Reply Real Estate A phony lead generation company with a sophisticated scam. San Ramon, California
This company sells real estate leads that they guarantee to be legitimate and valid leads. When they asked how many leads I could handle in a month we settled on between 5-10, for which I would have to pay a hefty price for each lead. I was asked how soon I could accept leads and I said right away. What ensued was a joke. They immediately sent me a couple of leads, which I jumped on. The leads were bogus. One could in no way afford my area and the next, also, wanted property at a price that doesn't exist where I live. The catch is that you had to notify them within hours that the lead was no good, give them a written explanation and hope they would not charge you. They started dumping leads into my inbox like it was Christmas. They know darned well none of us can keep up with an onslaught, but, if you don't you are charged. I never got one legitimate lead in the first several days and called to cancel the service. They were horrible. I threatened legal action and told them to stop sending me these "phony" leads. Their game is to overwhelm you with leads (bad ones) and when you don't respond within their designated time frame, charge you. I responded to EVERY one. Today 3 months after they sent me an e-mail, which I have cancelling the program I got a call saying I owe them $385 and I would be turned over to collection, if I didn't pay. I told them they had better not do that and the guy kept telling me I owed the money. I owe them NOTHING and I feel helpless at this scam to extort money from me, under the threat of collection. Don't get involved with this company. They are unscrupulous and prey on the public and their leads are bogus.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
chris from Reply
modesto,California,
United States of America
maybe you didn't use the system right or it wasn't explained correctly
#2UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 08, 2011
most agents use a referral company and pay up to 25% of the commission that is earned off that said property.($100,000 home value, 3%commission earned=3,000, 25% referral fee= $750. that's hefty.)
54.95 per lead. for that price for the same amount for one referral you could purchase 14 leads that may result in multiple escrows.
these are the reasons that we credit for
Anyone with an incorrect name or phone number.
Anyone who is a minor under the age of eighteen.
Anyone that are unable to communicate with because of language barrier.
Anyone who is outside your territory.
Anyone who is another real estate agent testing the system before they sign up.
Anyone who is already in contract with another real estate agent.
agents/brokers can leave with no penalties with a 30day notice (so we can establish another agent/broker in that area)
(every agent/broker is notified before, during and after signing up about these and have to agree to these grounds and physically have to agree both verbally and electronically during sign up. this way we know that they understand.) you have 30 days (not hours) to determine if the lead is invalid. in this case we tell you to send it back for a replacement lead. each replacement is issued free of additional charge. it also sounds like your territory was too big. that happens when someone has too many zip codes and or cities. your account manager could have worked with you on that. We also have a "pause" feature that allows you to manage the business that you have already, Because We understand that you will become overwhelmed with the business you get naturally and with our program. (the following is just my own personal view and does not reflect the views of anyone else at Reply! inc. or the company in general) a lot of agents think that a lead is the same as a referral. it is not. a lead is someone that has interest in buying or selling and if worked right can become more lucrative than a referral.
Our "game" is to supply an alternative marketing strategy that will work if that person puts effort into their business. if you can cold call, hand out fliers and afford an ad in the phone book, YOU will benefit from leads. bottom line is that this statement could have and should have been avoided. by both parties. and that last sentence is both unfounded and unwarranted.