have escalated this to our delivery team and have asked the missing papers to be delivered this morning. 

      In addition, I have added a 30 day credit  to your account. Please accept my apology for all inconvenience caused by this. 

    • Complaint Type:
      Billing Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      I canceled my digital subscription in June 2024. I received a call on 8/25/2024 with an offer from OC Register to renew my subscription for $1.00 for 6 months or $2.00 for a year. I accepted the $2 for a year. Since then, I have been charged the $2.00 followed by 0.31 cents DAILY since! I NEVER approved this rate!! I have attempted to cancel several times. Initally, I attempted online but there was NO existing account! I notified ********. On 9/12 I called OC Register and was told that "I accepted" their rate which was a total lie! I asked them to listen to the call! I have not received any follow up from them since the call and my CC still is being charged the 0.31 cents daily.

      Business response

      09/27/2024

      **** *********,

      Thank you for contacting us via the Better Business Bureau Portal.

      In review of your account, I found that yes, you did accept the terms of an offer made to you by our Telemarketing agent on 8/25. Your payment made at that time in the amount of $2.00 was applied to a balance left owing from your previous subscription which stopped on 8/16.  The negative balance was a result of a payment chargeback in the amount of $14.00 which you placed through your bank.  With that said, the 31 cent charges are being charged until the full balance left owing were collected. The last charge occurred on 9/13, the same day you called and spoke with one of our customer service agents and had your card removed from future payments.  Your account has a negative balance of $8.63 at this time and a closing bill will be issued.    There is no refund owed.  

      Customer response

      09/27/2024

      That is not true!!  I DID NOT owe a balance as I called due to your fraudulent charge after I had already cancelled the subscription in June!  My card was credited the $14 by ******** after they reached out to you in July.  Now, you want to reverse that credit just because I agreed to a new subscription at $2 for a year????   This sounds pretty corrupt!!!  I AM owed a REFUND!  I will tell everyone I know about this horrible experience w/ the OC Register!

       

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

      Business response

      09/27/2024

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

      The charge back that you initiated did cause your account to go into an arrears status.

      To bring closure to this situation I will refund the 11 charges of .31 cents each + the $2.00 paid.  Total amount to be refunded is $5.41 

      Customer response

      10/03/2024


      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

      Regards,

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

       
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Our newspaper delivery person continues to throw the paper under our car. This happened on August 27, September 3, and September 10. We have a Suburban and it is difficult to get the paper from underneath this large car. I have to get a rake and go on my hands and knees to get the paper from under our car. We have a large driveway with plenty of space so there is no excuse for this. Our driveway also has a motion detector light so the person can see where they are throwing the paper. I have called about this on August 28, September 5, and September 10. They tell me they will escalate it, but that doesnt mean anything because nothing ever changes. We pay a lot of money for this paper. We canceled before because of this issue and then we tried the OC Register again. This problem continues to happen. We are considering canceling again.PLEASE resolve this!

      Business response

      09/18/2024

      Thank you for contacting us via the Better Business Bureau portal.

      We contract delivery of the newspaper to a third party distribution company and a clear message about the actions of the carrier have been sent our distribution team. The carrier will be asked to deliver the paper each day on the driveway, but not in a manner that allows the paper o slide under your vehicle.. 

    • Complaint Type:
      Order Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I am not sure why I am getting a Past Due notice from the Orange County Register. I did not renew the subscription and let it run out because we no longer afford the subscription for another year due to the fee increase. I already paid for the prior year subscription in full and had no intention of renewing, yet I am getting a bill now for $44.35. Is this how the OC Register conducts business? By auto-renewing subscriptions and then sending out past due notices?

      Business response

      08/29/2024

      Chec *****

      Thank you for contacting us via the Better Business Bureau online portal. Our subscriptions are ongoing, until we hear otherwise, which is printed on all our collateral pieces. because we never heard from anyone requesting cancellation, the subscription continued. In review of the subscription I see this very same thing happened last year, at which time we issued a refund to you. 

      AS a courtesy I have adjusted off the balance left owing on your account in the amount of $38.40. You account now reflects a zero balance.

    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Canceled paper 7.30.2024, i had paid for the full year $285.10- I want my money back it has been long enough

      Business response

      08/28/2024

      ******************,

      A payment in the amount of $285.10 was received on 6/27/2024 and your subscription was stopped on 7/30.

      A request for refund of the remaining balance in the amount of $227.44 has been submitted to our finance team.

      A check for the remaining balance will be issued and mailed to the address on Orange Ave.

      Customer response

      09/05/2024

      It isnt resolved. I havent received my money which by the way should be$233.44. They have said I would be getting my money. Alls they do is Talk. 

      Business response

      09/05/2024

      A refund check in the amount of $234.65 was mailed on August 28th.
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Paid for a full year 52 weeks subscription of the register. Twice weve received notice that our subscription is up, due to rising gas price. They want to shorten the subscription and have us start and pay for a new one. I called and they said they were given us a one-time courtesy to extend it one month. The register is cheating us out of what we have paid for.. nowhere was it in writing that said they have the right to change the amount of time we will be receiving our paper due to rising gas cost. We paid for a full 52 weeks and they keep trying to cut it back and have a start a new subscription.. we have opted out of any special additions. Therefore we should be receiving the paper for a full 52 weeks. I have explained this on the phone to them many times.. the register subscription has gotten very shady!!!

      Business response

      08/21/2024

      Thank you for contacting us regarding your OC Register subscription.

      An adjustment has been applied to your account to reverse the surcharges, which shortened your subscription term. That expiration date has been changed and is now 9/26/2024.

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