First American Real Estate Solutions
Anyone have any experience with this group? They publish "Win2Data" (which is in a CD format) along with other internet accessible lists (e.g., property rolls lists). I have used this product in the past and was very satisfied with it. Earlier this year, I contacted them to buy an updated product. They persuaded me to use their web site- based product.
Man, what a disaster! For whatever reason, I was never able to access their web site data. I called their tech support several times. Every time, the person i talked to could barely speak English; and they always went through their "default" questions such as "Is your web browser security control turned off?" (Yes, it was). Since they couldn't help, they said they would get someone with more technical experience to call me back (they never did).
And while i'm no rocket scientist, i am rather facile with a computer.
I wrote letters to the company president, vice presidents over marketing and tech support and the salesman i bought the product from begging for help.
Never got a response. Meanwhile, the monthly bill on my credit card was ticking.
Finally, i wrote them to inform them i was directing my credit card issuer to refuse payment until this mess was resolved.
still no response.
until about a month ago when First American sicced a bill collector on me.
now , the bill collector has a private investigator from NY threatening me. He said he intends to come to my home town to "investigate" me and determine what assets i own for a law suit.
All for what First American says i owe $1600.
Puuulllleeeaaaseeee!!!!
I had hoped to work something out since i still would have liked to use their product.
but in light of these mafia tactics, i am searching for similar products from other companies?
Any suggestions?
What have been your experiences with First American?
Thx for your response.
:-?
I've h ad miserable experience in the past with First American. Trying to get somebody to return phone calls is like pulling teeth from a toothless person. I think they think they've got the lock on the RE database market so customer service totally disappears.
Insofar as that bill collector is concerned, get yourself a lawyer to write a nasty letter detailing X, Y & Z of your past communications and perhaps send a copy to your credit card company to make sure they don't cave in.
Insofar as other products are concerned, I think it depends on the availability and adequacy of the governmental databases where you are. The problem I have always had with RE databases is that the farther you get away from the primary source of the information (ie, the documents themselves at the courthouse), the greater the likelihood that the database info will not be accurate or up to date. So, in other words, the best source is found in the documents themselves; the next best source is the governmental database. When you get to tertiary sources (private vendors), it's a roll of the dice.
your problem with someone from FA not being able to help you is that they have oursourced a huge portion of their business, to India, I believe. I'll look for the article and post the link.