Audible has a rating of 1.3 stars from 575 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Audible most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and free trial problems. Audible ranks 75th among Audio Books sites.
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Have had to replace my credit card for the second time - big hassle, got to change about a dozen online accounts. I don't remember signing up for this. Glad I came here, I did not realize that Amazon Audio Books were involved. IIRC, the Audible site wanted me to give them credit card info (to verify or steal?) and charge me to unsubscribe.
-> Pissed Off in Colorado
Date of experience: April 20, 2017
I was on the phone almost three hours with no resolution. I felt like I was the bad guy. I purchased a book online from my work computer during lunch, a few minutes later I went in to check my account and now am told I cannot get onto that account. They say there is no account under the email that I just downloaded a book from, yet my money was taken from my credit card. The techs kept repeating things over and over, made me feel very stupid, just bad service. Its too bad I really like this service but will have to try another site. They just don't listen.
Date of experience: July 26, 2017
Hey Margaret, we're very sorry you weren't able to get your issue resolved. It absolutely doesn't sound like anything you did. We'd like to take another look at this issue, please send an email to social-support@audible.com so we can find your account.^WW
Audible seems to be a company built on sneaking recurring charges past customers.
I bought a Kindle to use with my library card's digital library. A little while later, my partner (with whom I share an Amazon account) mentioned they noticed a recurring charge for Audible on their card. We quickly got that cancelled and thought it was settled. A few months later, I noticed I was being charged for a Premium Plus subscription as well.
I called and the first associate I got was incredibly rude. After I told them I was being charged for a Premium Subscription that I didn't sign up for, she kept saying, I need more information without saying what information was needed. When I asked what additional information was needed, she just kept saying more information about your subscription and not clarifying. After a few circles of that, I asked for her name and a supervisor, and she said 'no, you just have to call back,' and hung up.
Date of experience: May 1, 2022
I was about to give up on them, after 8 months of no smartphone service, long hours on the phone with the helpdesk, I finally got someone who fixed the issue. During this time I signed up for the Romance / Escape package. It is only available through the US site and is $6.95 US per month. It has unlimited access to a selection of romance books (over 1000+) and was introduced to many great authors, ie. J. Bengtsson, Dakota Cassidy, Lauren Blakely, Katie MacAlister. The package also has select Molly Harper! A great deal!
Date of experience: November 1, 2018
I heard about this garbage from numerous podcasts and decided to check it out. Basically by signing up for the free trial you commit yourself to their monthly payment and killing your membership is a real mess. You will get error messages. You will get frustrated. Just leave it alone. Any positive reviews on this site were written by their employees. Ignore them.
Date of experience: December 18, 2015
I never subscribed to this and they are charging me. I cancelled and hope I don't have the same problem others are by them still being charged after cancellation. This is against the law. How can this be stopped? Keep an eye on your credit card charges, they are stealing!
Date of experience: October 12, 2019
Took the free trial. Cancelled in time. On 1/1/23 and 1/2/23.2 charges appeared in my credit card for 14.95 each. Even though I cancelled my trial, they charged me twice. This is what Amazon thinks of disabled vets, let's steal thier money. Now had to report card lost to get a new one issued to prevent Audiable from stealing more money from me.
Tip for consumers:
Stay away
Date of experience: January 2, 2023
Got charged even though I cancelled my "free trial" before it expired. Than got charged twice for audible and audible uk even though I only used one single app. So I cancelled my account YET AGAIN and it turns out once you cancel you cant use a credit to get a book regardless that your account will be active for 30 more days (because you payed for 30 more days... unwillingly). This platform is a scam.
Date of experience: March 18, 2021
Been with Audible for several years. My wife has a book club, so they read a lot. Afew months ago the book club stopped meeting, so she dit not get any more audio books. She currently has 8 unused credits in her account, each worth about $15.00. When I asked to cancel her membership I found out that I would lose all 8 credits and the use of the program all together. I feel that I have been defrauded, those 8 credits are worth something and should not be taken away. Keep this in mind before signing up, they are fraudulent!
Date of experience: May 1, 2020
When you subscribe to Amazon Prime, which includes e-books, music, apps, etc. the service was outstanding! When Audible was introduced "Thanks2Net" with almost every book (with VERY few exceptions) Amazon now asks every single time if you want to sign up for Audible. With some of the "e-books" you may have to pay additional fees to have audio included. IF you do not read everything very carefully "BAM" you just signed up for Audible -- What a rip-off! Amazon was an amazing site prior to "Thanks2Net"'s involvement. Everything has changed, the lay out of the site, the way reviews are handled, God forgive if you give negative feedback. I'm very honest and don't like to see others taken advantage of, however, my reviews have been taken down and was told that what was said was not acceptable. If you are a customer of Amazon check out the thousands of complaints they have gotten since Audible got involved. Thanks, Tony R. (Thanks2Net"
Date of experience: August 31, 2015
Signed up for a free 3 minths trial, didn't like it and discontinued the account. However it seems audible us and audible Australia are 2 different companies and I cancelled the wrong account.
Forget that this is totally confusing and they don't make this clear, they also did not send any notification or email that the trial ended and they'll start charging. No statement or bill. Only noticed it in my credit card statement after 2 months.
Total scam! I cannot believe I'm the only one and judging from the other posts this is a clear tactic from Amazon to quietly charge customers.
Date of experience: April 5, 2015
We apologize for the charges that you received. We'd like to help sort this out. Please feel free to email us at social-support@audible.com.
My son signed up for a "free" trial and like other reviewers, we didn't notice the charges. We too have paid a 14.95 charge for years, were not aware that we had this "membership" and have never gotten a single book. I can't help but think they do not make it as clear as they should that getting the "free" book will end up costing a lot. I am extremely unhappy with the company, and it will tarnish my feelings about Amazon as well. I'm out a lot of money, with no benefit and feel like I have been "scammed" - again like many other reviewers. I would think they would want to maintain better customer relations, but I guess making all that money off of unsuspecting, unwilling "members" pays for itself.
Date of experience: July 28, 2015
Got offer for free trial download of 1 book which I accepted. I DID NOT give my credit card number. Registered through my amazon.in account. No where did they say that I would automatically get ' Gold Card' membership for which they would charge $14.95 every month. Suddenly they charged ~1000 INR to my credit card. No email, nothing. I trusted the company because it is an Amazon affiliate. Have cancelled membership and blocked my credit card. What a scam!
JR
In all fairness to Audible I must report that cancelling my membership was very easy and when I contacted them at *******@audible.com with my complaint they replied very promptly and addressed the issue in the most satisfactory manner
JR
Date of experience: May 1, 2016
Have been a member for many years. Wish the books were less expensive, and that the sort functions had been updated... But the competition is not even close., and I listen to books while driving, and while out of cell range. Until there is a better alternative, I will continue to give them my money.
Date of experience: May 26, 2016
Audible = Parasite.
Really easy to subscribe but since subscription are only on auto renew, when it comes to cancel, that's when it gets funny. Cancellation is time consuming & stressful. You cannot cancel through the the application, instead you have to make different phone calls. For instance I called Audible to cancel, they took all my information, asked my personal information and spent 12 minutes on the phone with them, but then I was told to call Apple instead because they said they weren't able to cancel my membership. I had to then call Apple and spend more time there. Why would they make it so difficult to cancel when this could easily be done though their app?
The only thought that comes to mind is: Parasites.
Tip for consumers:
BEWARE
Date of experience: February 23, 2023
Largest audiobook collection available!
Life of a busy working mom had left my love of books on the bookshelf, but audible has breathed new life into my passion for books! I listen in the car, while making dinner, folding laundry, walking the dog. Heck, on average I devour 2 to 3 books a month and my household chores are much more enjoyable! The website is easy to use AND if you don't like a book as a member you can return it for full credit refund. Audible has added a wonderful new dimension to my everyday life!
Date of experience: September 3, 2019
I have a decent amount of audio books there. Their selection was pretty good. They occasionally offer freebies which are actually great. Their books are somewhat expensive, but their membership seems quite affordable.
Date of experience: April 11, 2018
Audible has charged my credit card for a service I never signed up for nor did I ever use. They charged 5 months of different charges and the only way they could have gotten my credit card info is from Amazon. Like others my credit card had an expired date but somehow they are able to keep charging. My bank has filed fraud charges against audible to get my money back. Because of audible I have had to cancel my credit card and I have deleted my other card Amazon has on file. From reading other sites this has been going on for years and they are still in business. Seems Amazon doesn't care about its customers or they would have done something about this a long time ago.
Date of experience: September 12, 2015
If you don't cancel after your free trial they're gladly fraud you out of cash. Writing this to prevent others from being taken advantage of. They know exactly what they're doing. Conmen. Scamsters. Hope they're put down soon
Date of experience: January 5, 2019
I've been an audible platinum customer for 8 years.
I received notice today at 2:26pm, that it will be terminating support of the Audible application for iOS 6 the following day.
Ok, fine. It has every right to do so. But, REALLY... if Audible.com cared about customer service. It would give people more notice. At least a month in advance so they can make other arrangements.
I give Audible.com a very BAD rating for customer service..
Date of experience: June 29, 2015
I have never ever used this service and this company continued to charge me a membership fee for a service i never used... i caught onto it when i did my annual finance review and i found out they have been charging me for about 6 months now. I called them and threatened a law suit against them for stealing from me and they were real quick to cancel my subscription and refund all my money... its like they've had this issue before. Don't use this company at all they are a bunch of thieving liars.
Date of experience: August 8, 2016
So because I don't watch my charges on my card I never realized that I've been paying for this service for 7 months.: after I canceled! They will charge any card on your amazon account to keep the membership going and if you don't notice too bad so sad. Do NOT even sign up for a trial!
Date of experience: May 19, 2019
How the hell does Jeff Bezos allow Amazon to be associated with these thieves in plain sight? I only got as far as my email address and postcode before I smelled danger and exited the site, but then they somehow got my card details through Amazon and tried to steal from my account.- Fortunately, the security at the bank was on the ball- credit to Nationwide U. K. and smelt fraud and stopped my card and the transaction. I suggest all people conned by this company write to the Washington Post.
Date of experience: May 25, 2019
After purchasing audible, I realized I wasn't using it on a regular basis and put a hold (or so I thought) on my membership. Due to this now my credits will expire! Isn't it like purchasing a gift card? Even spoke with a manager there John K who advised me (as a not so young person and not entirely not used to hearing books) that I was out of luck. Apparently its all in there term and conditions. A complete rip off.
Date of experience: November 22, 2023
Took 30 day free trial but decided not to take offer. But Audible started taking a monthly membership out of my account. Unable to cancel. Big problem was that Audible kept telling me I was not a member. After trying for ages decided to call Amazon as this is part of their company. They answered right away and told me I was a member but only in the USA not Canada. So I had somehow got a free trial from the USA with an Audible app from Canada on my tablet. Amazon passed me on to Audible USA that cancelled my subscription and gave me a full refund.
Problem solved.
Date of experience: December 11, 2020
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Hi Huck,
It is not necessary to enter credit card information when trying to unsubscribe. This information is only necessary when enrolling. We would like to help stop these charges for you. Please email us at social-support@audible.com so we can look into this on our end for you. Thanks.