Complaint Review: Instant Checkmate

 I'm an investigator and regularly conduct Google searches and other internet research.  I'm assuming Instant Checkmate was attached to some background check I ran, through 411.com or Classmates.com.  I believe each of these sites offer additional information if you continue with some paid service, possibly Instant Checkmate. 

All I know for sure is that I received a charge on my bank account totaling $59.16.  The description of the charge was "CHKMATE*INSTANTCHECKMATE".  I immediately called my bank to dispute the charge and was recommended to research the company and contact them about the charge.  I was surprised to find the website and contact information pretty quickly through a Google search.  I called and spoke with a customer service person who was very nice, but allegedly didn't have authority herself to authorize any refunds.  She indicated I had signed up six months earlier and that they continue to bill people's accounts unless they call and cancel their membership.  Honestly, I don't remember ever signing up, but I don't know how else they acquired my bank account information.  I have access to many other background search sites and systems, so I wouldn't need membership to some low grade, open to general population, website. I asked the service rep. what my usage had been and she was able to tell me I pulled background on two people, same date, three months back.  I didn't recognize the names or remember pulling any background on this site, but I run backgrounds almost daily.

Anyway, I demanded a full refund and cancelation of the membership.  The service rep. said she needed to speak wth her boss before she could authorize any kind of refund.  She came back pretty quickly and offered a $20 refund.  DO NOT ACCEPT THAT!!  I said I needed a full refund and had already disputed the charge with my bank.  She had to talk to her boss again and to my surprise, came back with another less than full offer ($30).  I told her to post the refund, but I intended to dispute any Instant Checkmate charge through my bank.  She then offered to talk to her boss again and I said go for it, because I need a complete refund.  To my astonishment, she again came back with a less than full refund offer ($50), which would allow them to keep $9 and some change.  I told the service rep. she better go back to her boss one more time because I did not intend on paying a dime.  She finally came back, just a short minute later, and agreed to a full refund.  She also asked me to cancel the charge dispute with my bank, which will not be done until I see a full refund to my bank account.  I also intend on canceling my credit card to avoid any potential future un-authorized charges from this company. 

Based on other reports I've viewed on this website, regarding Instant Checkmate, and the non-BBB accredited aspect, I believe this alleged background resource site to be nothing more than a fraud.  They might offer some basic information on a person, similar to what you might find through Google or 411.com, but I doubt it's anything worthy of $59.16 for six month membership.  I recommend Lexis Nexis or ISO or anything else.  Based on my experience with the customer service rep., I believe they pray on the weak and easily appeased.  I considered taking the less than full refund each time she offered, but I'm glad I stuck to my guns and demaded full refund.