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Is Angie's List a Scam??? email.blocked 06-18-2007
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Posted by on June 18, 2007, 7:36 pm
Is Angie's List a Scam???

Responding to their promotions on National Public Radio (NPR), I
recently signed-up for a membership on Angie's List. What a good
idea, I thought: a database of local service provider reports,
submitted by people in my local community, and supported by our
membership fees.

I was wrong. If Angie's List isn't a scam, in my opinion they
misrepresent the services they provide. Here's what I experienced:

(1) Sign-up and Ease of Use

It cost me $10 to sign-up plus a $6.95 monthly recurring fee. The
website was easy to navigate, although there were some
inconsistencies. For example, Angie's List claims to have a "Penalty
Box" for service providers; I could never find it.

(2) Provider Reports

Reports for most providers in my local community were sparse; in some
cases non-existent. There weren't more than two or three reports in
most categories. Not enough to see a trend.

(3) Submitting Reports

I submitted four reports based on service providers I had recently
used (one plumber, two roofers and one mortuary). Two of the reports
were "glowing" and two of the reports were negative. All of the
reports were clearly written, honest and used no profanity.

Angie's List claims that it takes two business days for reports to be
posted. After about a week, with nothing posted, I sent an inquiry to
their customer service department. I received a timely reply advising
me that it was taking them longer to review reports because they were
receiving "over 1000 reports a week." I didn't know that Angie's List
"reviewed" reports.

After several more communications, over the next couple of weeks, I
learned that Angie's List would not post three of my reports because
they made reference to alternate service providers. I was not aware
that Angie's List "edited" or "censored" reports.

(4) Reports Credibility

I have no confidence in Angie's List reports. Here's why:

First of all, I immediately noticed that reports for some providers
were suspiciously similar. If there are only two reports for a
provider, and both reports have almost identical wording, one wonders
about the credibility of those reports.

In some categories, Angie's List has service providers which offer
coupons. Coupons! Does this mean that Angie's List has marketing
agreements which some providers? This would hardly enhance the
credibility of a provider.

Clearly reports cannot be credible if Angie's List "edits" or
"censors" the reports. From my own experience in submitting reports,
I know that Angie's List does precisely that.

Finally, how would Angie's List report on a company with a known bad
reputation? In our community, Whittier Home Roofing has just such a
bad reputation. But Whittier Home Roofing didn't show up on their
list for Roofers. I then searched by company name. Sure enough,
Whittier Home Roofing showed up as a service provider. However, when
I clicked to see the reports, Angie's List displayed the message:
"We're sorry, but Angie's List is not sharing information about this
company currently."

So that's it, Angie's List gladly publishes glowing reports about
service providers, but "edits" or "censors" reports which are
negative.

(5) Customer Service

Communication with Angie's List customer service was always timely. I
was prepared to file a complaint against Angie's List with our state
department of consumer affairs, however, Angie's List agreed to refund
my sign-up and membership fees and terminate my membership. So, I
can't call them a "scam." However, Angie's List is, in my opinion,
disreputable.


Posted by RBM on June 18, 2007, 7:52 pm
I've gotten calls from subscribers to Angies's list. Apparently they did
surveys in my area, got opinions about local contractors, and listed at
least some of them. People moving in to the area, who have no references for
contractors, use the service. It may be that they only want to list
"reputable" contractors, which seemed fine with the folks I met



> Is Angie's List a Scam???
>
> Responding to their promotions on National Public Radio (NPR), I
> recently signed-up for a membership on Angie's List. What a good
> idea, I thought: a database of local service provider reports,
> submitted by people in my local community, and supported by our
> membership fees.
>
> I was wrong. If Angie's List isn't a scam, in my opinion they
> misrepresent the services they provide. Here's what I experienced:
>
> (1) Sign-up and Ease of Use
>
> It cost me $10 to sign-up plus a $6.95 monthly recurring fee. The
> website was easy to navigate, although there were some
> inconsistencies. For example, Angie's List claims to have a "Penalty
> Box" for service providers; I could never find it.
>
> (2) Provider Reports
>
> Reports for most providers in my local community were sparse; in some
> cases non-existent. There weren't more than two or three reports in
> most categories. Not enough to see a trend.
>
> (3) Submitting Reports
>
> I submitted four reports based on service providers I had recently
> used (one plumber, two roofers and one mortuary). Two of the reports
> were "glowing" and two of the reports were negative. All of the
> reports were clearly written, honest and used no profanity.
>
> Angie's List claims that it takes two business days for reports to be
> posted. After about a week, with nothing posted, I sent an inquiry to
> their customer service department. I received a timely reply advising
> me that it was taking them longer to review reports because they were
> receiving "over 1000 reports a week." I didn't know that Angie's List
> "reviewed" reports.
>
> After several more communications, over the next couple of weeks, I
> learned that Angie's List would not post three of my reports because
> they made reference to alternate service providers. I was not aware
> that Angie's List "edited" or "censored" reports.
>
> (4) Reports Credibility
>
> I have no confidence in Angie's List reports. Here's why:
>
> First of all, I immediately noticed that reports for some providers
> were suspiciously similar. If there are only two reports for a
> provider, and both reports have almost identical wording, one wonders
> about the credibility of those reports.
>
> In some categories, Angie's List has service providers which offer
> coupons. Coupons! Does this mean that Angie's List has marketing
> agreements which some providers? This would hardly enhance the
> credibility of a provider.
>
> Clearly reports cannot be credible if Angie's List "edits" or
> "censors" the reports. From my own experience in submitting reports,
> I know that Angie's List does precisely that.
>
> Finally, how would Angie's List report on a company with a known bad
> reputation? In our community, Whittier Home Roofing has just such a
> bad reputation. But Whittier Home Roofing didn't show up on their
> list for Roofers. I then searched by company name. Sure enough,
> Whittier Home Roofing showed up as a service provider. However, when
> I clicked to see the reports, Angie's List displayed the message:
> "We're sorry, but Angie's List is not sharing information about this
> company currently."
>
> So that's it, Angie's List gladly publishes glowing reports about
> service providers, but "edits" or "censors" reports which are
> negative.
>
> (5) Customer Service
>
> Communication with Angie's List customer service was always timely. I
> was prepared to file a complaint against Angie's List with our state
> department of consumer affairs, however, Angie's List agreed to refund
> my sign-up and membership fees and terminate my membership. So, I
> can't call them a "scam." However, Angie's List is, in my opinion,
> disreputable.
>



Posted by Bob F on June 18, 2007, 8:03 pm

> Is Angie's List a Scam???
>
> Responding to their promotions on National Public Radio (NPR), I
> recently signed-up for a membership on Angie's List. What a good
> idea, I thought: a database of local service provider reports,
> submitted by people in my local community, and supported by our
> membership fees.
>
> I was wrong. If Angie's List isn't a scam, in my opinion they
> misrepresent the services they provide. Here's what I experienced:
>
> (1) Sign-up and Ease of Use
>
> It cost me $10 to sign-up plus a $6.95 monthly recurring fee. The
> website was easy to navigate, although there were some
> inconsistencies. For example, Angie's List claims to have a
> "Penalty
> Box" for service providers; I could never find it.
>
> (2) Provider Reports
>
> Reports for most providers in my local community were sparse; in
> some
> cases non-existent. There weren't more than two or three reports in
> most categories. Not enough to see a trend.
>
> (3) Submitting Reports
>
> I submitted four reports based on service providers I had recently
> used (one plumber, two roofers and one mortuary). Two of the
> reports
> were "glowing" and two of the reports were negative. All of the
> reports were clearly written, honest and used no profanity.
>
> Angie's List claims that it takes two business days for reports to
> be
> posted. After about a week, with nothing posted, I sent an inquiry
> to
> their customer service department. I received a timely reply
> advising
> me that it was taking them longer to review reports because they
> were
> receiving "over 1000 reports a week." I didn't know that Angie's
> List
> "reviewed" reports.
>
> After several more communications, over the next couple of weeks, I
> learned that Angie's List would not post three of my reports because
> they made reference to alternate service providers. I was not aware
> that Angie's List "edited" or "censored" reports.
>
> (4) Reports Credibility
>
> I have no confidence in Angie's List reports. Here's why:
>
> First of all, I immediately noticed that reports for some providers
> were suspiciously similar. If there are only two reports for a
> provider, and both reports have almost identical wording, one
> wonders
> about the credibility of those reports.
>
> In some categories, Angie's List has service providers which offer
> coupons. Coupons! Does this mean that Angie's List has marketing
> agreements which some providers? This would hardly enhance the
> credibility of a provider.
>
> Clearly reports cannot be credible if Angie's List "edits" or
> "censors" the reports. From my own experience in submitting
> reports,
> I know that Angie's List does precisely that.
>
> Finally, how would Angie's List report on a company with a known bad
> reputation? In our community, Whittier Home Roofing has just such a
> bad reputation. But Whittier Home Roofing didn't show up on their
> list for Roofers. I then searched by company name. Sure enough,
> Whittier Home Roofing showed up as a service provider. However,
> when
> I clicked to see the reports, Angie's List displayed the message:
> "We're sorry, but Angie's List is not sharing information about this
> company currently."
>
> So that's it, Angie's List gladly publishes glowing reports about
> service providers, but "edits" or "censors" reports which are
> negative.
>
> (5) Customer Service
>
> Communication with Angie's List customer service was always timely.
> I
> was prepared to file a complaint against Angie's List with our state
> department of consumer affairs, however, Angie's List agreed to
> refund
> my sign-up and membership fees and terminate my membership. So, I
> can't call them a "scam." However, Angie's List is, in my opinion,
> disreputable.
>

Thanks for the report. I had wondered about them.

Bob



Posted by TKM on June 18, 2007, 9:21 pm

>
>> Is Angie's List a Scam???
>>
>> Responding to their promotions on National Public Radio (NPR), I
>> recently signed-up for a membership on Angie's List. What a good
>> idea, I thought: a database of local service provider reports,
>> submitted by people in my local community, and supported by our
>> membership fees.
>>
>> I was wrong. If Angie's List isn't a scam, in my opinion they
>> misrepresent the services they provide. Here's what I experienced:
>>
>> (1) Sign-up and Ease of Use
>>
>> It cost me $10 to sign-up plus a $6.95 monthly recurring fee. The
>> website was easy to navigate, although there were some
>> inconsistencies. For example, Angie's List claims to have a "Penalty
>> Box" for service providers; I could never find it.
>>
>> (2) Provider Reports
>>
>> Reports for most providers in my local community were sparse; in some
>> cases non-existent. There weren't more than two or three reports in
>> most categories. Not enough to see a trend.
>>
>> (3) Submitting Reports
>>
>> I submitted four reports based on service providers I had recently
>> used (one plumber, two roofers and one mortuary). Two of the reports
>> were "glowing" and two of the reports were negative. All of the
>> reports were clearly written, honest and used no profanity.
>>
>> Angie's List claims that it takes two business days for reports to be
>> posted. After about a week, with nothing posted, I sent an inquiry to
>> their customer service department. I received a timely reply advising
>> me that it was taking them longer to review reports because they were
>> receiving "over 1000 reports a week." I didn't know that Angie's List
>> "reviewed" reports.
>>
>> After several more communications, over the next couple of weeks, I
>> learned that Angie's List would not post three of my reports because
>> they made reference to alternate service providers. I was not aware
>> that Angie's List "edited" or "censored" reports.
>>
>> (4) Reports Credibility
>>
>> I have no confidence in Angie's List reports. Here's why:
>>
>> First of all, I immediately noticed that reports for some providers
>> were suspiciously similar. If there are only two reports for a
>> provider, and both reports have almost identical wording, one wonders
>> about the credibility of those reports.
>>
>> In some categories, Angie's List has service providers which offer
>> coupons. Coupons! Does this mean that Angie's List has marketing
>> agreements which some providers? This would hardly enhance the
>> credibility of a provider.
>>
>> Clearly reports cannot be credible if Angie's List "edits" or
>> "censors" the reports. From my own experience in submitting reports,
>> I know that Angie's List does precisely that.
>>
>> Finally, how would Angie's List report on a company with a known bad
>> reputation? In our community, Whittier Home Roofing has just such a
>> bad reputation. But Whittier Home Roofing didn't show up on their
>> list for Roofers. I then searched by company name. Sure enough,
>> Whittier Home Roofing showed up as a service provider. However, when
>> I clicked to see the reports, Angie's List displayed the message:
>> "We're sorry, but Angie's List is not sharing information about this
>> company currently."
>>
>> So that's it, Angie's List gladly publishes glowing reports about
>> service providers, but "edits" or "censors" reports which are
>> negative.
>>
>> (5) Customer Service
>>
>> Communication with Angie's List customer service was always timely. I
>> was prepared to file a complaint against Angie's List with our state
>> department of consumer affairs, however, Angie's List agreed to refund
>> my sign-up and membership fees and terminate my membership. So, I
>> can't call them a "scam." However, Angie's List is, in my opinion,
>> disreputable.
>>
>
> Thanks for the report. I had wondered about them.
>
> Bob

My Angie's List experiences have been completely different. I've been a
member for the last 5 years and have used them 2-3 times each year for
various service providers and contractors -- everything from tree service to
household movers to plumbing and roofers.

I've had no trouble getting reports (usually by telephone) and have not
problems with any of the companies rated.

Is Angie's List new in your area? I noticed that when the office first
opened in our area (Cleveland/northern Ohio), it took a while for enough
members and reports to accumulate to be useful.

While I've filed a few reports (all favorable), I haven't checked up to see
if they've been posted.

TKM





Posted by Dan Espen on June 18, 2007, 9:24 pm
email.blocked@yahoo.com writes:

> Is Angie's List a Scam???
...
> It cost me $10 to sign-up plus a $6.95 monthly recurring fee.

Seven bucks a month and you ask if it's a scam?

Here were are sharing knowledge on Usenet for nothing.
Hmm. How much will you pay for my opinion?


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