Harvard Business Review

Complain About Harvard Business Review - learn how to file a complaint

A 2.1-star rating on Trustpilot? For a business publication, that's pretty telling. It's not just you. Harvard Business Review's page is filled with complaints about impossible cancellations and surprise auto-renewal charges. The Better Business Bureau has logged 13 complaints against their publisher in the last three years, mostly for billing and product issues. If you're tired of being ignored or charged for a subscription you don't want, you're in the right place. It's time to get your money back.

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

How to Complain About Harvard Business Review

Best ways to complain to Harvard Business Review

Contact Method Details & Availability Why use this instead...
Phone 1-800-988-0886 (US/Canada)
+1-617-783-7500 (Intl)
Mon-Fri, 8 AM-6 PM ET
Best for urgent billing disputes or when you need an immediate cancellation confirmation.
Email customerservice@hbr.org Good for creating a paper trail. Use this to document your complaint and requests.
Social Media @HarvardBiz Use this for public complaints if you're being ignored. Companies often respond faster when their brand image is at stake.
Official Site Visit Harvard Business Review The official portal, but users report it can be difficult to navigate for cancellations.

⏱️ Estimated Response Times from Harvard Business Review After Complaining

Honestly, getting a response can feel like a waiting game you didn't sign up for.

Method Expected Wait Time
Phone 5-45 minutes (Hold times can be long)
Email 2-5 business days
Chat Not Available
App N/A

Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint

🔍 Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint

  • Call early: Try calling right when their lines open at 8 AM ET to avoid the midday rush.
  • Have details ready: Keep your account number, subscription details, and the date of the charge handy before you call or email.
  • Be direct: Clearly state your issue and what you want (e.g., "I was incorrectly charged and I need a full refund.").

How to Escalate Your Complaint

How to Escalate Your Complaint

If HBR support is giving you the runaround, your next move is to file a formal complaint with an external body. For a US-based publisher, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is your best bet.

  • How it works: You file a complaint on the BBB website, and they forward it to a corporate contact at Harvard Business Publishing. The company is then expected to respond publicly.
  • What to expect: This process can take a few weeks. BBB works, but prepare to wait. HBR usually responds to avoid a negative mark on their profile, but you might need to send a reminder or two through the BBB portal.

Before you escalate, make sure you've given HBR a fair chance to resolve it internally. Regulators and the BBB often ask if you've tried contacting the company first.

Email Template to Complain to Harvard Business Review

Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Subscription Issue on Account [[Account #]]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve an issue with my Harvard Business Review subscription, account number [[Account #]].

Despite my previous attempts to cancel, I was charged [[$Amount]] on [[Date of Charge]]. This charge was unauthorized, as I had already taken steps to end my subscription. Frankly, having to spend my time tracking this down and chasing a refund has been incredibly frustrating.

To resolve this, I need you to process a full refund of [[$Amount]] to my original payment method immediately. I also require written confirmation that my subscription has been successfully cancelled and that no further charges will be made to my account.

If I do not receive a satisfactory response and confirmation of my refund within 48 hours, 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

Pro Tips for Making Your Complaint Heard

  • Ask for a supervisor immediately. If the first-level support agent is reading from a script and not helping, politely ask to speak with a manager or supervisor who has more authority to issue refunds.
  • Use a clear email subject line. Include your account number and the specific issue, like "Incorrect Billing on Account #12345," to get routed correctly.
  • Request written confirmation. Always ask for an email confirming your cancellation or refund. This is your proof if they try to charge you again.
  • Try the public approach. One user on a forum mentioned they only got a response after publicly tweeting at HBR's official account with their case number. It might be worth a shot if you're getting nowhere.

Let Pine AI Help Raise the Complaint to Harvard Business Review

Tired of getting stuck in an email loop with Harvard Business Review's support about a subscription you swear you cancelled? Sound familiar? Instead of refreshing your inbox waiting for a reply that never seems to come, let Pine AI handle the tedious back-and-forth. We draft the emails, manage the follow-ups, and push for the resolution you deserve. No more crafting polite-but-firm messages or wasting time on hold. A total time-saver. Let us take over the headache so you can get on with your day.

Frequently Asked Questions about Harvard Business Review Complaint Filing

What if Harvard Business Review doesn't reply?
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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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