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Scribd Reviews Summary
The company's reputation is significantly marred by widespread customer dissatisfaction, particularly concerning its subscription model and customer service. Many users report unauthorized charges, difficulties in canceling subscriptions, and a lack of responsive support, leading to perceptions of deceptive practices. While some customers acknowledge the potential value of the service for avid readers, these positives are overshadowed by frustrations with the platform's functionality and the quality of customer interactions. Overall, the feedback indicates a pressing need for improved communication and more transparent billing practices to restore customer trust.
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Scribd advertises "unlimited" access to materials. What they don't tll you is that once you pass some unpublished limit, for instance, two bestsellers per month, your access to many of the most popular titles is greatly diminished-- a process known as "throttling". Once throttling kicks in, you can still read and listen to materials, but many of the books you've saved will become unavailable til your next billing date. I didn't know this going in and when I found out I was annoyed, but also kind of get it. The advertising is deceptive, but for me, $10 for for 2 audiobooks is still a good deal. A couple months ago, I started getting throttled not just between books, but while I was in the middle of reading a book. I'd be halfway done, and the next time I opened the app the book was gone and I could not find it by searching. The first time it happened I thought it was some weird glitch or maybe I'd missed the notice that the book was leaving the site. The second time it happened I was more suspicious, did a little digging and realized that if I checked on the site for the book when I wasn't logged in, the book showed up just fine. That's a sure sign of throttling and that was the end for me. If I can't count on finishing a book I started due to throttling, I'm out.
I cancelled my Scribd account in October and the charges stopped. However, in January they started charging me again for every month till may. When I emailed them about it, they said they could not find the charge or my account despite me sending them the email, username, last 4 digits of my card, and even a screenshot of my scribd account. Then they asked for the expiration date of my card as well as the first 6 digits of the card! It feels very shady and I have since disputed the issue with the help of my bank.
Hi Raweel, thank you for your feedback. We're sorry for the difficulties you experienced with canceling your subscription and that our team was unable to locate your account. Our agents ask for the first 6 digits of a card as a last resort when card information is too similar to other customers. With thousands of transactions coming in daily from customers world-wide, many numbers can appear almost identical. Scribd has security measures in place that prevents us from viewing full card details to keep your information safe. We will absolutely never ask for the entire card number.
We understand your concern, however, the first 6 digits of a card number is the best option we have to verify that one of the accounts our agents are viewing is indeed the subscription that has been charging you. Again, this is always a last resort option since we never want to get to the point where we say that we can't help you.
If you have further questions for Scribd, feel free to reach out to us.
This company has been charging my credit card even though I have cancelled with them for over a year now. I cannot speak to anyone there because their customer service is mostly automatic/robots and they do not provide a customer service number. I have sent four emails in the last two days in another effort to fix this situation and even though I get an automated email confirmation saying they have received my question/concern/etc. They mark the question/concern/etc. As "solved" without fixing anything. Definitely steer clear of this company's free trial or signing up with them. If they respond to my email and refund my account, I am happy to update on here.
Hi Christy, we're sorry for the frustrating experience here and any confusion it's caused. Our system automatically merges duplicate tickets in order to lessen confusion among agents and customers alike -- this would be why you're seeing some marked as "resolved" or "closed" without a response.
To clarify, we are unable to bill a canceled or deactivated account, so it looks like these charges were due to there being an active account. When canceling your subscription with us, you will immediately receive a confirmation email of the cancellation to your primary email address on file. If you did not receive this confirmation email from us -- then the subscription cancellation was not completed successfully. We go over this in detail in our cancellation guide, found here: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046-How-to-cancel-your-premium-membership
With all of this being said, it looks like a specialist was able to assist you in resolving this in your primary support ticket, under the number #2688990. They've provided a refund in accordance with our Refund Policy, as well as an additional refund as a courtesy. We are unable to provide any further refunds due to the age of the transactions and restrictions from our payment processor. Please allow 3-5 business days for these funds to be credited back to you. Thanks for your patience and understanding here!
Scribd support already replied to my email after I posted a review here. Customer support assigned to my ticket responded well to my queries.
Hi Joyce, we're so glad to hear that we were able to get this resolved for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us again in the future if you need additional assistance. Thanks so much and have a wonderful day!
Does not respond to email! Subscribed to a free trial but immediately cancelled. Now i can't remove my card info from them! With all the bad reviews, i'm worried that my card will still get charged. Ticket # 2680238!
Shows you a book or sheet music available as a PDF download, then if you actually go and subscribe to the service it can only accessed through Scribd reader. Can't be printed or saved, can't use your own PDF program for making notes or annotations. Useless for sheet music. Did not respond to my complaint.
Hi Terry, we're truly sorry for the trouble you've encountered with sheet music. We would be happy to assist you with further information on this. Feel free to update this review with your email support ticket so we can be sure you've been helped. Thanks!
I just cancelled my free trial and I know you guys are about to start stealing from me... I will sue you if you don't cancel my subscription asap... My ticket id is #*******
Hi Sam, we have already resolved this for you via email in ticket #2688231. You will not be charged and your account is cancelled. Thanks!
Same story as everyone else. I don't even remember signing up, but I've definitely clicked Cancel My Subscription at least twice. I did a little reading and it sounds like they've been doing this for years. How have they not had criminal charges filed against them?
Hi Doug, we're so sorry for the cancellation troubles. To confirm, when you cancel your subscription with us, you will immediately receive a confirmation email of the cancellation to your primary email address on file. If you did not receive this confirmation email from us, then the subscription cancellation was not completed successfully. Our cancellation guide in our Help Center has more information on this: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046-How-to-cancel-your-premium-membership
We're happy to help with a cancellation and refund here, so please reach out to our support team at [email protected] and update your review with your ticket #. Once this is done, we'll make sure this gets resolved for you right away - thanks!
I initially got this app to allow me to access some documents for my school works. I was on a free trial initially but kept it for another month but then cancelled. I made sure to go through all the screens while cancelling - even when they try and trick you into not fully cancelling. So I thought I had cancelled but was shocked when I checked my account to see they had been taking money every months since I cancelled. This is about 6 months of monthly bills and of course how convenient that they have a 30 day refund rule to avoid paying up for scams like this. I am really disappointed and I have sent an email to customer support but with still no reply 2 weeks later despite them promising a typical reply within 3 days. I am going to get my money back because that is just unfair and unethical. Never touch this app. NEVER give your account details no matter what you do.
Hi Amy, we're sorry for any confusion surrounding our cancellation process. When you cancel your subscription with us, you will immediately receive a confirmation email of the cancellation to your primary email address on file. If you did not receive this confirmation email from us, then the subscription cancellation was not completed successfully. We go over this in detail in our cancellation guide, found here: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046-How-to-cancel-your-premium-membership
With that being said, we'd be happy to take a second look and escalate your case to a specialist so they can make things right. Feel free to update your review with your ticket number so we can connect you ASAP. Thanks!
My daughter had signed my account up for the Scribd free trial and then stopped using it and didn't cancel it so I've been getting charged just under £10 ever month for at least 6 months if not longer! When I contacted itunes they said only 2 months were eligible for a refund! My daughter has signed up for scribd in the past and they don't even have a number you can call! Also the free trial doesn't even let you have unlimited access!
Hey there, we're so sorry for any confusion here. We're happy to help you with your issue as much as possible, however, subscriptions purchased through the iTunes App Store are managed by Apple -- Scribd, unfortunately, cannot issue refunds or cancel them on your behalf due to Apple's security policies. Additionally, while we do not currently offer phone support at this time, we're more than happy to assist you via email with any other questions or concerns you may have. Feel free to reach out to our support team at [email protected] anytime. Thanks!
Very much thief people. Be careful for your money when you use this platform. Do not keep payment information with them after unsubscribe option.
Hi there, it sounds like your cancellation wasn't successful, as we can't charge cancelled accounts. Please email [email protected] & then reply here with your ticket number. We want to issue you a refund and remove your payment information from our system. Thanks!
This week i just realised that scribd have been deducting my money for the past 4months without notifying me. I have contacted their support and was promised a refund for only ONE MONTH. Yesterday they refunded me the money but short after the same amount was deducted by scribd from my account. Also i have been contacting them for another three months of refund since the transaction was made without any notice or email. I read very bad reviews on how scribd keeps on deducting money, i certainly wont hesitate to report and take action against scribd inc if the same thing happen to me
My ticket number: *******
Hi Pana, we're sorry for any confusion here and we'd be happy to clarify.
When you purchased the trial, you agreed to the terms and conditions under the Scribd Paid Access End User License Agreement (https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210129486-Scribd-Paid-Access-End-User-License-Agreement) that stated this was not a one-time purchase, but instead a recurring month to month subscription. Scribd does not offer a standalone free trial.
With that being said, per our Refund Policy, we are unable to issue refunds beyond 30 days. You can read more about this here: https://bit.ly/3ebvRZY
I have not used it for more than an year. I cancelled the subscription few months back, but I am still being charged $8.99 each month. Since it is automatically deducted from my account, I did not pay attention, but it looks like it is normal. Please look at all your review. These are all 1 out of 5.
Hi Iam, our support staff would be more than happy to help you with this. Please reach out to [email protected] to connect with a support specialist, then update this review with your ticket # so we can follow up with you as soon as possible, and get this canceled for you. Thanks!
I did not sign up for this service and I'm not even sure what it is. I have tried to get an explanation and refund but they are requesting my complete CC number and was advised by CC company not to do that. It is a scam.
Hi Karen - Just to clarify, we will never under any circumstance ask for your full credit card number. The only information that is requested when attempting to locate a charge within our payment processor is the last 4 digits (suffix), expiration date, and the country where the card was issued. We rarely ask for the first 6 digits of the card, or the BIN - this only occurs when a suffix pulls up numerous accounts. We want to make sure we are protecting the security and prviacy of our users and accessing the correct account.
To explain the difficulty a little further: Credit card companies recycle the last four digits of their cards heavily, and we have over one million subscribers. The first 6 / last 4 digits only allow us to see the card like this: 1234-56XX-XXXX-1234. That leaves 99,999 possible combinations even discounting the CVV code, so this is safe to send over - we can already see this much information on the card. Again, we do not ever see your full card number.
With all of this being said, we'd be happy to escalate your case to a specialist that can take care of this for you right away Feel free to update your review with your ticket # and we'll make sure this gets resolved for you. Thanks!
I tried SCRIBDs free trial and canceled when it was over. It seemed everything worked out fine until two months later when I received a notification from my CC that a monthly recurring charge from SCRIBD has been approved!
The charge is for the month ahead, so I canceled my subscription only to be notified by SCRIBD that my membership will be canceled after the next month is past with no mention of refunding the illegetimate charge already made to my card.
I immediately demanded a full refund and immediate cancellation of membership. I was notified my request has been sent to support with a response forthcoming within 3 days. My charge on my CC is still pending and I am unable to dispute it until it is approved which I have been informed may take up to three days.
Reading some of the reviews here it is no wonder this company is losing potential members by the droves. I list this company right down there with another scam, Freedompop.
Hi Richard, we'd be happy to escalate your case and get it resolved ASAP for you. Please update your review with your ticket # so we can have a specialist follow up - thanks!
I used Scribd last August and canceled within the trial period - or so I thought. I was going to sign up again today, and got a message that my payment can't be processed bc my card expired last month. I looked in my account and I have been getting charged for the past 7 months.
Hey Chava, we're sorry for the confusion here. Generally, we do have a set of confirmations to finalize your cancellation with us. If you do not cancel your subscription entirely, then your account remains active. We recommend looking at our support article on how to successfully cancel your subscription located here: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046.
If you need further assistance, please reach out to our support team at [email protected] and update this review with your ticket number so that we can make sure your case is taken care of quickly. Thanks!
Support Request #*******
This website is a fraud. You have to click 10 times to cancel the trial, i thought i cancelled it, but it looks like i didn't click that tiny button at the last page. They will ask you several times if you 'actually' want to cancel your subscription which is scammy as hell.
And scribd support probably doesn't even read requests, so maybe their pr person will see this message.
Hi Dmit, we're sorry for the confusion here. Generally, we do have a set of confirmations to finalize your cancellation with us. If you do not cancel your subscription entirely, then your account remains active. We recommend looking at our support article on how to successfully cancel your subscription located here: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046
With that being said, it looks like one of our specialists was able to assist you with a cancellation and refund. You will not be billed further by us, and your refund will be processed within 3-5 business days. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us again in the future if you need additional assistance. Thanks!
Scrbd is a total nightmare! They posted on their facebook page that to help people amidst this crisis (CoVid), they are offering people a free access to the site. I thought they are here to help. So i signed up for free. But theyre too clever to require my paypal account. Last night they charged me with new subscription renewal WITHOUT GIVING ME A PRIOR NOTICE SO I COULD CANCEL BEFORE THEY CHARGE! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I THOUGHT YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE OUT THEN WHY ARE SCAMMING AND STEALING? I FOUND SCRIBD TO BE IRRELEVANT TO MY NEEDS AND IT'S PURE INJUSTICE THAT I WAS CHARGED FROM SOMETHING I DIDN'T FIND HELPFUL TO ME! THE $8 WAS THE ONLY REMAINING SAVINGS THAT I HAVE ANG YOU SNEAKILY STOLE IT FROM MY PAYPAL! REFUND ME! THIS IS MY TICKET NUMBER *******!
Hi Mica, we see that the multiple support requests you submitted were all merged into ticket #2647182, which was resolved for you yesterday. We have already cancelled your account and refunded your charge. Thanks!
Don't ever give your credit card number to this site. They will charge you after cancelling. I had to cancel my credit card in order a new one for them to not be able to continue charging me. Avoid at all costs.
Hi Michael, we're truly sorry for the difficulties you had canceling your subscription with us. When you fully cancel your subscription, we'll ensure it remains active until the end of the month that you've paid for, but will not bill you again. It sounds like the charges may be originating from a duplicate account or unsuccessful cancellation, as it is impossible for us to bill a deactivated account.
We recommend checking out this article on how to successfully cancel your subscription located here https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210134046. For further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] for support from our account specialists. Thanks!
I cancelled my subscription months ago but money is still being debited from my account. ABSOLUTE SCAM AND ZERO CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Hi Malavika, we’re so sorry for any confusion here! Since we can't bill a canceled subscription, it sounds like these charges might be originating from a duplicate account or unsuccessful cancellation. We’d be happy to investigate this and stop any further charges! Please reach out to our support team at [email protected] and update your review with your ticket # so we can escalate your case and get it resolved ASAP. Thanks!
I joined Scribd 5 months ago. I used it for one day only! I cancelled my membership the same day.
5 months later I accidently found out that I have been charged $9.99 each month!
What a scam!
Hey Lana, we’re so sorry for any confusion here! Since we cannot bill a canceled subscription, it sounds like these charges might be originating from a duplicate account or unsuccessful cancellation. We’d be happy to investigate this and stop any further charges! Please email our support team at [email protected] if you haven't already and update your review with your ticket # so we can get this taken care of for you right away. Thanks!
From the business
Explore over 170 million documents and counting from a global community of users. Find and upload text on every topic and niche, including research papers, official government documents, user manuals, and more!
Our monthly subscription starts at just $11.99 USD and automatically renews unless the subscription is canceled at least 24 hours prior to the next billing date.
A Scribd monthly subscription also includes access to Everand (ebooks, audiobooks, and more) and SlideShare (presentations and professional content).
Please visit our Help Center for answers to frequently asked questions and the option to connect with our support team for further assistance: https://support.scribd.com/hc/categories/360005188511
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- Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
Hi Daisy, we're sorry for the confusion and would be happy to better clarify your experience! To clarify, we do not limit the number of books you can read, so there is not a specific amount of books you are allowed a month. As you read with Scribd, our library rotates and revolves to cycle out the content. Authors, genre, and primarily the publishers of the books, to name a few. In short, the type of content being read can affect future content availability. This is not permanent unavailability, rather a rotating catalog.
Scribd's system was designed in the anticipation that folks would browse more like a library, and choose things as you finish one title and move on to the next, in which instance any title rotations appear more seamlessly. We certainly understand that different readers have different reading habits, and the title rotations may present a particularly unexpected experience for folks who like to plan out their month's reading at once. We do our best to ensure the most availability possible, throughout your subscription.
As our team works to help Scribd readers make the most of their subscriptions, your feedback truly helps us clarify our membership offerings for everyone. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns by reaching out to our support team at [email protected] - thanks!