Miracle-Ear

Complaints & Reviews on USAComplaints

19 complaints on USAComplaints, including 1 published in the last three years.

• Job Offer Withdrawn After Questioning Different Job TitlePublished Aug 26, 2025 · Consumer allegation
• High-Pressure Hearing Aid Sale to an 81 Year Old SeniorPublished Oct 28, 2012 · Historical consumer allegation
• MEMSI, Ampliphon Deceptive practices, overchargingPublished Oct 1, 2011 · Historical consumer allegation
• Hearing Aids Bought for $5850 Needed Six Repair VisitsPublished Aug 21, 2011 · Historical consumer allegation
• Paul Bochterle, Steve Marando Rip off elderly, falsifying business records, laundering moneyPublished Aug 18, 2011 · Historical consumer allegation
• Policy and PracticesPublished Aug 1, 2011 · Historical consumer allegation
• Harry A Leibovich Beware that Miracle Ear Hearing Aids do not work properlyPublished Feb 7, 2011 · Historical consumer allegation
• Contest online (Facebook) This contest was Bogus, and wasted time of many of my friends and Family. They stopped counting votes to make us losePublished Oct 10, 2010 · Historical consumer allegation
• Terrible experiencePublished Oct 2, 2008 · Historical consumer allegation
• Hearing aids never fit. Numerous visits to adjustPublished Apr 19, 2008 · Historical consumer allegation
• Con Artists, pry on people with hearing loses mostly elderly DemorestPublished Jan 21, 2008 · Historical consumer allegation
• Unsatisfactory hearing aidsPublished Dec 27, 2007 · Historical consumer allegation
• Ripoff did not work as promised by carmen ellingsonPublished Dec 22, 2005 · Historical consumer allegation
• Miracle-Ear Sears Hearing Aid Center Shelia Helms downpayment rip-off USAPublished Jul 20, 2003 · Historical consumer allegation
• Rip-off Damaged original aide, then would not send replacement or new onePublished Feb 22, 2003 · Historical consumer allegation
• Miracle Ear rip-offPublished Feb 14, 2003 · Historical consumer allegation
• Ripoff charged me $6200. For two hearing aids when I asked why so much I was told it was because I would not ever have to buy another deceptive companyPublished Nov 12, 2002 · Historical consumer allegation
• Ripoff - The good & the badPublished Sep 19, 2002 · Historical consumer allegation
• Inefficient repair inexcusable customer servicePublished Nov 7, 2000 · Historical consumer allegation

Complaint Themes

Each tag reflects a complaint's single primary theme (not every angle it raised), and complaints outside any problem theme — a positive report, or one later retracted by its author — aren't tagged. Counts may total less than the full complaint count above.

Independent Sources

Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.

Contacts

• Official website: https://www.miracle-ear.com/
• Miracle-Ear support line (website header): 877-403-8834
• Legal Department (Terms and Conditions): 800-234-9314
• Legal Department (Terms and Conditions): [email protected]
• BBB-listed phone: 800-241-1372

Locations

Miracle-Ear complaints: returns, warranty, aftercare and where to complain

This page was checked on 2026-10-18. Miracle-Ear sells through company-owned stores and franchisee-owned stores (see Company background), so the first step for a hearing aid problem is the store that sold the aids, with the purchase agreement in hand.

• Return window. The Terms and Conditions disclaimers (last revised July 2024) say: "If you are not completely satisfied, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. Fitting fees may apply. See store for details. Additional terms may apply." The home page footnote says the hearing aids "may be returned to the store of purchase in satisfactory condition, as determined by Miracle-Ear, for a full refund", adds "At participating locations", and so ties a return to the store that made the sale. Three 30-day disclaimers appear in the Terms (Risk-Free, 30-Day Trial and 100% Satisfaction Guarantee); the first omits "Fitting fees may apply." Ask the store for the written terms that apply to your purchase.
• Warranty. The warranty page says Miracle-Ear offers "a 3-year warranty* on almost all our hearing solutions" with the footnote "Limited warranty, see store or miracle-ear.com/warranty for details." The Terms add that the 3-year limited warranty is "Not valid on Audiotone Pro" and, under Warranty Disclaimer, "See store for complete warranty details." The complete warranty terms (for example exclusions, loss or damage coverage and deductibles) were not published on the warranty page we read on 2026-10-18, so ask the store for them in writing.
• Aftercare. The company says its aftercare (cleanings and checks, programming adjustments, an annual hearing test) is "included in the original price". On the Lifetime care page, repairs are described differently: you can bring the aids in "for any necessary repairs, which are covered by our 3-year warranty", so repairs are tied to the warranty and not listed as free for life. The page carries the footnote "lifetime aftercare not included with hearing aids purchased utilizing some insurance benefits"; if you bought through insurance or Medicare Advantage benefits, ask the store in writing which services are excluded.
• Miracle-Ear contact. The Contact Us page offers a support form ("someone from our team will reach out to you") and the header lists 877-403-8834. For website information or complaints the Terms list the Legal Department at (800) 234-9314 and [email protected], and written notices go to Miracle-Ear, Inc., Attn: Legal Department, 150 S. 5th St., Suite 2300, Minneapolis, MN 55402.
• Dispute terms. Section 12.1 of the Terms says that "All claims and disputes (excluding claims for injunctive or other equitable relief as set forth below) in connection with the Terms or the use of any product or service provided by us that cannot be resolved informally or in small claims court shall be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis". In the Terms, "us" is defined as Miracle-Ear, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates and "our franchise system". Section 12.3 says arbitration "shall be initiated through the American Arbitration Association", Section 11 refers to "the laws of the state of Minnesota", and Section 12.13 allows an individual action in small claims court. Read these terms before relying on court action, and read the purchase agreement you signed, which may have its own terms.
• Other options. The FDA says it "established a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults 18 years of age and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss" effective October 17, 2022; the FDA page does not mention Miracle-Ear.
• Outside routes. BBB accepts complaints about Miracle-Ear, Inc. and lists the Minnesota Department of Health as an 'Other Resource'. Reports of deceptive sales practices can also be made to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general or state hearing-aid licensing board.

Keep the purchase agreement, serial numbers, appointment dates and the date fitting was completed, and note in writing every adjustment visit, since the return clock runs from completion of fitting.

October 2026 federal settlement over Paycheck Protection Program loans

On October 16, 2026 the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced "a settlement with Miracle-Ear, Inc., and the Miracle-Ear Foundation to settle claims that they improperly obtained three loans through the Paycheck Protection Program". They "agreed to pay $6,473,222 to resolve the government's claims." This concerned pandemic-era business loans, not hearing aid sales or customer refunds.

What the government alleged. According to the release, Miracle-Ear received a first-draw PPP loan of $1,962,000 in June 2020 and a second-draw loan of $1,962,000 in February 2021, and the Foundation received one loan of $58,100 in May 2020. The United States alleged that both were ineligible because they were affiliated with Amplifon S.p.A. and the Amplifon group employed too many people, and that Miracle-Ear "provided false information in its loan applications" to appear covered by an SBA exemption for "business concerns operating as a franchise".

Status. The release says the settlement resolves two qui tam (whistleblower) cases filed by Blockquote, Inc. and Mary Denler and pending in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and that Blockquote will receive $1,154,111.40. It also states: "The settlement agreement states allegations only; Miracle-Ear, Inc. and Miracle-Ear Foundation do not admit liability for the allegations." Court docket. We did not read the settlement agreement. The CourtListener docket for United States of America v. Miracle-Ear Inc, No. 1:25-cv-00312 (E.D. Wis.), shows a complaint filed March 3, 2025 by Blockquote Inc. against Amplifon (USA) Inc and Miracle-Ear Inc (nature of suit 376, Qui Tam). Its entries include a May 18, 2026 order reassigning related case No. 26-cv-275 to the same judge, an October 5, 2026 "Notice of Election to Intervene for Settlement" by the United States and an October 7, 2026 order unsealing the relator's complaint, that notice and the order. The page's last known filing is dated October 7, 2026 and no dismissal order appeared there when we read it on 2026-10-18; CourtListener notes that its data may not be up to date.

Who operates Miracle-Ear: Miracle-Ear, Inc., Amplifon, and franchise stores

Miracle-Ear, Inc. is the company named in the website Terms and Privacy Policy and has its legal-notice address in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its About Us page says Miracle-Ear is "a hearing aid company that has franchised and corporately-owned retail stores all over the United States" and dates the brand to 1948 (company statements); BBB's raw page data lists a business start of 1948-01-01 and incorporation on 1972-08-24.

Ownership. The Department of Justice release states that "Miracle-Ear is wholly owned by Amplifon (USA) Inc., which, in turn, is wholly owned by Amplifon S.p.A., an Italian public company". The Miracle-Ear Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free hearing aids to low-income individuals, is described there as affiliated with Amplifon S.p.A.

Who you deal with. The same release says Miracle-Ear "distributes and sells hearing aids and associated products through stores owned by Miracle-Ear as well as stores owned and operated by franchisees". The Terms refer to "Miracle-Ear, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates and our franchise system". The sales contract, refunds and service for a given purchase may therefore be with a franchisee or with a company-owned store; the purchase agreement names the seller. The home page footnotes also say some offers apply "At participating locations".

Scale (company statements). The website cites "over 1,500" locations on the About Us page and "1,600+" on the Contact Us page; we did not verify store counts.

Complaint record: BBB, Trustpilot and archive reports

Figures are as displayed on 2026-10-18 and are not combined.

• BBB profile for Miracle-Ear, Inc., Minneapolis, MN. The page states "Miracle-Ear, Inc. is NOT a BBB Accredited Business" and shows BBB Rating "Not Rated" (BBB says it lacks sufficient information to issue a rating). The complaints tab shows 106 total complaints in the last 3 years and 26 filed in the last 12 months; the reviews tab shows 1.62 out of 5 from an average of 45 customer reviews. Franchisee-owned stores carry separate BBB listings that are not included in these numbers.
• Trustpilot (miracle-ear.com). 2.8 from 36 reviews, with a claimed profile since May 2025; Trustpilot states it does not fact-check reviews.

Archive reports on this site. We link 18 reports whose offender names Miracle-Ear (17 dated 2000 to 2012, and one from 2025 about a job offer) and one further report in which Miracle Ear is named alongside a vacation promotion. These are unverified accounts by individual submitters, mostly from the Sears-era and franchise stores, and say nothing about how many of Miracle-Ear's customers have had problems. In the older reports submitters describe: hearing aids that did not fit or work after repeated adjustments; a 30-day guarantee or a restocking fee that the submitter says was not honoured as expected; a price they said was higher than what they were told, and sales conversations they describe as high pressure or bait and switch.

Where a report names individual employees or alleges crimes by named people, we have not linked it.

Court record: what we checked

The only matter we describe in detail is the settlement announced on October 16, 2026 (see the regulator section), whose docket is summarized there. A CourtListener search of federal docket captions for "Miracle-Ear", run on 2026-10-18, also lists these cases involving Miracle-Ear, Inc., with dates taken from the docket metadata: Charvat v. Miracle-Ear, Inc. (S.D. Ohio, No. 2:17-cv-00940, filed October 25, 2017, terminated January 3, 2018); Mejico v. Miracle-Ear, Inc. (C.D. Cal., No. 2:20-cv-02234, a notice of removal filed March 6, 2020, terminated April 1, 2020); Baldwin v. Miracle-Ear, Inc. (D. Minn., No. 0:20-cv-01502, filed July 1, 2020, terminated October 24, 2022), whose docket lists the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. 227(b)(3)) as the cause, with HearingPro, Inc. and Las Davis Enterprises, Inc. among the listed parties; and HearingPro, Inc. v. Miracle-Ear, Inc. (D. Minn., No. 0:23-cv-00890, filed April 7, 2023, terminated January 22, 2024, with an order dismissing the case). We do not state outcomes for the cases other than the one dismissal order listed, and we have not read their pleadings. No consumer class settlement or state attorney general action against Miracle-Ear was identified in the sources checked on 2026-10-18; that is a statement about those sources only. The FTC site search could not be completed and the Minnesota Attorney General site did not respond when we tried on 2026-10-18, so those two were not checked.

Is Miracle-Ear Legitimate?

Miracle-Ear, Inc. appears in BBB's directory with a business start of 1948-01-01 and incorporation on 1972-08-24 (raw BBB data), publishes a Minneapolis address for legal notices, and is described by the Department of Justice as wholly owned by Amplifon (USA) Inc. and, through it, by Amplifon S.p.A. Its stores are a mix of company-owned and franchisee-owned locations. On the other side of the record, BBB shows the company as not accredited and not rated, with 106 complaints in the last 3 years as displayed, and the company and its Foundation agreed in October 2026 to pay $6,473,222 to resolve federal allegations about PPP loans, without admitting liability. Whether a particular store treated you fairly depends on that store's contract and conduct, which is why the purchase agreement and the written return terms matter more than the brand name.

Court & Public Records

Related Complaints

Names this company in a role other than the primary subject — not necessarily current or complete.

• Named as an affiliate: $50 Deposit Held for Hearing Test Vacation, Location Withdrawn

Company Relationships

• Owned by: Amplifon (USA) Inc.
• Owned by: Amplifon S.p.A.
• Affiliated with: Miracle-Ear Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions