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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
01/04/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
*********************, Author Advisor of Author Reputation Press (ARP) solicited me in May 2023. He stated that his company had found my book, The 365 Day Devotional for Singers and Musicians, to be one of 9 books highly sought after. He represented that if I would sign with ARP, that they would market my book. His pitch included the following statements:"************ will produce ***** books and distribute them to bookstores location. Your expected amount for direct royalty for $6.00 per book sold would be $45,840.00 Whatever the unsold copies will return it back to ******."In June, ***** sent the following report:I just like to inform you that we will be doing a Pitch Deck Presentation in different bookstores in ********** tomorrow Thursday, June 8, 2023. We will be presenting 9 books including your book titled The 356-Day Devotional for Singers and Musicians Expectedly, more than 85 bookstores that were going to do the presentation. Here is the update to that report:Im so excited and happy to share about the effort that weve done last week. Our PR person reportedly that out of ************************* ********** your book titled The 365-Day Devotional for Singers and Musicians got 82 physical bookstores. They requested to have another format which is a Hardback format of your book. This is already approved for consignment, but each bookstore will receive 10 Paperback and 10 Hardback formats.(That would be ***** books, which would bring the total number of books to 9,280.)Then another report for a pitch presentation in ********: Pitch Deck Presentation in different bookstores in ******** tomorrow Wednesday, June 28, 2023. We will be presenting 9 books including your book titled The 365 Day Devotional for Singers and Musicians Expectedly, more than 115 bookstores that were going to do the presentation. *****'s update to me stated that 98 of the 115 bookstores ordered my book. Total now at ****** books. *** says I have earned $2 in royalties so far.Customer response
01/14/2024
I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.Business response
03/11/2024
To Whom It May ********************** see the attached file. Thank you.
Kind regards,Customer response
03/12/2024
Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered.
[You must provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution. If you do not enter a reason for your rejection, your complaint will be closed as Answered.]
Businesses and Customers should be civil, courteous and polite in their responses to complaints. It is important to remain professional and productive when participating in the BBB complaint process.
FAQ
Regards,*****
Initial Complaint
11/29/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
This company has called me repeatedly over the last 4yrs. I have told them repeatedly to stop calling me. In fact, I spoke to them last night and told them yet again the person they are looking for does not live at this residence. I reminded them I have had this number for 4 years now and they have been told this for all of the 4 yrs and they have been asked to stop calling. Today they called again!Business response
12/13/2023
To Whom It May ********************** see the attached file. Thank you.
Kind regards,Initial Complaint
10/10/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Date of Transaction May 20, 2021 The amount of money you paid to the business 15,339.All Total 16011,09 What the business committed to provide you 80% royalties and 1. Sell at least five thousand copies within a year.2. To have your book displayed physically in any significant bookstores internationally.3. To build your platform in different social media sites.4. To interviewed in a radio and television show.5. To be featured in magazines and newspapers.6. To gather as many reviews as possible.7. Look for a Literary Agents/********. To be picked up by a Traditional Publishing Houses. Quick Process. You dont wait for years to get published. We guarantee you 80% royalty. Unlike other publishers who would only offer 10%-20% royalty, our company will not take a huge cut from your book sales. We will set your book at the Lowest Book Retail Price possible.Keep 100% of your rights. Retain 100% of the rights and copyright licenses. Comprehensive Print-on-Demand flexibility. We will handle ************* orders directly, from sales channels like Amazon, *************** or ******, etc., with our unlimited wholesale availability, book printing, and fulfillment services.NO payment has been paid to me. and neither has there been a refund though there was no ********** book signing or ***** Book signing and absolutely no payment of royalties.No, the business has not tried to resolve the problem. I have tried to contact Author reputation Press many times and they stop receiving my calls I reach to lawyers here in ******** and I was informed they were not responding. I was advised and giving a number to reach a lawyer in *************, I reach to a lawyer there in ************* and he informed me he did not get a response and that he could take them to court but I needed ******* to get started. *******. I did not have.Business response
01/29/2024
To Whom It May ********************** see the attached file. Thank you.
Kind regards,Initial Complaint
10/07/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Order Issues
- Status:
- Answered
On May 26, 2023 I signed a contract with Author Reputation Press, directed to ***********************. They agreed to provide editing, marketing, advertising, as well as printing and distributing physical copies of my book online and to bookstores in a wide area. I paid $2200 when signing this contract. Around July 17th, I received a copy of the physical book from ********************* (fulfilment officer) and discovered that it contained numerous errors throughout. I contacted them regarding this issue and they stated that it would cost an additional $250 to revise. Since that date, the company has made my book available on websites, but they have not provided the other services that they agreed to (physical distribution and marketing). I have attempted to make contact to resolve the issues, but they have been difficult to contact and when conversations do happen, they continue to ask for additional payments.Customer response
10/18/2023
[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does satisfy my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint #********. I understand that by choosing to accept the business response that my complaint will be closed as resolved.
Regards,
***********************Customer response
11/28/2023
Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered.
I submitted a complaint against a publisher name author reputation press. I have had no response. Have not been compensated for book sales or able to discontinue with agency. I paid them **** and signed a contract they did not honor. I would like to b refunded. I would like all web sites taken down. And I need to b paid by someone presently selling my material..
Business response
12/13/2023
To Whom It May ********************** see the attached files. Thank you.
Kind regards,Initial Complaint
07/15/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Order Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
In February of 2022, I hired Author Reputation Press (***********************************************, phone **************) to promote my book in **************************** I entered into a contract, whereby it was agreed that the fee for this promotion would be $3,200.00. I would make a total of 7 payments and conclude payment in August of 2022. However, there was a glitch in a copy of the book, and due to the printing error, it was agreed that I would resume payment once the error was corrected. The error did not get corrected until October 2022. It was then that I made final payment as they had explained that final payment is required before they would follow through on advertising my book in **************************** Once final payment was made, I could never get a date for when my book would be promoted in Publisher's Weekly. To make a long story short, once they were paid in full, they became hard to reach, phone calls and emails not returned until finally I could not reach them at all. They stopped responding to my emails and phone messages. To date, they have simply vanished and I am out of the fee of $3,200.00. There is no other dispute that I am aware of because the entire time that I was making payments, there were no issues at all to my knowledge. Upon reaching out to **************************, the Attorney General and the ************************* they all advised that there was nothing they could do since Author Reputation Press refused to respond. They recommended that I contacted the Better Business Bureau, thus I am now contacting this organization. So I am reaching out to see if you can intervene such that they will honor the contract as we agreed or provide a refund. I also want to share my experience so that other up and coming authors can steer clear of bad business practices from this business.Business response
08/11/2023
Dear *************************************************,
Author Reputation Press (ARP) acknowledges and honors BBB complaint No. ********. Thank you for letting us know about your concern.
We apologize for the inconvenience this matter has caused the involved parties. May the content of this response resolve and provide clarity regarding the laid-out concern.
The Author purchased a package of publishing and marketing services. The authors book, Childhood and Blueberry Muffins, was published on June 9, 2022. The following are the links where the book can be purchased:
- Amazon: *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
- ****** & *****: ****************************************************************************************************************
- ARP: ***************************************************************************
- ******** **********************************************************************************************************
The publisher/marketer (ARP) made a blog post as part of marketing efforts for the release of the book (Book Live). Please open this link: ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************.
*****************************, a supervisor, called the Author to address and resolve the Authors concern. It was then discovered that this complaint was the result of a misunderstanding. The Author was not aware that the package included publishing procedures, which made the process quite long. Also, the Author was paying the payment through an installment payment system that needed to be fully paid to complete the marketing service, which is part of the package.
The payment for the package was cleared late last year (as mentioned by the Author in the complaint). The book was published in the second quarter of last year, even before it was fully paid for.
Furthermore, the ************************** Ad was not fulfilled yet; aside from the fact that the balance was only cleared late last year, the books genre must be considered in the suitable theme of the ad and/or season to advertise certain genres as part of the marketing strategy.
As per the result of the conversation between the Author and the Supervisor, the misunderstanding has been addressed. And clarity is served. Rest assured that for this months issue, the Authors book will be included. The August issue will be released on August 28.
We appreciate your cooperation with ARP. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Please let us know if you have any additional questions, concerns, or comments, or if we may be of assistance at any point in the future.
It is a great honor and privilege to have worked with authors like you who honor dedication and cooperation.
Kind regards,Customer response
08/14/2023
[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does satisfy my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint #********. I understand that by choosing to accept the business response that my complaint will be closed as resolved.
Regards,
*********************************Initial Complaint
07/07/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
6-14-2023 *********************** from Author Reputation Press called about a marketing/Vanity Press proposition. He charged me initial charge $330 plus additional charges based on a contract. I did not send a contract with my signature. The charge went on my **** of ************ card. He claimed the business 20 in business. I became suspicious and checked your site for information nd discovered it was only for 4 years. Your site stated it was a scam/fraud. I cancelled my card with the bank but the $330 was already spent. *********************** called yesterday and claimed the money had been sent to CBS Radio for an interview. He would not return my money to my credit card or refund it to me.Business response
07/17/2023
Dear ***********************************,
Author Reputation Press acknowledges and honors BBB complaint No. ********. Thank you for letting us know about your concern.
We apologize for the inconvenience this matter has caused the involved parties. May this response provide clarification regarding the matter.
We respect and honor your decision that you do not want to continue with the radio interview. As of this writing, the refund for the initial payment amounting to $330.00 the Author requested cannot be processed, taking into account the fact that the Author filed a chargeback on July 11, 2023.
The chargeback process is hereby acknowledged. Author Reputation Press will wait for the result (the decision of the bank) and follow the standard operating procedure in the context of the matter.
We appreciate your cooperation with ARP. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Please let us know if you have any additional questions, concerns, or comments, or if we may be of assistance at any point in the future.
Kind regards,Initial Complaint
06/12/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
On March 7, 2023 I entered into an agreement with Author Reputation Press (ARP) for the production, marketing, and distribution o f my book, Man of the House, A Memoir, for a cost not to exceed $20,000.00. I paid them through two of my credit cards during the months of March and April 2023. Then, without my knowledge and consent they rapidly deducted more than an additional $39,000.00 from those two credit cards that I used to pay them the $20,000.00.Their excessive deductions from my credit cards led to over-the-limit charges against my credit card and a steep deduction against my national credit score from about 780 to about 626. I wrote to ARP and asked them to stop deducting money from my credit cards on 6/3/2023 and that same day they deducted thousands more dollars from my credit card. I immediately cancelled those two credit cards to prevent them from deducting more money from my credit cards. I also spoke to *********************** of ARP about this grave issue and he promised to refund me $6,500.00. I wrote and told him and others responsible for those excessive charges against my credit cards that I wanted a refund of all money above $20,000.00 to be refunded to me through checks sent directly to my home address since those credit cards they used against me were now closed out.Business response
06/23/2023
Please see the attached file. Thank you.Initial Complaint
05/27/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Order Issues
- Status:
- Answered
April 2022. I signed contract with Author Reputation Press for them to represent my novel at July, 2022 Los Angeles Book Festival for $1000. The Festival was cancelled in **. ARPwanted to use my $1000 for a ***** or foreign book festival to represent my novel. I did not authorize, I told them to return my $1000.in summer, 2022. *** also has $2000 of mine I never signed a contract for. *** said the funds will be part of a $6000 fee from my representation at the ***** Book Festival in Nov., '2022. I said I will not send more money. Return the $2000 I never signed a contract for them to keep my funds.*** still has not returned my $3000 despite my contact, ***********************, telling me he's "on it."Business response
06/08/2023
Dear *************************,
Author Reputation Press acknowledges and honors BBB complaint No. ********. Thank you for letting us know about your concern.
We apologize for the inconvenience this matter has caused the involved parties.May this response and manifested resolution(s) resolve the concern.
The amount of $2,000.00 has been refunded. The ****************** sent a refund confirmation email and attached the necessary files (the refund receipt, a scanned copy of the check, and the refund letter). Please see attachment 1.
The $1000.00 cannot be refunded because the said amount was used to pay for the LA Times Festival of Books 2023 (Book Gallery). The book, "Dings," was among the books displayed by Author Reputation Press during the Los ************* Festival of Books (LATFOB) 2023 at the ********************************* on April ****, 2023. Please see Attachment 2 for the links and photos.
The publisher/marketer (ARP) made a blog post as part of marketing efforts for the said LA Times event. Please open this link: ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************.
We appreciate your cooperation with ARP. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Please let us know if you have any additional questions,concerns, or comments, or if we may be of assistance at any point in the future.
It is a great honor and privilege to have worked with authors like you who honor dedication and cooperation.
Kind regards,Initial Complaint
05/22/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
My book "Colorful Birthday" was supposed to be advertised in the ***************** issue in November 2022. I reached out to "Author Reputation Press" a number of times and they keep telling me I have to wait. They've indicated that I'm on the waiting list, but fail to provide proof.I would just like a refund. I've made full payment in July 2022 in the amount of $5499.00 U.S dollars ($7262.50 ******** dollars)Initial Complaint
04/13/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Incomplete and vague royalty reports. Misrepresentation of services and qualifications of royalties. Excessive shipping charges. No response to calls or emails with concerns. **************** and later not delivering due to costs.Business response
04/19/2023
Dear *********************************,
Author Reputation Press acknowledges and honors BBB complaint No. ********. Thank you for letting us know about your concern and for providing the necessary information so we can address it accordingly.
We apologize for the inconvenience this concern has brought to the involved parties. May this response and the action(s) that have been taken address the concern.
The concern raised by the ********************** has been reported and discussed with the departments involved and the management. After the deliberation, data has been collected, and the succeeding paragraphs deliver explanations and information that *** provide clarity regarding the points mentioned by the **********************.
Regarding the point about royalties, the royalty department has been informing the ********************** about the updates. All **********************s can monitor and check anytime by logging in using their login credentials. For your perusal, please review attachment 1.Since the partnership between the ********************** and the publisher started,transparency has been manifested and honored.
The ********************** mentioned, to wit, "excessive shipping charges". This point is stipulated and clarified even in the contract signed by the ********************** and discussed by the **********************s book fulfillment officer during the process of publication of the **********************s book. As stipulated therein, "Author Reputation Press publishing packages include the cost of the complimentary books and printed materials, but you're responsible to pay the cost of shipping and handling".
Attachment 1 appears to be (also) an explanation of what the ********************** mentioned about "no response to calls or emails with concerns." The royalty department, book fulfillment ******** ********************** advisor (***********************), and production manager (*************************) have exchanged emails and/or calls with the **********************.
Lastly,the ********************** purchased a publishing package to get his book published. Author Reputation Press, as the publisher, completed the publication. The following are a few of the links to where the book can be purchased:
**************************************************************************
***************************************************************************************************
*************************************
**************************************************************
******************************************************************************
******************************************************
It is a great honor and privilege to assist and serve **********************s like you. Authors who honor dedication and cooperation. As the publisher, we are grateful to be part of the **********************s journey as a published **********************. Thank you.
Kind regards,
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Customer Complaints Summary
46 total complaints in the last 3 years.
17 complaints closed in the last 12 months.