Consumer Reviews and Complaints
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BBEPerformance.com
BBEPerformance was holding a group purchase for a local car club based in Delaware. Ashley Brooke (last name unknown) owner of BBE talked
Hill Tire Center
I am a single parent of 4 so i apply and receive a firestone card so as a result i stated using hill tire against many people opinion of
Bran & Robles Builders Inc
This a company of make believe, they tell you all the amazing thing they can do when it comes to building a house and can not none of the
Vanessa Gray
Does everything look good on the outside but you feel as if something is missing? Are you hiding certain behaviors from peers and friends?
City Of Keyser
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Az ankle and foot specialist
Be aware of these 2 doctors. They gave me 145 steriod injections and 75 alcohol injections. The normal a is 3-9 shots. These shots killed
ArtsCow
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Plus500
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This complaint and/or review was posted on HolySmoke.org on 00:24 am, March 07, 2019 (CST) and is a permanent record located at: https://www.holysmoke.org/scam/iuniverse/.
The reviews & complaints posted about iUniverse was submitted by a member or guest on this website. Any and all opinions and information are published as is. HolySmoke.org does not edit or remove any aspect of the report and is simply a consumer grievance free-speech platform. As such, HolySmoke.org cannot be held liable for the complaints and reviews posted about iUniverse as per Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I am having a lot of problems with iuniverse and its poor services. Dealing with iuniverse is, like you said, very frustrating. I have one big problem after another in my dealings with them. When I thought all my troubles were over, I was shocked to recieve two test copies, which had terrible book covers. I have never seen a book with such a bad cover. The colours were all mixed up, and the text, plus cover photo were misplaced! The worst part of dealing with iuniverse is that they are rude and unprofessional. I have written to the vice president, CEO, and many consultants about the poor covers of my books, and they have all ignored me. I have even written to the CEO/ Vice presidents of authorssolution, and authors house, but they are all silent about the issue. And as if that were not bad enough, the only guy who had the courage to reply said that this was the first time they had ever had a problem like this!!! it is obvious that what iuniverse writes on its website, is miles apart from what it actually offers. i would not advise any writer to risk invest his money in iuniverse. I wonder why no one had sued it yet! Oscar Bamuhigire E mail: [protected]@yahoo
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I had an agreement with the Marketing Director to postpone my marketing/publicity campaign due to a circumstance beyond my control – litigation with a branch of the Canadian Provincial Government. My manuscript was completed in December 2015. Without my authorization, someone from iUniverse released it into the market in January 2016. I wasn”t ready. Since my project was live I signed up for the 3-month Online Newsmaker Program, to be paid in monthly installments. The MD knew my situation in Canada. We agreed that I could put my payments on hold until I was able to return. I am not in breech of a service agreement with iUniverse. In the interim, I maintained a monthly subscription for Author Solutions; I paid for that subscription for about 15 months. I recently cancelled my project with iUniverse altogether, as my situation has not changed. Unfortunately, the unauthorized release of my project went dead-in-the-water, because it was not promoted. I don”t hold the marketing director/department responsible for that piece. Only the individual that released my project without my authority. I don”t know who was responsible for that. I have contacted the MD, but have not gotten a response; however, I have had correspondence form staff at iUniverse that have informed me that my situation is known to the marketing department.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I have been away for a while now I’m ready to take down self publishing, it’s legal and brilliant. Join me if you got screwed by iuniverse/author house… I will provide you with all the details. You are not alone I have a seizable following. All of their tricks on screwing people will be exposed! Let Eugene Hopkins know what it is to live from pay check to pay check… Thank you so much C.D. McLeod [protected]@msn.com
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I just published a book through IUniverse. I am quite disappointed because of the “half truths” they present. I purchased the book buyers return package and found out I am the one that needs to go to the bookstores and try to get them to stock the book. Like I have time to do that. The editorial review was an outsource that used a cookie cutter approach. No one at IUniverse even read my book. I had multiple people as “Personal Sales Assistants” and was passed from person to person to person who most did not speak english. After spending several thousand dollars, I have a book that looks great, cost way too much, and likely won’t go anywhere. Why can’t someone just provide good service as advertised?
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I Know how they steal hard earned Royalites, from Authors, I”m getting Ready to sue… them ubeknown to them, it”s a shame you can”t trust these publishers today, as the saying goes I “Gotcha” you havent… changed not one bit. I have been receiving royalties for years then all of a sudden, I stopped getting Royalties, since 2015, then I checked to see why in 2018 after resetting a new password with them, I discovered they had gotten rid of all my direct deposit payment information, so where did the money go? So if I had gotten any sales, they had no where to send the money getting rid of all records of their stealing, so they kept it in a scam, I don”t know how much I”ve been ripped off for, but that”s why you go to court, I”ll see your [censored]”s soon trust me. Sincerely Yours, I”m coming for you Your [censored]!
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I paid $1000 for my book to be published by iuniverse. I spoke with an agent by the name eddie wright who told me I can take my time on whenever I am ready to start the book, he said even if it takes me more than 5years I can still come back and continue anywhere I stopped and if I decide not to write the book again, I will have my deposit refunded back at any time. I have never sent a manuscript to them or even a book title. Now, I am ready to start working on my book when they told me eddie wright is no longer in the office and I am attached to Denise Benefiel who told me they cannot publish a cookbook in colored formats. in my cookbook I have all full colors and full image of my catering. since they cannot publish a real cookbook with real photos instead of the black and white images. I asked them to refund my money back as stated but denise told me its more than 6 months and I will not be getting any refund back. this is not what I was told when I made my $1000 down payment. I need my refund back as promised. please help me
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I paid my money to IUniverse; theysaid they would produce my book. They said they needed me to change the cover because it was controversial and showed a parody depiction of a public figure. They provided me with a new cover I said cool. The new cover they provided included the controversial title. However they kept saying I had to make little changes to my text a little at a time. My first contact and payment was in September. They kept stringing me along for two months. They suggested I was going to need editorial services for another fee. I told them I did not need editorial services. They said ok we need you to change the cover and title in early December. They could have and should have told me in the beginning they could not produce my book because of the title of the book and the cover but they wanted to take my money and attempt to exploit more. They took my money and wasted my time before telling me. I have asked for a refund but they refuse to respond. They are very disreputatable and the worse thing is their intentional misleading.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I published a book with iUniverse in 1008. Received firest scheck. Had to call for second. Now have not received nor can gain information on my book in a year 1/2. Have a seond one ready, but need to know status before I do this again with this company. Iknow my book has been purchased by family and at least friends, and even adio overseas in Australia. I have been advised of none of this and cannot even access my account. No check has been sent. Yet I get e-mail everday for my next book (s). I hae some ready, but don’t know what’s going on with this company.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I published my novel with Iuniverse back in 2000. My book The Souls of Dumah is now available to order in Barnes & Nobel. And online at Amazon. It is available in hardcover paperback and as an Ebook. When I search my book online I find it for sale all over the world but in 12 years Iuniverse has paid me less than $20. Friends and family have bought over 50 copies over the years. And I have signed another 200. Yet my account reflects no sales. This publisher makes their money off of their authors, the money they make selling our books – they keep. Do not trust them and do not publish with them, They also call me all the time and try to sell me expensive marketing packages. One guy kept calling and said my book would make a great movie and for $900 he could promote it to Hollywood. A few questions and it was obvious that he had not read one word of my novel.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I published three books with iUniverse in 2000 and felt I got a great deal out of it. I know that my books are not commercially successful, but I am glad that they were published. Now all of a sudden 15 years later I am suddenly getting calls from what sounds like a boiler room trying to get me to purchase all sorts of new promotion material for the book. I was then sent a list of contacts that my release was sent to — the major media outlets in my area were not listed. I also have not gotten one media contact in three months. The book was written 35 years ago and published 15 years ago, and all of a sudden it becomes marketable? I first thought there was something to this but now I am suspicious. I will go with the book fair that I am supposed to be at in September (in Canada nonetheless – I live in Mississippi so there”s no way I can check it out), but after that I am not taking any more calls from them. I honestly am not sure about how they work now.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I published with IUniverse as I was very ill and did not think I had time to wait for a real publisher. They did the book (cover bad) and in 12 years I have not received a penny in royalties. They also hang on to the rights to the book. They are scammers and I would advise everyone who is thinking of going to them…think again. When I phoned about royalties they said I had $28 coming to me. I know of several people who bought the book and Amazon always had several used copies on their site. Run as fast as you can from these bloodsuckers. The woman on the phone told me I would get the $28 when they decided to send it.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I signed on with iUniverse with my eyes wide open: I had my cover professionally designed by another source, I utilized an outside proofreader, and paid extra for the “express” Premiere Pro package to ensure my book went to press in a timely fashion. As a result, my book was completed quickly and looks excellent. My complaint with iUniverse is regarding their atrocious customer service and all the details they don’t tell you on their website. Here’s a “writer beware” list of everything that has happened since the publication of my book: 1) iUniverse is unreachable by phone, without exception. I’ve been forced to leave multiple messages, which are only occasionally returned via email. 2) When I send a specific question to their general support email (don’t even think you’ll ever get a direct contact at this company), I receive a nonspecific response 24 hours later that doesn’t even come close to addressing my question. BONUS: when I resubmitted the same question three different times, I received three entirely different responses from three different people. 3) While their Booksellers Return Program is valuable and useful to get your book in stores, what they do not tell you is that is takes up to 60 days for it to go into effect. 4) Customer Service will tell you that it takes 45 days after your publication date to list your book with Books in Print. This is inaccurate – Books in Print takes 5 business days to list new titles when they’re submitted. The delay comes from iUniverse, who will not submit your book to BIP until after you have received your contracted promotional copies, and you won’t receive those until after you have reviewed your test copy. In my case, I still haven’t received my promotional copies, because the “Book Sales Consultant” that was assigned to me quit his job, and lied to me about sending the copies. It took two weeks for anyone to even get back to me about my lack of review copies, and I’m still not listed in Books in Print. 5) Your “Marketing Consultant” will not offer you valuable marketing suggestions. Mine only tried to upsell me outrageously priced publicity services and ad rates in their partner magazines. THIS IS UNNECESSARY. You can do everything they do and more to market your book yourself – just do your homework to find out how. 6) Beware of inappropriate behavior. I copied several of the “Publishing Services Associates” I’d worked with on an email to Customer Service begging for assistance. One PSA happened to click “reply all” and unwittingly copied me on a not-so-nice reply about whiny authors. 7) If you purchase the “see inside” Barnes & Noble feature, be aware that it can take B&N several months to post it. iUniverse will not tell you this up front. That’s my story to date. While I have absolutely no complaints about the quality of my book, I cannot abide by the shoddy customer service I have received post production. It is unconscionable. Should you decide to publish with iUniverse, be prepared to do EVERYTHING yourself, and expect no help along the way.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I signed up with iUniverse Publishing last 8th of July 2008 to get my manuscript get edited, and published professionally, affordably, and fast (per Get Published! Professionally, Affordable, Fast – a book written by Ms. Susan Driscoll, Author, President and CEOof iUniverse). My manuscript was submitted and accepted by iUniverse, Inc. after payment of the required fee and was assigned two personnel by the name of Liesl Shapker, my appointed Publishing Services Associated and Amy He, my appointed Publishing Consultant. I was informed that my manuscript would have to go through several stages, under 4 different authors, one author responsible for correcting grammar and spelling, one author responsible for ensuring it is in the right format, etc. After over 3 months has passed, I kept sending emails to Liesl Schapker on the status of my book. Then about the first week of Oct. 2008, I received a telephone call from one Eugene Hopskins that he was canceling my contract with iUniverse and get the money I paid for, be refunded. According to Eugene Hopkins, (He is the client services manager per Liesl Schapker) my manuscript was not the kind of story they would publish. I asked him why it took him over 3 months to decide and tell me that. Eugene was apologetic and said, “I”m sorry.” As per several e-mails from my assigned PSA, Liesl Schapker, the amount of $899.00 will be refunded. I have checked my bank for electronic transfer but there was no record of any transaction coming from iUniverse Publisher. iUniverse wasted my time for over 3 months and delayed my going over to another able and capable publishing company. It was a mental anguish for me to wait over 3 months and to be told that my manuscript was not the kind of story they wanted to publish.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I tried to order 50 books from iUniverse with what they called the Author Event Discount at 45%. The representative told me if I ordered 100 books, I could get a 50% discount. I told her I didn’t need them. She said I could order my other two books to equal 100 and get the discount. I asked her a couple of times if the 100 books could be books for the 50% discount. She said “yes” each time. I ordered the 50 plus 25 each of the other books, but when I got the invoice by email a few minutes later, I found out I was charged 50 books at 40% and 35% discount for each of the other. When I called back, I was informed the office was closed. When I finally got ahold of the representative, she told me that the order had already gone in to the publisher. I called my credit card to dispute the charge and will refuse the order when it arrives. Authors beware of the “bait and switch” at iUniverse. They do not do good business.
iUniverse Reviews & Complaints
I up – signed for a “premier pro package” with iuniverse and they have taken over two years to yet publish my book. I have had one of their “award winning” editors who edited my book (cathy witcamper), while transferring my call to another department condescedingly, telling them that “his book is not going to sell” while she knew I could her her. She read my book and didn’t like the content and must have smugly but incorrectly thought that by doing this that I was indecisive if my book wouls sell, and that making this comment would discourage me. She was wrong. I have a large group who can’t wait to get a copy, especially overseas, england, australia, viet nam, ect. Then under the first psa they assigned to me, my manuscript was altered to make me sound like a steppen fecthit stereotype (“I is comming”) and when I complained about that (by email) they told me she no longer works there anymore (she didn’t like the book either). They assigned me another psa, (this one is also an “award’ winner) andrea long” and for over two years she can’t get the book finished yet! The psa is supposed to guide through the process and I have told her countless times that I have never wrote a book before and that I am totally unaware about the process. I had just started teaching myself to type and use a pc. After I had completed the editing process, she asked me if the editing was correct. I had gotten to what she claimed was the “cover polish stage”. I told her what they did was good, but I still wanted to follow the editors suggestions to breakdown larger paragraphs only to find out the next day that I was denied access to my manuscript by iuniverse. I called andrea and she only then told me in retrospect (after the fact) that when you get to this stage you have to pay for any further changes! I protested to no avail, she told me that “it was too late” like it was some kind of a game, andd since I had many changes to make, it has cost me thousands of dollards to get it right! When I would make corrections to the manuscript ($100.00 for 25 corrections), I would check them and let her know if they were done right. Then when I was about to go to print again, I asked her about them making sure that the edits they did were good, since I had found (stumbled upon) mistakes they made and that I have all copies of everything they had ever gave me, and this is when she tells me that I am responsible for reviewing (proofreading) the whole 475 page book! I told her that I am not a proofreader, that if I were, then I wouldn’t have had to pay iuniverse to proof read the book. I told her that I only checked the edits they made at my request and that I shouldn’t have to proofread the rest of the book, because besides my corrections, it should still be the same as when iuniverse proofread it and if there are anymistakes they make that causes me to get sued, then they are responsible for that, not me! Then andrea does something real stupid in trying to influence my mind (just like cathy wittcamper did) that in all affect shoed me how stupid they are. She kept stressing to me that iuniverse is a “self-publishing” company, as if I were robotically supposed to all of a sudden, become stupid and interpet her saying the phrase “self – publishing” to think that it means that because I was self-publishing my book, that I am responsible “for their mistakes”. I told andera that when I was 25, I turned down a law scolarship that knowledge of the law runs in my blood, and that I have a sister who got a scolarship to vassar and is a partner in the largest corporate law fim in the world (plunkett & cooney – “the super lawyers”) who has practiced well over 25 years and never lost a single case in her life! I told andrea that when they do anything besides and go beyond just printing a ready-made book, and provide services like editing and proofreading that they are responsible for what they did, and that no business is exempt for what they do! I threatened to sue them. I decided to take my book to another publisher (but I haven’t told them yet), but I need to have it proofread again and needed to have it in a word document form (instead of a pdf doccument) and and told them that their rates were too high, and asked them for my manuscript in word. They gave me a word doccument that was unable to be processed and I went back and got another that was a little better, but is still unacceptable to the prooreaders still. They are trying to hold me as a hostage by giving me such an unacceptable version. All the people who have problems with iuniverse, need to come together and file a class-action suit against them! Contact me at ([protected]@verizon.net).