Locators Inc. in West Chester, Pa., Caution
Written by Confusion support on May 17, 2008 – 2:21 pm -
We recently were involved with a company called Locators Inc., out of West Chester Pa. Sometimes they are referred to as Locator News Inc. When looking for an apartment many times you will see rental ads in the paper that refer you to a company number that is not the actual owner of the apartment. Sometimes it will say Locators, Inc. in the ad, sometimes not. What these types of companies do is get the landlord of an apartment to sign up with them (for a fee) and they then provide lists to potential tenants, who have subscribed with Locators, Inc. The subscription fee for potential tenants is $150. You get 90 days to find an apartment.
At first that didn’t sound too bad since Locators Inc. promised to have extensive lists of apartments and very positive proof that you will find an apartment suitable to you, if you go through them. They do not deal with the landlords for you; they merely provide you with supposedly current lists of available apartments in 3 counties of your choice. It is up to you to call the landlords and make arrangements. Locators, Inc. provides a list and nothing more. You can get the list online or via mail. I’m sure most people get it online.
Be very leery of using Locators, Inc., here are the problems you may encounter.
1. You only get to pick three counties. If you wish to change your search option it is currently $26.50 plus 6% processing fee. What processing fee!? All they have to do is go online and change your account. Must take all of 5 minutes! Why they can’t provide you with more than 3 counties is beyond me since it is all just displayed to you online (if you choose that option)?
2. Your contract is good for 90 days. If you do not find an apartment, you have to act quickly because you can only request a refund BEFORE the 105th day of the contract. So you have only 14 days to get a refund.
3. The list we received for 3 huge counties did not even amount to 2 pages, ever! This was pitiful. The choices were not good, and at least 25% of the apartments we called on the so-called current list were taken! In addition, while scanning the papers, we saw several apartments within the 90 day contract period we liked that were in Locators Inc ads, yet they were not on the lists. We called them and they kept trying to explain some sort of delay that occurs between printing times, when landlords call them, etc. It never did sound very well organized.
4. It is hard if not impossible to get your money back. They keep track of how many times you access the system and you have to do it a minimum of 3 times per week. If you print out a list to check out several apartments you may go a week without accessing the system. If you do this, you will not get your money back, if at the end you didn’t find an apartment.
5. If you get to the 90 day period and have not found an apartment, and you ask for your money back, but by then have had to move because your other lease was up, this is your tough luck. They will only issue a refund if you are STILL at the same address in which you originally signed up, and you must provide proof (like a bill) that you still reside there.
Your best option is to not use a company like this. Land-of-confusion just saved you $150.
June 15th, 2008 at 12:49 am
so………..is it REALLY true that I can’t get my money back if I don’t live at my apartment anymore??? (i.e., as in, I moved out because the lease was up, but am still looking at the end of the 90 days??)….weird…
July 15th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Thank you so much for this information. My husband and I were seriously considering this and even called to get information. They sounded so nice on the phone. I certainly do appreciate having someone to be concerned about others.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:14 am
Glad to be of some help to someone! I wish I could think of even more confusing things to write about. Any ideas send them my way. Thanks..
August 7th, 2008 at 1:33 am
I was getting desperate so I called and they told me after you sign up we give you all the info where the place is and everything about it. Then he says there is a one time fee of 299.00 but was having a special for 197.00. I told him I have to have that for secutity deposit on fixed income and don’t get much so he says when you get money call me. So he was rude also and hung up on me. So there is some places out there that do this stuff.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
this helped me a lot, they just spammed craigslist with a load of properties and i was wondering who they were. found you on google btw.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I would like to register a complaint with the better business bureau but I don’t have a copy of the contract anymore….PLEASE someone e-mail me a copy of the contract. myredrally.com
September 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Amy..what is your email address? I still have a copy of the contract..
September 15th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
This so called “service” is absolute shit. The people that work there are very rude and love to hang up on people. They make it impossible to get your money back even though they state money back gauranteed. Who has the time and money now-a-days to pay that much for listings that aren’t even true or not even in the county u asked for. lol what the fuck is that. Now i am over the 90 days and they think its my fault cause i supposedly didnt use the service. When i asked for the money back i was told and i quote “You will never see that money”. So i am out the 150 i put down on top of the money i put out for the listings and still live in the same house. If your going to run a business at least be fair and honest
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Thank you for this information about Locators Inc. I was just getting ready to return their call about helping me to find a good tenant for my house in Martinsburg. I’m so glad that I goggled them up first and thank you very much!