It's not just you. The Washington Post has over 111 complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau in the last three years, and their customer review score is a dismal 1.03 out of 5 stars. Seriously, their BBB page is a mess. If you're fed up with impossible cancellation loops, surprise billing charges, or a website that feels designed to keep you subscribed forever, you've come to the right place. Popular complaints flagged online constantly mention billing adjustments and major problems with cancelling a subscription. This guide is for when you've had enough and just want the problem fixed. Official site: Visit Washington Post
Best ways to complain to Washington Post
Trying to get a straight answer from The Washington Post can feel like a full-time job. Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to reach them, so you can pick the one that matches your level of patience.
Contact Method | Details & Availability | Why use this instead... |
---|---|---|
Phone | 1-800-477-4679. Live agents available Mon-Fri, 7 AM - 7 PM ET; Sat-Sun, 7 AM - 3 PM ET. | Best for urgent billing issues or when you need to speak to a human to confirm a cancellation. Prepare for potential hold times. |
Live Chat | Available via their online Help Center. Hours are typically Mon-Fri, 7 AM - 7 PM ET; Sat-Sun, 7 AM - 3 PM ET. | Good for getting a quick answer without having to talk on the phone. You can also save a transcript for your records. |
Contact Form | Available 24/7 through the Help Center on their website. | Use this for non-urgent issues or to create a paper trail. It's less direct, so don't expect an immediate resolution. |
⏱️ Estimated Response Times from Washington Post After Complaining
Immediate to 30 minutes, but honestly, it often feels longer.
Method | Expected Wait Time |
---|---|
Phone | 5 - 30 minutes (plus hold time) |
24 - 72 hours | |
Chat | 2 - 15 minutes |
App | N/A (redirects to website/chat) |
🔍 Tips to Get a Quicker Response from a Complaint
- Call during off-peak hours (like mid-morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday).
- Use the live chat feature instead of calling to avoid hold music.
- Have your account number, email, and billing address ready before you contact them.
How to Escalate Your Complaint
If customer service is giving you the runaround, it's time to escalate. Don't just give up. Your first step after getting nowhere with their support team is to file a formal complaint with an external body.
For a company like The Washington Post, your best bet is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can file a complaint online at BBB.org. The process is straightforward. You describe your issue, what you want as a resolution, and the BBB forwards it to a corporate contact at the company. The BBB process isn't fast, but a public complaint often gets a company's attention when private emails are ignored. Most companies, including The Post, are required to respond through the BBB platform. Just remember, you should always try to resolve it with them directly first, as the BBB will ask if you've already done that.
Email Template to Complain to Washington Post
Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Subscription Issue on Account [[Your Email Address or Account #]]
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing again to resolve an issue with my subscription. Despite my previous attempt to contact support on [[Date of last contact]], my problem remains unsolved, and frankly, my patience is wearing thin.
On [[Date of incident]], I was incorrectly billed [[$Amount]] for my subscription, even though I had already processed a cancellation. Having to chase this down and spend my time correcting your company's error has been incredibly frustrating.
To resolve this, I need you to process a full refund of [[$Amount]] to my original payment method immediately and provide written confirmation that my account has been successfully closed and will not be billed again.
If I do not receive a satisfactory response and confirmation of the refund within 48 hours, 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]]
Additional Helpful Tips to get Your Complaint Resolved
- Ask for a supervisor immediately. If the first-level support agent can't help, don't waste time repeating yourself. Politely but firmly ask to speak with a manager or supervisor.
- Request a reference number. For every call or chat, ask for a ticket or reference number. This creates a record and proves you contacted them.
- Use social media. A public post on X (formerly Twitter) directed at @washingtonpost can sometimes get a faster response from their social media team than the official support channels.
- Mention the BBB. One user on a forum noted that the agent's tone changed completely once they casually mentioned they were documenting the conversation for a potential BBB complaint. It shows you're serious.
Let Pine AI Help Raise the Complaint to Washington Post
Tired of navigating the Washington Post's website just to cancel or fix a billing error? Sound familiar? It’s a common story on Reddit and the BBB. Users complain about getting stuck in a loop, where the 'cancel' button seems to lead nowhere. It's frustrating.
Pine AI handles it for you. No more hold music, no more searching for hidden links, and no more wondering if your cancellation actually went through. We deal with the persistent follow-up and make sure the job gets done. It just saves you the headache. No joke.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington Post Complaint Filing

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.