2018 BBB Complaints Against Mediation.com

Sold a Google Review Maintenance and Monitoring. Never informed of a $999.00 cancellation fee. Mediation.com created a fraudulent contact. Lee Rough with the company sold us a 5 Star Review, which he stated on the phone would be $129.00 per month and that we could cancel at any time. He told me to go to their website and click on an agreement. I told him the agreement stated nothing he told me that was because it was so simply; $129.00 per month and cancel at anytime; no cancellation fee was ever discussed or disclosed. However, there was a set up fee. He also stated that they would call our office once per month to discuss what we could do in order to increase our Google rating. We never received any monthly phone calls, the Agreement stated that we were to pay $139.00 per month. That was corrected after I said something. Then not getting anything from the company but charges on the credit card, I called on September 11, 2018 to cancel. I was immediately charged $999.00 for cancellation. Again, this was NEVER discussed; never. The operations manager, ****** M. ********, sent me unprofessional e-mails personally attacking me and calling me a liar. In fact, he said, “I feel sorry for Daniel” and that Daniel could always file for divorce. His responses were truly unprecedented as the most unprofessional responses anyone could receive from a business.

The cancellation fee was never disclosed. The online agreement was fraudulently changed to reflect the cancellation fee. The agreement states that Daniel M. ******** accepted, which he never did. We want a $999.00 credit to our credit card.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

We built a web page for Mr. ******** copy enclosed for him to obtain t=reviews from his clients.He clicked to accept our terms on 7/17/18 a copy of which is enclosed. It was sent to him on 9/11/18. I spoke to Mr. ******** and he was perfectly fine with it. then I started receiving nasty emails from his wife and I responded like she said.The facts are simple he agreed to the terms of cancellation, he was provided a copy of the terms and he is still using our services to get reviews. His wife is just an angry person.I also enclosn emailom her on 9/11/18 confirming our service was a benefit to them and his rating on Google.

This company renewed my listing two years after initial signup with no notice other than a small check box on the form 2 years ago. After a strong push, I agreed to try this service for 2 years for $799 in June 2016. Without notice, my “membership” was renewed for 2 additional years two years later by charging my credit card. I disputed the charge and this crappy company recharged it because two years ago when I affixed my electronic signature, there was a little box that was activated that purportedly gave my consent to charge my card for 2 additional years if I did not tell them not to renew before June 2018. I never received a single referral and based on the complaints on this site, no one else does either. This is a terrible company and runs on cheating people by creating a “commitment” for 2 years into the future. They never responded to my dispute or email, but simply charged the card again. They are as bad as the worst bill collectors.

I want the company to refund the unauthorized charge for an additional two years of absolutely no benefit.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

***** **** filed a dispute over this charge with her credit card company and we responded with the proper documentation and the credit card company ruled in our favor saying the charge was valid.

I was charged $799 for a “special” 2-year subscription with company. They renewed using my credit card without authorization using invalid contract. In April, 2016 a representative of the company called my office in Daytona Beach and came over. He filled out the contract since my computer was not working properly and he sent it into the company. It was my understanding that it was for two years and I since paid for that service. I was not aware of any renewal options and after finally seeing the original contract, I can see that there is no contract terms included to alert me to the fact that I would be obligated to renew for whatever period and on what terms. Two years later, in April 2018, I contacted the company as soon as I saw the charge on my credit card statement. I told them that I had never used their service, which they saw on their end, and that I was no longer a certified mediator. I was told that they would give me a life-time membership but would not refund the money they had charged to my credit card. I again informed them that I was no longer a certified mediator and could not use a life-time membership but they still refused to refund even a portion of the money. They were no going to remove my name from their list of mediators but did so at my insistence since I could not legally advertise without certification.

Since the company’s contract does not contain wording required for a valid contract, I am seeking a refund of the $799 charged for services that were no requested nor can be used. There was definitely no meeting of the minds on this matter. I am 74 years old and am recovering from quadruple bypass ******** I cannot afford to pay for a service that I did not contract for and will never use.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

******* ******* filed a dispute of this charge with her credit card company and her credit card company based on the documentation we provided ruled in our favor and accepted the charge as valid.I enclosed a copy of the letter confirming that fact.

Threats made by the company This company has been calling me for a Dana and each time I answer and explain that there is NO DANA at this number they hang up. Or if I get to the point where I am able to request to be placed on the DNC list they hang up. When I call back in the reps laugh and hang up. I sent an email to the company and was then threatened by the Operations Manager!

I need confirmation that I am placed on their DNC list and all affiliated offices! I also want this complaint to be placed on the BBB website so others know what type of organization this is! I am filing complaints on all blogs regarding this company

Mediation.com, LLC Response

We received an email from ***** ******** on 9/14/18 at 2:01pm asking to have her number removed from our call list.On 9/14/18 at 2:12pm 11 minutes later I responded “we will place you on the DNC list”. She then sent another email saying thank you but also threatening us with a lawsuit.I again responded within minutes that we had notified our carrier to block her number and didn’t need to be threatened to do so.Once again despite the fact that I had told her in writing twice that we had done what she asked she proceeded to continue to threaten us with a law suit.I responded that she was continuing to threaten us even though I told her we had placed her on the DNC and blocked her number and 9/14/18 was the first time she made that request to us. We have done everything she asked and yet she she complains to the BBB. It’s ridiculous to get a complaint when you respond and do exactly what the consumer requested. This person obviously has anger problems.I have attached all email correspondence which you can clearly see confirms what I have responded with.

I signed up with Mediation.com 10 months ago. I was charged $799. I have not received a single lead from their website. I want out of their service. I joined mediation.com 10 months ago and was assured that there was a money back guarantee. Based on things written online, things I heard in the legal community, and other personal accounts, I don’t want to be affiliated with them. I want my profile taken down and I want a refund.

I wanted a pro-rated refund for the next 14 months wherein I won’t be using their services.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

She was never given a money back guarantee as she is stating.There is no money back guarantee and no pro rata refund offered. She has 14 months to go and may receive business during that time. That’s why it’s a two year agreement.Some members get business right away and some get it at the end . We can’t control how that happens.She accepted the terms and we provided services as agreed. She is not entitled to a refund.

They sold a 2-year listing, with a promise (by email) to refund $200 if I did not receive business from listing first year.No business but no refund. The issue with Mediation.com is not only whether their service is effective (it is not) but also whether they keep their promises. In December 2016 Barbara Michaels, a representative of Mediation.com, contacted me to pitch their mediation referral service. She quoted $799 per year, and when I asked if there was a way to reduce the annual cost, she quoted $999 for two years. When I said I was reluctant to commit to two years until I knew how effective the service was in generating referrals, Michaels assured me that if I did not receive a referral from the service in the first year I could cancel the service and receive a refund of the difference in cost between one year and two years, or $200. This agreement with the representative was confirmed by an email from Mediation.com’s Operations Manager, ****** ********. What I feared came to pass ** I did not receive any referrals from Mediation.com’s service during the first year, 2017. I contacted Mediation.com on January 3, 2018, thinking it would be straightforward to obtain the bargained for refund. It was not, and it soon became clear that Mediation.com has no intention to abide by its promise and refund the $200. Mr. ******** first said he would have to verify that I did not receive business with his technical department. On January 8, 2018, I contacted him and asked about the status, and he said it remained outstanding. On January 24, 2018 I asked about it again and he said he would re-send the request. On February 7, 2018 I asked if he would commit to a time frame for refund and he again said he would check with his technical department. When I called Mr. Lopresti on March 21st he said he did not remember my communications, but would look into it. He soon dropped the pretense and ignored an email on April 2nd inquiring about the status. Getting nowhere with Mr. Lopresti I emailed Barbara Michaels on June 6th , again inquiring as to the refund status. This communication was also ignored. It has become abundantly clear that Mediation.com has no intention of abiding by its agreement to refund the $200. They have used a number of excuses to escape their obligations, starting with passing ** on to their unresponsive technical department, to saying they didn’t recall the emails, to finally ignoring any further communications. I have no choice but to alert others that not only is Mediation.com’s referral service ineffective, but that they are dishonest in making refund promises they do not intend to keep. This service is should be avoided at all costs.

A satisfactory resolution would be for Mediation.com to abide by its refund promise and refund the $200, with no further excuses or delays.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

We reviewed the statistics for Mr. ******’s account with our tech staff and we see he received a number of inquiry’s and therefore is not entitled to any refund.

The company has charged my credit card when not authorized to do. There was no mention that I was authorizing this use in the contract which expired. I entered into a contract with Mediation.com when one of their representatives came to my office in Daytona Beach, FL. Since my computer was not working properly, the representative proceeded to fill out the form on his computer. I did not see what he typed into the form and he proceeded to send it into the company. The contract was for two years but I never used the service. The contract does not mention automatic renewal to my credit card. They proceeded to renew for two years at $799. When I call to request a reversal of the credit to my card, I was told that they would not reverse the charge. The contract makes allowance for refunds only if they cancel, not the consumer. I am asking for your help in having this charge reversed.

I am seeking a reversal of the unauthorized charge to my credit card..

Mediation.com, LLC Response

Elizabeth Krueger filed a dispute with her credit card company and we answered it and it was ruled in our favor.We provided her with copies of her agreements and we have come to an agreement and resolution of the matter.

I was contacted to list my name as a mediator on the Mediation.com website. The service is substandard and misleading. I was contacted to ask if I would pay an annual fee for a listing of my name and specialty in a mediation.com website to advertise my services as a mediator. A presentation was put on for me to show me that the mediation.com website had priority over all other sites and that if I typed in “mediator” at Google that the mediation.com website popped up and that my name would be front and center. Then about 4 weeks later I got a call from Lee Rough (not Lance Pellisier who I had first dealt with) and he rather strongly tried to sell me on paying even more money per month to elicit recommendations of my services that would show up on Google so that my name would appear first in any search and that if I did not do that, I would not have success with my listing. This seemed pretty odd to me, as I thought I had already paid for a listing that, per the demonstration, would help put my name front and center on any mediator search. I felt this was essentially a “bait and switch” – now that I had agreed to pay for the annual listing they wanted me to pay even more per month so that the listing would work. At this point I told Lee Rough that I was disappointed and did not understand why they were trying now to sell me more, when they had never discussed this with me before. I told him I would have to reschedule this call so that I could look into it. We rescheduled for about three weeks later. In the meantime I discovered that, on my own computer, if I tried to search my name on Mediation.com, that my name did not even show up. I went home to another computer to see if perhaps my work computer simply had some firewall that would not let me search for my listing and on my home computer when I searched the listing I was not able to even get to the Mediation.com website as it was barred for some reason. So at this point, the listing that I thought I had bought, I can’t even look at, and I am being asked to purchase another service that make it even better which is pure bait and switch. Next I went on the mediation.com website through a portal that Lee Rough had e-mailed me when I first found this problem, and I saw that there were other names of mediators in my geographic area with whom I am familiar. I called one of them and asked him to look on the website and he was able to do so, but he was surprised to see his listing there, as he had never signed up for one and had not paid for one, so it now seems to me as if the Mediation.com folks had created some competing listings to make it look as if there were other respected mediators who used their services, when they did not. At this point I sent an e-mail to mediation.com advising that I wanted to stop the service and advised them of all these issues. I have had a listing for slightly less than 2 months (which I cannot see on either my work or my home computer) and so I offered to prorate my listing fee and pay for a full 3 months. I got no response. Today I got another call from Lee Rough, again trying to sell me on the added monthly charges for the listing that I thought I already paid for. When I told him I was cancelling my listing he told me that there was no cancellation of the listing and no refund. What I want is what is reasonable. I should not have to pay for a listing that I cannot even see and that is not what was represented to me (as evidenced by the fact that it does not work unless you sign on for the added monthly charge). I also want to make sure that no one else signs on with this group and this wholly misleading listing service.

I want a fair refund of my listing fee – I suggest that the fee I paid be pro-rated over 24 months and that I pay for 3 months of the service (although I advised them of the termination within less than 2 months). I want a fair pro rata refund and I want my name taken off the site

Mediation.com, LLC Response

Mr. ******** has all the facts wrong. First of all the Google analytics he refers to do not have a cost. they are free to measure traffic on Google. Second he state we tried to sell him another r service after the first. Is there something wrong with trying to sell your ******** another product? Third he states that he can’t fine his listings on our site. I enclose screen shots of his listings in 4 locations and the main page of his listing showing his bio and other information. Fourth he claims other people he contacted don’t know they are on our site. we have many classes of membership and there are some old listings from 7 yr=ears ago they were public information listings just like Lawyers.com has that information is listed but it’s basics not a showcase listing like Mr. ******** has with the ability to get email and visit his personal web site etc. Fifth Mr. ******** has been listed for 2 months and there are no prorata refunds per his online submitted agreement. Mr. ******** does not understand the benefits of our site and how to use it so he blames us. He was nasty and belligerent to our Sales Manager Lee Rough. he can keep his listing for the 2 years he agreed to in the contract but there will be no refund.

Unable to Cancel Service and stop billing Mediation.com charged my credit card despite that I cancelled months before the renewal. (I am in the process of disputing the charge with the credit card company.) I sent 10 emails asking for my money back before the renewal because the directory did not generate any visitors or clients. Attached is a copy of my first email to them on August 17, 2017 and I have included the last email sent to them on Nov 23, 2017. (Despite meeting the requirements of the guarantee on their website I never got a refund.) Two months after my last email they charged my credit card $899 for a renewal! I can include screen shots of my emails to the company and screenshots of the credit card charge on my credit card statement but this submission process does not have that functionality. On January 23, 2018 I called up *** ******** and asked him to reverse the charges and he refused and then hung up the phone on me. Amazingly, Mediation.com sent me their newsletter this morning which included this: “Disappointed clients and customers are increasingly turning to review sites where they write online reviews about their negative experience. In turn, new clients often read over these reviews and take negative reviews into consideration when determining which mediator service to use. Some problem that occurred with a former client that seemed minor at the time could actually have a lasting impact on the success of the mediation practice.” If you are considering signing up with Mediation.com please look at all the negative reviews online for Mediation.com before you do. The directory generated zero visitors, and the entire experience dealing with them has been time consuming and negative.

Reverse the unauthorized credit card charges.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

March 22, 2018 Case # XXXXXXXX *** ********* First let me begin by saying *** ********* is a liar and a fraud. He is not and has never been a member of Mediation.com, LLC. He has never paid us any money and we have never charged any credit card of his. He represents Pro Internet Marketing and he is soliciting our customers to do business with him by disparaging our business and reputation. I enclose an email he sent to one of our members Steven Hirsch doing exactly that. Our attorney Carl Schoeppel is preparing a cease and desist letter against ********* and if he doesn’t stop we will sue him for Defamation and Libel. There is no truth to anything he has represented in his complaint to you. ****** M. ******** Operations Manager

Mediation.com charged me an “annual fee” despite the confirmation of my purchase indicating “no annual fee.” Also problems with business solicitation. In January 2014, I agreed to have Mediation.com of Aventura, FL, build a website for me. The confirmation of my purchase said “no annual fee.” I was not charged an annual fee until December 2016, when I was notified that a $399.00 annual fee had been charged to my credit card. I was asked to confirm the charge but I refused as I was not supposed to be charged an annual fee. I have been trying to recover my $399.00 since then with no success. I was also paying $39.00 per month for the website maintenance. My agreement for the website was supposed to include help with Google so my website would show up in Goggle searches. As late as December 2016, the website did not show up on a Google search. The name of the website was also not the name I had agreed to. In February 2017, an agent of the business contacted me to increase my website’s Google presence. He did not mention that a large part of what he was selling was already covered under my prior agreement with the company. I was charged $799.00 for these services. As soon as I discovered that the “landing page” he sold me was already covered under my existing agreement, I called to cancel the order. I have received no services for that order nor have I received a refund or any offer of settlement. The company simply kept my money and provided no services for it. I have been trying for over one year to get a refund of the $399.00 “annual fee” and a refund of the $799.00 for which I have received no services or benefit whatsoever.

I want to cancel all business with company and receive a refund of the $399.00 annual fee charged to my credit card without authorization. I also want to receive a refund of the $799.00 charged to me for Google services that were already partly covered under my prior agreement with the company and the remainder of which I have not received. I would like a refund of $1,198.00.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

We refunded ***** ****** the $399 by check and it was paid.

I cancelled my account via phone, they charged me another fee, and now will not refund, remove my information from site, or provide my account info. I originally subscribed to mediation.com 7/31/15 for a two year referral service that I understood to take place 9/1/15-8/31/17. I received a call from a representative approximately a year and a half ago at which time I informed the representative that I no longer wanted the service and wanted to cancel. I was informed that I could not have a refund, but my information on the site would be taken down and I would not be renewed at the end of the two years. The company charged my card without prior notice on 8/31/17. When I contacted the company via email on 8/31, the representative refused to stop the payment. I attempted to stop payment via my bank as I did not authorize the new charge and I had cancelled with the company via phone. I have since asked repeatedly for my information to be removed from the site and the company is refusing to do so. I also requested a refund and information they have in regards to my account (8/31, 9/1 via email) and only received responses without the requested information. The representative stated that my information would be taken down after the payment issue was resolved. My bank posted the payment and my information is still on the website. I have emails showing our correspondence from 8/31-9/6 in which time I have received no help from the company and have not been provided the information I requested multiple times and which the representative had stated he would send me.

I am asking that I receive a full refund of $999 as I asked to cancel/ stop the payment prior to the subscription period as I initially requested this on 8/31/17. I would also like my information removed from the website mediation.com immediately as I want no further affiliation with the company. Regardless of the outcome of the refund, I still want my information taken down. I would like a written official confirmation that my account is closed and there will be no further payment.

Mediation.com, LLC Response

******* ******* purchased advertising space on our web site Mediation.com on 7/31/15. She purchased a “prepaid” contract guaranteeing her rate for Life. I have uploaded a copy of the online agreement she submitted.She claims she spoke with a representative 1 1/2 years ago to cancel but she has no record of who or when she spoke to them.We have no record of any such conversation.She states she wants her listing to be taken down which we can do but there will be no refund as she agreed to a prepaid contract.