Sports Illustrated got caught publishing fake, AI-generated articles and author profiles. Seriously. It’s not surprising that their parent company, The Arena Group, has an 'F' rating from the Better Business Bureau, with over 155 complaints filed against them in the last three years alone. If you're dealing with the fallout, like surprise charges or a subscription that just won't die, you're definitely not the only one. Common complaints flagged on the BBB site include relentless billing problems and terrible customer service. It's a mess. Official site: Visit Sports Illustrated
How to Complain About Sports Illustrated
Best ways to complain to Sports Illustrated
| Contact Method | Details & Availability | Why use this instead... |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1-888-806-4833 (M-F 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-5pm ET) | Best for urgent billing issues, but only if you have the patience for long hold times. |
| Online Contact Form | si.com/contact-us | Good for creating a paper trail of your complaint, but expect a slow, often automated, response. |
| The Arena Group, 200 Vesey Street, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10281 | Use this for formal, documented complaints. Just don't hold your breath for a quick reply. |
⏱️ Estimated Response Times from Sports Illustrated After Complaining
Immediate to never. Honestly, getting a response feels like a lottery.
| Method | Expected Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Phone | 30-60 minute wait, then immediate (if you get through) |
| Email / Online Form | 3-5 business days (for a first, often unhelpful, response) |
| 2-4 weeks (if ever) |
Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint
🔍 Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint
- Call during off-peak hours like mid-morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Avoid Mondays and lunch hours.
- Have all your details ready before you call or write. This includes your account number, the date of the charge, and any previous contact you've made.
- Be clear and concise. State exactly what the problem is and what you want (e.g., 'I was overcharged and I want a refund of $19.99').
How to Escalate Your Complaint
If customer service is giving you the runaround, it's time to escalate. Your best bet for a company like this is filing a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It's a non-profit that helps consumers and businesses resolve disputes. You can file a complaint online at BBB.org. It's free and creates public pressure on the company to respond. Filing with the BBB often gets a response, but prepare to wait. The Arena Group (Sports Illustrated's parent company) usually replies after a reminder or two, based on their complaint history.
Email Template to Complain to Sports Illustrated
Email Template to Complain to Sports Illustrated
Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Subscription Issue - Account [[Account #]]
I'm writing for the third time to resolve an issue with my Sports Illustrated subscription, account [[Account #]].
Despite contacting support on [[Date]], I was still charged [[$Amount]] on [[Date of Charge]]. Frankly, having to chase this down is incredibly frustrating and a complete waste of my time.
To resolve this, I require you to process a full refund of [[$Amount]] and provide written confirmation that my subscription has been permanently terminated.
If I don't receive a satisfactory response within 48 hours, my next step will be to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and initiate a chargeback with my bank.
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
- Use 'magic words'. On the phone or in an email, calmly mentioning that your next step is a 'chargeback' or a 'BBB complaint' can sometimes get you transferred to a retention specialist who has more power to issue refunds.
- Always ask for a reference number. For every single call or chat session, get a ticket or reference number. It creates a trail and proves you tried to resolve it with them first.
- Hang up, call again. Seriously. If you get an unhelpful agent, sometimes the best tactic is to end the call politely and try again. You might get someone better.
- Go public as a last resort. A user on Reddit mentioned they finally got a refund after publicly tweeting at the @SInow handle with their complaint details. It's a long shot, but can work when all else fails.
Let Pine AI Help Raise the Complaint to Sports Illustrated
Tired of the phone menu maze at Sports Illustrated? Or getting that same generic email reply over and over? Sound familiar? It’s exhausting. We’ve seen the BBB complaints and Reddit threads about how hard it is to just get a simple refund or cancel an account. Pine AI was built for this. We handle the annoying follow-ups and persistent pushback for you. No hold music, no email chains. Just give us the details and let us take over the fight.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sports Illustrated Complaint Filing
What if Sports Illustrated doesn't reply?
Can I escalate my complaint legally?
Are there lots of people leaving Sports Illustrated?
Is this the right phone number to contact Sports Illustrated?
What's the easiest way to cancel a subscription with Sports Illustrated?
Other ways that I can contact the Sports Illustrated?
Did Sports Illustrated really publish AI-written articles?
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.
