bidclerk.com bidclerk.com mislables jobs/refers unlicensed contractors Internet

While searching for Building Contractors on the internet, I received a popup form which I completed and it was from bidclerk.com.  I described my building needs as it requested.  New Home construction.

I begin to receive many phone calls from contractors wanting to bid on my new home building.   I spoke with a so called contractor Eric Kirkland of Talladega, AL who high pressured me into meeting with him which I did.  He presented false documents which I did not know to be false at the time.  I performed a background check and all cleared as well as the building supplier reference.  I did all I believed should be done when checking him out with one exception,  I repeatedly emailed bidclerk.com who gave him my information to begin with.  No response from bidclerk.  I then phoned and they verified his membership but stated that was all they could give me for privacy reasons.

I entered into a contract and paid all upfront labor costs.  4 weeks into the job I realized that I was being ripped off.  Details are too lengthy but ultimately, this man had a long history that was well hidden of conning and ripping off individuals and had violations of building without a license in the state of Alabama.  His name was exact as a reputable contractor in another alabama city which he was relating himself to.  6 weeks into the job, all my money was gone, I had 25% of a home that was 100% paid for. 

I began to call bidclerk as they were the ones who referred him to me to begin with.  They were free with my information but restricted his information.  After several calls, I was referred to a supervisor who I had a 2 hour conversation with and ultimately, he told me that my job was "mislabled" and sent to the "general/handyman" repair referrals.  He took NO responsibility for this disaster which resulted in my loosing my entire savings and further blamed me for not checking him out properly which I did to the best of anyone's ability.  Because he related himself to a major contracting firm by the same name and presenting to me false documents and license and his high pressure sales, I fell victim to him and it was agreed by law enforcement investagators that it was apparent I had done all I could have done in checking him out before the contract. 

After my conversation with bidclerk.com, they assumed no responsibility and even stated my job was mislabled.  They protect the information of account holders but will freely give out your information for contact.  They do NOT require anyone claiming to be a contractor to produce a valid Builders License nor do they verify their credentials or references before hand.  Apparently, anyone can open an account and say they are anything and get a list of people from bidclerk that they can potentially scam.

BidClerk.com is completely irresponsible and as long as they are getting the account fees from the scammers, they don't care who shows up at your door nor do they assume any responsibility.  They added insult to injury by continuing to insult me and putting the blame off on me completely.    This supervisor even followed me on Yahoo answers/questions and made the same remarks there as he did on the phone.

I could have recovered some of the major loss by the State Builder's Board if he had been a licensed builder but because he presented a fake license that I did not know to identify, I was excluded from that special fund.  Had BidClerk.com required a builder's license to classify him as a "Contractor", they could have prevented this loss.  They should require a copy of a builder's license and verify it which is what one would believe they would do being a referral service.
Do Not use this service.   They openly admitted my job was 'mislabled' and still insulted me for being scammed.  You would be as well off taping your eyes shut and opening the phone book and blindly calling people to do your work.  At least your information wouldn't be given out to scammer's and fraudsters.  In the end, Bidclerk.com was just as bad if not worse than the criminal who scammed me.  Do NOT use this company for any referral need.  They don't require anything except their money to open the account.
bradford, Tallapoosa, GA