Complaint Review: contact Z57 Real Estate Marketing and Realtor Website Design Contact Z57 Internet Marketing For Real Estate Z57 Internet Solutions

July 1st called Z57 to discuss site development.  Spoke with Chad Comfort.  Was told that I had to make a decision on the phone with him (1st phone call only qualifies for discount) so that they could lower the start up cost from $499 to $299.  Original monthly cost was $99 but they would lower it to $79 for me if I made my decision immediately.  We paid a total of $378.00 from our bank card that was taken out on July 3rd.  The phone call lasted more than one hour and we looked at several sites with Z57.  Both my wife and I were on a conference call with Chad to understand the details.  We had narrowed down our search for a web site between Z57 and Real Estate Sites.  

Promises:

    All contact lists we provided to them would be uploaded into the back end of the site.  We emailed five client lists to Janette Dirks.  Only one list was ever uploaded.  This is part of a marketing drip campaign we could control to our past client data base.
    Foreclosures.com was part of an agreement with Z57 and both we and clients would have access to this database, included in our monthly fee.  This was a BIG selling feature for us.  We stressed to Chad Comfort that this feature was a key benefit that would sway our decision.  He told us our clients would have full access, that many of his current agents were having great success because of this feature.  We were promised to have a backdoor in to determine what searches the prospective buyer viewed and then be able provide them with more information on the properties.  Considering the current economy we all agreed (Chad included) that this would be a huge advantage on our site.  We only learned during our training call on July 9th, with Hue Huynh, that this was not the case.  The prospect buyer would be brought to foreclosure.com website and would need to sign up for a free 7 day trial; after the trial there will be a $10.00 monthly fee paid to foreclosure.com.  At this point we were not told about our ability to also purchase a subscription at a discounted rate.  We explained to Hue that this is not what we were told by Chad and her response was: this was a mis-communication and she was sorry.  Chad must have explained it incorrectly.  Hue Huynh told us we could add a disclaimer to the site that the fee does not go to us that it is a 3rd party fee, that some of Z57 clients use a disclosure in addition to asking the client to contact the agent about foreclosure listings.  On July 14th, Kevin Grady mailed us (email attached) stating there is no way to add a disclosure to the site re: foreclosure.com fee.   We were informed this was a miscommunication and they were sorry.
    IDX search feature.  On the initial call with Chad it was clearly explained by us the importance of having a robust IDX search feature for our prospective clients.  Our MLS system limits the amount of information published by 3rd party vendors via an IDX feed.  We reviewed in detail the IDX solution provided by the contracted Z57 IDX feed provider and it was not acceptable to us.  This was a deal killer. We were adamant about the ability to give our prospective buyers as much information, property detail, as possible.  No problem we were told, if you dont like our vendor go out and find an IDX solution you like and Z57 will make it work on the site.
    We searched and found an IDX that provided more information called Ihomefinder.  We learned that Z57 used to contract with this company for IDX feeds.  We signed an agreement with Ihomefinder filed the appropriate paperwork to have our feed approved by our MLS.  Hue, during our training call, said she prefers Ihomefinder and that the technicians will make it work in our new site.   We were told by Chad Comfort, Hue Huynh and All others that we would be able to have a Quick Search on the front page of the website and the IDX integrated into the site.  On July 12th I spoke to Kevin Grady, customer service, to find out when the technicians could create the quick search function for me on our home page.  He said he would put the work order in and it will take a day to hear from them.
    I called back on July 14th and for the first time a supervising customer service rep explained the quick search feature will not be possible, unless we use Z57 provider.  On July 15th by Kevin Grady (email attached) also stated that it is not possible to do this unless you have the IDX through their company.  I was very angry being given this news so late, the woman I spoke to asked if I want to cancel that I am within my 10 days to do so. I told her I would call back - I had to assess my options.

I was on the phone every day with Z57 trying to iron out all of the miscommunications  I spoke with Chad Comfort, Truong Nguyen, Gregg Segel, Mike Kulig, Kevin Grady these are the people I have names; emails are attached with proof of names of people I spoke with.  There were others that I did not get follow up emails from.  After many calls and finally be given the truth that Z57 made false promises I decided to cancel the site.  

I called back Thursday 7/15 to cancel and spoke with a customer service rep (do not have his name) and he said he could see in the notes that I was unhappy and that I could cancel.  He said he would put in the request and I would get a call from a manager to review the credit card information to make sure the right account was credited.

I received a call from a Rachel, a supervisor Fariday 7/16 in the afternoon.  I explained everything to her.  She was working in a scripted way and offered to refund $100 and give the next two months free; that the 60 day must go forward -  that the refund only applies on 60 unique visitors.  She further said yes I could have money back since I canceled in the 10 day period, but since the site was built no refund is due.  I explained we purchased the site based on false promises and outright lies, that the company appeared to engage in unfair and deceptive business practices.  At this point since I was not conceding to her discount and free months offer and I made it plain that I was lied to, she said she needed to investigate and check with all people at Z57 to see what was promised us.  She told me that she would call me on Monday 7/19 in the midmorning since she is on the west coast.  I never heard from her.  I left a message for her to call me at 3:00 that afternoon.  She returned the call on Tuesday.  We went over everything again and again she agreed that there had been miscommunication.  She told me that they would refund the monies and apologized.  That I would be receiving an email with the cancelation from a manager and the money would be returned to my account after I processed the cancelation.  Five minutes later she called me again and said that she was wrong and was given the wrong information, Z57 would not be refunding the monies, if we canceled.
My wife and I both went back and forth with Rachel and she kept apologizing and telling us they would refund $100 and waive the next two months fees.  If we cancel outright we get nothing.  We told her we were not interested in working with the company the site they provided is not the site we were told we would have or what we paid for.   She told us her name was Rachel Coach we asked to speak to a higher up or to speak with the person that told her not to refund the monies and she said she did not have his name.  

We have received an email with the link to cancel but we do not agree with the terms for cancellation.  Z57 used false and deceptive business practices to get us to pay them and then did not deliver what they promised.  Apparently this is a regular practice with them attached are reports from Ripoff reports.  It seems once someone wants to cancel a Rachel calls them.

Lastly when we initially signed up we were about to buy our domain name at GoDaddy.com tearmericksonre.com.  Chad said he would buy it for us and not charge for it, that I would be the owner of the name.  It turns out I am the owner but Z57 is holding the domain name hostage on its server. I received the username, password and authorization code from Z57 to redirect my domain name to another host server; since I cannot change registrars for 60 days.  I have requested access to the host site; no response.  I have requested Z57 to point the domain to another server no response.  Now it is clear to me about the 60 days and why Chad wanted to buy the name on my behalf.  We have all our emails tied to this domain so now if we cancel we lose our ability to email or use an alternate web site for our clients.  We have branded ourselves as teamericksonre this is a big blow to our ability to conduct business.  Not only did they rob us of our $378 but they have taken our business identity you cannot assign a dollar amount to that.