Complaint Review: Investigative Services - Annapolis Maryland

This Spring, I sought the assistance of a private investigator and after shopping around, decided on Investigative Services, based in Annapolis, MD.

I met my agent Belinda on April 17th and signed a contract for work. At that time, I paid a $720 deposit to have her do light surveillance work. We agreed that April 24th would be the first day of the case and she was to do one hour of work.

I told Belinda that I would be out of town for travel and when I returned, I would contact her for further instructions. She agreed to wait for me to return before proceeding with the case.

From the contract, it appeared that they charged $60 per hour and once a client's deposit had been used, they would then bill for additional hours and take this from the person's bank account or charge a credit card.

Well, I was out of the country for some time and upon returning noticed some money missing from my account. My bank records showed that Investigative Services had submitted three electronic checks in June on the 14th, 20th and 25th totaling nearly $1,000. I was shocked because I had not asked Belinda to do any more research and they had not sent me an invoice or called.

I have to this day, never received a report of her findings!

I immediately called the company's phone service and left a message (you can never speak to a live human being!). She (Belinda)called me back that afternoon and said that the accounting unit would be doing an audit on my case and that if I was overcharged, they would be refunding the money.

A week went by, then two, before I called them back. This time, however, I did not receive a return call. Nor, did I receive a response the following five times I left messages.

I am out of about $1800 for one day of requested work! On a whim, I pulled up their profile on the BBB site and found that they have nine complaints listed since the Fall of 2004. Not all complaints are resolved.

I am so disgusted with these jerks for what they did. It does not take much to call a customer back and try to fix a bad situation. It's obvious that they don't care and have made a habit out of creating "billing snafus" to fatten their payroll.

I hope that someone with some pull does something with these guys. I hate to see more unwitting consumers get into the situation I have found myself to be in; calling day after day to be ignored. Consumers beware of this company! You'll end up doing all the investigative work to find out what happened to your money!

Tiffany

Baltimore, Maryland
U.S.A.

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it hasbeenmore than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist youproperly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to dealwith it,take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the chargetruth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics still worshould k. The bank can easily faxor mail toyou the Federal Regulation E dispute form.