Searching for your roots

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This may be of importance to T folk because some of us want to know what is in the public record or are trying to locate loved ones.

Last night I happened upon what I thought was a legitimate service called, "Intelius" for looking at public records, first to see what is in mine and second to hopefully locate two of my children. Much to my surprise, the actual sign up was rife with loops and diversions to entice me to sign up for even more. I thought I was spending $39.95 but by the time I was finished, I paid $69.99.

Then when I actually got into my records, they were wayyyyy wrong, even showing my male self living here. I bought and paid for a legal court judgement to change my name, and that change is on my Passport, Drivers lic, and everything but my DD 214, which will never change.

So, when I went back to them and told them of all the problems, they did the usual weazle out of it and said it was not their fault.

I'd say that what they did is fraud. but they have my money and it is gone.

Khaduuj

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erin's picture

Report them to your State Department of Corporations and the same for the state they are located in, if in the US. That might not be the name of the right organization in any particular jurisdiction, it might be called Bureau of Consumer Affairs or somesuch. One report is not going to mean much but if they keep getting reported, they will build up a file and that will matter during administrative or legal proceedings. Ask your bank or credit card company to file a report, too.

If they are located outside the country you are in, go ahead and report them anyway. They almost certainly actually live in the US (we've got a ton of these sorts of scam-scum). And yes, the report will likely show up when someone finally drags them in to make an accounting.

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

Definitely contest it.

I agree. That's fraud, because they misrepresented what you would pay, and then failed to give you the information you were paying for. If they refuse to give your money back (or even if they do), you need to call your credit card company and inform them of the issue. A company that gets a lot of reversed charges often ends up losing their merchant account as well.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Buyers Remorse

I think it is a federal law that they have to give you a full refund if you ask for it within 72 hours of making a purchase.

Melanie

I pretty much agree, with the money part of your comments

As far as their information, Intelius gets their information from public records. but they just add to it. Hopefully the records showing your name change do not connect your old persona with your new one

Unfortunately, most do not get updated when you change your name. There is probably no way to update all of them, and if there was, YOU would probably be charge an unfortunately HUGEMUNGOUS fortune to get your name changed.

However, I can recommend Intelius as a place to find people you may have lost track of. 6 years ago I found 2 granddaughters and 6 great grandchildren we'd misplaced, for just their $19.95 fee for a full day of searching.

Holly

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

Holly