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Report: #317995

Complaint Review: LinkTech Solutions - Tigard Oregon

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  • Reported By: Rockford Illinois
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  • LinkTech Solutions 6950 SW Hamilton St, Ste 300 Tigard, Oregon U.S.A.

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A BIG shout out to Scott in Aloha OR for confirming my suspicions about this Company!

I got a high pressure sales phone call on 2/20/2008 from a woman claiming to be a "Krista Hanson" from LinkTech Solutions. She said her business did Search Engine Placement (SEP) for websites and she could guarantee me one of top 5 listings in Yahoo search, for a 79.95 setup fee plus $75 per month. The pitch was that they only had "one" spot available for my geographic area and I had to decide right now.
I decided to decline. And I said so.
Then the pitch became, "well, I'm not supposed to, but I can call you back in 5 or 10 minutes."
O.K.
I used the 5 minutes to pull up their website. Looked sharp, nice testimonials, of course their phone # matched what Krista told me, they have a BBB file, etc. Seemed legitimate.

When she calls back I agree to sign up and give out my credit card number, however I said I was not ready for immediate service, as my finances were tight this month.

She agreed to only bill me the "set up fee" and their tech person would call me a month later to set me up and walk me through my search with Yahoo. I should get my confirmation bill and e-mail in about 15 minutes.

I did not get my billing confirmation and receipt e-mail for about 5 hours. This made me nervous, after all they've got my credit card number and could be shopping with it for all I know. Meanwhile, I called the 800-416-5603 AND 971-732-5336 numbers Krista gave me and get stuck in a voicemail loop with no live body answering. I did leave a message that I hadn't gotten my receipt. The inability to reach a human being made me a little nervous too.

Then I get a call back from their "manager", a male whose name I did not write down the next day, Feb 21st. By then I had received my receipt, so I thanked him for calling me back, but my issue had been resolved.

My billing confirmation and receipt looks identical to Scott's testimony (except for the Yahoo search phrase I bought )so I won't include a copy of mine here.
My credit card charge of $79.95 came through the next day, albeit charged to the slightly different name of "Link Teck Solutions". I have had no more charges from them, however as you read below, they won't be able to.

At this point, I still am not feeling good about them. They just set off alarm bells with me.

Still suspicious, I took the time to search out and read every scrap on them I could find on the internet.

The BBB has an active file on them with 6 closed complaints, ok not such a huge number.

Then I find the Florida Attorney General link.
It seems LinkTech is under investigation (civil) by the Florida Attorney General's office for: Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices involving telemarketing, misleading refund and recision policy, misrepresentation of services/failure to provide service and possible 817.802 violations. Subjects closed business and fled area. Case number L06-3-1052. see the site:
http://myfloridalegal.com/lit_ec.nsf/investigations/177D4FC46055B49B8525712D00592954

So I googled all three of the individuals who give testimonials on the website and e-mailed each about their experience with Link Tech Solutions. I got no responses from any. Hmmmm. Suspicious. Even more suspicious, none of the three comes up as a top 5 search result by doing a Yahoo search on their profession, services, business, etc with their geographic area. In any combination I can think of. Hmmmmm. Even more suspicious.

So I cancelled my credit card number Link Tech had.

I also formally cancelled with them via e-mail and fax as instructed. I am out the $75.95 billed to my card for the non-refundable "setup" fee. I am not disputing it and have paid it through my credit card company. I did agree to it.

While I cannot prove it, since I did not give them a chance to bill me again for a month's worth of "service", I suspect they take your money without providing ANY web site search engine placement. I called Yahoo, and they have never heard of Link Tech Solutions and have no business relationship with them.

I am sure Link Tech will rebutt me here that I never tried their actual service, so I cannot complain about them. They are correct. I never let them try. I don't want to be out any more money.

Based on Scott's experience, I am glad I cancelled. I say BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE before using this outfit. Don't let them pressure you into an agreement without talking to legitimate references and finding someone who is satisfied and STILL USING THEM.

B J
Rockford, Illinois
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/14/2008 02:53 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/linktech-solutions/tigard-oregon-97223/linktech-solutions-fraudulently-claim-to-use-search-engine-placement-to-guarantee-your-sit-317995. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
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3Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#4 Consumer Comment

Linktech is a SCAM & the poorest customer service

AUTHOR: reallynotacomplainer - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, September 01, 2011

I signed up with Linktech last July (2010) for two phrases after being stalked by the salesperson.  He told me that others in my office had signed up and those people were well respected.  I should have known when one of the other agents had cancelled his account within the 1st week.

The salesperson made a ton of promises, for example a custom website that they would have a tech call me to help set up and customize.  He stated that even though I had my own website their website would give me a lot more presence on the web. Not only did I never receive a link to the site within the 1st month, but I never got a call to set it up.  When I did see their website templates they were a complete joke.  When I called customer service they said that he should have never suggested their template sites because my site was much better and that there was really no additional web presence because they just sold key phrases.  They then told me that might phrases were not that great and wanted to change my phrases.  I SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED THEN!

Months later (after $150 set up and $98/mo) I had no measurable result from their services.  I called to ask how to measure the results and they said that they can send me reports upon request but that it costs them money to run them so they don't make it known that these reports are available.  i asked them to run the reports and they said that they would email them to me.  Well, I never received the reports.  A couple months later I called to cancel my service.  They said it would be cancelled, but indeed it was never done.  That was in April 2011. 

In August 2011 I noticed another charge on my bank for LinkTech and was not happy.  I called, the customer service person promised me all sorts of credits and told me everything I wanted to hear.  he said he would get me at least 2 months credits ($98/mo) and suggested that I reduce to one phrase and that he would help me set up my Google Analytics account to be able to track the progress.  He said they had a record of my call in April but that there were no notes at all about the call, which is convenient since I called to cancel.  he said it was unusual to not have any notes regarding a call and that was why he was going to try to get me a larger credit.  He again said that they have to pay for the reports and this would solve my tracking the results problem.  I asked why they don't just tell everyone about the Google Analytics option and he said that he has mentioned it to management.  He then said he would take everything to management and call me back.  That was the second week of August. 

At the end of August I noticed another charge for $98 from Linktech on my bank account.  Now I was furious.  I called, there customer service rep said he saw that the last guy did not call me back as promised, apologized and then told me that they would credit me for the charge that went thru for $98 that day (Aug 29) and that they would charge me $14.95 for the previous month.  the crazy thing is he said that was what I had agreed to...which never happened.  I asked for management to review the recording since the previous rep had not made notes but they said it wasn't recorded.  This rep said that the most they could do is credit me for those two charges.  i explained that the last rep said I would AT LEAST get a credit/refund for July & Aug and not I was only getting part of Aug and the new charge for Sept (they charge in advance not rears).  So now they basically got another $98 from me and I was also paying $14.95 for Aug.

Today I checked my bank account and only saw a refund for $83.00, which technically should have been $83.05...but whatever.  I called to ask about the other $98, ws left on hold for 15 minutes, and finally the rep came back on the phone and said he would submit it today...we'll see if it happens.

BOTTOM LINE:
1. Their salespeople and reps are very nice and professional, but NOT on your side and will BS you to try to keep you paying.  When you finally say I am definitely cancelling my account they become very rude.
2. Their service is a joke and produces no measurable results.  When you ask for a report they tell you that it costs them money to run the reports...who cares!? because I am paying for your "service."
3. Their websites and features are beyond weak.
4. You would be better off taking your $ and setting it on fire...or utilize pay per click where you can at least have a measurable result. It may be small based on your budget but at least it is better than nothing.

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#3 UPDATE EX-employee responds

LinkTech Exposed

AUTHOR: GotInsight? - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, October 09, 2010

Desperate for work, as all recent grads are, I had a brief stint working for LinkTech Solutions a while back, and after having read all the reports about LinkTech Solutions on this website and others, I felt convicted to provide further insight about the situation and about the company in general so that consumers and legal agencies may be better informed about exactly with whom they are dealing.


First and foremost, who is LinkTech Solutions? Below is a link to their information on BBB. Notice that they are "LinkTech International" on BBB and that they are not an "accredited business." This is because their previous registry with BBB was LinkTech Solutions Inc. (about a year or two ago), and that company had so many cases against them that they changed their name. Notice that within the last year or so their new unaccredited business name has already received 27 complaints and a letter grade of C-.

http://www.bbb.org/oregon/business-reviews/internet-marketing-services/linktech-international-in-beaverton-or-22025321


What services does LinkTech Solutions claim to provide? LinkTech sells internet ad space to real estate agents in the US. They tell you lots of fun facts when they call, but what they do not tell you  is that the service they claim to exclusively provide to you is really not "exclusive" or a service that THEY provide at all. Signing up to be at the top of internet search results is something that YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF directly with the specific search engine of your choice, for half the cost and none of the hassle. Check it out for yourself at these web addresses:

(((Redacted)))

However,  you will not find LinkTech telemarketers harassing for your money in all 50 states, as it is illegal in many. LinkTech only stalks the real estate agents in states that have loop holes in their telemarketing laws. "Put me on you do not call list," you might say. Not in Oregon, or a dozen other states for that matter. Wonder if you state is protected? If they are calling you, there is a good chance you live in one of these states with the loophole. Be assured there is nothing you can do to stop them from calling, and they WILL call again. Why? You might ask (especially if you where quite blunt with them the last time you spoke).  Because of how they operate internally, which leads me to the next point.

What is a day in the life of an employee like at LinkTech? The business started in some guys living room with little more business than a VISA machine. Feel secure, dont you? Especially since they pride themselves in getting credit card information from you real estate suckers, but strangers none the less, in less than 15 minutes. And now, several years later, you may think they have upgraded their business professionalism, as their many YouTube videos will show you, like this one. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymkPGdadqwY&feature=related) .  But you cannot help to ask, what kind of company needs to make video's about their totally awesome work environment? A company that needs to convince you they have a totally awesome work environment. Every morning there is a group huddle in which the sales members are first berated, then encouraged to strong arm, manipulate, and force credit card information out of real estate agents in record time with giving as little information as possible to the agents, or as the LinkTech managers call them " desperate people who don't have a clue how to sell a house or themselves." And while the staff is not being reminded of how incompetent and worthless the client is, they are being reminded of how incompetent and worthless they are.

The reality is that this company goes through "brokers" (telemarketers) faster than they can hire them. LinkTech Solutions is notorious for emotionally abusing and berating their employees. I am estimating that the average employment period for LinkTech telemarketers spans anywhere from a few days to a few weeks which is directly related to how poorly they treat you. I lasted 4 months, and saw an easy dozen rotate through before I threw in the towel myself. During a telemarketers few days or months of employment, while they are not cold calling Realtors, searching online for new "suckers" as the management puts it, they are yelled at, belittled, disrespected, and threatened with loosing their jobs on a daily basis. They are not even allowed to use the restroom without management permission. They are paid minimum wage and are scheduled just under 40 hours a week so that the company can avoid providing them full-time benefits.  Additionally, if a staff member works over-time, they refuse to pay them for it since they worked extra hours technically at will, even though all over-time work comes directly from the threat of being fired on the spot.

You might be wondering at this point just who is responsible for this entire charade, or the man behind the curtain so-to-speak. Next time they call you, don't get too mad at the poor soul on the other end of the line trying to sell you ad space. They most likely just got hired, and will most likely quit or be fired within the next few days. Here are the men responsible. Ask to speak with Mohamed Hariri or Omar Yusuf, the company managers. They both outspokenly take pride in being so filthy rich from their scheme at such a young age, have no college education, have no respect for anybody who does, and encourage their sales staff to have the same attitudes. Here are links to their Facebook accounts.

Omar Yusuf http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=636848581

Mohamed (AKA Mo) Hariri http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=569308596

But most of your money is also going to owner, Meir Yaniv. Or should I say, the lead singer of foreign rock band Abused Romance. While Omar and Mohamed are busy cracking the whip on their sales staff here in Oregon, Meir is over in his home country Israel living out his musicians fantasy and on your dime. I have included a link to the band website below. But do not be fooled by the grandeur and professionalism of the band website, they have very few fans and no presence in Hollywood. All the funding is straight out of the LinkTech Solutions bank account. So enjoy the music video, you paid for it!(((Redacted)))

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=509100100


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#2 REBUTTAL Owner of company

LinkTech Experience

AUTHOR: Bill H - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, June 08, 2010

I'm an agent with 11 years of experience. I consider myself pretty tech-savvy. I've had my own websites, and my own web-based business, so I probably know more than the average guy about websites, search-engine optimization and similar concerns.

I also received a call from this company about three months ago. They were offering me a guaranteed Google placement for the phrase "Houses in Naperville Illinois," which is my market area. I asked the caller to call me back the next day. In the meantime I looked at their website, dug around a bit, and decided they were legitimate.

I probably should have checked with Google to see what the same search term would have cost me if I'd bought it directly from them, but I didn't. I still haven't, so I'm not saying it would have been cheaper... I simply don't know. And Linktech was going to provide me with a template website, which of course Google wouldn't.

The next day I agreed to try LinkTech's offer. And yes, I was a bit nervous giving them my credit card number too. This was on a Friday afternoon. The caller told me I would receive an email confirmation and receipt, which I did. She also told me I would be contacted on Tuesday by the team that would set up my website.

On Tuesday I was contacted, as promised. By then I had another idea; I work for Baird & Warner, a large independent company in the Chicago area, and each agent has their own company webpage. I had put some time and effort into mine, so I asked the LinkTech team member if my Google respondents could be linked directly to my company site, instead of their template site. I was told this would be done within 72 hours. As I recall, it only took about half that time.

If I remember the original sales call correctly, I believe I was promised that my name and link would appear at least one time in every three that my search term was typed into Google. In actual practice, it seems to happen EVERY time, so I have no complaints about that.

I am having a problem with the whole situation, but it's not one I blame on LinkTech. Right now, if people get directed to my company site, they have the option to sign up to search the MLS. However, they have to take the additional step of identifying me specifically as their agent. If they don't, when they request info on a specific property the lead just goes into the system, and not to me. (And of course, if they're just passing through my site on the way to get access to the MLS they have almost no reason to be "loyal" enough to me to put my name in as their agent.)

I do know that I haven't received any calls or emails from people who have found me through my LinkTech Google search term, and I'm disappointed but I can hardly blame LinkTech for that. The term itself (Houses in Naperville Illinois) is a bit awkward. I suspect it's simply not used that much. And ReMax is also paying for the term and also appears whenever it's searched (although I'm always first and they're second), so I'm sure some traffic is going to them. But again, that's not LinkTech's fault; they didn't promise me exclusive rights to that term.

At this point I'm trying to decide whether to have LinkTech set me up with their original template site, or just cancel.

Here's a couple of questions you should probably ask LinkTech before you sign on, and I'm not saying these are big Perry Mason grill-the-suspect type questions... they're just things I'm sorry I didn't think to ask.

1. Is there any way to find out how much traffic the search term you're about to purchase through them is currently getting on Google? This would obviously be very helpful to know before you spend money on it.

2. How customizable is the template site they give you, and how much of a hassle is it to get it changes done? The template site was nice enough, kind of a typical realtor website. I've seen a lot worse, but of course it wasn't very personal.

3. Is there any way to fine-tune or change the search term? In my case, "Houses in Naperville" would probably be more effective than "Houses in Naperville ILLINOIS" since Naperville has 150,000 people and there's only one of them (and therefore most people wouldn't usually inlcude "Illinois").

4. Can they put a traffic counter on your template site, so you know how many people are actually visiting it?

Finally, to respond directly to BJ in Rockford's report; If you read through it, BJ signed up for the service, got cold feet (or buyer's remorse) and decided to cancel before ever actually trying it. Notice BJ doesn't complain about being billed for any more than the original charge... it seems like they responded to his/her cancellation promptly.

For me, LinkTech did exactly what they promised, in a timely fashion. They communicated well with me, and responded to my requests. It hasn't been a roaring success, but that's probably more my fault than anyone else's. I don't see anything here that deserved the BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE comment.

Bill Harrison, Baird & Warner, 630-235-9382

 

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#1 UPDATE Employee

We are LinkTech Solutions Inc. NOT LinkTech Solutions LLC (Different Company)

AUTHOR: Linktech Solutions Inc - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, August 05, 2008

"BJ" stated;
"It seems LinkTech is under investigation (civil) by the Florida Attorney General's office for: Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices involving telemarketing, misleading refund and recision policy, misrepresentation of services/failure to provide service and possible 817.802 violations. Subjects closed business and fled area. Case number L06-3-1052. see the site:http://myfloridalegal.com/lit_ec.nsf/investigations/177D4FC46055B49B8525712D00592954"



We are not under investigation by the Florida Attorney General. That company is LinkTech Solutions LLC. We are LinkTech Solutions Inc. out of Tigard, Oregon. Almost the same name however two completely different companies. We(LinkTech Solutions Inc) specialize in internet marketing. Linktech Solutions LLC supposedly helped consumers with credit repair(according to the Florida report)

"BJ" also stated;
"While I cannot prove it, since I did not give them a chance to bill me again for a month's worth of 'service', I suspect they take your money without providing ANY web site search engine placement."

We have over 6000 clients nationwide all of whom are on Yahoo.com. Even the complaint that "BJ" is corresponding too says we put him(Scott Osmon) on top of Yahoo.com. This accusation is completely false and unwarranted.



"BJ" also stated;
"I never tried their actual service, so I cannot complain about them. They are correct. I never let them try."

These are "BJ's" exact words, i did not change them in the slightest.


Tim Meyer
Vice President of Operations
tim@linktechsolutions.com
www.linktechsolutions.com

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