Complain About Parallels - learn how to file a complaint

Trying to find a direct line to Parallels can feel like a wild goose chase. They really want you to use their forums or knowledge base first. Here’s how to cut through the noise.

Immediate to 72 hours, but honestly, each minute waiting for a fix feels like an eternity.

• Call during off-peak hours (e.g., mid-morning on a weekday, US time).
• Have your product key and account email ready before you start.
• Take screenshots of the error or billing issue. A picture is worth a thousand words.
• Be clear and concise in your first message. Don't write a novel, just state the problem and what you want.

If Parallels is giving you the silent treatment, it's time to make some noise elsewhere. Your first and best bet for a software company in the US is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Go to the BBB website, find Parallels Inc., and file a complaint. You'll describe your issue and what you want, and the BBB will forward it to a contact at the company. Parallels usually responds to avoid a black mark on their profile. BBB works, but prepare to wait. It's not an overnight fix.

For billing problems, don't forget your credit card company. If you were charged for a renewal you cancelled or a product that doesn't work, filing a chargeback is a powerful move. You typically have to do this within 60-120 days of the charge.

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Account [[Your Account Email]] - [[Ticket #, if you have one]]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve an issue with my Parallels subscription. Despite contacting support on [[Date of first contact]], my problem remains unsolved, and frankly, my patience is wearing thin.

On [[Date of incident]], [[describe the problem clearly, e.g., I was incorrectly billed $99.99 for an auto-renewal I had turned off, or my software stopped working after the latest macOS update]]. Having to spend my time chasing this down has been a significant and unnecessary frustration.

To resolve this, I require you to [[state your demand clearly, e.g., issue a full refund of $99.99 to my original payment method, or provide a working activation key for the version I purchased]].

Please be aware that if this is not resolved within the next 72 hours, my next step will be to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and initiate a chargeback with my credit card provider for the amount in question.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[[Your Name]]

• Ask for a supervisor immediately. If the first-level support agent is just reading from a script and not helping, politely but firmly ask to speak with a manager or a senior technician.
• Always get a reference number. Whether it's a chat, call, or email, ask for a ticket or case number. It's your proof that you contacted them and makes it easier to follow up.
• Mention the competition. Casually dropping that you're considering VMWare Fusion or another alternative can sometimes light a fire under them.
• Check Reddit for tactics. One user on the /r/macapps subreddit said they got a refund after the third follow-up email where they included the phrase "filing a complaint with the BBB." It seems to be a magic password.

Tired of navigating the Parallels support maze just to be told you need to buy an upgrade? Sound familiar? It's a common story on their Trustpilot page. Instead of wasting an afternoon trying to get a human on the line or waiting days for a generic email response, let Pine AI handle it. We draft the complaint, manage the follow-ups, and push for the resolution you deserve. No hold music. No endless email chains. Just give us the details and we'll take on the persistent pushback for you. Total headache, solved.