Complaint Review: HouseValues

You signed a contract with HouseValues. The contract should have been read by you prior to giving your commitment to enjoy the service. You do not have a legal case and are therefore waisting your time. Do not fool yourself into thinking that anything will result because you have "taken action against HV."

I suggest that you work closley with the coaching department as you are assigned a coach as part of the service to maximize your experience, and ROI.

Some questions to ponder: Have you ever considered why many agents are doing very well with the service, and you are not? What level of success have you had prior to using HV service? If the service is not working for you, have you considered what else is failing for you?

You, and many RE agents are giving up way too soon when you do not experience a transaction as quickly as you anticipate. It never ceased to amaze me that no matter how many times I explained to an agent prior to signing up that it in many cases takes a while to see results. And agents go into the service thinking that it will be the long awaited answer to their lagging, meager and unfortunate Real Estate career.

4/12/07 As of this update I received an e-mail indicating that my account with House Values was cancelled. I checked my bank account and found that it was credited back for the last month that they charged me. This is prior to my bank receiving the fraud report.

I am still awaiting a refund for the months they failed to meet their obligation. I will wait for that claim to mature before I proceed.

I have identified 3 major areas in which their system could be improved inexpensively which would have avoided this situation entirely. For a fee I will be happy to disclose to them.

I am yet another consumer feeling ripped off by HouseValues. My story will turn out a bit different.


As most consumers hare have stated, the leads supplied by house values were bogus and unproductive. I made sure to blow them back when the leads were obviously bad, such as joe-blow@joe-blow.com, etc.

In the entire time I used housevalues, December 2006 through March 2007 they were able to only ONCE supply the represented number of leads agreed upon. No lead to date has led to a transaction, and thus, I am unhappy with them. I also felt that they were not taking adequite steps to insure the validity of the e-mail addresses supplied. I asked their rep if they used a double opt in method and the reply was less than what would be expected when industry norms are taken into consideration. In short, no. They email back to the "prospect"

Logic would tell you that they should at minimum detect bad e-mail addresses with a bounce back. I suspect that even this minimal amount of sceening is absent.


First, let me document what has happened so far. After complaining to housevalues in person on the phone, I followed up with e-mail to cancel authorization to charge my credit card. I received acknowledgement and confirmation of understanding on this issue from the service person in question.
In addition to the email confirmation I sent a fax and a return receipt requested snail mail informing them of the cancelation per their representations, notice that their authorization authority to charge my credit card had been revoked and my bill/demand for payment for the months they were in breach of their agreement with me.

I was informed there would be an early termination fee and that I would be liable for the remainder of 1 year. I informed the rep that I did not agree to those terms.

As expected, HouseValues did charge my card, but since authorization was terminated with due notice, I have filed a fraud complaint with my bank. That matter is now under investigation at the bank and I expect satisfactory resolution to the issue.

In addition, I am waiting for my demand notice to mature and receive payment. If payment is not forthcomming, a small claims action will be laid in Contra Costa County, California for the amount owed.

In the small claims action Ian Morris has been requested to appear, since he has critical and unique evidence to give which is crucial to my case. Mr. Morris is the President and CEO of HouseValues. I also ask for the production of all internal communications in regard to my account, all records which pertain to my account, the names and addresses of any personnel with whom I have had contact in reference to the account, and copies of all software which runs the housevalues systams, including subsidiaries.


I expect Housevalues to claim that California has no jurisdiction according to their terms of use. I hope they make this mistake, because I will then promote the case into real court and allege fraud, which I am sure any court in California will agree, when it comes to a California consumer, it does indeed have jurisdiction.

I will, at that time also lay complaints with the Attorneys General of California and Washington, as well as lodging a complaint with the FTC. I anticipate other federal entities may have an interest in the evidence uncovered in such an action and I will happily supply the documents to the FBI and the SEC.

I am profoundly interested in any parties who feel they have been defrauded by this company since my intention is to denude them of as many assets as I am legally able.