Complaints

This profile includes complaints for UAC Advertising Specialists's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  UAC Advertising Specialists

  Arlington, TX 76006-6879

• 

  UAC Advertising Specialists

  1053 Cave Springs Blvd Cottleville, MO 63376-6432

• 

  Universal AdCom

  5010 22nd Ave Moline, IL 61265

• 

  UAC Advertising Specialists

  1053 Cave Springs Blvd Saint Peters, MO 63376

• 

  Universal AdCom

  2728 W Central Park Ave Davenport, IA 52804

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:07/16/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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.

  This company engaged in predatory sales tactics to try to sell my business "tote bags" with our logo on them distributed at a local community market. After calling multiple offices and being told no by multiple employees, they got in touch with my practice manager who was confused and inadvertently agreed to being charged for this service, despite multiple other employees telling them to contact the owner (me) or flat out no. The company did not attempt to contact me and instead took my practice managers word and proceeded with the service. After a lengthy phone call the company agreed to settling the nearly $900 charge for $500. I agreed as a court battle would have been more costly, but I do NOT agree I should have paid this amount of money for a service I never would have agreed to in the first place. After speaking to my partner and lawyers they agreed this was predatory sales tactics and highly unethical. I settled to avoid a court battle for only $500 but again, I do not believe I should have had to pay anything to this company.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/16/2025

  *** has reviewed the complaint and found that the customer was contacted 3 times between June 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025. On Oct 24, the practice manager did agree to receive an invoice in the amount of $859.95 for advertising. Per the recording, the manager and the owner were to receive an emailed invoice. *** attempted to contact the customer monthly starting in November for payment. The advertising went into production without payment. In April, the customer contacts *** to say that he did not authorize the advertising. According to ************, the customer and the distributor received the ********************** materials on May 22nd and May 23rd. The customer agreed to a reduced rate on July 15th, and per the agreement made at that time, *** added the customer's contact information to it's Do Not Call list, prohibiting further contact from our business to theirs.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/10/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Had this company cold call for a Anti-Bullying Awareness campaign in late February for a local high school. After receiving payment, I did not hear from them until late May requesting funds for a program in the fall. I stated I never received the first campaign. They said they would resolve it. They did not. I had to call to escalate. I asked to terminate our contact and move on with a reimbursement. They claimed they sent to production and could not. I did not approve a mock up to go to production. They claimed I approved when I made the payment. They completely mishandled my investment/advertisement. Overall, this company dropped the ball and expected me to go another round. Fool me once, shame on you.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/30/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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.

  This company told me on multiple occasions that our account was closed and owed $00. They continue to call me and tell me that my account has a balance. I have not approved anything.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/01/2025

  We have reviewed the complaint and found the customer did request no further calls and paperwork was incorrectly processed. I have provided the customer contact information to our phone vendor to prohibit further calls to the business. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/17/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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.

  Company cold called in February posing as someone from a local health department indicating that they were going to be creating magnets with emergency numbers/calendar and advertisements around the edges. They were offering for my pediatric practice to be one of the advertisements. They then put me in touch with a person at Universal AdCom who suggested that I do two of the local health departments (so double the cost). They charged me $1190. They called again in March to say they were preparing for next year's magnets and wanted me to have first chance at a spot. Charged me $1150. Called again in April, now saying that this is a program that runs 6 times per year, which they did not tell me previously. They indicated that the charge they would put through now would take care of this run and the next one and I could cancel after that. Charged me $2600. I became very suspicious, called both local health departments they claimed this was for, both of whom indicated they do not contract with ***************, nor do they have any such magnets made by any company at all. Complete scam. I requested the charges be reversed and have not heard back from them.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/18/2025

  We have reviewed the complaint and found that the customer did indeed purchase ********************** from our company on 3 different occasions. As is stated on our website, the design, printing, and shipping of the advertisement can take up to 12 weeks before advertisement are provided to the public. Our company was not aware that the customer had any concerns until they disputed the initial two payments, which were subsequently refunded to the customer. *** and its subsidiaries has agreements with distributors across the country. The statements you received from our office will indicate the distribution points for those orders. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/21/2025

  Complaint: 23219563
  
  I am rejecting this response because the two health departments the company claims to be creating these products for have no knowledge of this company or any products of this nature. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ****

  Business Response

  Date: 05/01/2025

  Can you provide the contact information in which you are saying has no knowledge of an agreement with our company? 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/01/2025

  Complaint: 23219563
  
  The person at Universal AdCom with whom I originally spoke (named **** *.) indicated that there would be two community guide magnets created: one for Cherokee County Health Department - *********, and another for *****************************. I spoke with someone at the ********* branch of the Cherokee County Health department in the community relations department. I do not remember her name. I also talked with ******** **** in the communications department at the *****************************, which oversees **** and ******* counties' health departments. Both of these individuals indicated that they do not have such magnets produced and have never worked with or approved any projects with ***************. Now I'm also receiving numerous invoices from Universal ***** for similar products being produced for various entities in the surrounding community, complete with samples of magnets that all have exactly the same information and look nothing like the mock-up I was originally shown. I'll be calling all of these various entities to inquire whether they've worked with this organization. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/15/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  on Aug 26 of 2024, I agreed to a one time add that would go out in ***************, it was for advertising space on a magnet with multiple businesses on it. They said it would be distributed through the county and they would also give me a few to hand out. they assured me I would be the only Realtor on it. we ended up at a price of $405. they have called me multiple times since then to see if I wanted to renew and I do not because I've yet to receive any leads from this investment and I haven't received any magnets to hand out either. today when they called, she said it was a quarterly agreement and they would be charging me again. I explained that I DID NOT want to advertise with them again and the original agreement was a 1 time thing. the woman today said they would have told me verbally that it was a reocurring charge (and in my business, I would not have agreed to it, since you never know what its going to look like in 3, 6, or 9 months down the road) my understanding was the $405 covered the YEAR. I spend what I have available in my marketing budget and don't obligate myself to future payments. I see from other comments on here that this deceitful way of doing business is the norm for them. I do not want to be contacted (or billed) by them again. I have sent them a cease & desist letter.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/11/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  We paid Universal Adcom the following amounts for advertising $380 2/15/24, $380 7/5/24, $369.95 11/15/24. They are now saying we own $1080, which is not the case. They are very deceitful in how they do their business. They try to get you stuck in a "loop", and try to charge you every quarter, when you are deceived to think $360 is a yearly charge. They word things in a manner that is deceitful. I specifically asked if I would be only charged $360, and they say "yes for three ads". Then charge you $1080 ($360 X 3). We didn't even know we were doing more than one ad with them! I have told them on several occasions I am done with their advertising, and they say we still owe for what already had been printed. No costs are honestly given in the beginning. I will use the word "deceitful" over and over for the way they do business. We want others aware so they don't get caught in their dishonest cycle.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/07/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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 believe in 2023 I agreed to be an advertiser in ***'s publication for Marathon County. In July of 2024 after multiple phone calls from UAC (and me feeling like I was paying for this ad several times over), ****** at *** informed me that I was actually part of multiple campaigns, not just one. Starting in July I expressed not wanting to advertise in any of their campaigns again and yet the calls and emailed invoices kept coming. On November 19th I spoke to ****** again and told him I wanted to be removed from all campaigns effective immediately. We took care of the last two outstanding invoices through ******** and I expected that to be the end of it. On December 30th ****** called again about another outstanding invoice and $1200 program still ongoing for the county. I reminded him of our conversation in Nov, he acknowledged the call and agreed that Axis Ins was no longer part of the city or county ad programs. I have a recording of this call. Another *** from *** called 2/4/25 to get an address to send new samples to. My staff person again said we had cancelled the program and to not send any other information. I also have that call recording. Today *** dropped of samples of the advertising with another invoice. I am not paying for the invoice and I want them to stop contacting me. The last two invoices totaling $800 were paid on 11/25 and cleared my account on 11/27/24. Also, please note the sold to and shipped to addresses on the invoice aren't even for my place of business.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/17/2025

  *** has reviewed the complaint, and at the request of the customer, has removed it from our system. The customer's phone numbers have been placed with our vendor to ensure that no further calls are made to the customer.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/04/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Told this place repeatedly over last 18 months I was done with them, they keep signing me up for stuff from areas not even remotely close to my store. Paid a bill for over 3k to be rid of them and they send me another invoice for 2k more after being hosed unknowingly for 7500 per year for 2 years. They are unscrupulous and need to be investigated,

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/22/2025

  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.

  Today we had a small business bring in (to ************************) an invoice she received from UAC for services she did not request and the product she was being charge for had the library's name on it. We (the library) NEVER requested any products of an sort from ***. We have had issues with them in the past using our name on their products without our consent and then trying to charge other businesses for those products. The products have mostly been magnets but sometimes have also been bags. This issue has happened off and on for many years.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/22/2025

  *** and its affiliates have agreements in place with the ************************ to distribute marketing and advertising materials. Copies of the agreements are provided. If the library no longer wants to distribute and receive the materials, then we will submit to cancel the agreement. All that was needed was for the library to contact our customer ********************** department, and request to cancel the agreements. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/23/2025

  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.We were unaware that over ten years ago a director had signed agreements with this company. We will contact them for cancellation.
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/12/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 requested cancellation of a community guide ad via phone/voicemail three times over the last two months and I just received an invoice from UAC4U dated for 11/12/2024 and mailed on 11/27/2024. I never received the initial proof of the ad to run as requested at the time of setup over the phone. I was supposed to be emailed all information per request and this has not occurred either. I have checked with the local library and the receptionist was not aware of the community guide or its run time. The *** *** led me to believe you all were based out of ********, AL and after research I discovered this was not the case at such time I called and received a UAC voicemail around the end of August. I have since returned three calls from the *** between October and November that have all gone to her voicemail and each time I have left a message stating I have requested cancellation. Please be advised that I am disputing Invoice# ****** and a complaint has been filed with the BBB, which is where I located this support email seeing as you only list your phone number online. I am formally requesting for my phone number and all business information in connection with Customer ID ******** to be removed from your call listings and database effective immediately. I am also formally requesting confirmation via email of cancellation of Invoice#****** which was received on 12/10/2024, postmarked on 11/27/2024 and printed on 11/12/2024. If you wish to refute my dispute, please provide your contact at the *********************** , located at *********************************, where you have stated the community guide was supposed to run so I may contact them directly.