Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/19/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  "Click-bait" headlines that profit on fear manipulation of real people concerned for themselves and their family's safety. 07/19/2024 https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-to-rumble-over-parts-of-usplains-into-the-weekend/1670507 "Thunderstorms may cause disruptions and DESTRUCTION over part of the Great Plains into Fridaynight." This is very offensive. AccuWeather is talking about people's lives, not a new episode of a fictional televisionshow to hype with threats. Oh, I mean warnings. It is hard to tell from "headlines" like this. Is it exciting for AccuWeather to use emotional manipultion via fear-mongering? Because anything "MAY" or might happen. I request that AccuWeather state facts plainly and without self-promoting hysteria. And, yes, it is. As AccuWeather states it has the privilege of influencing (profiting off) 1.5 billion world-wide, AccuWeather has a responsibility to represent direct facts and is NOT entitled to scare the public into providing their "eye-balls" out of incitement of fear.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/24/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Years ago I paid for the life time version of AccuWeather. Now your Company is supposed to honor this lifetime purchase. Then how come for 3 years I had to pay $20 each year for your premium+ for a total of $60 How is this fair? I have proof that one of your people said that I never had to pay for your subscription. But now another person from your company is saying "no sorry I can't help you that is unfortunate." This is cruel, and not fair. I have proof of both claims to back me up. If you do not honor my lifetime purchase of your product and give me your highest tier for life as a customer of your service. I will be leaving AccuWeather for one of your other competitors like 1weather where they do honor a lifetime purchase. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/04/2023

  Thank you for bringing to our attention this user's ("Customer") experience with the AccuWeather app, which we seek to address and resolve. 

  AccuWeather received your letter regarding *** ** ******** by email to ******** ****** September 25, 2023. Our response is as follows: 
  Based on the Customer's statement that he paid for a "lifetime version ", AccuWeather interprets this to mean that the Customer bought the "Platinum" package offered by AccuWeather for a one- time payment in the range of $0.99 $3.99. The "Platinum" package (which was initially launched in 2012) was the only "one-time payment" product that was offered in connection with a previous version AccuWeather app. 

  After launching a new and significantly redesigned and upgraded version of the AccuWeather app, and as a courtesy, we provided all Platinum users with access to the new "Premium" product. The new "Premium" product provided to our Platinum users still honors the ad-free experience purchased by these customers and contains the same core features that were part of the Platinum service, as well as new ones. These customers were not required to make any subscription fee payments to continue to receive an ad-free experience on the Premium app, nor were these customers required to sign up and pay for Premium+, which is a separate product. AccuWeather notified Platinum users of this change via in-app messaging. For clarity, Platinum was sunset, along with all previous version of the AccuWeather app, in 2021. 

  Further, all features that were included in the Platinum app are available or upgraded in the current AccuWeather app. This includes 45 days of daily forecasts (Platinum only 25 days), RealfeelR and Realfeel ShadeTM - AccuWeather's exclusive weather forecasting system that analyzes multiple weather factors to determine how the local temperature actually feels (Platinum only Realfeel® was available), AccuWeather's MinuteCast®, providing street-level Minute by MinuteR precipitation globally with updates out 4 hours (Platinum only contained 2 hours of MinuteCast®), ten updated home screen widgets displaying forecasts, MinuteCast®, and severe weather notifications (previously only four home screen widgets displaying two-day forecasts) and numerous other products including global radar coverage, RealVueR global satellites and new, WinterCast®: winter weather predictions that provide you with early warnings about the likelihood of snowfall and accumulation (WinterCast®), advanced past, current and future radar providing real-time updates on storm tracking, snow, ice and rain along with 72 hours of hourly forecast data. 

  All Platinum users with access to the new "Premium" product continue to receive core features that were included as part of the Platinum app as outlined above, accordingly, there was no requirement to sign up and/or pay for Premium+. If Customer desires to cancel his Premium+ membership, that can be accomplished by notifying Customer Service. 

  If assistance is needed, users can reach out to [email protected] or use the "Help" button to receive help with the app. We also encourage users to install the most recent version of the app or enable automatic updates. 

  We want to reassure this Customer that they are receiving access to all core features that were originally included as "Platinum" and nothing was removed for "Premium" or "Premium+". 
  Please let us know if you require any additional information. We appreciate the customer feedback. 

  
  Thank you, 
  Customer Service 
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/06/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** ****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/15/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I paid for the lifetime premium service and now they came out with premium+. The premium+ has added a paywall to all the features I had access to with my premium lifetime service. I would like a refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/26/2023

  April 26, 2023
  **** ********* *****
  
  Thank you for bringing to our attention this user’s (“Customer”) experience with the AccuWeather app, which we seek to address and resolve.
  
  AccuWeather received your letter regarding *** ** ******** by email to ******** ******* Acting General Counsel, on April 15, 2023.  Our response is as follows:
  Based on the Customer’s statement that he paid for a “lifetime premium service”, AccuWeather interprets this to mean that the Customer bought the “Platinum” package offered by AccuWeather (not Premium as indicated in the statement) for a one-time payment in the range of $0.99 - $3.99.  The “Platinum” package (which was initially launched in 2012) was the only “one-time payment” product that was offered in connection with a previous version AccuWeather app. 
  After launching a new and significantly redesigned and upgraded version of the AccuWeather app, and as a courtesy, we provided all Platinum users with access to the new “Premium” product. The new “Premium” product provided to our Platinum users still honors the ad-free experience purchased by these customers and contains the same core features that were part of the Platinum service, as well as new ones.  These customers were not required to make any subscription fee payments to continue to receive an ad-free experience on the Premium app. AccuWeather also notified Platinum users of this change via in-app messaging.  For clarity, Platinum was sunset, along with all  previous version of the AccuWeather app, in 2021.  
  Further, all features that were included in the Platinum app are available or upgraded in the current AccuWeather app. This includes 45 days of daily forecasts (Platinum  only 25 days), Realfeel® and Realfeel ShadeTM - AccuWeather’s exclusive weather forecasting system that analyzes multiple weather factors to determine how the local temperature actually feels (Platinum  only Realfeel® was available), AccuWeather’s MinuteCast®, providing street-level Minute by Minute® precipitation globally with updates out 4 hours (Platinum only contained 2 hours of MinuteCast®), ten updated home screen widgets displaying forecasts, MinuteCast®, and severe weather notifications (previously only four home screen widgets displaying two-day forecasts) and numerous other products including global radar coverage, RealVue® global satellites and new, WinterCast®: winter weather predictions that provide you with early warnings about the likelihood of snowfall and accumulation  (WinterCast®), advanced past, current and future radar providing real-time updates on storm tracking, snow, ice and rain along with 72 hours of hourly forecast data.
  Regarding the availability of features, all Platinum users with access to the new “Premium” product continue to receive core features that were included as part of the Platinum app as outlined above. If assistance is needed, users can reach out to [email protected] or use the “Help” button to receive help with the app.  We also encourage users to install the most recent version of the app or enable automatic updates.
  We want to reassure this Customer that they are receiving access to all core features that were originally included as “Platinum” and nothing was removed for “Premium” or “Premium+”. 
  
  Please let us know if you require any additional information. We appreciate the customer feedback.
  
  Thank you, 
  
  Customer Service 
  AccuWeather  [email protected]
  Download: iOS – Android

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/23/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

    Years ago, I paid for the “Premium” version of the Accuweather app for Android.  I don't remember exactly when, or what the price was, but it was understood that this was to get me an ad-free version of the app, and all of the full features then offered.   More recently, they've offered a “Premium Plus”, which involves, not a one-time payment, but an ongoing $2/month or $20/year subscription.  I'm OK with them adding new features, not covered under what I paid for when I paid for the “Premium” app, but now I am seeing previously-existing features being locked out, and ads appearing in my “Premium” app, with indications that to get those back, I need now to subscribe to the ongoing payments.   I want what I paid for.  And no, I will not, under any circumstances, agree to pay more, especially if it's an ongoing, repeating cost.  Back whenever I bought this app, I would never have considered it if it was a “subscription” rather than a one-time payment.  Accuweather needs to honor the deal that it made with me when I paid for the “Premium” version of their app, and not hold any part of that hostage to their ongoing “Premium Plus” scam.   Attached images show that I have the “Premium” version, and shows the “Hourly” display now cut off at a much shorter point than it used to allow, with a banner imploring me to subscribe to Premium Plus to see any farther out.  Hourly used to go out as far as 72 hours, but now that's only available under “Premium Plus”.  That's part of what I paid for when I bought “Premium”.  I don't know what other features have been or will be taken away from “Premium”, and held hostage for “Premium Plus”.  This is one that I use frequently, and I object to having it taken away.  I paid for it, and I am entitled to it.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/10/2023

  AccuWeather 
  April 5, 2023 
  
  Thank you for bringing to our attention this user's ("Customer") experience with the AccuWeather app, which we seek to address and resolve. 
  AccuWeather received your letter regarding *** ** ******** by regular mail on March 30th, 2023. The letter contains a statement but did not contain the images referenced in the statement. We do request a copy of the entire correspondence and images be sent us to at the address above to ensure completeness with this request. Even though this information was missing, we believe that we have an understanding of the issue based on the detail provided. Our response is as follows: 

  
  From the description provided by the Customer of the product that was purchased, AccuWeather believes that the Customer bought the "Platinum" package offered by AccuWeather (not Premium as indicated in the statement) for a one-time payment in the range of $0.99 - $3.99. The "Platinum" package (which was initially launched in 2012) was the only "one-time payment" product that was offered in connection with a previous version AccuWeather app. 
  After launching a new and significantly redesigned and upgraded version of the AccuWeather app, and as a courtesy, we provided all Platinum users with access to the new "Premium" product. The new "Premium" product provided to our Platinum users still honors the ad-free experience purchased by these customers and contains the same core features that were part of the Platinum service, as well as new ones. These customers were not required to make any subscription fee payments to continue to receive an ad-free experience on the Premium app. AccuWeather also notified Platinum users of this change via in-app messaging. For clarity, Platinum was sunset, along with all previous version of the AccuWeather app, in 2021. 

  
  Further, all features that were included in the Platinum app are available or upgraded in the current AccuWeather app. This includes 45 days of daily forecasts (Platinum only 25 days), RealfeelR and Realfeel ShadeTM - AccuWeather's exclusive weather forecasting system that analyzes multiple weather factors to determine how the local temperature actually feels (Platinum only RealfeelR was available), AccuWeather's MinuteCast®, providing street-level Minute by MinuteR precipitation globally with updates out 4 hours (Platinum only contained 2 hours of MinuteCast®), ten updated home screen widgets displaying forecasts, MinuteCast®, and severe weather notifications (previously only four home screen widgets displaying two-day forecasts) and numerous other products including global radar coverage, RealVueR global satellites and new, WinterCastR: winter weather predictions that provide you with early warnings about the likelihood of snowfall and accumulation (WinterCast®), advanced past, current and future radar providing real-time updates on storm tracking, snow, ice and rain along with 72 hours of hourly forecast data. 
  Regarding the availability of features such as 72-hour forecast, all users of the AccuWeather Premium app receive this and other core features that were included as part of the Platinum app as outlined above. A brand-new graph view visualizing specific forecast details was added to a higher paid tier known as Premium+ ("premium plus"). All Premium users (or those whom had Platinum access) continue to receive the long-range hourly forecast as this was not removed as referenced. (The Customer should toggle between the "list view" and the new "graph view" in the upper right-hand corner of the hourly screen.). The list view is the same 72-hour forecast the Customer has received previously. If further assistance is needed, please reach out to [email protected] or use the "Help" button, where users are able to receive help with the app including issues with ads. We also encourage users to install the most recent version of the app or enable automatic updates. 

  
  We want to reassure this Customer that they are receiving access to all core features, including the 72-hour forecast, that were originally included as "Platinum" and nothing was removed for "Premium". 
  Please let us know if you require any additional information. We appreciate the customer feedback. 
  Thank you, 
  Customer Service 
  AccuWeather [email protected] 
  Download: iOS - Android 
  385 Science Park Road, State College, PA 16803-2215 ************* ************* * ********************* *************** 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/10/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  *** ********