Aaron's PI ripoff ONLINE FRAUD rude accusatory misleading dishonest. I deserve refund. Internet

Well Don,
Once again you have proven that "Humanity Does Exist", and it is a good thing.
I actually stumbled across this complaint preparing to for the first time in my life produce public negativity against others. The name of your company is somewhat thiers. (Sorry about that part)

In reading all your correspondence with the complaintant, you have shown that good companies and fair play does exist and I for one would like to applaud you on your savvy, polite, and accompanying business tactics. If ever I need someone to be found....I will SURELY use your company!

Kudos to you and how you handle your business!

Now,
unfortunately, I'm off to handle some real "BAD BUSINESS"

Although I never adimitted that I was wrong, and I apologized for my rudeness only, (just to clarify things) I did receive a full refund after posting this complaint. I doubt that a full refund would have been given if it wasn't deserved.

I would like to take this report off of the website because the company did do what was right.

Thank you.

The simplest way to tell this story is to provide a copy of ALL correspondence between our company and this person, and there is a lot of correspondence, which I don't expect you to read.

But, if you read anything, read the last part, it's where SHE apologizes to ME and says what a GOOD company this is. In other words, SHE is the one who says that she should not have complained.

After reading this, I think that you will agree that such a posting unfairly maligns me and my company. I expect that if YOU are a fair and honest person, you will either remove this posting, the only complaint ever lodged against my company, or give me a good reason why you didn't.

-Don Whitten
Owner, Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

*****************************
This is the report provided at this customer's request:

*** For best view of your report, expand this window to full screen. ***

Aaron's Research Services
18412 Old Hwy 65, Suite B
Omaha, AR 72662

***********************************************

Date: November 17, 2003

Thank you for choosing Aaron's for your research needs. We appreciate your business.

We have located the most current, most complete and most accurate data that can be found by using your subject's identifiers. Your credit card has been charged $49.95 by Aaron's Research Services, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Following are the results of your search. Please be sure to read any notes your researcher might have pasted to your report. If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know.

NOTE: To be sure you have received all data that was sent, check to see that this message ends with, "End of search. End of report. Thank you."


*************************************************
Order: Address Update - $49.95 $0 if NRF
email: @aol.com
Client: Dana J
Company:
Fax:
Phone: 10296
Address: st
City: derby
StateProvTer: ct
Country: US
Zip: 06418
Prefix:
First: Brian
Middle: M
Last: *Deleted for Privacy's Sake
Suffix:
DOB: 6/13/1980
LKAddressDate: 2001
SendResults: Email
Terms: I agree to the Terms and Conditions
B1: Submit Order
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2003
Time: 03:19:33 PM

LKAddress:

207 Wells St.
Bridgeport, CT. 06606

AddInfo:

His parents still live at 205, right next door, so please be aware of that. I am not looking for Them. BRIAN used to reside at 207. Please also know that on several "free" searches, I came up with two addresses which are INVALID. They would be Madison Ave. Bridgeport, Ct., and Fairfield Beach Rd., in Fairfield, Ct. He may have lived there once, but not now.

**********************************************

*** SEARCH RESULTS:
Search Reference: 231683

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The data contained in this report was retrieved from public and proprietary databases. Although the sources of this data have proven to be reliable and every reasonable effort has been made to assure that this data is accurate and current, Aaron's Research Services does not have any control over the input or maintenance of the data contained in the various database systems and does not warrant the accuracy or currency of this data. This data is for informational purposes to be used only by the person or entity designated as "Client" on the Search Request Form. This data cannot be sold or otherwise disseminated or used as evidence in any legal proceeding without the express written consent of Aaron's Research Services. This data is to be used for lead information only. This data must only be used to locate or further identify the data subject and should not be used in whole or in part to determine a consumer's eligibility for credit, employment, or insurance or any other purpose for which a consumer report would be obtained, except in connection with collection of a debt. It is the sole responsibility of the Client to verify the accuracy, relevancy or currency of this data prior to taking adverse action against the data subject.

*** ADDRESS DATA:

NOTE: The following is a compilation of address data that was retrieved from multiple sources. If multiple records were found containing address data, the record at the top of the list is usually considered to contain the most current address data. However, the order of the list is computer generated based upon dates of activity of the subject using a given address, and although the first address shown is usually the most recent reported, it is possible that the subject's current place of residence may not be the one shown first in the list. As this is a database search, it is possible that errors or omissions can exist in regard to the address data, and such possibility should be considered before relying entirely upon this data. *The following address data is the most current, most complete and most accurate that can possibly be retrieved from legal database sources by using your specified subject identifier/s with the search option you chose.

This is a database search which often finds telephone numbers, but not always. If this search found your subject's current address, but did not find the telephone number at that address, Directory Assistance (411) may be able to provide a listed telephone number. If the telephone number is unlisted, we offer a service that is guaranteed to obtain the current, active telephone number at any valid address. For details of that search option, please see http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm.

**********************

BRIAN M **** DOB: JUN

SSN XXXXX-**** issued in Connecticut between 1987 and 1988

Most Recently Reported Addresses Associated with Subject:

RESEARCHER'S NOTE: If your subject has relocated, no update has been made to the records since such relocation. Updates are made when the subject does such things as apply for credit, renew a driver's license, etc.. If you believe that your subject may have done something that should have caused an update to the records, it may be necessary for you to wait a reasonable length of time (usually about 90 days) so as to allow time for the agencies or entities to which the new data would likely be provided by the subject to revise their records, then try your search again.

MAY-2003/MAY-2003 - 4045 MADISON AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

APR-2001/JAN-2003 - 207 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

FEB-1999/DEC-2002 - 205 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 (203) 366-6236

Phone Listings for Subject's Addresses

BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

DREW

*********************************

End of search. End of report. Thank you.
******************************

First Complaint Message from customer:

I am sorry but this is bull.

You did not tell me anything I don't already know.

I would like whatever refund I can have for such garbage. I even stated in my inquiry that the madison ave address is invalid.

I need to know where he is now.

Refund my money please.

Thank you.
*******************************

My Response:

Thank you for the feedback.

I am sorry that you think that "this is bull", but, before you even read the rest of this note, please take about 2 minutes and read the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound prior to ordering your search. It is NOT bull. It's a very important element of the agreement you had with us. It's not a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo designed to confuse you. It's written in plain, simple English. And, it contains some basic points concerning database searches, our responsibilities, our promises, etc.. You can get to it by following this link, http://www.aaronspi.com/Terms.htm.

Now, if you read the Terms and Conditions Contract, you found that it clearly outlines what we do, and what we don't do, and that one key point (Which is also repeated in the Description of the Address Update Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/AddUpdate.htm) is that we promise to provide the most current, most complete and most accurate address data legally available. Please note that we have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously. Your report contains the absolute best address data currently recorded.

Please understand that I am just as disappointed as you are that your subject hasn't done anything that would have caused an update to his records. But, we didn't promise that he would. All we promised was to report the best information possible. We have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously.

If you do not think that we have provided you with the most current address data recorded for your subject, please remember that we offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. (Details at http://www.aaronspi.com/Guarantee.htm.)

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

******************************
Her Response:

Yes, and I believe that I read that a 50 percent discount is given when "search results" provide me with the same exact info that I provided you with.

I found out all of the info you gave me, from free searches. That is why I paid the $50.00 in hopes that you would find something more. Since you haven't, I would like my 50 percent refund. I would have never paid the $ if I thought I would walk away with the info I already knew!

Thanks,
Dana

*************************
My Reply:

Please re-read.

Refunds are given in the following instances:

... 2) If a client includes specific, known, data or information, and the search results in a record or records found, but no data, other than that which was included by the client is contained in the record or records, there will be a 50% refund of the cost of the search. EXAMPLE: Client specifies the last known address of the Subject, and the search finds a record or records, but the only address contained in the record or records exactly matches that specified by the client...

Refunds are not given in the following instances:

... EXAMPLE 2: Client requests an Address Update Search and the results of the search include the address that was specified as search criteria, and other potentially useful data such as date of birth, but no more recent address than that which was specified as search criteria. (Refer to the Warranty Section).


I think that you have to agree that

AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 is not -. Bridgeport, Ct"

We provided the exact address; and, for all we know, your subject may be still living at that address. We definitely know, and now so do you, that that address is the most recent address recorded, which is what we were contracted to find and report. If your subject does not live there, that is unfortunate, but not our fault, and it does not mean that we did not do what we promised to do.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
************************
Her reply - and, it's starting to get nasty:

I can see that you are one of these companies that likes to rip people off. You can dance around it all you like, but in fact, Madison Ave., Bridgeport, does indicate that I did know about this address. If I knew I was going to be ripped off, I would have and should have included the entire address, which I did have.
I am sorry that you are unwilling to make me happy as a customer. I really thought that your company looked reputable enough. I think it is terrible what you are doing, and that you are unwilling to resolve.

I will tell everyone I know about your company, and what it does to people.
*******************************
My reply, and I'm starting to get angry - I'm a person, too:

One more time...

It is not terrible of us to provide the most current, most complete, most accurate address data legally available, completely, honestly and expeditiously to every client we have had since 1989. It is wonderful that we do approximately 1,000 searches a month, and that you are the first complaint in over 3 months. (The last one didn't read the Terms and Conditions, either, come to think of it.) I think our service is way beyond what anybody would call fantastic, and thank God, so are almost all of our customers - 1 out of about 3,000 searches leads to a complaint; and, we can prove that. Nobody has a better record, because nobody has access to better data, or is better at finding and reporting that data.

Now, it's too bad that you did not get lucky with your search; and, it is really too bad that you did not read or understand the Terms and Conditions of using our service, and was therefore surprised when you found out that we charge for the WORK, not the DATA. But, I am one of those people who believes that everybody should do no less than what they promise to do. That includes us and you, which means that we do the work, and you pay for the work. Although I must admit that if you had been nice I would have simply refunded your money... after all, we're only talking about 20 minutes work and $28 that we spent buying the data, (You see, our sources are not free. We actually buy every record we use.) which is not a big deal. But, you're not nice, so you don't get treated nice. Sorry.

One last thing, then we really should move on... While you're telling everybody about how you believe that we scammed you, be sure you tell the truth. You're welcome to publish our correspondence, anything you find on our website, my name, your name or anything else you think might help make your case. But, be aware that publishing lies about a place of business is slander, which is a crime. And, now that you know that I am a stickler for truth and facts and honesty, and that I don't give in to anybody trying to be untruthful or ignoring the facts or being otherwise dishonest, you might consider that I will prosecute to the fullest extend of the law if I find one untruth published by you. You can tell everybody that, too.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
***************************
More of the same from her, which I didn't take the time to read or reply to. Notice that I had already spent a lot of time responding to this customer's complaint, and it was getting nowhere.:

How can you say that I am not being nice? I do not feel that I have been mean. I feel very taken advantage of. In fact, I feel that it is you, that are being most unacommodating. You should want to make a customer happy. I have said nothing to be mean to you. I am very unhappy with my results. I read all of the terms and conditions before I placed my order. I am misunderstanding why it says that if you provide me with the same information I gave you, that there would be a 50 percent refund given, yet you are doing everything in your power to prove me wrong on a technicality. You are refusing to refund any of my money because I did not provide the complete address for Madison Ave., Bridgeport, but I thought that being the very intelligent people you must be, that you would realize that is the address I was referring to.

I should have added the entire address in my inquiry. I thought that there were forwarding addresses available. I know he does not live at 4045 Madison Ave, Bridgeport, Ct. 06606 because I rang the doorbell, and they say he doesn't live here, and hasn't since May.

How am I supposed to find him? I cannot afford to spend $50.00 on no further results. Now that I'm out $50.00, and have no more to spend on an additional search, I am out of luck. I understand you spent time on the search, but you provided me with nothing I didn't already know!

*********************
Dear Ms F,

I understand your desire to have your money refunded to you; but your refund is not being given primarily because no refund is due. That is irrefutably evident. The main point made in the Terms and Conditions Contract is that we are as fair and generous as possible, much more so than most anybody else in a service business. But, if we do the job, and if the job is done to the standards outlined on our website, we get paid. There is really nothing more fair or equitable than that.

It is true that we sometimes give refunds when no refund is actually due - although such should not have been stated to you. It would have been better to have stuck to the facts, rather than getting mean-spirited. I apologize for that. But, if I may be frank, not mean-spirited, the first message you sent started with "I'm sorry but this is bull." And, each message thereafter was more and more abusive. That did not make for good relations.

Now you are saying that you read and understood the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound before your ordered our services. So, it follows that, knowing exactly what the possibilities were - including the possibility that the best address data currently recorded might not make you happy, you decided to take the chance and see if we could find your subject's present place of residence when nobody else could. That's actually a reasonable gamble, and I would have done it too, because we do find information every day that nobody else can find. But, sadly, it didn't happen for you.

And, now you're saying that you really could not afford to spend the money in the first place. So, you're trying everything you can think of to try to get us to refund your money. You've tried badgering. That didn't work. You've tried threatening. That didn't work. And, you keep trying to get it back due to a TECHNICALITY. That technicality being that you claim to have already known the address we reported. Sorry, it just doesn't wash. If you had had that complete address, you would have provided it with the other addresses you gave... especially since you knew that you could have gotten a 50% refund if you had. At least you say that you knew that, because you say that you read and understood the contract.

And, then you don't like our customer service. If your subject had only done something that would have caused his current place of residency to be recorded, you would have been applauding our customer service. Does anything jump out at you with that? Do you see what you're doing? It's not us! If anybody is wrong, it's you. And, if anybody's to blame for there not being a more current address, it's your subject - although that's stretching it. Actually, nobody has done anything wrong, which is what makes all this so ridiculous. That is, unless we press the issue that you are doing something wrong by trying to deceive us, and then going so far as to threatening to malign us if we don't give in to your unreasonable demands. Anyway, like we said in the Terms and Conditions Contract that you have read and understood, AND AGREED TO, we're just finding and reporting the data. We're not making the data.

In a nutshell, you're angry at us because we reported what we found, like we said we would; and because we're sticking to the deal we made, and that's not fair. It's not easy dealing with a customer who demands a refund when there is no refund due. I hope you never have to do it. On the other hand, and just so you'll be absolutely aware of where it all went wrong, it's not so bad dealing with a customer who nicely states their position and kindly asks if there is anything we can do to help them. Because... we like to help people, we do it all the time. That's why we've been around for 14 years. But, we don't help people who come on like they're our worst enemy. That's our prerogative... our legal right. Thank you very much!

Here is the bottom line:

Believe it or not, this is not easy for me. I'd much rather just give you your money back, and call it quits. But, right is right, and I am inclined to do what is right, even if it is not the easiest thing to do. We will, as always, live up to all of our promises, including refunding TWICE what you paid if you provide any evidence that the work we did is not the work we advertised.

You are welcome to have your attorney (or the BBB, or anybody else) read all correspondence, everything at our website and the report we sent you; and, I am available for any inquiries. Just remember, you have to be absolutely truthful. You can't leave out the things that make you look bad, like the facts, for instance.

Thank you.

Don Whitten - Owner, General Manger
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

********************************
Her response:

I did, contact my lawyer, and he told me that he could get me my refund, but to tell you the truth, it would cost me more money to file suit against you, and as I said, I don't have it.

*************************
My reply:

Sorry, I believe that your lawyer is wrong. How about this.. Tell him that if he can find the "loophole" that would say that we owe you a refund, I'll pay him. If he can't, he owes me the amount he would have charged you!

I know they got OJ off, but you just can't argue with written facts.

-DW
************************
All she sent was a blank email with this subject line:

From: XxSaphireRavenxX@aol.com
To: aarons@aaronspi.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:55 PM
Subject: YOU'VE BEEN REPORTED FOR ONLINE FRAUD!! BAD BUSINESS!!

*******************************
And my rely:

Thank you for the update.

Please respond with information as to the agency/ies involved. As you may be aware I have the legal right to know exactly what you reported and to whom. The right to know the "charges" if you will. If you lied, misled or otherwise sought to deceive, you will be charged with slander

No response will lead to harassment charges being filed against you at YOUR local Police Department.

Thanks again, and good luck!

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

************************
She finally admits that she's wrong:

Okay. I quit. I have not reported you to anyone. I wrote that in the subject line to get a response from you, since you chose not to read my last apologetic e-mail.

I just want to be heard.

I understand your points, I do. And you may in fact, be right. But you are talking about a technicality. After reading the terms and conditions, which would lead ANYONE to believe that if no other info than what was provided initially would result in a 50 percent refund, and thinking that it would happen, I purchased an order. I stated in my order, that I was not interested in the address on Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT. Yet you guys gave me that info anyway. There was no additional info that you gave me, that I didn't already have. That is the bottom line, and that is why I feel like I am entitled to half of my money back.

I am sorry that you feel that I was mean spirited. I was actually not meaning to be. As for my first e-mail, I apologise, I should have stuck to the facts, like you said, and yes, you are right that I probably jumped the gun, by speaking the way I did, but I still wouldn't call it mean. I actually meant no disrespect. I was just very unhappy.

I agree and have no doubt that you guys found the most recent history of the subject and whatnot, but I sincerely thought, after reading all about your business, that you would find additional information. I knew, yes, that there was a possibility that there would be no further current information, and going by the 50 percent refund alone, I tried it anyway.

I cannot imagine that he cannot be found anywhere else. It is very important for me to find him because someone told me he was dead, and I haven't spoken to him in over a year! Isn't there something else that can be done to find him now? On my part? Is there anything you can suggest?

I am still not happy that you will not refund my money, but you do have me on a technicality, and so therefore, I am beat. I am not going to go back and forth with you anymore, because unfortunately, it is getting me no were. I have never had such a bad experience. One search agency even did another search for free for me, even though the info they turned up was bad, they were very helpful, and KIND. However, if you can give me any further advise or direction as to how to go about finding my friend, it would be appreciated.
***********************
To which I reply:

... I almost didn't read this one. In fact, I was about to set the filter on the email program to reject any messages from you.

Let's start over...



Thank you for your reply.

Sorry you didn't find your subject with the database search. What some people do, particularly the bounty hunters and Gov't Agencies that use us, because they can afford it, is to wait about a month or two and try the search again. If he does anything wherein he gave his address to a company or agency, or applies for credit, or renews his driver's license, generally within two weeks of such activity we'll have the address he gave. Nobody has more current data than that. (That's why we can offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. Notice that nobody else does that.)

Or, if he's a "normal" person, you might try a Forwarding Address Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/find_forwarding_address.htm), but PLEASE read everything about it first - especially that it's not a database search. It's an expensive, labor-intensive investigation. It does not search the US Post Office, because that is illegal. If your subject did not provide a forwarding address to a utility company, it will cost you $30 Search Fee. We have to pay the people who work around here.

The best info to have is his current phone number, cell or land line. With that, we can get you to the house the phone is registered/connected to. See http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm for details.

Your credit card account has been issued a refund of $49.95, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Thanks again, and best wishes.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

**********************
Then she says:

Now I feel so bad. I wasn't even asking for a full refund, yet you gave one to me. I am sorry for any inconvenience that all this time on me caused. That was worth your money alone.

I thank you for all you have done to try and help me. I will read more clearly in the future, and if I decide to do another search, your company will be the one I use, without a doubt. I will be much less trouble then also.

Again,
I am sorry and I thank you.

*************************
My last message to her, finally!:

No problem.

Best to you...

-Don
*************************************

Now, if you read all of this, did my company do anything that can even remotely be construed as wrong?

Thank you.

Don Whitten

The simplest way to tell this story is to provide a copy of ALL correspondence between our company and this person, and there is a lot of correspondence, which I don't expect you to read.

But, if you read anything, read the last part, it's where SHE apologizes to ME and says what a GOOD company this is. In other words, SHE is the one who says that she should not have complained.

After reading this, I think that you will agree that such a posting unfairly maligns me and my company. I expect that if YOU are a fair and honest person, you will either remove this posting, the only complaint ever lodged against my company, or give me a good reason why you didn't.

-Don Whitten
Owner, Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

*****************************
This is the report provided at this customer's request:

*** For best view of your report, expand this window to full screen. ***

Aaron's Research Services
18412 Old Hwy 65, Suite B
Omaha, AR 72662

***********************************************

Date: November 17, 2003

Thank you for choosing Aaron's for your research needs. We appreciate your business.

We have located the most current, most complete and most accurate data that can be found by using your subject's identifiers. Your credit card has been charged $49.95 by Aaron's Research Services, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Following are the results of your search. Please be sure to read any notes your researcher might have pasted to your report. If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know.

NOTE: To be sure you have received all data that was sent, check to see that this message ends with, "End of search. End of report. Thank you."


*************************************************
Order: Address Update - $49.95 $0 if NRF
email: @aol.com
Client: Dana J
Company:
Fax:
Phone: 10296
Address: st
City: derby
StateProvTer: ct
Country: US
Zip: 06418
Prefix:
First: Brian
Middle: M
Last: *Deleted for Privacy's Sake
Suffix:
DOB: 6/13/1980
LKAddressDate: 2001
SendResults: Email
Terms: I agree to the Terms and Conditions
B1: Submit Order
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2003
Time: 03:19:33 PM

LKAddress:

207 Wells St.
Bridgeport, CT. 06606

AddInfo:

His parents still live at 205, right next door, so please be aware of that. I am not looking for Them. BRIAN used to reside at 207. Please also know that on several "free" searches, I came up with two addresses which are INVALID. They would be Madison Ave. Bridgeport, Ct., and Fairfield Beach Rd., in Fairfield, Ct. He may have lived there once, but not now.

**********************************************

*** SEARCH RESULTS:
Search Reference: 231683

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The data contained in this report was retrieved from public and proprietary databases. Although the sources of this data have proven to be reliable and every reasonable effort has been made to assure that this data is accurate and current, Aaron's Research Services does not have any control over the input or maintenance of the data contained in the various database systems and does not warrant the accuracy or currency of this data. This data is for informational purposes to be used only by the person or entity designated as "Client" on the Search Request Form. This data cannot be sold or otherwise disseminated or used as evidence in any legal proceeding without the express written consent of Aaron's Research Services. This data is to be used for lead information only. This data must only be used to locate or further identify the data subject and should not be used in whole or in part to determine a consumer's eligibility for credit, employment, or insurance or any other purpose for which a consumer report would be obtained, except in connection with collection of a debt. It is the sole responsibility of the Client to verify the accuracy, relevancy or currency of this data prior to taking adverse action against the data subject.

*** ADDRESS DATA:

NOTE: The following is a compilation of address data that was retrieved from multiple sources. If multiple records were found containing address data, the record at the top of the list is usually considered to contain the most current address data. However, the order of the list is computer generated based upon dates of activity of the subject using a given address, and although the first address shown is usually the most recent reported, it is possible that the subject's current place of residence may not be the one shown first in the list. As this is a database search, it is possible that errors or omissions can exist in regard to the address data, and such possibility should be considered before relying entirely upon this data. *The following address data is the most current, most complete and most accurate that can possibly be retrieved from legal database sources by using your specified subject identifier/s with the search option you chose.

This is a database search which often finds telephone numbers, but not always. If this search found your subject's current address, but did not find the telephone number at that address, Directory Assistance (411) may be able to provide a listed telephone number. If the telephone number is unlisted, we offer a service that is guaranteed to obtain the current, active telephone number at any valid address. For details of that search option, please see http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm.

**********************

BRIAN M **** DOB: JUN

SSN XXXXX-**** issued in Connecticut between 1987 and 1988

Most Recently Reported Addresses Associated with Subject:

RESEARCHER'S NOTE: If your subject has relocated, no update has been made to the records since such relocation. Updates are made when the subject does such things as apply for credit, renew a driver's license, etc.. If you believe that your subject may have done something that should have caused an update to the records, it may be necessary for you to wait a reasonable length of time (usually about 90 days) so as to allow time for the agencies or entities to which the new data would likely be provided by the subject to revise their records, then try your search again.

MAY-2003/MAY-2003 - 4045 MADISON AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

APR-2001/JAN-2003 - 207 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

FEB-1999/DEC-2002 - 205 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 (203) 366-6236

Phone Listings for Subject's Addresses

BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

DREW

*********************************

End of search. End of report. Thank you.
******************************

First Complaint Message from customer:

I am sorry but this is bull.

You did not tell me anything I don't already know.

I would like whatever refund I can have for such garbage. I even stated in my inquiry that the madison ave address is invalid.

I need to know where he is now.

Refund my money please.

Thank you.
*******************************

My Response:

Thank you for the feedback.

I am sorry that you think that "this is bull", but, before you even read the rest of this note, please take about 2 minutes and read the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound prior to ordering your search. It is NOT bull. It's a very important element of the agreement you had with us. It's not a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo designed to confuse you. It's written in plain, simple English. And, it contains some basic points concerning database searches, our responsibilities, our promises, etc.. You can get to it by following this link, http://www.aaronspi.com/Terms.htm.

Now, if you read the Terms and Conditions Contract, you found that it clearly outlines what we do, and what we don't do, and that one key point (Which is also repeated in the Description of the Address Update Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/AddUpdate.htm) is that we promise to provide the most current, most complete and most accurate address data legally available. Please note that we have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously. Your report contains the absolute best address data currently recorded.

Please understand that I am just as disappointed as you are that your subject hasn't done anything that would have caused an update to his records. But, we didn't promise that he would. All we promised was to report the best information possible. We have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously.

If you do not think that we have provided you with the most current address data recorded for your subject, please remember that we offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. (Details at http://www.aaronspi.com/Guarantee.htm.)

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

******************************
Her Response:

Yes, and I believe that I read that a 50 percent discount is given when "search results" provide me with the same exact info that I provided you with.

I found out all of the info you gave me, from free searches. That is why I paid the $50.00 in hopes that you would find something more. Since you haven't, I would like my 50 percent refund. I would have never paid the $ if I thought I would walk away with the info I already knew!

Thanks,
Dana

*************************
My Reply:

Please re-read.

Refunds are given in the following instances:

... 2) If a client includes specific, known, data or information, and the search results in a record or records found, but no data, other than that which was included by the client is contained in the record or records, there will be a 50% refund of the cost of the search. EXAMPLE: Client specifies the last known address of the Subject, and the search finds a record or records, but the only address contained in the record or records exactly matches that specified by the client...

Refunds are not given in the following instances:

... EXAMPLE 2: Client requests an Address Update Search and the results of the search include the address that was specified as search criteria, and other potentially useful data such as date of birth, but no more recent address than that which was specified as search criteria. (Refer to the Warranty Section).


I think that you have to agree that

AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 is not -. Bridgeport, Ct"

We provided the exact address; and, for all we know, your subject may be still living at that address. We definitely know, and now so do you, that that address is the most recent address recorded, which is what we were contracted to find and report. If your subject does not live there, that is unfortunate, but not our fault, and it does not mean that we did not do what we promised to do.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
************************
Her reply - and, it's starting to get nasty:

I can see that you are one of these companies that likes to rip people off. You can dance around it all you like, but in fact, Madison Ave., Bridgeport, does indicate that I did know about this address. If I knew I was going to be ripped off, I would have and should have included the entire address, which I did have.
I am sorry that you are unwilling to make me happy as a customer. I really thought that your company looked reputable enough. I think it is terrible what you are doing, and that you are unwilling to resolve.

I will tell everyone I know about your company, and what it does to people.
*******************************
My reply, and I'm starting to get angry - I'm a person, too:

One more time...

It is not terrible of us to provide the most current, most complete, most accurate address data legally available, completely, honestly and expeditiously to every client we have had since 1989. It is wonderful that we do approximately 1,000 searches a month, and that you are the first complaint in over 3 months. (The last one didn't read the Terms and Conditions, either, come to think of it.) I think our service is way beyond what anybody would call fantastic, and thank God, so are almost all of our customers - 1 out of about 3,000 searches leads to a complaint; and, we can prove that. Nobody has a better record, because nobody has access to better data, or is better at finding and reporting that data.

Now, it's too bad that you did not get lucky with your search; and, it is really too bad that you did not read or understand the Terms and Conditions of using our service, and was therefore surprised when you found out that we charge for the WORK, not the DATA. But, I am one of those people who believes that everybody should do no less than what they promise to do. That includes us and you, which means that we do the work, and you pay for the work. Although I must admit that if you had been nice I would have simply refunded your money... after all, we're only talking about 20 minutes work and $28 that we spent buying the data, (You see, our sources are not free. We actually buy every record we use.) which is not a big deal. But, you're not nice, so you don't get treated nice. Sorry.

One last thing, then we really should move on... While you're telling everybody about how you believe that we scammed you, be sure you tell the truth. You're welcome to publish our correspondence, anything you find on our website, my name, your name or anything else you think might help make your case. But, be aware that publishing lies about a place of business is slander, which is a crime. And, now that you know that I am a stickler for truth and facts and honesty, and that I don't give in to anybody trying to be untruthful or ignoring the facts or being otherwise dishonest, you might consider that I will prosecute to the fullest extend of the law if I find one untruth published by you. You can tell everybody that, too.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
***************************
More of the same from her, which I didn't take the time to read or reply to. Notice that I had already spent a lot of time responding to this customer's complaint, and it was getting nowhere.:

How can you say that I am not being nice? I do not feel that I have been mean. I feel very taken advantage of. In fact, I feel that it is you, that are being most unacommodating. You should want to make a customer happy. I have said nothing to be mean to you. I am very unhappy with my results. I read all of the terms and conditions before I placed my order. I am misunderstanding why it says that if you provide me with the same information I gave you, that there would be a 50 percent refund given, yet you are doing everything in your power to prove me wrong on a technicality. You are refusing to refund any of my money because I did not provide the complete address for Madison Ave., Bridgeport, but I thought that being the very intelligent people you must be, that you would realize that is the address I was referring to.

I should have added the entire address in my inquiry. I thought that there were forwarding addresses available. I know he does not live at 4045 Madison Ave, Bridgeport, Ct. 06606 because I rang the doorbell, and they say he doesn't live here, and hasn't since May.

How am I supposed to find him? I cannot afford to spend $50.00 on no further results. Now that I'm out $50.00, and have no more to spend on an additional search, I am out of luck. I understand you spent time on the search, but you provided me with nothing I didn't already know!

*********************
Dear Ms F,

I understand your desire to have your money refunded to you; but your refund is not being given primarily because no refund is due. That is irrefutably evident. The main point made in the Terms and Conditions Contract is that we are as fair and generous as possible, much more so than most anybody else in a service business. But, if we do the job, and if the job is done to the standards outlined on our website, we get paid. There is really nothing more fair or equitable than that.

It is true that we sometimes give refunds when no refund is actually due - although such should not have been stated to you. It would have been better to have stuck to the facts, rather than getting mean-spirited. I apologize for that. But, if I may be frank, not mean-spirited, the first message you sent started with "I'm sorry but this is bull." And, each message thereafter was more and more abusive. That did not make for good relations.

Now you are saying that you read and understood the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound before your ordered our services. So, it follows that, knowing exactly what the possibilities were - including the possibility that the best address data currently recorded might not make you happy, you decided to take the chance and see if we could find your subject's present place of residence when nobody else could. That's actually a reasonable gamble, and I would have done it too, because we do find information every day that nobody else can find. But, sadly, it didn't happen for you.

And, now you're saying that you really could not afford to spend the money in the first place. So, you're trying everything you can think of to try to get us to refund your money. You've tried badgering. That didn't work. You've tried threatening. That didn't work. And, you keep trying to get it back due to a TECHNICALITY. That technicality being that you claim to have already known the address we reported. Sorry, it just doesn't wash. If you had had that complete address, you would have provided it with the other addresses you gave... especially since you knew that you could have gotten a 50% refund if you had. At least you say that you knew that, because you say that you read and understood the contract.

And, then you don't like our customer service. If your subject had only done something that would have caused his current place of residency to be recorded, you would have been applauding our customer service. Does anything jump out at you with that? Do you see what you're doing? It's not us! If anybody is wrong, it's you. And, if anybody's to blame for there not being a more current address, it's your subject - although that's stretching it. Actually, nobody has done anything wrong, which is what makes all this so ridiculous. That is, unless we press the issue that you are doing something wrong by trying to deceive us, and then going so far as to threatening to malign us if we don't give in to your unreasonable demands. Anyway, like we said in the Terms and Conditions Contract that you have read and understood, AND AGREED TO, we're just finding and reporting the data. We're not making the data.

In a nutshell, you're angry at us because we reported what we found, like we said we would; and because we're sticking to the deal we made, and that's not fair. It's not easy dealing with a customer who demands a refund when there is no refund due. I hope you never have to do it. On the other hand, and just so you'll be absolutely aware of where it all went wrong, it's not so bad dealing with a customer who nicely states their position and kindly asks if there is anything we can do to help them. Because... we like to help people, we do it all the time. That's why we've been around for 14 years. But, we don't help people who come on like they're our worst enemy. That's our prerogative... our legal right. Thank you very much!

Here is the bottom line:

Believe it or not, this is not easy for me. I'd much rather just give you your money back, and call it quits. But, right is right, and I am inclined to do what is right, even if it is not the easiest thing to do. We will, as always, live up to all of our promises, including refunding TWICE what you paid if you provide any evidence that the work we did is not the work we advertised.

You are welcome to have your attorney (or the BBB, or anybody else) read all correspondence, everything at our website and the report we sent you; and, I am available for any inquiries. Just remember, you have to be absolutely truthful. You can't leave out the things that make you look bad, like the facts, for instance.

Thank you.

Don Whitten - Owner, General Manger
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

********************************
Her response:

I did, contact my lawyer, and he told me that he could get me my refund, but to tell you the truth, it would cost me more money to file suit against you, and as I said, I don't have it.

*************************
My reply:

Sorry, I believe that your lawyer is wrong. How about this.. Tell him that if he can find the "loophole" that would say that we owe you a refund, I'll pay him. If he can't, he owes me the amount he would have charged you!

I know they got OJ off, but you just can't argue with written facts.

-DW
************************
All she sent was a blank email with this subject line:

From: XxSaphireRavenxX@aol.com
To: aarons@aaronspi.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:55 PM
Subject: YOU'VE BEEN REPORTED FOR ONLINE FRAUD!! BAD BUSINESS!!

*******************************
And my rely:

Thank you for the update.

Please respond with information as to the agency/ies involved. As you may be aware I have the legal right to know exactly what you reported and to whom. The right to know the "charges" if you will. If you lied, misled or otherwise sought to deceive, you will be charged with slander

No response will lead to harassment charges being filed against you at YOUR local Police Department.

Thanks again, and good luck!

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

************************
She finally admits that she's wrong:

Okay. I quit. I have not reported you to anyone. I wrote that in the subject line to get a response from you, since you chose not to read my last apologetic e-mail.

I just want to be heard.

I understand your points, I do. And you may in fact, be right. But you are talking about a technicality. After reading the terms and conditions, which would lead ANYONE to believe that if no other info than what was provided initially would result in a 50 percent refund, and thinking that it would happen, I purchased an order. I stated in my order, that I was not interested in the address on Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT. Yet you guys gave me that info anyway. There was no additional info that you gave me, that I didn't already have. That is the bottom line, and that is why I feel like I am entitled to half of my money back.

I am sorry that you feel that I was mean spirited. I was actually not meaning to be. As for my first e-mail, I apologise, I should have stuck to the facts, like you said, and yes, you are right that I probably jumped the gun, by speaking the way I did, but I still wouldn't call it mean. I actually meant no disrespect. I was just very unhappy.

I agree and have no doubt that you guys found the most recent history of the subject and whatnot, but I sincerely thought, after reading all about your business, that you would find additional information. I knew, yes, that there was a possibility that there would be no further current information, and going by the 50 percent refund alone, I tried it anyway.

I cannot imagine that he cannot be found anywhere else. It is very important for me to find him because someone told me he was dead, and I haven't spoken to him in over a year! Isn't there something else that can be done to find him now? On my part? Is there anything you can suggest?

I am still not happy that you will not refund my money, but you do have me on a technicality, and so therefore, I am beat. I am not going to go back and forth with you anymore, because unfortunately, it is getting me no were. I have never had such a bad experience. One search agency even did another search for free for me, even though the info they turned up was bad, they were very helpful, and KIND. However, if you can give me any further advise or direction as to how to go about finding my friend, it would be appreciated.
***********************
To which I reply:

... I almost didn't read this one. In fact, I was about to set the filter on the email program to reject any messages from you.

Let's start over...



Thank you for your reply.

Sorry you didn't find your subject with the database search. What some people do, particularly the bounty hunters and Gov't Agencies that use us, because they can afford it, is to wait about a month or two and try the search again. If he does anything wherein he gave his address to a company or agency, or applies for credit, or renews his driver's license, generally within two weeks of such activity we'll have the address he gave. Nobody has more current data than that. (That's why we can offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. Notice that nobody else does that.)

Or, if he's a "normal" person, you might try a Forwarding Address Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/find_forwarding_address.htm), but PLEASE read everything about it first - especially that it's not a database search. It's an expensive, labor-intensive investigation. It does not search the US Post Office, because that is illegal. If your subject did not provide a forwarding address to a utility company, it will cost you $30 Search Fee. We have to pay the people who work around here.

The best info to have is his current phone number, cell or land line. With that, we can get you to the house the phone is registered/connected to. See http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm for details.

Your credit card account has been issued a refund of $49.95, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Thanks again, and best wishes.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

**********************
Then she says:

Now I feel so bad. I wasn't even asking for a full refund, yet you gave one to me. I am sorry for any inconvenience that all this time on me caused. That was worth your money alone.

I thank you for all you have done to try and help me. I will read more clearly in the future, and if I decide to do another search, your company will be the one I use, without a doubt. I will be much less trouble then also.

Again,
I am sorry and I thank you.

*************************
My last message to her, finally!:

No problem.

Best to you...

-Don
*************************************

Now, if you read all of this, did my company do anything that can even remotely be construed as wrong?

Thank you.

Don Whitten

The simplest way to tell this story is to provide a copy of ALL correspondence between our company and this person, and there is a lot of correspondence, which I don't expect you to read.

But, if you read anything, read the last part, it's where SHE apologizes to ME and says what a GOOD company this is. In other words, SHE is the one who says that she should not have complained.

After reading this, I think that you will agree that such a posting unfairly maligns me and my company. I expect that if YOU are a fair and honest person, you will either remove this posting, the only complaint ever lodged against my company, or give me a good reason why you didn't.

-Don Whitten
Owner, Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

*****************************
This is the report provided at this customer's request:

*** For best view of your report, expand this window to full screen. ***

Aaron's Research Services
18412 Old Hwy 65, Suite B
Omaha, AR 72662

***********************************************

Date: November 17, 2003

Thank you for choosing Aaron's for your research needs. We appreciate your business.

We have located the most current, most complete and most accurate data that can be found by using your subject's identifiers. Your credit card has been charged $49.95 by Aaron's Research Services, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Following are the results of your search. Please be sure to read any notes your researcher might have pasted to your report. If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know.

NOTE: To be sure you have received all data that was sent, check to see that this message ends with, "End of search. End of report. Thank you."


*************************************************
Order: Address Update - $49.95 $0 if NRF
email: @aol.com
Client: Dana J
Company:
Fax:
Phone: 10296
Address: st
City: derby
StateProvTer: ct
Country: US
Zip: 06418
Prefix:
First: Brian
Middle: M
Last: *Deleted for Privacy's Sake
Suffix:
DOB: 6/13/1980
LKAddressDate: 2001
SendResults: Email
Terms: I agree to the Terms and Conditions
B1: Submit Order
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2003
Time: 03:19:33 PM

LKAddress:

207 Wells St.
Bridgeport, CT. 06606

AddInfo:

His parents still live at 205, right next door, so please be aware of that. I am not looking for Them. BRIAN used to reside at 207. Please also know that on several "free" searches, I came up with two addresses which are INVALID. They would be Madison Ave. Bridgeport, Ct., and Fairfield Beach Rd., in Fairfield, Ct. He may have lived there once, but not now.

**********************************************

*** SEARCH RESULTS:
Search Reference: 231683

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The data contained in this report was retrieved from public and proprietary databases. Although the sources of this data have proven to be reliable and every reasonable effort has been made to assure that this data is accurate and current, Aaron's Research Services does not have any control over the input or maintenance of the data contained in the various database systems and does not warrant the accuracy or currency of this data. This data is for informational purposes to be used only by the person or entity designated as "Client" on the Search Request Form. This data cannot be sold or otherwise disseminated or used as evidence in any legal proceeding without the express written consent of Aaron's Research Services. This data is to be used for lead information only. This data must only be used to locate or further identify the data subject and should not be used in whole or in part to determine a consumer's eligibility for credit, employment, or insurance or any other purpose for which a consumer report would be obtained, except in connection with collection of a debt. It is the sole responsibility of the Client to verify the accuracy, relevancy or currency of this data prior to taking adverse action against the data subject.

*** ADDRESS DATA:

NOTE: The following is a compilation of address data that was retrieved from multiple sources. If multiple records were found containing address data, the record at the top of the list is usually considered to contain the most current address data. However, the order of the list is computer generated based upon dates of activity of the subject using a given address, and although the first address shown is usually the most recent reported, it is possible that the subject's current place of residence may not be the one shown first in the list. As this is a database search, it is possible that errors or omissions can exist in regard to the address data, and such possibility should be considered before relying entirely upon this data. *The following address data is the most current, most complete and most accurate that can possibly be retrieved from legal database sources by using your specified subject identifier/s with the search option you chose.

This is a database search which often finds telephone numbers, but not always. If this search found your subject's current address, but did not find the telephone number at that address, Directory Assistance (411) may be able to provide a listed telephone number. If the telephone number is unlisted, we offer a service that is guaranteed to obtain the current, active telephone number at any valid address. For details of that search option, please see http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm.

**********************

BRIAN M **** DOB: JUN

SSN XXXXX-**** issued in Connecticut between 1987 and 1988

Most Recently Reported Addresses Associated with Subject:

RESEARCHER'S NOTE: If your subject has relocated, no update has been made to the records since such relocation. Updates are made when the subject does such things as apply for credit, renew a driver's license, etc.. If you believe that your subject may have done something that should have caused an update to the records, it may be necessary for you to wait a reasonable length of time (usually about 90 days) so as to allow time for the agencies or entities to which the new data would likely be provided by the subject to revise their records, then try your search again.

MAY-2003/MAY-2003 - 4045 MADISON AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

APR-2001/JAN-2003 - 207 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

FEB-1999/DEC-2002 - 205 WELLS ST BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 (203) 366-6236

Phone Listings for Subject's Addresses

BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606

DREW

*********************************

End of search. End of report. Thank you.
******************************

First Complaint Message from customer:

I am sorry but this is bull.

You did not tell me anything I don't already know.

I would like whatever refund I can have for such garbage. I even stated in my inquiry that the madison ave address is invalid.

I need to know where he is now.

Refund my money please.

Thank you.
*******************************

My Response:

Thank you for the feedback.

I am sorry that you think that "this is bull", but, before you even read the rest of this note, please take about 2 minutes and read the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound prior to ordering your search. It is NOT bull. It's a very important element of the agreement you had with us. It's not a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo designed to confuse you. It's written in plain, simple English. And, it contains some basic points concerning database searches, our responsibilities, our promises, etc.. You can get to it by following this link, http://www.aaronspi.com/Terms.htm.

Now, if you read the Terms and Conditions Contract, you found that it clearly outlines what we do, and what we don't do, and that one key point (Which is also repeated in the Description of the Address Update Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/AddUpdate.htm) is that we promise to provide the most current, most complete and most accurate address data legally available. Please note that we have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously. Your report contains the absolute best address data currently recorded.

Please understand that I am just as disappointed as you are that your subject hasn't done anything that would have caused an update to his records. But, we didn't promise that he would. All we promised was to report the best information possible. We have done that, completely, honestly and expeditiously.

If you do not think that we have provided you with the most current address data recorded for your subject, please remember that we offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. (Details at http://www.aaronspi.com/Guarantee.htm.)

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

******************************
Her Response:

Yes, and I believe that I read that a 50 percent discount is given when "search results" provide me with the same exact info that I provided you with.

I found out all of the info you gave me, from free searches. That is why I paid the $50.00 in hopes that you would find something more. Since you haven't, I would like my 50 percent refund. I would have never paid the $ if I thought I would walk away with the info I already knew!

Thanks,
Dana

*************************
My Reply:

Please re-read.

Refunds are given in the following instances:

... 2) If a client includes specific, known, data or information, and the search results in a record or records found, but no data, other than that which was included by the client is contained in the record or records, there will be a 50% refund of the cost of the search. EXAMPLE: Client specifies the last known address of the Subject, and the search finds a record or records, but the only address contained in the record or records exactly matches that specified by the client...

Refunds are not given in the following instances:

... EXAMPLE 2: Client requests an Address Update Search and the results of the search include the address that was specified as search criteria, and other potentially useful data such as date of birth, but no more recent address than that which was specified as search criteria. (Refer to the Warranty Section).


I think that you have to agree that

AVE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06606 is not -. Bridgeport, Ct"

We provided the exact address; and, for all we know, your subject may be still living at that address. We definitely know, and now so do you, that that address is the most recent address recorded, which is what we were contracted to find and report. If your subject does not live there, that is unfortunate, but not our fault, and it does not mean that we did not do what we promised to do.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
************************
Her reply - and, it's starting to get nasty:

I can see that you are one of these companies that likes to rip people off. You can dance around it all you like, but in fact, Madison Ave., Bridgeport, does indicate that I did know about this address. If I knew I was going to be ripped off, I would have and should have included the entire address, which I did have.
I am sorry that you are unwilling to make me happy as a customer. I really thought that your company looked reputable enough. I think it is terrible what you are doing, and that you are unwilling to resolve.

I will tell everyone I know about your company, and what it does to people.
*******************************
My reply, and I'm starting to get angry - I'm a person, too:

One more time...

It is not terrible of us to provide the most current, most complete, most accurate address data legally available, completely, honestly and expeditiously to every client we have had since 1989. It is wonderful that we do approximately 1,000 searches a month, and that you are the first complaint in over 3 months. (The last one didn't read the Terms and Conditions, either, come to think of it.) I think our service is way beyond what anybody would call fantastic, and thank God, so are almost all of our customers - 1 out of about 3,000 searches leads to a complaint; and, we can prove that. Nobody has a better record, because nobody has access to better data, or is better at finding and reporting that data.

Now, it's too bad that you did not get lucky with your search; and, it is really too bad that you did not read or understand the Terms and Conditions of using our service, and was therefore surprised when you found out that we charge for the WORK, not the DATA. But, I am one of those people who believes that everybody should do no less than what they promise to do. That includes us and you, which means that we do the work, and you pay for the work. Although I must admit that if you had been nice I would have simply refunded your money... after all, we're only talking about 20 minutes work and $28 that we spent buying the data, (You see, our sources are not free. We actually buy every record we use.) which is not a big deal. But, you're not nice, so you don't get treated nice. Sorry.

One last thing, then we really should move on... While you're telling everybody about how you believe that we scammed you, be sure you tell the truth. You're welcome to publish our correspondence, anything you find on our website, my name, your name or anything else you think might help make your case. But, be aware that publishing lies about a place of business is slander, which is a crime. And, now that you know that I am a stickler for truth and facts and honesty, and that I don't give in to anybody trying to be untruthful or ignoring the facts or being otherwise dishonest, you might consider that I will prosecute to the fullest extend of the law if I find one untruth published by you. You can tell everybody that, too.

Thank you.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com
***************************
More of the same from her, which I didn't take the time to read or reply to. Notice that I had already spent a lot of time responding to this customer's complaint, and it was getting nowhere.:

How can you say that I am not being nice? I do not feel that I have been mean. I feel very taken advantage of. In fact, I feel that it is you, that are being most unacommodating. You should want to make a customer happy. I have said nothing to be mean to you. I am very unhappy with my results. I read all of the terms and conditions before I placed my order. I am misunderstanding why it says that if you provide me with the same information I gave you, that there would be a 50 percent refund given, yet you are doing everything in your power to prove me wrong on a technicality. You are refusing to refund any of my money because I did not provide the complete address for Madison Ave., Bridgeport, but I thought that being the very intelligent people you must be, that you would realize that is the address I was referring to.

I should have added the entire address in my inquiry. I thought that there were forwarding addresses available. I know he does not live at 4045 Madison Ave, Bridgeport, Ct. 06606 because I rang the doorbell, and they say he doesn't live here, and hasn't since May.

How am I supposed to find him? I cannot afford to spend $50.00 on no further results. Now that I'm out $50.00, and have no more to spend on an additional search, I am out of luck. I understand you spent time on the search, but you provided me with nothing I didn't already know!

*********************
Dear Ms F,

I understand your desire to have your money refunded to you; but your refund is not being given primarily because no refund is due. That is irrefutably evident. The main point made in the Terms and Conditions Contract is that we are as fair and generous as possible, much more so than most anybody else in a service business. But, if we do the job, and if the job is done to the standards outlined on our website, we get paid. There is really nothing more fair or equitable than that.

It is true that we sometimes give refunds when no refund is actually due - although such should not have been stated to you. It would have been better to have stuck to the facts, rather than getting mean-spirited. I apologize for that. But, if I may be frank, not mean-spirited, the first message you sent started with "I'm sorry but this is bull." And, each message thereafter was more and more abusive. That did not make for good relations.

Now you are saying that you read and understood the Terms and Conditions Contract to which you agreed to be bound before your ordered our services. So, it follows that, knowing exactly what the possibilities were - including the possibility that the best address data currently recorded might not make you happy, you decided to take the chance and see if we could find your subject's present place of residence when nobody else could. That's actually a reasonable gamble, and I would have done it too, because we do find information every day that nobody else can find. But, sadly, it didn't happen for you.

And, now you're saying that you really could not afford to spend the money in the first place. So, you're trying everything you can think of to try to get us to refund your money. You've tried badgering. That didn't work. You've tried threatening. That didn't work. And, you keep trying to get it back due to a TECHNICALITY. That technicality being that you claim to have already known the address we reported. Sorry, it just doesn't wash. If you had had that complete address, you would have provided it with the other addresses you gave... especially since you knew that you could have gotten a 50% refund if you had. At least you say that you knew that, because you say that you read and understood the contract.

And, then you don't like our customer service. If your subject had only done something that would have caused his current place of residency to be recorded, you would have been applauding our customer service. Does anything jump out at you with that? Do you see what you're doing? It's not us! If anybody is wrong, it's you. And, if anybody's to blame for there not being a more current address, it's your subject - although that's stretching it. Actually, nobody has done anything wrong, which is what makes all this so ridiculous. That is, unless we press the issue that you are doing something wrong by trying to deceive us, and then going so far as to threatening to malign us if we don't give in to your unreasonable demands. Anyway, like we said in the Terms and Conditions Contract that you have read and understood, AND AGREED TO, we're just finding and reporting the data. We're not making the data.

In a nutshell, you're angry at us because we reported what we found, like we said we would; and because we're sticking to the deal we made, and that's not fair. It's not easy dealing with a customer who demands a refund when there is no refund due. I hope you never have to do it. On the other hand, and just so you'll be absolutely aware of where it all went wrong, it's not so bad dealing with a customer who nicely states their position and kindly asks if there is anything we can do to help them. Because... we like to help people, we do it all the time. That's why we've been around for 14 years. But, we don't help people who come on like they're our worst enemy. That's our prerogative... our legal right. Thank you very much!

Here is the bottom line:

Believe it or not, this is not easy for me. I'd much rather just give you your money back, and call it quits. But, right is right, and I am inclined to do what is right, even if it is not the easiest thing to do. We will, as always, live up to all of our promises, including refunding TWICE what you paid if you provide any evidence that the work we did is not the work we advertised.

You are welcome to have your attorney (or the BBB, or anybody else) read all correspondence, everything at our website and the report we sent you; and, I am available for any inquiries. Just remember, you have to be absolutely truthful. You can't leave out the things that make you look bad, like the facts, for instance.

Thank you.

Don Whitten - Owner, General Manger
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

********************************
Her response:

I did, contact my lawyer, and he told me that he could get me my refund, but to tell you the truth, it would cost me more money to file suit against you, and as I said, I don't have it.

*************************
My reply:

Sorry, I believe that your lawyer is wrong. How about this.. Tell him that if he can find the "loophole" that would say that we owe you a refund, I'll pay him. If he can't, he owes me the amount he would have charged you!

I know they got OJ off, but you just can't argue with written facts.

-DW
************************
All she sent was a blank email with this subject line:

From: XxSaphireRavenxX@aol.com
To: aarons@aaronspi.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:55 PM
Subject: YOU'VE BEEN REPORTED FOR ONLINE FRAUD!! BAD BUSINESS!!

*******************************
And my rely:

Thank you for the update.

Please respond with information as to the agency/ies involved. As you may be aware I have the legal right to know exactly what you reported and to whom. The right to know the "charges" if you will. If you lied, misled or otherwise sought to deceive, you will be charged with slander

No response will lead to harassment charges being filed against you at YOUR local Police Department.

Thanks again, and good luck!

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

************************
She finally admits that she's wrong:

Okay. I quit. I have not reported you to anyone. I wrote that in the subject line to get a response from you, since you chose not to read my last apologetic e-mail.

I just want to be heard.

I understand your points, I do. And you may in fact, be right. But you are talking about a technicality. After reading the terms and conditions, which would lead ANYONE to believe that if no other info than what was provided initially would result in a 50 percent refund, and thinking that it would happen, I purchased an order. I stated in my order, that I was not interested in the address on Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT. Yet you guys gave me that info anyway. There was no additional info that you gave me, that I didn't already have. That is the bottom line, and that is why I feel like I am entitled to half of my money back.

I am sorry that you feel that I was mean spirited. I was actually not meaning to be. As for my first e-mail, I apologise, I should have stuck to the facts, like you said, and yes, you are right that I probably jumped the gun, by speaking the way I did, but I still wouldn't call it mean. I actually meant no disrespect. I was just very unhappy.

I agree and have no doubt that you guys found the most recent history of the subject and whatnot, but I sincerely thought, after reading all about your business, that you would find additional information. I knew, yes, that there was a possibility that there would be no further current information, and going by the 50 percent refund alone, I tried it anyway.

I cannot imagine that he cannot be found anywhere else. It is very important for me to find him because someone told me he was dead, and I haven't spoken to him in over a year! Isn't there something else that can be done to find him now? On my part? Is there anything you can suggest?

I am still not happy that you will not refund my money, but you do have me on a technicality, and so therefore, I am beat. I am not going to go back and forth with you anymore, because unfortunately, it is getting me no were. I have never had such a bad experience. One search agency even did another search for free for me, even though the info they turned up was bad, they were very helpful, and KIND. However, if you can give me any further advise or direction as to how to go about finding my friend, it would be appreciated.
***********************
To which I reply:

... I almost didn't read this one. In fact, I was about to set the filter on the email program to reject any messages from you.

Let's start over...



Thank you for your reply.

Sorry you didn't find your subject with the database search. What some people do, particularly the bounty hunters and Gov't Agencies that use us, because they can afford it, is to wait about a month or two and try the search again. If he does anything wherein he gave his address to a company or agency, or applies for credit, or renews his driver's license, generally within two weeks of such activity we'll have the address he gave. Nobody has more current data than that. (That's why we can offer a Double Money Back Guarantee. Notice that nobody else does that.)

Or, if he's a "normal" person, you might try a Forwarding Address Search (http://www.aaronspi.com/find_forwarding_address.htm), but PLEASE read everything about it first - especially that it's not a database search. It's an expensive, labor-intensive investigation. It does not search the US Post Office, because that is illegal. If your subject did not provide a forwarding address to a utility company, it will cost you $30 Search Fee. We have to pay the people who work around here.

The best info to have is his current phone number, cell or land line. With that, we can get you to the house the phone is registered/connected to. See http://www.aaronspi.com/find_trace_telephone.htm for details.

Your credit card account has been issued a refund of $49.95, which will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Thanks again, and best wishes.

Don Whitten
Aaron's Research Services
http://www.aaronspi.com

**********************
Then she says:

Now I feel so bad. I wasn't even asking for a full refund, yet you gave one to me. I am sorry for any inconvenience that all this time on me caused. That was worth your money alone.

I thank you for all you have done to try and help me. I will read more clearly in the future, and if I decide to do another search, your company will be the one I use, without a doubt. I will be much less trouble then also.

Again,
I am sorry and I thank you.

*************************
My last message to her, finally!:

No problem.

Best to you...

-Don
*************************************

Now, if you read all of this, did my company do anything that can even remotely be construed as wrong?

Thank you.

Don Whitten