Esquire

Complain About Esquire - learn how to file a complaint

Still getting charged for an Esquire subscription you thought you cancelled? You're not alone. It's a classic magazine subscription nightmare. Seriously, their parent company, Hearst, has over 1,000 complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau in the last three years alone. It's a mess. Most of the frustration boils down to the same issues people complain about on the BBB page: incorrect billing amounts and magazines that never show up. They make it easy to sign up but a real pain to leave.

Official site: Visit Esquire

Published on 24 Jul, 2025
Olivia Harper, Content Manager
9 min read

Best ways to complain to Esquire

Trying to get a straight answer from Esquire can feel like a full-time job. Here are the official channels, but set your expectations accordingly.

Contact Method Details & Availability Why use this instead...
Phone 800-888-2665 (Mon-Fri, 8 AM - 5 PM ET) Best for urgent issues like stopping an immediate charge, if you can get through.
Email ESQcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com Good for creating a paper trail of your complaint. Don't expect a quick reply.
Mail Esquire, P.O. Box 6000, Harlan, IA 51593 The slowest option. Use this for formal notices if other methods fail completely.
Social Media @esquire on X/Twitter Use this for public complaints. Sometimes the fear of bad PR gets a faster response.

⏱️ Estimated Response Times from Esquire After Complaining

Honestly, it feels like forever. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what to expect.

Method Expected Wait Time
Phone Immediate to 45 minutes (mostly on hold)
Email 3-7 business days, maybe longer
Mail Weeks. You might forget you even sent it.

🔍 Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint

  • Have your details ready. Before you call or email, find your subscription account number (it's on the magazine label) or the full name and address used for the subscription.
  • Call during off-peak hours. Try calling right when they open or mid-week. Avoid Mondays and lunch hours.
  • Be direct. State your problem and what you want (e.g., "I want to cancel my subscription and receive a refund for the last charge.") in the first sentence.
  • Keep records. Note the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with. Get a confirmation number if you can.

How to Escalate Your Complaint

If customer service is giving you the runaround, it's time to escalate. Your best bet is to file a formal complaint with an external body. For a US publisher like Esquire (owned by Hearst), the most effective route is the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

First, make sure you've given Esquire a fair chance to resolve it themselves. Regulators usually require this. Then, head to the BBB website. You can file a complaint against their parent company, Hearst Communications, Inc. Explain your issue, what you've done to fix it, and what you want as a resolution. Filing with the BBB often gets a formal response from a corporate team, but prepare to wait. It's not an instant fix, and Hearst will likely take a couple of weeks to reply through the BBB portal.

Email Template to Complain to Esquire

Subject: Formal Complaint: Unresolved Issue with Subscription [[Account #]]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve an issue with my Esquire subscription, account number [[Account #]]. My previous attempt to fix this on [[Date]] via [[Phone call/Email]] was unsuccessful.

On [[Date of incorrect charge]], my card was charged [[$Amount]] even though I had already cancelled my subscription. Frankly, having to spend my time tracking this down and writing emails about it has been incredibly frustrating and a complete waste of my time.

To resolve this, I require you to process a full refund of [[$Amount]] to my original payment method immediately. I also need written confirmation sent to this email address that my subscription has been permanently cancelled and my payment information has been removed from your system.

If I do not receive a satisfactory response and confirmation of the refund within five business days, my next step will be to file a chargeback with my credit card company and submit a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[[Your Name]]

Additional Helpful Tips to get Your Complaint Resolved

  • Ask for a supervisor immediately. If the first customer service representative is unhelpful or just reading from a script, politely but firmly say, "I'd like to speak with a supervisor or manager, please."
  • Use the phrase "paper trail." When you're on the phone, say something like, "Could you please send me an email confirming what we've discussed for my records?" It shows you're serious.
  • Mention the BBB. One user on a consumer forum said that casually dropping "My next step is the BBB" got their issue escalated from a standard agent to a "corporate resolutions" specialist instantly.
  • Take screenshots. If you're trying to cancel online and the page gives you an error or sends you in a loop, screenshot it. Having dated proof that you tried to cancel is powerful evidence.

Let Pine AI Help Raise the Complaint to Esquire

Tired of the endless hold music from Esquire's service line? Or sending emails into a void, wondering if anyone will ever reply? Sound familiar? It's a common story we hear on Reddit and the BBB. People are just fed up with the runaround. Let Pine AI take over. No more wasting your lunch break trying to get a human on the phone. We send the formal complaint, handle the follow-ups, and manage the entire tedious process on your behalf. It's not about fancy tech, it's about saving your sanity. We do the annoying work for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Esquire Complaint Filing

What if Esquire doesn't reply?
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Can I escalate my complaint legally?
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Are there lots of people leaving Esquire?
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Is this the right phone number to contact Esquire?
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What's the easiest way to cancel a subscription with Esquire?
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Other ways that I can contact the Esquire?
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Why am I still getting magazines after I cancelled?
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Olivia Harper

Olivia Harper

Content Manager

Olivia Harper, a Content Manager with nine years of experience, creates user-focused guides on subscription services. Featured in Digital Consumer Reports, her work simplifies subscription terms and cancellations.

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