Business Profile

Publishers Periodicals

Lee Enterprises Incorporated

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Lee Enterprises Incorporated's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

Customer Complaints Summary

130 total complaints in the last 3 years.
56 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

Initial Complaint
Date:07/17/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Have been trying to cancel an online subscription for months. Through my Bank, a charge was credited back to the account, and a block was put on any further charges. The ******* then started billing me by paper invoice, and continues to accumulate an amount due, although I got through to them several months ago, and they said they were canceling with a zero balance. They are still billing for $59.15.
Business Response
Date: 07/17/2025
We wrote off $39.16. The collection calls and bills will stop. The $59.15 mentioned in the complaint includes the next subscription renewal of $19.99. Since the account has been cancelled and payments were charged back, $39.16 is the only amount to be waived.

Customer Answer
Date: 07/21/2025

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.

Sincerely,

******** ********
Initial Complaint
Date:07/07/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I subscribed to *********** online in February 2025. 6 months for $1.00. I cancelled my subscription well before the 6 months had expired. Starting June 2025, I am being billed $19.99/month for a subscription I no longer have. I contacted my credit union about the charges, and thats when I found out that the business was *** Enterprises. They have many Midwest newspapers.*** tried calling and emailing the company, and I have gotten no responses.
Business Response
Date: 07/08/2025
The account was cancelled 7/7/25 and request submitted for refund of $39.98. Please allow up to 4 weeks to be received.

Initial Complaint

Date:06/26/2025

Type:Product Issues

Status:

Resolved

Resolved:: The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:: The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:: The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:: The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:: BBB is unable to locate the business.

I have been charged for months and I cannot find a place to unsubscribe or cancel a subscription. Their website has no information other than a list of newspapers any of which I could have visited at some point, but no way to know what I am subscribed to. This company uses shady business practices and fraudulent advertising to get people who wish to access small town newspapers to pay $1 to read an article, then quickly changes that amount to almost $30 per month with no clear way to unsubscribe or cancel. I have requested a full refund and will NEVER visit one of these newspaper's sites again, despite living here and wanting to access the news-it's not worth it. *** Enterprises is a scam and no one should do business with them.

Business Response

Date: 06/30/2025

Ms. Johnson has subscribed five times to Lee Nebraska publications. A full refund of $281.85 isn’t due. When the call center receives refund requests, subscribers are advised that digital only accounts do not receive refunds per Terms and Conditions https://journalstar.com/terms and agreed to during online signup. If the subscriber escalates, a courtesy refund for the last 3 payments will be issued. In this case, that would be the last 3 payments @ $89.97. Please let me know if you'd like Lee to issue this refund.

Account: 276385 / Lincoln Journal Star 9/29/20. Email address: [email protected]

She called in on 02/01/21 to cancel her subscription due to no longer be interested. She then subscribed for $1 on 08/30/23. She contacted customer service 10/13/23 regarding technical issues with her online account. She was given 6 months free. The subscription was terminated 2/29/24; the associated credit card is no longer visible.

Account: 5327023 / Grand Island Independent 10/6/21. Email address [email protected] / [email protected]

Three payments were received (4/4/22, 7/10/22, 10/3/23), two payments were declined (7/4/22, 1/2/23). The credit card ended 8255. The subscription was ultimately terminated 2/3/23 due to non-payment and $16.80 was written off.

Account: 6385146 / Kearney Hub 8/30/23. Email address [email protected] / [email protected]

Four payments were received (2/26/24, 3/25/24, 4/23/24 and 5/24/24), one payment was declined (6/24/24). The credit card ended 5249. The subscription was ultimately terminated due to non-payment and $41.55 was written off.

Account: 303781 / Lincoln Journal Star 10/13/23. Email address: [email protected]

This subscription was active at the time of the complaint. Payments were made with PayPal. There are no notes that she called to cancel.

Date	Amount
4/5/2024 23:00	$10.99
5/6/2024 23:00	$10.99
6/5/2024 23:00	$10.99
7/6/2024 23:00	$10.99
8/5/2024 23:00	$10.99
9/12/2024 23:00	$10.99
10/12/2024 23:00	$20.99
11/12/2024 23:00	$20.99
12/12/2024 23:00	$20.99
1/12/2025 23:00	$20.99
2/20/2025 9:31	$20.99
3/12/2025 23:00	$20.99
4/12/2025 23:00	$29.99
5/12/2025 23:00	$29.99
6/12/2025 23:00	$29.99

Total:	$281.85

Account: 6617752 / Grand Island Independent 6/20/24. Email address [email protected] / [email protected]

Payment 12/18/24 for $14.99 was declined. The credit card ended 9835.

The subscription was terminated due to non-payment and $31.15 was written off.

Customer Answer

Date: 06/30/2025

Complaint: 23519355

I am rejecting this response because: I do request the refund proposed. Lee Enterprises does not give a clear method for unsubscribing, and the numerous complaints against it in addition to mine support that statement. Their website is not helpful and each individual newspaper website does not make it clear how to unsubscribe or request a refund.

Sincerely,

Kaci Johnson

Business Response

Date: 07/01/2025

We have submitted the refund request for $89.97. Please allow up to 6 weeks for the refund to be received by PayPal.

Customer Answer

Date: 07/01/2025

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 23519355, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

Kaci Johnson

Initial Complaint
Date:06/23/2025
Type:Product Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
*** Enterprises has been taking money out of my ****** account for at least 6 months $14.99 each payment, Pay pal will not do anything they say to call *** Enterprises which I did, they said they could not pull up my account without the name of a magazine, I said I have not signed up for any magazine-he says let me talk to my manager-he comes back and says tell the ****** to cancel any remaining subscription payments, Now as of June 21, 2025 they charged me again, ****** keeps telling me to call them, I said I already have they said to refund me, please help, ***** ******
Business Response
Date: 06/24/2025
We've terminated the account.
She subscribed to the La Crosse Tribune on 08/31/24 using the $1/26 weeks promotion. The subscription renewed for an additional term at the rate in effect at the time of renewal - $14.99 per terms and conditions ***************************************;
The 06/01/25 payment was disputed and charged back to the subscriber. The 6/20/25 payment will be refunded.
Initial Complaint
Date:06/16/2025
Type:Product Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Last year I ordered a paper on line it was a dollar for 6 months. In march this year they took ***** from my account, then they took it again in April and may, I tried three times on line to cancel this. I called and was told he would take care of cancel, (customer service) and wait two weeks for refund of *****: two weeks later I called again and was told it is 2 to 4 weeks, called again was told 6 weeks, now 6 weeks and nothing. How to I get my money back? Any and all help appreciated. Thank you
Business Response
Date: 06/17/2025
We submitted the request for $44.97 refund. The timeframe for refunds back to cards is up to 4 weeks.
Customer Answer
Date: 06/17/2025

Complaint: 23468799

I am rejecting this response because: My original call was on 05/05/25 and as of today it has been 7 weeks, this is 3 weeks over the 4 weeks.

Sincerely,

Helen Dubois
Business Response
Date: 06/30/2025

These were refunded on 06/17/25, showing on the account 06/20/25. She should've already received the refund back to her VISA card

Customer Answer
Date: 06/30/2025

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 23468799, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,

Helen Dubois
Initial Complaint
Date:05/19/2025
Type:Product Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
The business ********** Quality Construction was contacted with an offer to advertise by this company, The offer was declined. We are now receiving a bill for the service. I have tried to contact *** Advertising and the ****************** on multiple occasions. Depending on the phone number I have called there is either no answer after letting it ring for quite sometime, or I get voicemail. I have left at least 3 voicemails and have received no response. The original statement was for $44.95, this month they have added $10.00 for a paper statement fee. There should be no charges to the company at all as stated above this service was declined!
Business Response
Date: 05/29/2025
A credit was issued C27485 and I have requested finance remove the ppr fee of $10 bringing the account balance to zero.
Customer Answer
Date: 05/29/2025

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.

Sincerely,

******* ****
Initial Complaint
Date:05/16/2025
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Although I have asked the ******* to stop calling me(phone)and sending me e-mails trying to sell me a subscription/service of the newspaper, they continue to phone and send me e-mails. Also, they have enrolled me in their e-newsletter program without my consent. I have told them repeatedly I want no contact, none of these services. I've tried to block their e-mails, but that hasn't worked. Also, one of their phone representatives said the newspaper has carriers in my neighborhood(****************, **). And I was promised a subscription price for a PRINTED(not on internet/computer) newspaper of $13.87 a month. That's for seven papers, Monday through Sunday, each and every week. That's impossible. My last subscription renewal for that service cost me more than $250 for six months. That included a tip for my then-carrier. The ******* did away with all delivery to the customer's driveway more than a year ago. My carrier sent me a personal note explaining this, saying he could no longer deliver the paper to me. That hasn't changed, so the above information given to me over the phone by the ******* representative was a lie.I just want the Winston-Salem ******* people to leave me alone. I'm very tired of all this. Whatever you can do to help me would be greatly appreciated.
Business Response
Date: 05/21/2025
****** has been unenrolled from all newsletters and his information has been placed on our DNC lists (phone, email, mail).
Initial Complaint
Date:04/15/2025
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have been paying for E edition Paper and since February 4 have not been able to read paper. They say they are having problems so I called customer service twice and they said they cannot help me just be patient they are working on it. I then called last month 2 Executives ***** ****** twice no response **** ***** twice no response. I have beyond patient and been paying with no results. I just want to read the Paper and receive credit for months not able to read .
Business Response
Date: 04/15/2025
Will apply credit for $15 to the account. The digital manager will reach out to get him back being able to read the e-edition. The manager will reach out by email and it'll come from *****************************************
Initial Complaint
Date:04/09/2025
Type:Product Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I canceled my ************ subscription on May 13, 2024. I have an email from a *** customer service *** confirming that my subscription was canceled. Since then, my credit card has been charged multiple times (charges dates and amounts listed below). I was able to have some refunded by my credit card company, but I haven't been able to have the ones below refunded. I have been exchanging emails with their customer support for over a month and they confirmed they will refund them, but I haven't received the refunds. I would like to be refunded for these. July 8, 2024: ***** July 9, 2024: ***** July 10, 2024: *****
Business Response
Date: 04/14/2025
Two charges for $25.99 (total $51.98) were requested to be refunded on 04/02/25 due to an escalation received from the call center. Timeframe to receive the refund is about 3 weeks.

Weve requested a refund for the third $25.99 charged in January 2025. Please allow at least 3 weeks for receipt.
Customer Answer
Date: 04/14/2025

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.

Sincerely,

********* *******
Initial Complaint
Date:04/08/2025
Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I've attempted several times over the course of the past few months via email, and calling the support line to cancel my subscription. I received email responses saying their system was down and to try back later. The phone number provided didn't connect to anyone. The on-line chat bot kept trying to sell me other services to keep my subscription active after repeated requests to cancel. I've been being charged for 12 months and their rates keep going up
Business Response
Date: 04/12/2025
A refund request has been submitted $63.98, please allow 4 weeks for processing.

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Lee Enterprises Incorporated is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.