PeopleClaim Case Studies
Successful PeopleClaim settlements make great stories
Refund came using multiple PeopleClaim features
Background:
A Pennsylvania senior responded to an ad for a living trust. Meeting at home with
a company representative, he signed up for a plan, paying $1,495 with a 10-day cancellation
clause. On examining the plan description the next day, he decided it wasn’t for
him and mailed in the cancellation request forms. 40 days and multiple phone calls
later, he had not received his refund--despite assurances that he would. He decided
to file a PeopleClaim against the California provider.
What the claimant wanted:
Full refund of $1,495 living trust deposit, plus out-of-pocket PeopleClaim filing
fees.
System features used:
This claimant chose to have his claim post publicly if not resolved within 10 days;
he invited commments from the public if his claim were to post; had the claim delivered
in hardcopy in addition to email notification, and requested PeopleClaim send the
claim to industry regulators and media.
Outcome:
This claim settled online for the claimant's full demands within 26 days of filing.
Claimant’s experience:
“I just happened to come across your website and I didn’t really know if this was
totally honest or was I just going to be taken again. I wish everyone was aware
of the good work you do. It’s nice to know that there are still good people out
there to help out, especially senior citizens.”
Claim resolved to user’s satisfaction after being ignored two years
Background:
A Florida homeowner hired a landscape contractor for a $2,299 front lawn makeover,
with the understanding that plant materials were guaranteed for a year, and that
substitutes could be made for plants she wasn't pleased with. When she called to
request replacements she was told she would have to pay more for them. Further attempts
to reach the contractor were unsuccessful. Within 11 months three of the plants
were dead and several others sickly. With one month left on her guarantee the homeowner
filed a PeopleClaim against the contractor.
What the claimant wanted:
$500 for replacement of dead and dying plants, plus $500 for replacement of landscaper-chosen
plants that homeowner didn't like.
System features used:
This claimant had her claim delivered in hardcopy in addition to email notification,
and chose to have it post publicly if not resolved within 10 days.
Outcome:
Nearly two years after it was filed, the landscape contractor relented and settled
the claim. Growing awareness of the continuing effects of the posted claim on his
reputation and his business finally made him decide to take care of the customer.
He then moved quickly to resolve the longstanding problem and get the claim unposted.
Claimant’s experience:
“I understand he had a few other dissatisfied customers but they did not register
a complaint. Thank you for all your help in this matter.”
After a year of excuses and runarounds – instant results with PeopleClaim
Background:
A Wisconsin man contracted with a home improvement contractor for a $7,000 fix-up
job, including subcontracted electrical work. The electrical part of the job was
long delayed and turned out to be seriously defective. Bad wiring and lack of grounding
at the fuse box were among the problems. Over the course of a year these problems
were discussed with the contractor who examined the work and acknowledged the defects
– but never had them fixed. Eleven months after the job started it remained incomplete.
The homeowner then filed a PeopleClaim against the contractor.
What the claimant wanted:
Completion of the job; refund of PeopleClaim filing fees.
System features used:
This claimant chose the PeopleClaim feature allowing competing vendors to contact
him re completing the job, and also invited feedback from others with complaints
against the same contractor. He chose to have his complaint post publicly if unresolved
in 10 days; requested it to be sent to regulators and media, and he specified postal
delivery in addition to email notification. These choices most likely influenced
the result, though all but email notification never got a chance to be used.
Outcome:
The claim was settled online through the PeopleClaim system less than 24 hours after
it was filed – precluding public posting, notification of regulators or media, and
claimant contact by competing contractors and others with complaints against the
same contractor.
Claimant’s experience:
“Shortly after I filed my claim, they contacted me. They got the system up and running
and corrected the flaws that the previous electrician had left me with.”
Claim unresolved – but alerting FTC helps bring court order halting predatory marketing
practices
Background:
A Wisconsin woman signed up with a company offering a work-from-home income opportunity
that involved purchasing training to become a business coach. Feeling overcharged
for the service and “ripped off,” she complained but got runarounds. Payments for
the service were being automatically deducted from her bank account without her
approval. After her bank blocked these payments, she found herself pursued by a
debt collecto
What the claimant wanted:
Cessation of harassing phone calls.
System features used:
This claimant chose to have her claim post publicly online if not resolved in 10
days. She also requested it to be sent to industry regulators and media.
Outcome:
This company did not respond to the claimant. However, by choosing to have her complaint
forwarded to regulators the claim reached the Federal Trade Commission. A growing
number of complaints, including this one, prompted the FTC to investigate the company
and get a restraining order, putting a stop to the company's fraudulent and abusive
marketing activities.