Complaint Review: SRC Leads

On 3/23/09 I was sold a list by Susan Weber with SRC Leads and she claimed that all of the individuals on the list had responded to their company as looking for financial planners. Since I was doing a workshop soon anyway I thought that this would be a good addition to the invitations already being sent out.

Susan Weber then contacted me again on 4/02/09 and told me that there was a small list of high net worth individuals in my area looking to be contacted by a CFP and since I would be a returning client she would offer me a deal.

All said and done I spent $2,210 for 301 names of people who I thought were actively searching (or at least indicated to SRC Leads) for a CFP to help them. There was also a guarantee actually 3 of them: 1) 100% phone and address guarantee, 2) Six month exclusive from date of delivery, and 3) $10,000 commission rate guarantee.

My assistant however, stopped me from contacting them other than mailing invitations to the workshop and I am so glad he did. When he put both lists together to set up a call sheet he noticed that 57 names on the list were duplicate names. Some of the same names showed up three different times (same name, address, and phone number). So 19% of the 301 names I purchased were duplicates!

My assistant also ran the numbers through the National Do Not Call List. He found numerous numbers sold to me by SRC Leads were registered on that list. Apparently the 100% phone and address guarantee means that they guarantee the information is correct, you just can't call them.

On 04/15/09 I sent the following e-mail to Susan Weber:

"To Susan Weber or Cadence Brown:

I have a big problem with Survey Resource Center pertaining to the leads I purchased on 3/23/09 and 4/2/09. As my assistant organized them we noticed that there were 57 duplicate names. That means that 19% of the 301 names I paid for were duplicates. Some names show up as many as three times on the list. So out of the total bill before the processing fee I paid $2,210 for these names of which 57 were duplicate names costing me $418.38. I want a refund of the $418.38 but now I'm curious how many of the names that I purchased were also sold to other people in my area? Was this list checked against the do not call list? All communication to me needs to be done using email as I want documentation of all communications regarding this transaction."

I have received no response back yet. On 04/27/09 I also filed a complaint to the Better Business Bureau repeating my above mentioned e-mail. The Better Business Bureau asks you to wait for 30 days for a response but so far I still have not heard anything from SRC Leads. Maybe that is why the Better Business Bureau rates them a "C-"

Maybe it's just me but where is a C- satisfactory? If my clients rated me a C- I may as well close up shop because who wants to refer a C- advisor, honestly.

All I have wanted all along is a refund of the $418 owed me and maybe an apology. Doesn't mean I will do business with them again, but it does say something about taking the steps to make things right.

Ed
Grand Rapids, Michigan
U.S.A.