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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
08/11/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I was contacted in May by Alyssa regarding a will by a family member that needed to be resolved. She asked me about my family member's information stating a lawyer wanted to disburse funds from the estate as soon as possible. I specifically asked her if this was a scam and she stated no. I called again on August 9 to speak with her and was told she was not available. I left my information for her to call back and have not received a phone call. I sincerely believe that this is a scam and am worried about information obtained can be used for nefarious purposes.
Business response
08/14/2023
Ms. *****,
Please accept our apology for any concern our contact has caused. American Research Bureau was asked by ***** ** ********* ***. to locate the next of kin for the Estate of ****** ** ********** who died January 12, 2020 in Reston, Virginia. We believe you are a distant relative of ****** ** ********** and may be entitled to inherit in this estate. Please find the contact information for ***** ** ********* ***. listed below. We have also attached the paperwork that has been filed with the court for this proceeding.
Ms. Ellen *. F*******
**** ********* ***
Vienna, VA 22182
###-###-####
**************************We will also reach out to you to answer any other questions might have about American Research Bureau and the work that we do.
Sincerely,
Michael *. R*******
American Research BureauCustomer response
08/15/2023
Better Business Bureau:
I have been contacted by the company and received additional information regarding this complaint. I am satisfied with the results and this complaint can be closed.
Sincerely,
***** *****Initial Complaint
06/27/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I was contacted unsolicited by ARB in June 2021, at which time they informed me of an inheritance for me that they could obtain for me. ARB withheld material facts from me which, had I been properly informed of them, would have led me to make a different decision. Fact including; that a court-appointed administrator was handling the estate, and was doing exactly what ARB did- contacting potential heirs. Nor did they notify me that if I entered into an agreement with them that it would be considered irrevocable. This is also not specified in the contract they proffered to me, or in the company literature they sent me describing what they do. I had several lengthy telephone conversations with ARB personnel. They refused to specify the location of the estate and the legal jurisdiction involved. In hindsight I realize they did this to prevent me from discovering more information about the matter, by contacting the court. In the course of my asking them questions, ARB gave me the impression that they were handling the matter in court. This of coure is misleading at best if not deceptive. For example, they provided a list of heirs they said was "filed with the court," implying they were legally administering the estate and representing heirs. They merely claim a portion of heirs' inheritances for their "service" of informing heirs there is an estate. What they do is they get the jump on administrators in contacting heirs, and convincing them through practiced and misleading sales techniques to pay for claiming an inheritance when this is totally unnecessary. I was subsequently contacted by the court-appointed administrator. I informed ARB in writing 7/23/21 that I was terminating the contract. Only at that point did ARB say the contract was non-revocable. They asked me for my reasons. I explained my decision and mentioned the material information that was withheld, and hearing nothing more from them, considered the matter closed. Contract date 7/7/21.Customer response
07/30/2022
My complaint has been resolved by the company.
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Get a QuoteCustomer Complaints Summary
4 total complaints in the last 3 years.
2 complaints closed in the last 12 months.