ComplaintsforAmerican Global Heir Search Co.

• Initial Complaint

  10/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Myself and siblings were contacted by this company in Feb of 2014, we followed all the instructions and returned the needed information to receive the money from ours brothers estate being held by the Herico court in Va. I have called on several dates and was told they were working on it. On Nov ******************************************** was told the money was released that had all the qualifying information in 2013!!! I called several more times and the last information I received was they were going to have a meeting on on Nov 21,2016, then told another meeting was scheduled to Feb,7 2018. I have called several times only to go directly to voicemail. Nobody has contacted my remaining siblings or myself. What has happened to the money that the court said has been released years ago. I have no other choice but to think someone has illegally taken our money. Please help

  Business response

  10/24/2023

  Dear ******************************,
  
  It was very nice speaking with you and your wife last week. I am so glad we had the opportunity to discuss and clarify prior events and the current status of your brothers estate. We received court records this week which I believe explain a possible reason for the erroneous information given to you by the county clerks office regarding discharge and distribution of the estate and are providing you with this information.  No inventory of assets has yet been filed for the estate and, therefore, no distribution of assets has occurred. The estate remains open.
  
  We look forward to continuing to work with you and your family to finalize this estate matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  ********************* Lay
  President
  AGHS

  Customer response

  10/24/2023

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

• Initial Complaint

  10/27/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Yesterday, 10/26/2021, I received unrequested solicitation from American Global Heir Search( 400 N Tampa St Ste 2220, Tampa, FL 33602. Ph XXX-XXX-XXXX). A family member recently died and this company, in my estimation, is soliciting for their (AGHS) benefit. The paperwork had my family member's name and said they could "help" me obtain money or such from this family member's estate. FIRST - there is a will and AGHS is going behind backs to pad their (AGHS) own wallet. The letter said if I act now, I would only have to pay a 25% fee instead of 35% fee. This is the most tacky and disgusting tactic. Instead of ambulance chasing, it is HEARSE CHASING. I don't know how much this company paid you to put that it is an accredited business with the BBB in their brochure, but they are vile and take advantage of people at the worst time in their life. I sent the solicitation to the beneficiary and this individual is taking it to the attorney in charge of the estate.

  Business response

  11/23/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/10/28) */ Contact Name and Title: Amy C L., President Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX Contact Email: **************** AGHS locates missing heirs to estates, guardianships, and trusts. We only contact individuals if our genealogical research shows that they are a potential heir or beneficiary who has been omitted in a probate proceeding. Usually, these individuals are unaware of their entitlement and the estate matter. AGHS wants all rightful heirs to be identified and receive their legal share of an estate. If an heir is not located their share will be escheated to the government treasury. If omitted entirely, they receive nothing and other individuals will receive more than they were legally entitled to receive. The estate of your relative was filed with the court as an intestate proceeding. This means that the decedent did not leave a Last Will and Testament. The petition states no Last Will was found and lists only one person as the sole heir to the estate. Because your relative died without leaving a Last Will, all her living siblings and the children of pre-deceased siblings are legally entitled to a share of the estate and should be included in the estate proceedings. We contacted you because our research found that you are a potential heir to this estate but have been omitted in the estate matter. Our letter was to inform you of this and offer our services to assist you in proving your claim to this estate, should you wish to do so. While there is a limited statutory period for potential heirs to make a claim to an estate, there is no urgency, and we encourage potential clients to consult with legal counsel prior to using our service. If the decedent did have a Last Will and it had been filed with the court, we would not have contacted you. We would be happy to speak with you to answer any questions about our service, the estate or provide you with a copy of the "Petition for Granting Letters" that was filed with the court stating that there is no Last Will and only one sole heir. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2021/11/05) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) AGHS is NOT a benevolent company that exists to help people. They are a bunch of soul sucking parasites that ONLY exist to make money off of vulnerable people in their darkest hour. This opportunistic company plays to the WORST in people; their greedy side. In paragraph two, the employee that provided the response said "the petition states..." What petition? Who filed this petition? I am not seeing any of my cousins being the greedy type. If older other victims of AGHS could possibly be confused and AGHS tries to take advantage of this, it is also dishonest and pitiful on their part. AGAIN - AGHS does what they do ONLY FOR AGHS benefit. 25% to 35% of a possible estate portion to be precise. The fourth paragraph said, "if the decedent did have a will...we would not have contacted you". I have spoken to the SOLE HEIR and she HAS the will. My relative made her wishes known when she died. For this company to attempt to preempt her wishes in unconscionable. AGHS has found an easy way to make a "buck" with minimal effort...just a few clicks on the keyboard and they have all the information they need. AGHS's business model is a bunch of pond scum. I know I can't stop companies like this from conducting business like they do, but I can voice my opinion. Business Response /* (4000, 10, 2021/11/09) */ An estate was opened in the probate court for your relative by her sister and nephew through their attorney. They filed a "Petition for Grant of Letters of Administration" which stated that "petitioner, after a proper search has ascertained that Decedent left no Will ..." If your relative had a Will, Letters Testamentary (not Administration) would have been filed stating the date the Will was written. We contacted you because after our review of this petition as filed with the court and our genealogical research, we found that you and other family members were not listed as potential heirs for an estate without a Will. However, if your relative did in fact leave a Will and it has now been located, the petition filed with the court should be amended accordingly and the Will presented to the court. It does happen from time to time that a Will is located after an estate has been opened. AGHS does not contact or encourage relatives to contest a legally proved Will or challenge named beneficiaries. AGHS does offer forensic genealogical services for a fee which is contingent upon our clients successfully receiving an inheritance from estates with unknown or missing heirs. All work is done at our cost, and we only receive a fee if our client receives an inheritance. We have helped thousands of individuals claim and receive inheritance they were unaware they were entitled to. Each case can require extensive genealogical research and documentation to determine and prove all the rightful heirs to an estate. All AGHS employees take pride in their work and do enjoy helping our clients claim and receive their rightful inheritance. We encourage anyone we contact to speak with us about our service, why they were contacted, and take time to check our references. While we respect the privacy of our clients at all ages, we urge senior clients to discuss the information we provide with their adult children or attorney-in-fact if a family member holds a POA on their behalf. If you had contacted AGHS upon receipt of the information we sent you, we would have gladly answered your questions and given you further explanation as to why you were contact. As you have requested that we not contact you further, we have respected your request.

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