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Business Profile

Media Consultant

Community Media Solutions

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Media Consultant.

Complaints

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Complaint Details

Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.

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Complaint Status
Complaint Type
  • Complaint Type:
    Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    January 5, 2023 I was approached by ******************* *************) representing Community Media Solution (***************************************************************************** number:**************), to purchase an advertisement in a school folder that would be distributed in a local school ********************** *********,**) for $1,000.00.As we got closer to the *********** dates, I asked for a proof....it took until the very last minute and many texts, emails, and calls and finally I received the proof.Then after school started I again asked for a proof of advertisement, a hard copy, etc. Again after many texts, calls, and emails I was informed the following on Aug 18, 2023 "Good morning. I spoke with my manager and he told me that during the final proofing process with our printer we received our ad proof to approve for printing when this was received we had noticed that the whole right half of the folder was pixelated due to the hyperlinks not being connected to the actual ads themselves during the exporting process this caused all of of the sponsorship ads to be pixelated. We have fixed this issue and have resubmitted for the final proofing process. We apologize for this unforeseen delay He also told me to tell that your Ad next year will be comped for any inconvenience you may have had" I asked for a refund b/c the impact of a back to school ad was lost. He agreed to send it and directed me to the ****************** ************. Again, more calls, emails, and texts only to be told it was mailed, which is untrue bc I never received. Then they said it was re mailed, and over 3 weeks later, still no refund. I want my $1000.00 back ASAP.Thank you,*************************

    Customer response

    10/06/2023

    Refund request initiated in August 2023

    Customer response

    10/06/2023

    Text w the company representative regarding the refund that has will not arrived. Request was initiated in August 2023.

    Customer response

    10/20/2023

    October 20, 2023

    PLEASE CALL ME TO DISCUSS ************ *************************

    Today I contacted **************************** *************). This is the school that was supposed to distribute the folders with our advertising. The school informed me that they use a local company ****************************, owned by ************************* *************) and have not heard of Community Media Solutions *************) *****************************************************************.

    Then I googled Community Media Solutions (community media solutions)  and found they have a 1 star rating....the reviews attached below are the same story in my complaint. They took money did not produce the goods, then have not refunded the money. 

    ********************************* (******************************************************************)

    Local Guide198 reviews392 photos (******************************************************************)

    3 weeks agoNEW
    I guess, I am another victim. It was great to get my money, once I paid, I am still waiting. The art proof took forever and now there are no folders, called school, they have no idea what I am talking about. I tried to reach out to Phil ********************************************* (******************************************************************)

    Local Guide35 reviews9 photos (******************************************************************)


    a month ago

    This company is a COMPLETE FRAUD BEWARE!!!!!! Do not pay for advertising with them. I do not have the time or energy to type out pages and pages worth of details of my bad experience but long story short we paid for advertising that was NEVER produced.

    Please escalate this claim to the ****** ****** Attorney General, this company is a scam.

    Receipt From Community Media ******************************************************************************************************************** Kitchen 
    January 10, 2023 

    Product Total
    ****************************(Inside) $1,100.00
    Discount:  $150.00 
    Total: $950.00 
    Paid $950.00 
    Thank you for choosing Community Media Solution 

    If you have any questions about your account or need anything please reach out to *************************** or by email: *******************
    Community Media Solution 
    ***********************************************************************;
    ************** 
    Please respond with "----->CONFIRM<-----" By Accepting your Quote you agree to be bound by the following terms and agreements : 
    (1)Contained in this contract is the entire agreement between the sponsor and Community Media Solution. 
    (2) Community Media Solution will not be held liable for the agreements verbal or otherwise not contained herein. (3) Community Media Solution's liability is limited to the amount of the total sale.(4) All orders must be paid in full within 30 days.(5) If no artwork has been sent in and approved by the time the folder is completed and ready to print,(6)Community Media Solution has permission to create artwork for the client. (7)The duration of the sponsorship begins when the ad is delivered to the host. The folders will be delivered when the spots are full and all artwork is completed(8). Any unpaid amount, per contract, gives Community Media Solution the right to withhold delivery of an ad to the host. (9) Unless written notice is given to Community Media Solutions to discontinue your advertisement 3 Months prior to the renewal date, the advertisement shall automatically renew. 
    ALL SALES ARE FINAL 
    CANCELLATIONS: These are to be requested in written form and emailed to ****************************;within 24 hours of the purchase. A $75 processing fee will be deducted from the refund. 
    For questions please call: ************* 

     

  • Complaint Type:
    Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    This week I decided that enough was enough to be taken advantage of. I am another victim. It was great to get my money, once I paid, I am still waiting. The art proof took forever and now there are no folders, called school, they have no idea what I am talking about. I tried to reach out to ******************* who finally told me he was just on "the sales side" and nothing he could do. I asked for the manager's email, but only have his first name, ****. I just sent a second email requesting a full refund. This is very upsetting!
  • Complaint Type:
    Order Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    We paid to advertise with this company. They never printed the ad. They completely ghosted me and will not respond but are shrugging off responsibility.
  • Complaint Type:
    Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Our business was contacted by Community Media Solution offering advertising space in a student booklet for ************************** in ************. This sounded great and would get our business lots of exposure. So we purchased the ad for $1,100. Now we can not get a hold of anyone at the company. I have called ******************* and they have confirmed they do not work with Community Media Solutions. They are calling local businesses pretending to offer fake ad space for local schools. Then they disappear. This is pure evil.Please help! Let me know if you need additional information.Community Media Solution ******************************************************************* ************ *******************

    Customer response

    05/01/2023

    Hello,

     

    I am writing to you to make you aware of a company" called Community Media Solution. They are a criminal organization operating a multi-state scam operation which I am a victim. Since making my initial report with the Better Business Bureau, I have discovered additional information. I have also filed a police report with my local police department here in Orange County, **********. I have also reported this fraudulent company to the FBIs Internet ********************** and the ************************* Please see attachment for details.

     

    I hope that you will be able to put a significant warning label on this fraudulent company so that we can prevent future victims of Community Media Solution. Thank you for your help!

     

    Sincerely,

     

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

     

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

  • Complaint Type:
    Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Community Media Solution reached out to me about advertising my business in the real estate folder and with the yearly cost of $395 in 2022 which seems reasonable and I went along with it but after a couple of months passed by there we no response from them regarding if they published my ads in the folders. A year after struggling to get answers from them I found out from the real estate agent that our ads never made it to the folder and on top of they recharged my credit card. I am having a hard time getting a response from them to get my money back. This is a scam.
  • Complaint Type:
    Order Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    On September 27, 2022, we were billed ****** by Community Media Solutions. I called the company at ************. A Mr. ******************* called back and advised he was the *** and would investigate and call me back, he NEVER called back. When I spoke to him, I advised him the business he billed was sold in June of 2021 and that I would provide him with the name and number of the new owner to see if they were interested in continuing with the contract. I also asked him for a copy of a contract. The previous owner advised he did not have a copy of the contract. I advised ************** of this and also told him that we needed a copy of the contract to ensure it was cancelled and that the amount refunded, and I would pass the information to the new owner and ensure it was cancelled. I called on 9/28/2022 @ 2:45 and 2:55 pm, on 10/6/22 @ 1:31pm, 10/7/2022 @ 4:30pm, 10/13/2022 @ 2:**** and left messages and they never returned the call to address the issue. We filed a complaint with the credit card company and Community Media Solutions fought it and won, and we still have been refused a copy of the contract and have zero clue about the advertising, who is using it and what was listed. We sold the business in June 2021, and they refuse to listen, refund or provide a copy of the contract. We are also sending a complaint to the federal trade commission.
  • Complaint Type:
    Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    I was charged $295.00 in June 2022 for an ad in the local ***** school. I never asked for the ad and called them to cancel any further charges. They told me it was too late to cancel the charge, I told them to cancel any further charges. They just charged me again another $295.00. I have no idea what they are charging me for. I want a cancellation of any further charges going forward and a credit for the current charge.
  • Complaint Type:
    Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    I was contacted in December 2021 about the offer to place my business information (real estate) in an ad for the local elementary school's take-home folders. This is my own son's school and I thought it would be worth the $395 they were selling the spot for. I thought someone would contact me later in the spring/summer to verify artwork for the ad, but was never contacted. I thought instead they were using stock imagery and pulled my photo from my business site. When my son brought home his take-home folder and I realized my ad was not in it, I called the number for the company. I've left two messages over the past week and have not heard from anyone. Reading the other reviews it's clear now that this is a fraudulent company, and so frustrating that I will likely be closing my credit card account and opening a new one so that I don't have additional charges come up like other reviewers have stated.
  • Complaint Type:
    Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Community Media Solution is selling ads that are supposedly going into school homework folders. Their sales reps put on a good pitch making it sound like a good deal. Once they collect your credit card information, they continue to make charges several times a year, at random intervals so they are difficult to detect. A simple phone call to the school will tell you that these homework folders do not exist and the school has never done business with Community Media Solution. Since 2018 they have defrauded my small business out of $5925.00. They do not answer their phones or return calls or emails. When I contacted my credit card company, Community Media Solution submitted a fake and fraudulent proof document to back up their fraudulent charges, so they are attempting to defraud the credit card companies as well when customers initiate a chargeback. Community Media Solution is clearly a fraudulent company running a scam operation.

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