Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/30/2025

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Money Paid ******** dlls 01/29/2025 Just realize there is no cost for this Service, yet this person (employed or not) with this company, is using company information to scam people.

  Business response

  01/30/2025

  ******* ******* ****** ******** ****** ******* ********************* *************************************************************************************** ***  **** *********
  
  Dear Complaint Analyst,
  
  In response to the above referenced matter, please note the following:
  
  Since 1898, Marquis Whos Who has remained the standard for reliable and comprehensive biographical data. Each year, we strive to continue the tradition established by our founder, ****** ****** Marquis, over 126 years ago with the first publication of Whos Who in ******** 
  
  For clarity,there has never been a cost associated with inclusion in Marquis Whos Who.Biographies are included in our registry strictly on merit no one can buy or purchase a position, listing, or award from Marquis Whos Who. Naturally, there are fees associated with editorial and commemorative items, such as narrative content, books, plaques, specialized websites, and distribution services. There is never an obligation to purchase these types of items nor is it contingent upon inclusion.
  
  I can confirm the communication that *** ****** had with our submission director, **** ********, is legitimate and she is an employee with the real Marquis Whos Who.
  We received communication from *** ****** directly as well and did of course take the opportunity to reply and provide the necessary clarity of the same. He has acknowledged this.
  
  Nevertheless,in the interest of addressing any complaint expeditiously, and ask explained to *********************** credit card account has already been refunded in full and the services cancelled. Please see attached refund receipt for reference. In addition, *** ****** has been informed informed of the refund being issued. Please note, we have placed *** ****** on a Do Not Contact status.
  
  Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  
  Thank you,
  **** ********
  **************** *** ********** ********
  Marquis Whos Who
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In early December I was called by the company about being inducted into their database. At no time during the conversation did they say it could be done free and charged me over $1,200. When I began to research the company and found out that there should be no charge to be included, I reached out and requested a full refund, as I feel as I was tricked. The customer service rep said since I opened the email containing my account, that only a partial refund could be given to me. I asked her to delete the account, since I will not and have not used it since. She told me she could not and that I could only receive a partial refund. I find it difficult to imagine that the company in this day and age could not delete an account. Ive been fighting this charge with them and my credit card company for the past two months and will continue to do so. I was misled and refuse to believe that the account cannot be deleted and a full refund be returned. I would like the remaining $530.62 to be returned and am willing to fight this further if needed. A simple ****** search of the company will tell you everything you should know.

  Business response

  02/15/2024

  ******** *** **** ****** ******** ****** ******* ************ ******** ***************************************************************** ***  **** * ********
  
  Dear Complaint Analyst,
  
  In response to the above referenced matter, please note the following:
  
  Please be advised, there has never been a cost associated with inclusion in Marquis Whos Who. Biographies are included in our registry strictly on merit no one can buy or purchase a position, listing, or award from Marquis Whos Who.Naturally, there are fees associated with editorial and commemorative items,such as narrative content, books, plaques, specialized websites, and distribution services. There is never an obligation to purchase these types of items nor is it contingent upon inclusion.
  
  ********************* spoke to one of our representatives on December 12, 2023 and opted to move forward with available products and services upon his induction.
  
  Part of the program that ********************** opted for included access to our Marquis Biographies Online database. These credentials were created and personalized for him upon his decision to move forward at the time and were included within his congratulatory materials sent via email on December 15, 2023. Our records indicate that this material was accessed and downloaded from our portal on which is was sent by.  Please see attached screenshot showing the activity retrieving the information where the credentials are included within and also showing his login activity with the credentials thereafter.
  
  On December 22, 2023 ********************** reached out to our customer service department stating he does not need the products and services he had opted to purchase and was under the impression it was all free of charge. At that time, the customer service representative clarified what the cost was connected to (as explained above) along with explaining that we have already personalized part of the program components that were sent. As a result, he had agreed to a partial refund while removing the part of the program that was not yet completed or sent yet. The refund of the agreed amount was issued that same day.
  
  On January 25, **** we received a dispute for the balance from *** ********** financial institution claiming the remaining items that were kept intact were cancelled. Again, ********************** had received his personalized credentials already.  A customer service representative reached out to him upon receiving the dispute and we responded to the credit card company accordingly. We have since received notification that the credit card company ruled in our favor and as such; we are unable to touch those funds for 45 business days from the ruling which would be ***** 11,****; this is in accordance to **************** rules and regulations in order to issue a refund to **********************.  Nevertheless, if *** ********************* contacts **************** to re-dispute the charge, we will certainly accept it in an effort to comply.
  
  Please note, we would also like to come to a resolution and satisfy **********************. We will happily reimburse ********************** on the calculated date indicated above unless we receive notification that the balance of the charge has been re-disputed by him prior to that date.  
  
  Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  
  Best regards,
  
  *************************
  ******** ******* *** ********** ******** ******* **** *** ****************************** **** **************
  

  Customer response

  02/15/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

   Most of the information is correct, however I did not agree to the refunded amount; as I had no choice since I was told a full refund could not occur; make sure to upload that recorded conversation as well. Furthermore, it was never brought to my attention during the initial call that the induction was free.  
  

  I will continue to dispute this charge, especially after reading all the negative reviews about how this company misleads the consumer.  I understand that a plaque was part of my package and that was received, so I will be more than happy to pay for that, but like any other purchase, if the consumer is not satisfied, they are able to return it.  I ask that my account be deleted, because I find it ridiculous that it cannot be and see if a resolution can occur regarding the remaining amount.

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Customer response

  02/16/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  The charge will no longer be disputed by the request of Marquis Whos Who, however, I do not mind paying for the plaque as stated.  With the removal of my account, which I was told prior it could not be removed, I would like to know what the refunded amount will be, so I can explain the situation to *****************  
  

  I standby my comment of being misled as it was never discussed that the induction could be free, only after I contacted the company about a full refund, was when I was told it was free.

  I do appreciated the quick responses by the company and would like this resolution in writing via email if possible so I can close this complaint.

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Business response

  02/16/2024

  ******** *** **** ****** ******** ****** ******* ************ ******** ***************************************************************** ***  **** * ********
  
  Dear Complaint Analyst,
  
  In response to the above referenced matter, please note the following:
  
  The amount that we will expect to be re-disputed and accepted is $530.62. To confirm, when you contact ***************** that is the amount you will want to contest again; as a refund of $700.00 was issued already.
  
  The plaque was sent to you complimentary and therefore you did not pay for it. As a result there is no payment necessary nor requested regarding that item. We will remove your data from our database and cancel the access the database; which as explained earlier is what we incur cost with upon creation and why it was explained as such.
  
  Of course, we do not want you or any listee for that matter to feel misled and we do hope that the additional clarification was helpful. Additionally, we do record all of our calls for quality assurance purposes and the initial call will be reviewed to determine where the misunderstanding may have stemmed from.
  
  Per your request, we will also send this copy to you via email for your records accordingly.
  
  
  
  
  Best regards,
  
  *************************
  ******** ******* *** ********** ******** ******* **** *** ****************************** **** **************
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I want to express my profound disappointment with Marquis Who's Who. In July 2023, I was approached on LinkedIn for the "prestigious" online biographer program. I agreed to an interview, expecting a unique opportunity for my business.However, the reality was starkly different. The interview process, supposedly selecting me for a beneficial program, led to an inadequately written biography that misrepresented my professional achievements.The unethical practices exacerbated when I felt pressured into an immediate financial commitment. The representative insinuated that delaying my decision might lead to losing this exclusive opportunity, a high-pressure sales tactic that is both unethical and unacceptable.The promised article was never delivered. Instead, I received follow-up communications demanding additional payments for initially promised services.This experience has left me deeply dissatisfied and frustrated. I was deceived and taken advantage of by a company that fails to deliver on its promises. I demand a thorough investigation and resolution Full Refund: I expect a refund for the misrepresented services that were never delivered as promised Clear Explanation: I request a detailed explanation for the vast discrepancies between the promises made during the interview and the actual services provided Immediate Cancellation of Charges: I insist on the immediate cancellation of any additional charges or services not explicitly agreed upon Review of Sales Practices: Marquis Who's Who must review and improve its sales practices to ensure transparency, honesty, and ethical conduct in future interactions I anticipate a prompt and professional response from Marquis Who's Who. Failure to address this matter adequately may lead me to explore legal avenues to seek restitution for the financial losses incurred due to your organization's actions I trust you take this complaint seriously, and I expect appropriate measures will be taken to rectify the situation.

  Business response

  01/04/2024

  ******* ** **** ****** ******** ****** ******* ************ ******** ***************************************************************** ***  **** * ********
  
  Dear Complaint Analyst,
  In response to the above referenced matter, please note the following:
  Since 1898, Marquis Whos Who has remained the standard for reliable and comprehensive biographical data. Each year, we strive to continue the tradition established by our founder, ************************* Marquis, over 125 years ago with the first publication of Whos Who in America. 
  **************** spoke to one of our representatives on July 25,2023 and opted to move forward with available products and services upon his induction. The article **************** is referring to was not included in the particular services he had agreed to at the time.  What he did opt for is the access to our Marquis Biographies Online database along with a commemorative wall plaque.  Please note that **************** has the ability to log in to view and edit his biographical profile where he can edit it as needed with his access. It is a natural part of the process for edits or adjustments to be required.
  On August 29, 2023, **************** spoke with his branding specialist,who typically reaches out to update information, make sure anything that should have been received to date has been and inform listees of any selections into our specialty series. Additional services that are available would be explained at this time. Please note, once an individual is inducted, it is possible to be chosen for additional honors that have corresponding services. There is obviously no obligation to move forward with the additional products and services presented by the branding specialist.
  
  Of course, we do record all of our calls for quality assurance purposes.Based on the provided feedback, the calls will be reviewed.
  
  Please be advised, we do not process any charges without authorization nor is there anything additional that would ever be billed automatically.
  
  Nevertheless, in the interest of addressing any complaint expeditiously, ****************** credit card account has now been refunded in full and the services cancelled. Please see attached refund receipt. Additionally, we have placed **************** on a Do Not Contact and Do Not Publish status.
  Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  
  Thank you,
  *************************
  **************** and Compliancy Director
  Marquis Whos Who

  Customer response

  01/04/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On August 7, 2023, I agreed to purchase a "legacy package" with Marquis Who's Who after a lengthy conversation with ***************************, Account Director. At the beginning of our conversation, I told her that I did not have the funds to pay for marketing, and she assured me it wasn't a sales call and that Marquis Who's Who never asks for payment. However, after a lengthy "interview," she revealed that it would cost over $1K to be included in Who's Who (I don't recall the initial price). Feeling pressured and embarrassed (which I now recognize is the strategy of these predatory sales practices), I agreed to pay a total of $1,230.62, because I felt like I had no choice even though I have only just started my business and I do not have any extra funds to spend on so-called advertising.To add insult to injury, ******************** called me again several times this past week, claiming that she had a few follow-up questions. To avoid any further solicitations, I returned her call at the end of a very long work day on 9/14/23 (5:22 p.m.). She proceeded to ask me increasingly personal and detailed questions about my life, career, and even my children and husband! She never explained the reason why until the end of our 30 minute phone call when she told me I was chosen to be the "focus" of a "chapter" on the website and exaggerations. Then came the climax when she said, "...and in order to proceed, I will be charging $2500 to the credit card we have for you on file, ending in...." I was appalled. I said no, I cannot spend that money. Then it was a demand for $1K, and when I declined it was a demand for $400. When I told her I did not have the funds because I already paid them money I did not have and DID NOT WANT to spend, she was obviously annoyed and immediately hung up. I fear that this business will continue to harass me and demand payment for questionable "services." It should be explicit from the outset that this service IS NOT FREE and I should receive a refund.

  Business response

  09/19/2023

  ******* **** *** ********* *** **** ****** ******** ****** ******* ************ ******** ***************************************************************** ***  **** * ********
  Dear Complaint Analyst,
  In response to the above referenced matter, please note the following:
  Since 1898, Marquis Whos Who has remained the standard for reliable and comprehensive biographical data. Each year, we strive to continue the tradition established by our founder, ************************* Marquis, over 125 years ago with the first publication of Whos Who in America. 
  For clarity, there has never been a cost associated with inclusion in Marquis Whos Who. Biographies are included in our registry strictly on merit no one can buy or purchase a position, listing, or award from Marquis Whos Who. Naturally, there are fees associated with editorial and commemorative items, such as narrative content, books, plaques, specialized websites, and distribution services. There is never an obligation to purchase these types of items nor is it contingent upon inclusion.
  
  ********************** opted to move forward with available products and services upon her induction. She did receive and approve of the content that was sent to her for review. Please be advised, *************************** was her assigned branding specialist, who typically reaches out to update information, make sure anything that should have been received to date has been and inform listees of any selections into our specialty series. Please note, once an individual is inducted, it is possible to be chosen for additional honors that have corresponding services. There is obviously no obligation to move forward with the additional products and services presented by the branding specialist.
  
  Of course, we do record all of our calls for quality assurance purposes. Based on the provided feedback, the call will be reviewed. Again, our products and services are optional and our representatives are to present it as such along with explaining the corresponding benefits.
  
  Nevertheless, in the interest of addressing any complaint expeditiously, *** ********** credit card account has now been refunded in full and the services cancelled. This was also communicated to her upon her outreach to us directly yesterday. Please see attached refund receipt. Additionally, we have placed ******************** on a Do Not Contact and Do Not Publish status.
  Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  
  Thank you,

  ************************* **************** *** ********** ******** ******* **** ***

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩