Customer Service Struggles: Banking Errors, TurboTax Frustrations, Dating App Scams & More | January 2025
Joanna Clark-Simpson
Head of Consumer Research and Marketing, Media Communications at PissedConsumer
The start of the new year in 2025 for many consumers was marked by the beginning of headaches caused by various issues. From unexpected charges to customer service frustrations, January reviews highlight ongoing issues. Whether it’s a “free” trial, banks mishandling payments, or dating scams on popular platforms, consumers are speaking out.
In this newsletter edition, we are sharing key trends from January 2025 and summarizing 2024 with insights from the PissedConsumer Best & Worst Customer Service Report, filled with real consumer experiences. Read on to see which companies are getting it right—and which ones are leaving customers frustrated.
If you’re a journalist or media representative, I’d be happy to provide further insights or dig deeper into specific complaints you’re investigating for your stories. Just reply to this newsletter!
Best and Worst Customer Service in 2024
Throughout 2024, PissedConsumer.com surveyed 82,032 users and compiled a comprehensive analysis to highlight key trends and insights from consumer feedback regarding customer service across various industries.
Key insights:
You may check the survey results here. Could this be interesting? I’d be happy to share more details, just reply to this email.
Trending Consumer Alerts Based on January Reviews
Dating Scams and Frustrations
Consumers are frustrated with online dating platforms due to fake profiles, scammers, and misleading interactions. Many question security measures, while high costs and disappointing experiences have made some lose trust in dating sites.
“First person married and then the next person was a military scam. He was suppose to be Syria although he said he was in NJ. Then he tells me he has a daughter and that his wife had leukemia… When I got the picture, it was him with a wedding band… All Fake.”?
Read eHarmony review (#6404743)
“I have been on-site for a while and the person I have been corresponding certainly with portrayed themselves as someone else… It is difficult to meet anyone with a real profile and good intentions. The site is quite expensive and should be secured from fake profiles and the intentions of people.”
Read EuroDate review (#6388753)
“The worst app ever lots of scammers show verified and they are still scammers and are not real people. I was scammed and now I am trying to pick up the pieces… Thanks to this app I will never get in another dating site ever again”
Read Tinder review (#6381555)
“I cancelled the auto-renewal for SilverSingles within their ridiculous "three-day" refund period... They "fake" get you to sign up for a premium account in the first place by having fake profiles "smile" at you -and you have to log on to see who they are and come to find out it's not even a real account since the person that smiled at you doesn't respond to your message.”
Read MeetMyAge review (#6359104)
Banking Issues and Payment Disputes
Consumers report challenges with banks mishandling payments, account issues, and dispute resolutions. Unexpected charges, account closures, and unresponsive customer service have led to ongoing frustrations. Some customers struggle to get assistance even after multiple attempts.
“I paid off my loan on January 17. On January 29 the bank continued to debit my checking account for $396.80, the monthly payment… When I called Huntington Back they said I could put a stop on the payment which I found out was a $30 charge… why wasn't the debit on my account stopped when I paid off the loan?”
Read Huntington Bank review (#6404823)
“Bank of America canceled my credit card account number after I reported a merchant's mistaken double charge on their website. Even though I called customer service and explained there was no fraud and the card wasn't lost or stolen, they refused to reinstate the number and strung me along for months with the promise of "investigating" it… so I filed a lawsuit, but Bank of America refused to take responsibility or settle for even a small amount of compensation.”
Read Bank of America review (#6398639)
领英推荐
“My backpack was stolen... Since then, I've been fighting with the bank about money missing from my account and I can't get any help. They keep hanging up on me. I need to get a hold of somebody who can help me retrieve my funds because they won't do their job.”
Read GO2bank review (#6376441)
YouTube TV Glitches and Billing Mishaps
Missing local channels and unexpected charges during free trials are leaving users frustrated. Some struggle with access issues across different devices, while others face billing surprises they didn’t anticipate. These issues make it harder to enjoy the convenience that streaming is supposed to offer.
“Sometimes I lose my local channels and instead of picking up local channels in Des Moines, I pick them up in Chicago or Houston or Denver or who knows where else… Last time I could not get it to change back to local channels, but eventually it changed on its own. When I checked into this further, I was able to get local channels on my iPhone 6 and not my smart TV.”
(Review #6399732)
“I decided to go back to YOUTUBE TV while I’m away on an extended vacation. I signed up for a trial period only to find it too has issues. I can't record and replay programming away from my home base. As I'm away for an extended period this is intolerable.”
(Review #6390764)
“I wanted to try a free trial… my husband tried for a free trial. He put in all his information. And put in bank information it showed A free trial for 10 days. Then $59.99 for 3 months then go to $82.99… it said we are all set up… We went to town and deposited money in our bank they said I was overdrawn… Because yous pulled $82.99 out of our checking.”
(Review #6375295)
Read latest YouTube TV reviews
Customer Service Issues With TurboTax
PissedConsumer users report issues with TurboTax, including missing tax refunds, difficulty obtaining W-2 forms, and unhelpful customer support. Some struggle to get clear answers or assistance, while others face errors that remain unresolved.
“I never received my federal tax refund. I don't know why, when I filed electronically through TurboTax. They kept saying everything was accepted, but the IRS said it was not.”
(Review #6403634)
“I called to find out how I could get my W-2. I have been a customer for many years and I have problems when I need help. I just dont know who else to go to for help.”
(Review #6388043)
“Had an issue where their app uploaded something wrong when I got a hold of a customer service rep they told me to hold on while they checked into it. We got disconnected and they never called me back and I could not get through again they did not seem concerned at all, and this bothers me.”
Read latest TurboTax reviews
Would you like to explore these or other consumer trends in more detail? Feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to assist with further research or connect you with review authors to provide firsthand accounts.
Jonna Clark-Simpson is the head of consumer research and marketing at the PissedConsumer.com review and reputation management platform. She analyzes consumer experiences and keeps her eye on the latest consumer alerts. Joanna assists media representatives in their investigations for news stories and writes articles with helpful tips for consumers and companies.
Subscribe to this newsletter to stay informed on the latest consumer news.