12 replies to this topic

[blue]

I contracted an seo company to get a site 25 one way links monthly. They told me 1500/month for a 4 month agreement. I was promised links on relevent web sites and that all site would have at least a PR 3. They told me it was lots and lots of work to do and even emailed me a sample of the kind of sites they would get my link on (very relevent site).
But they got me nothing but crappy directory links 90% of were PR 0 .
I tired calling them but nobody ever returned my calls (they are always in a meeting). I emailed and told them what there contract said and what they are getting me is trash and i wonted a refund. Also they stoped excepting Discover credit cards so my last 2 months they were unable to charge me.
They dont respond to my refund emails or my phone calls. I am temped to just dispute the credit card charge.
As a note, i have seen this company at some of the seo conferences, so i now they are somewhat large.
Any advise on what to do?

[Scottie]

It all depends on the wording of their contract and how much was verbally promised vs. actually being written into the legalese of the contract.

I'd start out by disputing the charges and be glad that they haven't been able to charge you for 2 months... at least you've saved that much money!

[linux_lover]

If they didnt provide you with what they stated they would provide you with then I would kick their ****

[Shane]

If they clearly did not meet the requirements of the contract and have been unwilling to discuss it with you, I would definitely dispute the charges. That's one of the beauties of paying with a credit card.

[kzod]

Personally, if you can verify your claims, I'd out the company publicly. If they are even relatively known, and care about their reputation that will get them into action. Otherwise, you'll need to get lawyers involved and they will continue to scam others.

[Jill]

Personally, if you can verify your claims, I'd out the company publicly.

That's fine, but just don't do it here!

[nuthin]

Get links yourself.
Don't outsource it to so called "SEO" firms, like you contacted.
You know your business, they don't.
If they gave you a list of related sites that they could get links to you on before you signed up, why didn't you contact them direct?
By-pass all the link mongers.
Depending on what sort of industry you are in, you probably wouldn't need alot of links.
A few trusted one-way static a-href links from related industry sites that you know about and a waiting period of between 6-12 months(if you have a new domain), would usually get you placed nicely if you have your content & pages optimized properly.
Did this firm help you with content optimization at all before this so called "link strategy" took effect??

[davidtemple]

Well people like to research and know facts before choosing a company for anything they wish to purchase

Back on .<track>, I wonder how much or little research you did before choosing this company? </track>

[projectphp]

Its funny isn't it, how rarely that is where people start? "I hired them because {INSERT GOOD, SOLID, RESEARCHED DECISION}."

Just once I'd like to see a post like this:

I got references from {COMPANY}, I checked the sites in questions, and the referees were real and legit, and the sites exellent. Then I checked the BBB, and the company had three problems, all resolved. Then I signed a contract, which my lawyer looked at. Then the probelsm started, as they were late delivering something. Should I sue them?

Of course, those people probably don't need a bunch of strangers on an SEO forum to save their behind

Edited by projectphp, 17 October 2006 - 09:17 PM.

[john892]

I have been doing my own seo and one way linking for about 4 years now and I can say that I would never even pay $100 for 25 one way links on PR3 sites than actually paying $1500.

Getting that many links normally only takes about a day I would imagin, depending on the type of sites you want the links on off course.

[james guy]

the question is : do you get the result you want ? i.e. being top position in search engines. Despite the PR 0 websites, as long as you get the top ranking in search engines with the keywords you agreed with them (check the contrct you signed), you are hardly to get refund. If not, then you can sue them for not deliver the services.

[projectphp]

The real question is why this old, old topic was dug up

Might be easier to close it.

[Alan Perkins]

the question is : do you get the result you want ? i.e. being top position in search engines. Despite the PR 0 websites, as long as you get the top ranking in search engines with the keywords you agreed with them (check the contrct you signed), you are hardly to get refund. If not, then you can sue them for not deliver the services.

That's a really bad attititude, James, for lots of reasons. For example, if your site had no penalties before you employed the SEO company, and sustained penalties as a result of their work, then no matter whether you can sue them or not (whether they even still exist or not), you now have a big problem that you could have avoided by choosing a better SEO company, or that could have been avoided for you by the SEO company being competent enough to do their jobs.

close it

Agreed.