Complain About Los Angeles Times - learn how to file a complaint

Trying to get a hold of a real person can be a challenge. Use this table to find the best contact method for your specific issue. Going straight to the right channel saves you from being transferred around.

Contact Methods

Honestly, getting a quick response can feel like winning the lottery. But here are the typical wait times.

• Call Early: Try calling right when their lines open to avoid the midday rush.
• Have Your Info Ready: Keep your account number, recent bills, and delivery address handy.
• Use Keywords: When using a contact form, use words like "Formal Complaint," "Billing Dispute," or "Cancellation Issue" in the subject line.
• Be Persistent: Don't be afraid to follow up if you don't hear back within their stated timeframe.

If the Los Angeles Times is ignoring you or won't resolve your issue, it's time to escalate. Don't just give up.

Internal Escalation

When you're on the phone, your first step is to say, "Can I please speak with a supervisor or manager?" First-level support often has limited authority, especially for issuing refunds or correcting significant errors. Be polite but firm.

External Escalation

If that doesn't work, take it public. The most effective external body for a newspaper complaint is the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

• How it works: You file a complaint online at BBB.org. The BBB forwards your complaint to a corporate contact at the Los Angeles Times, who is then expected to respond.
• What to expect: The BBB works, but prepare to wait. Given the LA Times already has an F rating, they have a track record of not resolving complaints to the customer's satisfaction through the BBB. However, it creates a public record of your issue and sometimes prompts a response when nothing else will.

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Account [[Your Account Number]] - Unresolved Billing Issue

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve a persistent issue with my account, [[Your Account Number]]. Despite contacting customer service on [[Date of last contact]], the problem remains unsolved and, frankly, my patience is wearing thin.

On [[Date of incident]], I was incorrectly charged [[$Amount]] for [[Briefly describe the issue, e.g., a subscription I had already cancelled, a delivery I never received]]. Having to spend my time chasing this down has been incredibly frustrating.

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

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 dispute the charge with my credit card provider.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[[Your Name]] [[Your Phone Number]]

• Ask for a Reference Number. Every time you call, ask for a ticket or reference number. If you have to call back, it proves you've already tried to solve the problem.
• Mention the BBB. Casually dropping "I'd hate to have to file a BBB complaint about this" during a call can sometimes get you transferred to a retention specialist with more power to help.
• Take Screenshots. If you're trying to cancel online or using a chat, screenshot everything. Especially the confirmation page. Weirdly, those pages sometimes disappear.
• Check Reddit. Someone on the /r/losangeles subreddit mentioned that threatening a credit card chargeback was the only thing that got them an immediate refund. It's a last resort, but it works.

Tired of the runaround from the LA Times? The endless hold music, the dropped calls, the agents who promise a callback that never comes. Sound familiar? It's exhausting. Instead of wasting another hour of your life navigating their phone tree, let Pine AI handle it. We draft the complaint, send it through the right channels, and manage the follow-ups. No more explaining your issue for the fifth time. We handle the persistent pushback so you don't have to. It just gets done.