Complain About Ars Technica - File a Complaint Today

Trying to find the right person to complain to at Ars Technica can feel like a maze. They don't make it easy with a clear, all-in-one support center. Here’s a breakdown of your best bets.

Honestly, you're going to be waiting. Since it's mostly email, you're at the mercy of their support queue.

• Use a super specific subject line. Instead of "Subscription Issue," try "Incorrect Billing on Account [Your Username] - [Date]".
• Include all your details upfront. Provide your username, the email tied to your account, and any relevant order or invoice numbers.
• State your desired outcome clearly. Don't just complain. Say, "I require a full refund of $15.99" or "Please confirm my subscription is canceled in writing."
• Follow up politely. If a week goes by with no word, reply to your original email asking for an update.

If your emails and contact form submissions are met with silence, it's time to escalate. Your best bet is filing a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You'll file it against their parent company, Condé Nast. The BBB process isn't fast, but it often gets a company's attention when emails are ignored. They will forward your complaint to the company, and Condé Nast is generally expected to respond. Just be aware that regulators like the BBB require that you try to resolve the issue with the company directly first, so make sure you've sent at least one email before you escalate.

Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Issue with Ars Technica+ Subscription - Account [[Your Username/Email]]

Hi there,

I'm writing again because my previous attempt to resolve a problem with my subscription on [[Date of first contact]] has gone unanswered.

On [[Date of charge]], my account was incorrectly billed for [[$Amount]] despite my cancellation request. Frankly, it's incredibly frustrating to have to chase this down and waste my time verifying charges that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

To fix this, I require a full refund of [[$Amount]] to be processed immediately and written confirmation that my subscription is, in fact, canceled. Please also ensure my payment details have been removed from your system.

If I do not receive a response and confirmation of the refund within 3 business days, I will proceed with a chargeback with my credit card provider and file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[[Your Name]]

(P.S. I recommend attaching screenshots of the incorrect charge or your cancellation confirmation if you have them.)

Pro Tips for Making Your Complaint Heard

• Use social media as a last resort. A public post on X (formerly Twitter) tagging @arstechnica can sometimes get a faster response than an email that's easily ignored.
• Ask for a name. In your email, a simple "Can you please let me know who is handling my case?" can create a small amount of personal accountability.
• Try the 'wrong' inbox. A user on Reddit mentioned that emailing the general editorial contact form got a faster forward to the right department than using the dedicated subscription email. Weird, but it might be worth a shot if you're getting nowhere.

Tired of sending your subscription complaint into the void at Ars Technica, wondering if [email protected] is just an auto-delete folder? Sound familiar? It’s exhausting trying to get a simple confirmation or refund. Pine AI can handle the follow-up emails and persistent nudging for you. No more checking your inbox every day for a reply that never comes or wondering if you need to escalate it yourself. Let us take over the tedious part. Seriously.