Realtors & Mortgage Brokers Beware!
Please read this notice carefully. Beware of HouseValues.com. They will do a bait & switch on you, they are basically scam artists. They promise you the world and pressure you to join, they say "just try it out" and they won't lock you into any contract if it really doesn't work for you. If you hesitate, they call with urgent messages saying another broker is about to buy out all the subscriptions and put a LOT of pressure on you. Then they say just try it out, they tell you if you really hate it, they won't lock you into any contract (do not believe anything they say) but as soon as they have your credit card and rush you through the sign up process, it is too late.
Once they have your credit card information, they will continue to charge whatever they can on your card, they claim by signing up (regardless of promises your sales rep made to you about not locking you into any contract), you are locked in for 1 year, and in order to get out of the contract you have to "buy it out."
Believe me, if HouseValue's service is truly what they say it is—quality, exclusive leads of homebuyers, why would we reject this? We would be willing to pay double what they are trying to charge. But here is the issue—the leads we get from them are complete garbage. We've had several "john does" send in bogus emails and phone numbers that read 555-555-5555, with emails that read: [email protected]. We were willing to overlook a few of these bogus leads, but when every other lead is junk and there is nothing we can do with any of them, it was time we voiced our concerns to HouseValues.
When I explained this to our sales rep, he became hostile and did not allow me to get a word in. Then he hung up on me and I never heard from him again, I only saw that they continued to try to put charges on our credit card for amounts that have nothing to do with what they quoted me.
All attempts to address this unethical behavior have proved unsuccessful. We even tried to escalate this matter to the sales rep's managers. The managers could care less about your situation. Once the "sale" has been made, if you decide (even the next day) that you don't want the service because it's a complete scam with bogus leads, you are still obligated to pay up. They say there's nothing they can do.
By giving them your credit card info online, you have agreed to pay them for 1 year, even if you're screaming bloody murder for the junk leads from Micky Mouse and Donald Duck. They say it is out of their hands... That you now have to deal with their billing and contract resolution department.
I thought it interesting that they have a "contract resolution" department all ready to handle this matter. Clearly, they have had issues similar to ours before—they are basically a collection agency trying to get money out of us. They could care less about the fact that we have to chase leads with phone numbers that read 999-999-9999 with names such as Smith Smith and [email protected]. They say it's out of their hands.
This company is such a scam. We are so outraged that we are seeking to organize a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. It is not so much to get our money reimbursed... It is for the principle. I cannot believe they are getting away with this. I bet there are HUNDREDS of angry realtors and brokers who are in the same situation as us (as evidenced by previous postings).
We need to get together and stand up to this company. They try to intimidate you by saying they are a public company and that you've signed a contract with them... Well, I don't think their shareholders and wall street would be very happy if they knew how they were making their money. Traders would start unloading their shares in boatloads. It is only a matter of time before more of us come forward and put these guys in their place.
If you are interested in joining the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against HouseValues.com/Justlisted.com, please send contact me by using the rebuttal box below.
Do not be another victim of HouseValues.com.
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