Deceptive business practices and rude customer service
I am extremely disappointed with both Seeking Alpha's customer service and what I consider to be misleading subscription and refund practices. I signed up for a low-cost trial through Google Play, which later converted into an annual Premium subscription. After noticing the renewal, I contacted customer support promptly to explain my circumstances and request a refund. The customer service I received was among the worst I have experienced. The representative was dismissive from the outset, repeatedly stated that a refund was not possible, and provided no meaningful explanation for the decision. I later received a callback from the same representative, who simply reiterated that the refund had been denied without addressing any of my concerns. I found the tone to be rude, unprofessional and completely lacking in empathy. I was also surprised to discover that Seeking Alpha prominently advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee, yet I was told this does not apply to the Premium subscription. In my view, this is confusing and potentially misleading, as it creates an expectation of protection that was not available in my case. If significant exclusions apply, they should be made clear and prominent before customers subscribe. As a UK consumer, I also raised what I believe are my rights under UK consumer law regarding a 14-day cooling-off period for digital services and subscriptions that begin on payment. Rather than engaging with this point or explaining why they believed those rights did not apply, my concerns were simply dismissed. The company appeared either unaware of, or unwilling to address, the UK consumer protections I had raised. I appreciate that businesses are entitled to have refund policies, but those policies should be transparent, fairly communicated, and applied alongside any applicable consumer rights. Customers should also be treated with respect and given clear explanations when significant sums of money are involved. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Seeking Alpha. I hope the company reviews both its customer service standards and the transparency of its subscription and refund policies. Edit: Seeking Alpha responded below but when I contacted support (Mawshan), they immediately closed the ticket without responding.