Complain About Elle - learn how to file a complaint

Getting in touch with a real person can be a challenge. Here are the main ways to try and get your complaint heard, though your mileage may vary.

Immediate to 48 hours, but honestly, it often feels like you're shouting into the void.

• Call them the minute their phone lines open, usually around 8 AM Eastern Time, to avoid the worst of the hold music marathon.
• Have your account number (it's on the magazine label) and payment details ready so you don't have to scramble while on the phone.
• Keep your initial email or message short and to the point. Start with your account number and what you want (e.g., 'Cancel and refund').

If Elle ignores you, which happens, it's time to take it to someone who will listen. Don't just give up.

Your first and best stop is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can file a complaint against their parent company, 'Hearst Magazines Media, Inc.', on the BBB website. It's a formal process, and companies usually respond because it affects their public rating. The BBB will forward your complaint to Hearst and ask for a response, typically within 14 days. It works, but prepare to wait. Sometimes Hearst needs a nudge from the BBB to actually resolve things.

Before you can escalate, make sure you've already tried contacting Elle directly. The BBB will ask if you've done that first, so keep a record of your calls or a copy of your email.

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Subscription Account [[Your Account Number]]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve an issue with my Elle subscription, account number [[Your Account Number]]. Despite my previous attempt to contact customer service on [[Date]], the problem remains unsolved.

On [[Date of Incident]], I was incorrectly charged [[$Amount]] for a subscription renewal that I had already canceled. Frankly, the amount of time I've had to spend trying to fix this error and get a response from your team has been incredibly frustrating and a complete waste of my time.

This is not a request, it is a demand. To resolve this, I require you to process a full refund of [[$Amount]] to my original payment method immediately and confirm in writing that my subscription has been terminated and will not be renewed again.

Please be aware that if this is not resolved within 5 business days, my next step will be to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and report the charge as fraudulent with my credit card provider.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[[Your Name]]

• Ask for a reference number. Whether you're on the phone or using a contact form, always ask for a ticket or reference number. It's your proof that the conversation happened.
• Mention the BBB. Casually dropping 'I'd hate to have to file a BBB complaint' during a phone call can sometimes magically unlock a supervisor's help.
• Check your credit card statements. One user on a forum mentioned they were subscribed to three different Hearst magazines without realizing it because the billing name was so generic. Check for small, recurring charges.

Tired of the automated phone menu at Hearst that seems designed to make you hang up? Or sending emails to a customer service address that feels like a black hole? Sound familiar?

This is where Pine AI steps in. It handles the annoying parts for you. No more listening to terrible hold music or refreshing your inbox waiting for a reply that never comes. Pine AI persistently contacts them on your behalf, navigates the corporate hoops, and manages the follow-up until your complaint is actually addressed. It's not about fancy tech, it's about saving your sanity from a process that feels broken on purpose. No joke.