Complain about a product or service

ServiceMagic

Peter of Corona, CA August 30, 2010

I have Been a Loyal Customer of Service Magic Since Sept 2008. I am a Painting Contractor in Southern California. I o Numerous Occasion have tried talking with representatives from service magic regarding there unscrupulous practices of providing substandard and not verified leads to me, and can never get anything but apologies and bs. I am amazed at how vague there screening process is and they beg to differ I continuously receive bogus leads where customers don't own homes, are renters and have no authority to get work done, shoppers who want over the phone pricing and will not let you in there homes, bad contact info, and people who just try to get or think that they will get a price off there website and have no intent of hiring anyone. My biggest problem is when I put in requests fir credit there is no reasonable explanations to why they deny credits, they will deny credit and say that the lead was verified and I have personally driven to vacant addresses to find that no one has lived at these places for years, but service magic will say they verified and another pro had completed the work.

When a customer doesn't want a quote ( which by the way is not a lead) service magic does not accept that as a reason for credit. They say there pricing is such it compensates and is adjusted for a certain number of bad contacts. Great for them to assume the risk with my money. On the other hand I had a customer not pay me for services I rendered 100% and when I sent the customer to collections the customer called service magic to log a complaint and have them negotiate a lower price on his behalf, and while this was in the system service magic turned off my leads affecting my revenue while siding with a customer who didn't pay his bill. I have a 4.86 rating out of a 5 star rating and never had a complaint, but I was treated like a liar and had to prove I did the work correctly for this customer, and service magic even recommended I take away the collection on the customer, over helping me collect my hard earned money.

They actually have on the records of customer contacts showing that we the contractors are accepting these leads, in those exact words, and it is actually if a lesson logs on service magic as a customer just browsing and enters some info about there home, without notice service magic sends us leads un known to this person and then when we call they say they were just trying to get some information from there web site and didn't need to be contacted, well to service magic this is a acceptable lead and all they tell us to do is keep there number and follow up with them in the future. But we pay 45 to 55 for this priviledge. For that I can look in a phone book.

I would really like to find out what I can do to make sure these practices are stopped and we the contractors are not financially abused. The economy is hitting us hard enough, we don't need a company which is nothing without us taking further advantage.

Julie of Tonawanda, NY August 25, 2010

Avoid Service Magic’s lead program. They blatantly swindle business customers. On May 19th we (a roofing company) authorized a 450.00 package to try out Service Magic’s lead program. After doing so, we found that the leads were not good (at all) and decided to cancel. On June 9, 2010 we called and cancelled. We were told that we had credit left that could not be refunded. We said fine, use it up; cancel us. Since that time we have been billed an additional 856.00.

On August 4, 2010 after receiving our July credit card statement we contacted Service Magic and asked for refund, which was refused. In addition to that they are trying to bill an additional 165.00 which will apparently not go through as they keep requesting updated credit card information (and are now threatening collections for).

On August 24, 2010 we called again, and re-explained that we had cancelled June 9, 2010. Not only were we refused credit, but they actually said it had been our responsibility to track the credit as of June 9th and call back after the credit was used to cancel. At no time was it related to us that we would have to re-cancel when our credit was used up. What kind of deal is that anyway? We cancelled! We also found out that our account is still not cancelled, but on hold due to the balance due. If for some reason the owing (in their mind) charge attempt went through, we would be considered active, up and running till we cancelled again. However, they would be glad to process our cancellation once the outstanding balance is received.

Service Magic’s excuse is their computer system, which they say cannot cancel you when you apparently have a credit, or outstanding balance due. That is absurd. The reality is they refused and are still refusing to cancel our account, along with refunding our money. We are disputing the credit card charges with the bank in hopes of getting our money back. We intend to file complaints with the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General of Colorado about Service Magic’s deceptive business practices. I would encourage you all to take the time and do the same.

shane of Pembroke Pines, FL August 15, 2010

Mr. D. was referred, along with 2 other painters for an exterior house paint job. The job was not done as discussed in the agreement. Service Magic was called in to mediate the problem. Service Magic is an advertising company pushing their clients. They could not mediate the problem (many) nor would they post my comment about the contractor. NO CREDIBILITY> Not sure whether I received a quality paint job or not since the contractor never came to see the final inspection - not send a representative.

James of Indianapolis, IN August 12, 2010

I am (or was) one of the contractors that service magic conned into handing over my credit card number to them. I agreed to let service magic send me leads because they were offering a 99.00 credit for new contractors. I was told that the leads would cost 3.00 each after the credit was used. They also told me that many leads would be free of charge because service magic received so many leads that they didn't have enough contractors to return all the calls. It was as if I would be doing them a favor for handling this overflow work, & saving their reputation by returning the calls for them.

Soon after accepting this "cheap or free" means of meeting new clients, the phone rang many times daily with new leads pouring in faster than I could deal with. My own well established clientelle was also calling for work to be done as well. I had no need for this amount of new business & just didn't respond to the recorded calls from service magic.

The problem began when I found multiple charges on my credit card statements from service magic for referrals that I never responded to. They automatically bill your credit card every time the phone rings, whether you want the lead or not. If you go to their web site & log onto your account, you will find no way to turn off the service. You can merely shut off lead acceptance for a maximum of 2 weeks. After that, the leads & charges start back up automatically. What decent respectable company has this kind of policy?

They're like a disease that affects your credit card with no apparant cure! Once they get your credit card number, you will find hundreds of dollars in bogus charges that they will not remove. I just spoke to a service magic representative today. (8/12/2010) He said that my money could not be refunded. They could however issue a credit to my account for more leads! As if I want more of their bogus leads? Please. Get me an attorney.

Jacqueline of Brookhaven, PA August 12, 2010

I'm glad to see that other people have complained about ServiceMagic being a total scam company. I had been looking on-line for a carpet cleaning service in my area. I came across the Service Magic website and it appeared to be a legitmate service. I filled in the requested information about 5 minutes after I hit the send button, my phone starting ringing. Thing was this was 12:30 AM on a Sunday!! My caller ID showed the calls were coming from other states. The one call I actually took, the man could barely speak english and when I told him my caller ID shows your number as being in Ohio, he said he just moved here and he was very, very aggressive, I had to hang up on him and he kept calling back! What kind of legitamate business calls customers at 12:30 AM, repeatedly! The calls continued for days. There is something very, very wrong with this so called referral business.

Clary of Lutherville, MD August 5, 2010

When I looked up a company online that I wanted to use to clean my carpet, Steam Brigade, I got what I thought was their phone number from a yellow page website and called. I got Service Magic instead. The woman on the line said they make appointments for Steam Brigade, but sorry, they don't serve my area. It seemed odd since their office is just down the street from me. They connected me with Chem Dry instead. CHem Dry did a horrible job. The carpet was not even close to clean.

I called them back and they touched up a little, but the carpet was still filthy. They charged me 189, more than I've ever paid for 800 square feet of carpet cleaning. I had to call someone else, Shamrock, who did a great job for 139. Yesterday, my A/C went out. I read reviews of local A/C contractors online and liked what I read about Amazing Air & Heating. I googled their number online and called it. It was not their number.

A Service Magic person answered again. She asked for my contact info and I gave it to her. She said she would see if Amazing was available in my area....suddenly it hit me that this is a huge scam. I knew even before she said it that she would say they are not available...Yes, that is exactly what she said. I stopped her right there and said, no, I do not want you to give me someone else's name; I'm going to call Amazing myself directly. I hung up.

I was looking for the correct phone number when my cell phone rang (the number I gave Service Magic as my contact number). I answered and it was someone from another HVAC company, called HRM or something like that. The guy told me he knew I had been on the internet looking for an HVAC co. I said I did not leave any info about me on the internet, so that can't be how he got my number. He told me he could be out this afternoon. I explained I was looking for Amazing because they had positive reviews. He started to bully me saying things like "I got 30 years in the business. I'm the owner of the company! I'm not going to send some kid to your house like they are." He raised his voice and was very unpleasant. I got hold of Amazing. They were available in my area contrary to Service Magic claims. They came by noon and the person working on my system was great...experienced, not a kid.

Service Magic is a scam and should be shut down immediately. How can they get away with lying about people's businesses? I am going to call the contractors they steered me away from. I am also going to sue for harassment and for the money I lost by using the ocntractor they said was the only one in my area and for giving my phone number to the contractor after I said I was not interested.

Tracy of Lake Ronkonkoma, NY August 4, 2010

I contacted Service Magic to help me find a contractor to install 3 exterior doors, and 2 screen doors. I was given a contractor by the name of David Redlo DBA Right Choice Home Improvements. David came to my house and gave me an estimate for the work. I hired David Redlo for the job. After the 1st day of work David did not complete the job, and stated that he would be back tomorrow to finish. David came back the next day to finish, and when I started pointing out that the door did not close properly, and the there were holes in the screen door were he drilled incorrectly, and the doors were not level, and the handles on the doors that he installed were not working correctly he said he would have to come back again to fix. David never came back to fix the doors, and would not return any of calls. I did some research on David Redlo per the Department of Consumer Affairs his license expired on 4/1/10.(My work was done on 6/25/10) Also his other business named Pro Masters Home Renovations, but his license was revoked on Sept 10, 2009 for to many complaints, and not addressing the complaints. David Redlo will give you a business card that states "David Redlo Construction Inc Licensed and Insured", but he is not.

I called Service Magic on 7/1/10 and have been dealing with Holly. After 16 phone calls to Service Magic I finally got holly to email the Settlement and Release form, but it was for only 200.00 which was not the correct amount. I have made an additional 9 calls to her and her supervisor Roni Zamiska without 1 returned call back. This has been going on for a little over 2 weeks now that I can not get anyone to call me back. Service Magic advised me on 7/1/10 they can reimburse me a max of 500.00. I told Holly that would not cover all the damages, but at least it was a start until my small claims suit is filed. I have provided Service Magic with around 20 or more photos of the damage to the doors and screen doors, proof that I purchased 3 new doors and 2 screen doors. For installation, and 2 more new screen doors that the new contractor installed, receipt for tear out and re-installment of the doors, and screens, copy of my contract with David Redlo that shows I paid him 200.00, and my new contract and proof of payment to have all the work redone. I have proven my loss is well over 500.00 and now I can not get Service Magic to uphold there service agreement, they will not even call me back anyone. They are blatantly avoiding me and making payment on my claim.

tim of jackso, MI August 2, 2010

a online company providing leads to contractors nationwide,have many on my side.ripping us off of our hard earned money.a scam..need help.out right steeling from our banks.contacting anyone that can help.i think you would call this rackaterring.thank you please respond

CHERYL of JACKSONVILLE, OR July 30, 2010

Service Magic contacted me by phone and led me to believe there were active business leads for interior decorating services in the Jacksonville, Oregon area. I signed up and agreed to a 99 activation fee. I cancelled my account with Service Magic by telephone and email within 24 hours of signing up by telephone with their representative, Keith. The details of my cancellation are in their computer records. I made several phone calls to make sure of the cancellation. Finally, a female representative informed me that Service Magic has a noncancellation, nonrefundable policy of the 99 activation fee.

This information was not provided to me verbally, by email or in writing prior to my signing up. I registered online and began creating a profile. When I checked into the potential leads that Keith mentioned for my services in this region, there were no active leads. I immediately cancelled. I acted in good faith. Service Magic acted with misleading and possibly fraudulent information to entice my business into a nonrefundable fee. I would never have signed up if this information had been provided.

I registered a dispute with my Visa card. I am now disputing the full amount that has accrued and that has been sent to CMI for collections in the amount of 209.33. I sent an email to them today informing them of this dispute. I have sent a registered letter by Certified Mail to Service Magic. I want this debt expunged from my account with them. I demand that Service Magic notify all credit reporting agencies and get any bad debt records removed from my credit history.

Guest of New Haven, CT July 29, 2010

Service Magic misleads contractors and customers alike. They say they offer free estimates. What they do is charge 3 contractors up to 100 each for your phone number and address. If all goes well great. The customer is happy and the contractor adds the 100 to the labor bill. As a contractor many times customers get mad about me calling them thinking they would get an email with an estimate. They have no idea they are not only taking money from contractors but wasting time.

As a customer you are able to leave reviews about contractors true or false, and the contractor has a chance to post a response to each review. But Service Magic never posts the response. That is just absurd. Why trick people like that? Anyone who is mad at a contractor for an unwanted phone call or no reason at all can log on and post a bad review and it lives on the internet forever.

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