ComplaintsforPublic Data Check

• Initial Complaint

  08/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 8/7/2024 I subscribed to a 7 day trial for $2.00 to public data check. I agreed to pay that and could cancel any time after. I only needed to use it one time so I cancelled it on the same day. I successfully unsubscribed and today 8/15/2024 was charged $29.96 to my discover card. I have disputed it with credit card and reported as fraud. Not sure what you can do about this but it absolutely fraudulent, and if they do this to everyone they could criminaly make lots of money. There should be something that can be done to stop them stealing money

  

  Business response

  08/23/2024

  Thank you for contacting us and sharing your experience. We see that you set up an account on 8/7 and were charged your normal monthly fee on 8/15. Accounts can be canceled 24/7 online or through our automated phone system. We also offer live agent support by phone and email 7-days from 5am - 9pm PT. We do not see any record of a request to cancel your account and this is why you were charged the normal monthly fee on your scheduled billing date. We are not sure what you experienced when attempting to cancel your account and we apologize for any inconvenience. We see that you contacted our support team by phone and email on 8/15 and we canceled your account and voided the transaction. Automated emails confirming your cancellation and void were sent to your email address on file. Thanks again for contacting us and please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I utilized this company to find my property tax numbers while doing my taxes. The cost of report was $1. They billed me twice. I never ordered or concented to any recurring charges or subscription. Today I received a fraud alert for a 28.95 charge from publichousedata. Forcing me to cancel my card. By the number complaints I believe this to be a common practice with this company. I have protested the charge.

  

  Business response

  05/23/2024

  Hi W******, Thank you for contacting us and we are sorry to learn about your experience. We are glad we had the chance to speak with you and clarify that your experience was with a different company. We hope you were able to resolve your matter with them and please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

• Initial Complaint

  04/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid $1 online to get information on my house. I never received the information requested. I also did not know this would be a recurring charge of $28.95 a month. I have no contact with this company and do not know how to cancel this service.

  

  Business response

  04/24/2024

  Thanks for contacting us and sharing your concern.  We have not been able to find an account that matches your information and we don’t charge $28.95, so we are not sure if you have contacted the right company. We gave you a call to try and figure this out and left a message. Please contact our support team if you still need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/28/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On average this company is trying To charge me for 29.96 3 times a week I have tried to locate an email or any records indicating I signed up for their service not to avail Thank you for your help.

  

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  Thank you for contacting us and we are sorry to learn there was an issue with your membership. We called you to learn more and left a message. We see that an account was created on our website on 2/17/24 with your name, email address, phone number, and payment information. We sent an email confirmation with relevant account details at the time the account was created. We attempted to process the monthly fee of $29.96 on your scheduled billing date but we were not able to process the payment. When this happens the system will periodically reattempt the charge during a grace period before automatically downgrading or canceling the account. We can confirm that your account has been canceled and we have refunded your most recent payment. Thanks again for contacting us and please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 21501426, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  I also would like to thank public data for reaching out. 
  Regards,
  
  S***** *******
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Earlier this month I signed up for the $1 trial for seven days through Public Data Check. Unfortunately I did not find the information I was looking for so I went and cancelled BEFORE the seven days were up. I even received an email confirming that my trial was cancelled BEFORE my days were up and that I would still have access until that seventh day. Today doing some online banking I saw a charge that was in fact for $29 for Public Data Check! Not sure why I was charged when I cancelled before the trial had ended. In regards to this I am requesting a full refund as your site did not have the information I needed( nor was what I did see accurate) so I had no use for a membership which is why I cancelled but was charged anyways!

  

  Business response

  02/26/2024

  Hi C*******, Thank you for contacting us and we are sorry to learn that your experience was not what you expected. We called you but we were not able to reach you and we left a message. I think the issue here was just a misunderstanding about the timing of the trial. The account was created on the morning of 2/6 with a 7-day trial that provided access through all of 2/13. The account was still active on 2/14 and the normal monthly fee was processed. The account was then canceled online later that day and an automated email confirmation was sent to the email address on file. The email noted the most recent charge with a reminder that website access would expire on 3/16.  Sorry again for any confusion and it is not our intent to charge someone who does not want to use our service. We refunded your monthly fee and please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

  Customer response

  02/27/2024

  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 21314462, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards
  
  C******* ****

   

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I used publicdatacheck’s website and canceled the $1 trial well before the one week trial was over. I received an email confirming the cancellation. However, the debit card used for the $1 trial was charged $29.96 a few days ago despite the cancellation. I want my money refunded and assurances that I will no longer be charged.

  

  Business response

  09/27/2023

  Hi M*******, Thank you for contacting us and we are sorry to learn about the issue canceling your account. We called you to learn more about your experience. We see that an account was created on our website on 7/31 at a discounted rate for an initial 7-day trial period. The service has a monthly fee of $29.96 and is offered month-to-month and can be canceled at any time. Accounts can be canceled online 24/7/365 or by email and phone with live agent support 7-days from 5am - 9pm. We are not able to locate a request to cancel the account through any of these channels and this is why the account was charged the normal monthly fees for the periods of August and September. We canceled your account when we received this request on 9/21 and sent you an email confirmation. We have also refunded the monthly fees that were charged to your account. Please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support  

• Initial Complaint

  06/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I submitted a request to Public Data Check to remove my information from the website. My email was requested for confirmation with following message was included: "Action required: You must click this link to validate the request and continue the identity verification process. This link will expire in 60 minutes" The user cannot "click" the link. This is just another way for data aggregators to add additional information to their data. I am request my information be removed from the site as soon as possible.

  

  Business response

  06/16/2023

  Hi E*****, Thank you for reaching out to us. We are sorry to learn that you had difficulties using our automated opt-out process. We see that a request was submitted and that the verification was never completed. Sorry again that you had difficulties clicking the link. We were able to process the removal for you and an email confirmation was sent to the address you provided. We are not exactly sure what you mean when referencing data aggregators that are adding information to their data? It is probably best if you visit our Privacy Policy listed on the website for any questions or concerns that you have relating to the collection or use of personal data. Please feel free to contact our support team 7-days from 5am - 9pm if you need any additional assistance. Regards, Member Support

  Customer response

  06/20/2023

  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 20166914, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  E***** ******
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I found two listing with my name, location, and relatives. I took a screen shot and attached to this message, you will remove my information effective immediately. I am not paying your company $1 to have you send me a report on information that your company did not have my consent. No consent was implied! While you may argue that there is no law for you opt out my information, there is simply no law granting publicdatacheck to publish my personal and private information. I haven't reported my address in over 3 years because I am cleaning up information that was stolen from me, and have no plans on reporting my address to any public system. You didn't get my information from social media because my location is concealed through a private internet access point, even social media has got no information from me. Finally, I don't use the the open internert without my IP location hidden. failure to remove my information, will result in a federal crime against you.

  

  Business response

  02/03/2023

  Hi J*****, Thank you for contacting us and sharing your concerns. The information that appears in the search results on the website originates from public records such as those found in courthouses, city, county, state, and federal sources, as well as other private sources that are accessible to anyone in the general public. We understand that some consumers do not want their public record information displayed on the website and we offer a free option that allows anyone to remove their information. When we received your initial request we directed you to this free and automated process. We see that your requests were processed and an automated confirmation email was sent to you. We assume this resolves your matter and please let us know if you need further assistance. Sincerely, Member Support.

  Customer response

  02/06/2023

  
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I, J***** **** *******, am not a member of the public. Court houses tells lies and continue to violate rights.  I did not imply consent nor provide information to certain court houses, if this evidence "my personal/private information appears again" you will be held accountable. No court has authority over my life and the data in it. 
  
  Regards,
  
  J***** **** *******
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Business response

  02/06/2023

  Hi J*****, Thank you for your continued interest in this matter and we appreciate you sharing your perspective. Thanks again and please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

  Customer response

  02/07/2023

  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: publicdatacheck has no rights search for public records... my information will be removed from your servers and you will cease your operation. 
  
  Regards,
  
  J***** **** *******
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This co. Should be put on there own website.as fraudulent cause I canceled same day and today January 18 they took almost 30 dollars out of my bank account. Accuse me it wasn't free it was one dollar so they could get credit card info

  

  Business response

  01/25/2023

  Hi T****, Thank you for contacting us and we are sorry to learn of your experience. We are glad we had a chance to speak with you and clarify the billing terms and cancelation process. Sorry again for any confusion or inconvenience. We can confirm that your account has been canceled and refunded. Please let us know if you need any additional assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I purchased a 7 day trial of their services on November 9 and cancelled via email 4 days later. Then out of the blue on December 12 i noticed a charge from them for 29.96 on my card statement. They say they can't find record of my account or my cancellation but won't refund my money or attempt to actually cancel it. The email used was [email protected] and transaction number for the trial was 4****511.

  

  Business response

  12/16/2022

  Thank you for sharing your experience and we are sorry to learn that the charge caught you by surprise. We called you to learn more and left you a message. We see that an account was created on our website on 11/9 and canceled upon request on 12/13. We haven’t been able to find any other prior communications from your gmail or hotmail addresses and this is why the account remained active. If you are able to forward any previous cancellation requests we are happy to have our tech team review what might have happened. After your trial expired we were unable to process your normal monthly fee. When this happens the system will attempt to retry the charge at the end of the current cycle before automatically deactivating the account and that is what happened in this instance. The billing process and fees are all explained during the registration process and sorry again if this was unexpected. When you emailed us on 12/12 it was from your gmail address and there was no contact information or account information provided in the email for us to locate your account. We determined from your gmail address that your last name was Wilcox and we attempted to locate your account using the only pieces of information available to us. You will notice in the screenshot you provided that the last name used to register your account is not Wilcox and the email address used to set up your account is a hotmail address. We were not able to find your account due to the spelling and different email addresses. We replied to your email within 30 minutes asking you to contact us right away by phone or email so that we could resolve your matter. We received your reply the following day with the information necessary for us to locate your account. We replied 4 minutes later that your account was successfully canceled and refunded. Thanks again for sharing your experience and please let us know if you need further assistance. Sincerely, Member Support

  Customer response

  12/19/2022

  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 18567447, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  J** ******
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩