I recently started a home care agency…
I recently started a home care agency and came across A Place for Mom. During our initial Zoom meeting, I shared my concerns, and they explained that I would need to prepay a total of $580, which they described as covering 10 client referrals. My understanding was that $58 would be deducted from this prepaid balance only for each referral that resulted in a signed client. I had done my research on them, and some reviews mentioned alleged scamming practices. However, they assured me that they would deliver on their promises and would not set me up for failure which is why I entrusted them. However, during the onboarding Zoom session after I had paid, they introduced a condition that had never been disclosed before. They explained that regardless of how many referral fees were deducted, my prepaid balance would always have to remain at $580 at the beginning of each month. This meant they would automatically withdraw additional money from my bank account to replenish the balance. This automatic replenishment was never discussed with me before I signed up. I also noticed that they deducted referral fees as soon as they sent a lead, even when the phone numbers provided were unreachable. I suspected that most of these leads were fake. So they just send you a random number from their fake list and immediately deduct their money as soon as they send you a number of the potential fake client. In one instance, they even charged me for a lead that was located outside my service area and faraway in another state, so I did not contact that individual because I could not provide services there. Within just one week of signing up, they had already deducted fees for four leads, even though none of those contacts could be reached. Because I was concerned about the undisclosed automatic withdrawals, I instructed my bank to close my account to prevent any further deductions. I requested to cancel my account and receive a refund because the service I received was not what I had agreed to when I enrolled. They denied my request, stating that the payment was for leads only and not for referrals that resulted in actual clients. This was inconsistent with my understanding of the agreement and with the expectations that were communicated to me before I signed up. Don’t fall for this scam company what they promise is not what they deliver. I think as soon as they take your details they just forget about you and start looking for their next victim to scam without providing any clients. Do business with them at your own risk.