Shopping Season Mishaps | December 2024 Edition
Amazon refunds, Temu issues, Netflix billing errors, Afterpay declined payments and more consumer complaints in this monthly newsletter edition
December is a bustling month for holiday shopping, but it also brings frustration when gifts fail to arrive on time or fall short of expectations. This month, over 52,7K new reviews highlighted recurring challenges with refunds, delayed deliveries, billing errors, and inadequate customer service across various industries.
This newsletter dives into December’s top consumer alerts, shedding light on key issues from major companies like Amazon, Temu, Netflix, and Afterpay, and showcasing experiences with holiday shopping failures this season.
If you’re a journalist or media representative, I’d be happy to provide further insights or dig deeper into specific complaints you’re investigating for your stories. Just reply to this newsletter!
Top Complained Companies in December 2024
🛒Amazon: Refund delays and order issues are top concerns this month, with consumers expressing dissatisfaction with the slow resolution process.
🛒Temu: Gaining traction in holiday shopping but struggling with order fulfillment, including missing and incorrect shipments.
📺Netflix: Frustrating consumers report billing errors and charges for additional users they don’t authorized during the holiday season.
🛒Afterpay: Complaints highlight payment challenges, account access issues, and dissatisfaction with refunds and spending limits.
📺YouTube TV: Consumers are frustrated by complex subscription cancellations and service quality issues.
Trending Consumer Alerts Based on December Reviews
Refund Problems with Amazon
Consumers experienced delays and confusion when seeking refunds for their holiday purchases, with some reporting that they received empty packages and can’t get refunds due to the lack of an item to return:
“Missing item. Package was empty would like a replacement instead of a refund there is nothing to return…” (Review #6277881)
Order Challenges with Temu
As Temu’s popularity grows, so do its customer complaints. Missing shipments and incorrect orders during the peak of this holiday season top the list of alerts :
“I DID NOT GET ANY OF MY ORDERS. Before I could track it and now I cant for some odd reason… money was taking out of my bank account already and it all Christmas gifts.” (Review #6276195)
“I ordered and paid for a reclining massaging office chair with arm rests and the one in got had none of that. Then they are pretty much saying I can't get reimbursement. The chair on the.box is what we were supposed to get but what we got was the.gray cheap 5 dollar chair…” (Review #6324599)
Netflix Charges for Additional Viewers
Netflix users report issues with payment processing, billing discrepancies, and subscription changes. Some consumers say they’ve been charged for an additional user that was never requested or activated:
“I am being charged for an additional user and I never asked for that. I know that there is an activation screen that comes up and I have tried to cancel it. I just read on December 20th that I am being charged for it and it has never been activated.” (Review #6336645)
“Netflix is scamming customers with adding charges for extra members that are unwarranted. I’m paying for two people and a message popped up on my screen wanting me to pay for a third member that I do not have watching Netflix…” (Review #6336565)
Payment Challenges with Afterpay
Consumers experience difficulties with payments and refund processes, as well as frustrations with account access and spending limits. Some alert that they couldn’t use Afterpay card in stores:
“I went to the store here in my city in try to use in-store Afterpay and they did not accept…” (Review #6332456)
“I tried to purchase an item from Target and it wouldn't go through. Plus, I have an available balance…” (Review #6335920)
Subscription Issues with YouTube TV
In over 22K posted reviews, consumers are frustrated about double charges, inability to watch purchased movies, and some can’t cancel their subscriptions:
“I purchased movie Christmas story today and I am not able to watch I am trying to reach customer service a lot of different way and nobody answer... “ (Review #6332806 )
“I am currently being charged twice per month for services. I'm being debited out of two accounts, two different amounts. I want to be refunded.” (Review #6337051)
“I was unable to access my account manager to cancel my free trial. Their support was useless in helping with this problem…” (Review #6332411)
Would you like to explore these or other consumer trends in more detail? Feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to assist with further research or connect you with review authors to provide firsthand accounts.