ShutterstockReviews 532

I signed up for their service on a subscription discounted by 30% in return for a a whole year. I found some images useful but not enough to justify paying the monthly standing order. When I wrote to cancel they hit me with a demand for the repayment of the discount. I complained so they reduced this charge from £60 to £50 plus tax, which I agreed to pay. I still think they'd had quite enough money from me already for the number of images I used.

Stock content I purchased was stolen from elsewhere and resold to me! My client had requested a unique piece, and after purchasing, it was clear that this was a stolen image. Google Reverse image search found many copies. Nearly embarrassed myself or got myself into legal trouble. It looks like the age old adage is true "you get what you pay for." I can't trust this service. I'll looking elsewhere for original stock content for my clients.

I signed up in March for a 10-image trial. I downloaded 4 images, decided the service wasn't for me, and then turned off the subscription (I thought). Apparently, I only "cancelled the subscription from renewing", and they started billing me monthly for the service anyways. I did not notice this on my bank statement until today... 6 months and almost $200 USD later. Contacted Shutterstock immediately and was "helped" by a super passive-aggressive customer service agent named Sacha. She initially told me that I only stopped the subscription from renewing, and that they would waive the cancellation fee but would not provide a refund. In her words, she says "you paid for a monthly service, we can't make you use it." I thought it'd be clear from the fact that I never downloaded a single image, and I hadn't even logged in once since March, that this was a mistake. I was hoping Shutterstock would do the right thing and provide a refund, but they're definitely more interested in robbing from people with incredibly shady business practices. Now I'm waiting (but definitely not hopeful) on an "escalated ticket" to see if some of the months can be returned.

Please stay far far away. There are so many stock image companies out there, and I'm not certain you could do any worse than to choose Shutterstock.

Shutterstock charged me US$1750 for a Premiere License on a clip that was subsequently withdrawn form their website (after they had accepted my payment in full). After five weeks, and at least four written emails cancelling the order (by this time my client had dropped me as a service provider based on false advertising - of the aforementioned clip being removed form Shutterstock site AFTER payment), they sent me the clip via Wetransfer - which I no longer required, had cancelled four weeks prior with multiple emails. And they refused a refund or even credit. I never downloaded the Wetransfer. In other words Shutterstock took US$1750 for a service they never delivered. As far as I'm concerned that's fraud. Trying to get a reply from the License Manager was an exercise in Khafkaesque ridiculousness. No answering the phone, no replying to emails - and then when I do finally receive an email - citing health issues, travel issues (what!?!?!?) but nothing you could call actual service, or help. DO NOT deal with this company, they will steal your hard earned money, and in my case, lose you clients. Just unbelievable!

The business model they stablished is absolutely against customer right and it's illegal. They take advantage of buzz words and like a scam they convert one month free to annual and after that they charge it if you want cancel the plan. I and few users coordinating a campaign against Shutterstock to protect the user rights. This campaign will accelerate for other brands too that violating users right and misleading customers by context and false promises and manipulation strategies.
Will send the update