Last weekend, in my absence, my internet-inexperienced husband went looking online for rental properties within 30 minutes of our business, i.E., East, West, or North of Arlington, WA. He saw a company "advertising" on Craig's List named Affordable Rentals Northwest, Inc. They did not have a website listed but listed a phone number. He called and spoke to Terrence who informed him that it was his lucky day because they had hundreds of potential rentals in exactly these areas. Hubby agreed to pay $250.00 to extend the normal 90 day Rental Property Service Contract (cost $195) to 1 full year.
What he received in response was a 22 page fax with approximately 920 listings. Unfortunately, of those listings only 15 were anywhere in the geographic location he had specifically informed them he was interested in.instead, there were listings as far east as Spokane (300 miles away) and as far south as Vancouver, WA, 250 miles away.
30 minutes after receiving the fax, he called to express his dissatisfaction; Speaking with another staff member, he was informed that there was nothing they could do to help him, that the fee was non-refundable, and that he should just review the list he had received and contact the properties that were of interest because there was sure to be something that was a good match.
What a scam.in researching this company, I found that
1) Affordable Rentals Northwest, Inc. As included on their fax cover sheet is not a registered company in the state of Washington.
2) As a BBB member I contacted the local BBB and inquired whether they had any other complaints. While not disclosing the number, the BBB rep said: Oh yes, we have definitely had other similar complaints.
3) The comments/reviews on various websites were either 100% negative (these read like real people) or 100% positive (written like a company shill).
My bottom line... AVOID at all costs.
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