My mother called in to modify her subscription to the Sunday paper only. She was told to call after December to change it for some reason, she called again and was told to call back in another week. Before she had a chance to do so, the money was taken out of her account and they won't allow her to change her subscription! How is this legal to force someone to continue a subscription when they've repeatedly called to cancel the weekly deliveries? She is being charged for future papers even though she's tried to cancel the weekly ones. I'm urging her to cancel completely because this is unethical business. read more

I was also prey to a high school student who was selling subscriptions a couple years ago, approximately... I always received my newspaper and had no complaints; that is, until 11 days ago... My last newspaper to be delivered was on Monday 11/24/2014 - I have called into their delivery office 5 times now. 1 of the times (Wednesday 12/3) I was told there was a production problem and it would be back to normal delivery the next day. The other 4 times they apologized and informed me they would contact the delivery manager and have another paper re-delivered that same afternoon, which never happened. I would think as difficult as it is for West County Times to get hard-copy subscribers in this internet era, that they would have better delivery and better customer service, apparently not. I am very disappointed in how their service has deteriorated these last 2 weeks. The reason I gave them 2 stars instead of one is I had good delivery for a year and a half or so before it disappeared. :-( read more

In 1998 I thought heaven was the West County Times! The paper in the morning was filled with local news. Sure, the editorial letters leaned so far Right it was scary, but the paper was largely relevant and pleasurable. I loved the editor, Dora. Flash forward to 2012. So far I have been billed three times for the year's Sunday subscription already paid in July, 2011. When the editorials, themselves, exactly matched two other Bay Area newspapers, almost word for word, and the principles they were espousing were clearly wrong to me, I didn't want to subscribe any more. Gary Bogue, the nature writer who knows wild and pet animals well, is funny, and interesting, and the main reason left to read the Times. His column was suddenly consigned to a $20 extra subscription. As was the TV Guide and movie listing. Another $20. Calling to speak to a customer rep goes to the Phillipines where people read their script and can't handle hearing anything diffferent than what is said by the company. A request for a Supervisor caused a plea, several times in a row, "Don't hang up!" followed by the screeching noise in my ear that indicates they disconnected. Both were convinced the Extra that they only started delivering on August 14, that I paid for July 11, should end in July, 2012. My third call in a row connected with someone who spoke and understood English better who told me the newspaper discontinued the $20/year Sunday paper, after it was purchased in July, in December. When I violently and vocally disagreed with changing a subscription/contract terms, after the fact, she said she would cancel the charge. Let's see what happens with this never-ending saga. Since becoming part of the Bay Area News Group, the West County Times is now a service without service, with evidently dictated editorials, and profoundly unhelpful so-called customer reps. Sob. read more

Very poor customer service when you call to request skipped delivery paper. I called on Sunday, May 28,2017 early because we hadn't received our paper. Every customer service person acted like they are trained by management to not forward complaint calls to them. I repeatedly requested to speak to the managers and was continually told the manager would tell me what the rep was saying, and or argued at for insisting to speak to a manager. I was repeatedly lied to by reps as well as managers about delivering missed papers. The last manager I spoke to on Sunday promised delivery would arrive in the afternoon, said someone was in the area. Guess what, no Sunday paper. They can't be trusted, I'd look elsewhere. After being a customer since before 1992, we are going to look elsewhere. read more

There was an motorcycle incident on Tuesday September 3, 2013 around 10:25pm on Rheem ave. and 23rd. Where a motorcycle was evading a tailing police car both where going VERY fast and 30 seconds later I heard bam a crash. Now seeing this from the front of my house ( Rheem and 28th st.) I ran down to see the accident cause I was sure the motorcyclist was hurt, non the less he was. As a group gathered the police had come from all directions yet 13 minutes not a ambulances in sight. The main problem is today I read on west contra county times this: RICHMOND -- A motorcyclist speeding through an intersection ignored a red light and broadsided a car driven by an undercover Richmond police officer on Wednesday, police said. The wreck happened around 10 p.m., when the motorcyclist ran a red light on 23rd Street at the intersection of Rheem Avenue, Richmond police Sgt. Nicole Abetkov said. The motorcycle was estimated to be going at least 80 mph in the 25 mph zone, police said. Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus posted a short comment about the incident on Twitter, saying the officer saw the motorcyclist going 80 mph, "run red light and broadside one of our undercover cars." The motorcyclist was thrown several feet into the air and suffered severe injuries to his leg but was expected to survive his injuries, Abetkov said. He was taken by helicopter to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, she said. Air bags inside the undercover car were deployed after the collision, and the officer was not injured seriously, Abetkov said. This could be on the reporter or the police trying to cover up the FOUL injustice of facts, that the police were going just as fast as the motorcyclist in chase and from what it sounds like an undercover car tracking the chase from the oncoming intersection. I am truly appalled and saddled for the motorcyclist who was bated into an crash that didn't need to happen and in my opinion was the fault of the Richmond police.that being said I would like to read about what happened. And my opinion is just that, but as one who saw the chase leading to the crash that should be a piece of the report. read more

Take a look at these reviews. With only one exception, they are all one star reviews with many wanting to give a negative star. Forget about the really poor coverage of local events here in West County, the delivery--or lack of delivery--is the biggest problem with customer service a close second. So far this year I've had to email them at least 30 times because of a missed delivery. First, my MORNING paper doesn't get delivered until around 8 AM. Most working people want to read their paper before heading off to work or at least take it with them to read on the way to work. How can they do that when the paper is delivered long after they've left for work? This is no longer a morning paper--it's an evening paper. Second, in an urban area, when the paper is delivered between the sidewalk and the street, it's ripe for theft from passersby. I've mentioned this time after time to the customer service people as a possible reason why I can't find my paper but nothing has changed. I recently had to walk across town early one morning and of the 16 houses where I saw papers out front, not a single one was any further from the street than the sidewalk and most were closer to the street than to the sidewalk. At least I now now that the EBT hates everyone the same as they hate me. Third, my delivery person whizzes down my narrow street at a very fast speed--faster than should be traveled with cars parked so close on both sides. When I see the delivery car it doesn't even slow down as the paper is tossed out. Is that safe? Does the EBT care about the safety of their carriers or the community they're serving? I'm a pretty decent driver but I know that if I'm driving in excess of the speed limit with obstacles all around me, and I'm tossing something out of the car, that my full attention isn't on my driving. Fourth, because the paper is being thrown from a car traveling at a fast speed, when the paper skids across the concrete or asphalt, the plastic bag and several layers of the paper are often shredded. This is bad enough during the summer months but when it's wet, the holes in the bag are invitations for water to seep in. Being the cheapskate that I am, instead of running out to buy a replacement I have the individual pages spread all over trying to dry. Fifth, this morning is a good example of the poor delivery of the paper. I checked several times and couldn't find the paper but when I checked the last time--just before 9 AM--I found it--in the street--in front of my neighbor's yard. Why on earth would I even consider looking in the street in front of my neighbor's yard when I have numerous promises from Customer Service that it will be delivered close to my porch? Sixth, Customer Service routinely replies back to my emails telling me that an area representative will contact me and--guess what--they never do. These same CS reps even reply back that they will instruct their delivery people to get my paper farther in from the sidewalk and, once again, no change. Seventh, as many of the reviewers have commented here, when we get promises that a paper will be redelivered, it often becomes a no show. We wait and we wait and then we head out to purchase a replacement paper for the one we already paid for. But often the supplies at the local newspaper racks and convenience stores have been depleted. If I want a replacement paper I often have to go to multiple sources. I live near San Pablo and the best source is along the Albany/El Cerrito border. Really? I have to go two cities over to get a paper? Eighth, how many times have we been told that our accounts have been credited yet we never see anything to indicate that this is the case? Why should we trust the same people who mislead us about correcting the problem and having a rep contact us? And ninth--and I promised myself that I would keep this about the customer service but I can't hold back--Borenstein's editorials show a complete lack of understanding and knowledge about this community. It's like me writing an editorial about school issues in a small village in Uzbekistan. I know nothing about the community, the people or even the issues but because I'm superior to everyone, they should take heed of what I write. Bulldookey! read more

This newspaper offer free items and low price for subscription at the Oakland Athletics games and collect your money and never delivered the newspaper.... What-a-rip-off ..!!! read more

It is a very un-welcomed house guest. It shows up on my door step uninvited for 5 days. Filling my recycling bin because after opening the first one I quickly realize that there is nothing in it I will ever want to read. The bag it comes in looks like those bio-degradable green ones, but when you read it, it must be recycled special. I never ordered this and I don't want it. And now I need to clean it up! Now I get a "bill" in the mail. The service lady on the phone says it was "ordered" at a kiosk in a mall. I never did that! I already know I don't like this paper. So I tell her, and she tries to sell me more paper that I don't want. Does she not understand? This is a marketing ploy. Stay away from these people. read more

Today is the day, I cancel the paper. Service that I received is so terrible, tell them I have sciatic nerve damage, they place paper under under car everyday. I'm done, received paper since it was free. read more

If there is negative STAR i will give negative star to this company. One student from Berkeley high school knocked my door and on persuasion that it is a free delivery for first 15 days and gets automatically cancelled without renewal. He further said that High School is going to pay for the 1st 15 days of the delivery. I never ever get any paper.I started receiving bills after bills and phone calls. On every phone call they will talk about extending my subscription and every time I will say please cancel my account. I was never interested in reading this print paper in the era of electronic information. I have received more than 20 calls so far. Today i got a call from a person and i persuaded him to listen me first. He said if you want to cancel your account you have to pay your fees now over phone. How should i know if this person is authentic ? I called later to this same number and it always goes on voice message. It never ever uttered about company name. I am fed up with West County times innumerable of marketing calls and i have decided to go to their office and just to settle things for ever even if i have to pay dollars for the papers i never ever received. read more

Since 12/28 I have not received any paper until after a call, and then only five times. Every day they tell me how sorry they and and they will get one out right away. They tell me they notified the branch managers and it will be fixed, but no change. I'm totally at a loss, don't these people care about their customers? Help please.... one star is way too many for them and their lack of service! read more

*BEWARE! DO NOT SUBSCRIBE* Fraudulent accounting, horrible customer service, and lack of concern for longtime customers! After forty years of receiving our paper, the paper stopped showing up. Our computer stays on with our account number saved so every morning I can report to this crappy company that no one delivered our PREPAID paper. They also said we owe $110 for a late fee and we are prepaid customers. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand why papers are becoming a thing of the past. read more

As previous reviewers stated, I would also give a negative review if I could. Like a good nice person, I also subscribed to help a high school student out and have never regretted a nice action as much as this one. I NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE PAPER and yet received daily phone calls asking me to pay my bill (despite having signed up for auto pay) and then daily phone calls from collection agents and staff asking me to settle my bill. I just spent $17 to make the phone calls stop, having still never received a single paper. read more

Worst service ever! Never know if you will receive a paper or not. They have no problem taking your money for 0 service. Buyers beware!

Been a week with no paper. Called every day, got credits , free week, free month but still no paper. Same story every time ("we'll notify the carrier and the manager") . Tomorrow I cancel my subscription that began back when the independent was the local paper. read more

Can I give them less than one star? I only take the paper on Sunday, because their subscription rate for the daily paper has increased so much, and I look forward to my Sunday paper. Today is the second Sunday in a row with no paper. Last Sunday I did get one delivered later after doing the automated line thing. Today I did the automated thing asking for a new paper and then talked to a customer service representative asking for a paper to be delivered. Just got home from church and no paper. It's too late to get a paper redelivered on the automated line and I have to call back tomorrow if I want to talk to someone. Not sure this is worth the hassle. No wonder subscriptions are down! read more

I have been trying since 9:30am to find out why my Sunday newspaper has not been delivered. I've made a request for redelivery online, as well as called in this morning to speak with a customer service representative, who assured me that my paper would be delivered today. It's going on 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon, and my paper still has yet to be delivered. If it were any other day of the week, I wouldn't care, but the Sunday paper has all of the circulars and coupons--things that I don't necessarily care about, but there are people in my household who do. I do not want an apology for this mishap, nor do I care to get a credit or a late delivery sometime on Monday of Sunday's paper. I would love to be able to speak with someone over the phone, but you guys seem to run an amateur operation on the absolute worst hours I've seen in a long time. There's no way for me to email customer care, so I'm posting this to your Facebook wall for all to see. You guys tried charging me over $150 for a 13-week subscription, which you corrected, but now I just want my damn paper to be delivered on time and in the right place. Often times, I find my paper in between my house and my neighbors (I live in a town home), or I find it on the neighbors porch. Either deliver the damn paper today, or I'm going to request that my subscription be cancelled immediately, and that I get reimbursed for the unused portion of my 1-year subscription. Thank you for making this Sunday, today, the biggest pain in the ass I've had to put up with on a weekend in quite some time. I'll be copying this and pasting it to your various Yelp pages, as well as on your Facebook page, with the hope that someone who values honesty and quality service actually reads this, but make no mistake about it, I'm not holding my breath. read more

Simply wanted to unsubscribe! Two many calls for missed newspapers, only once it was re-delivered next day. Not worth $ and hassles.

Can't give less than one star. Have received no paper for past six days. The listed 800 number is an outsource in Arizona. They say they can not help with circulation problems. No way to contact them about bad service but, they are very good at processing my payment! Time to switch to the Chronicle! read more

My sincere apologies regarding my previous review stating that the West County Times will no longer deliver at door but instead near garage or carport. First of all, it was for the East County Times and it was a notification written by a seemingly disgruntled paper delivery person to all, or some, of his customers and is not a policy initiated by East County Times. read more

Horrible billing department along with Customer Service!! I put in a vacation hold and they still want to charge me! I always paid my bill according to my statement but they said it was wrong! Really?? Who is at fault?? I paid what I was told and still I owe??? Ok just stop the delivery! If I could I would give a F- read more

I wasn't surprised at the response comment from Michael. It was the same one left for Erin of 5-13-13. I should have gotten the service your suggesting now when I called the Corp. Office. Instead I was transferred to someone in circulation, who did listen and apologized but, in the end I was told she could only say the same thing they did about the situation. ( Did I mention they were rude?) " And hey you still have a few days to think about keeping the paper." The final words were repeated at least two times that if I didn't want the paper I need to let them know. That is the type of customer service West County Times provided me and it's getting worse instead of better. read more

Fell for the high school student scholarship pitch. It was setup for Sunday paper only for 20 weeks one time payment no fees. After 5 weeks of no paper delivery, talking to customer service every week who made promises of notifying delivery person and e-mailing various levels of management of the problem i decided to cancel. I was told i would get a full refund within 7 to 10 days. On day 10 i inquired about status of refund and was told that it wasn't done in case i didn't want to cancel and was being charged a fee. This representative was very helpful and truthful where he corrected it where i would get a full refund but that it may take up to 4 weeks. There should be a zero star option. read more

I have had it with the printed version of the West County Times. Over the last few years, the service has gotten worse and worse. Half the time, we don't receive the daily paper. Two weeks ago we did not receive the Sunday paper. I called at 11 am (after giving them what I thought was a reasonable amount of time to deliver it) to report the problem. I was assured I would receive the paper. End of day - paper never came. Monday morning I called Walnut Creek to report the problem. They apologized and ASSURED me I WOULD receive the Sunday paper I missed and it would be delivered by Tuesday, Dec 15 for sure. SURPRISE....it never arrived. And now i have not received Monday's or Tuesday's paper. The Contra Costa Times in my opinion is one of the most shabbily run newspapers around. And, customer service is a joke -- that is IF you can actually reach a "real person as opposed to a recording. read more