Initial Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2014/10/08) */
Received response via email:
I'm [redacted] and I've taken over processing from Ms. [redacted]. I'm sorry not to have responded to you previously but this is the first I've heard of this complaint.
THIS IS MS. [redacted] COMPLAINT:
I...
ordered a "Cert. of Good Standing"; however, what I received was exactly the same document provided by the GA SoS entitled "Cert. of Organization".
I ordered a "Certificate of Good Standing" by this company and received a document entitled "Certificate of Existence", which is exactly the same document issued by [redacted] Secretary of State entitled "Certificate of Organization". The website provides a listing of "other names for [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing" but "Certificate of Organization"
is not listedleaving me to believe I was getting a unique document.
This is definitely a misrepresentation and I am requesting a full refund.
THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS ON OUR WEB SITE:
A [redacted] Good Standing Certificate ([redacted] Certificate of Existence) is issued by the [redacted] Secretary of State and is often required for loans, to renew business licenses, or for tax or other business purposes in the state of [redacted] or in any other state. A [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing is evidence that your [redacted] business franchise - your [redacted] Corporation or [redacted] LLC - is in Existence, is authorized to transact business in the state of [redacted], and complies with all state of [redacted] requirements and therefore is in "Good Standing" in the state of [redacted] (GA).
Also known as a [redacted] Certificate of Existence, a [redacted] Certificate of Status or a [redacted] Certificate of Authority, the [redacted] Good Standing Certificate is a one page document which looks like a letter and bears the seal of the state of [redacted] Secretary of State or another [redacted] state agency if the [redacted] Secretary of State is not the issuing authority. A [redacted] Good Standing Certificate is provided by the [redacted] Secretary of State and is conclusive evidence of the existence of your [redacted] business franchise - your [redacted] Corporation or [redacted] LLC. In most cases a [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing can be valid up to three months.
To obtain a [redacted] Good Standing Certificate ([redacted] Certificate of Existence), your company must be registered as a legal entity with the [redacted] Secretary of State, i.e., your company is in existence in the state of [redacted], and cannot be in default of [redacted] corporate rules, or suspended by the state of [redacted]
Ms. [redacted] ordered her certificate on 8/19/14. We emailed her a scanned copy of her certificate on 8/20/14 and mailed her a paper copy on the same date as advertised on our site. She is correct that the certificate is issued by the [redacted] Secretary of State. They are the only agency that issues [redacted] certificates. And yes, she could have gotten the certificate herself but she ordered it from us. I'm not sure where she is getting "Cert. of Organization". You can see exactly what is says on the attached certificate.
We've gotten hundreds of [redacted] certificates like this and have never had a complaint. I'm not sure exactly why she is requesting a refund.
I will try to call her tomorrow.
Please let me know what else I have to do in order to resolve this issue.
[redacted]
PCF, Inc.
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2014/10/10) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Apparently Mr. [redacted] is in this to make a buck. I get that! I also understood exactly what was on the website. My point is this: If one can obtain a Certificate of Organization (received after applying for my LLC), which is in essence, is the same as the Certificate of Existence (or Good Standing), why should one have to pay $44 for said certificate after having paid $100. No where on the PCF website does it state Certificate of Good Standing is also known as Certificate of Organization. If that had been the case, I would never have ordered the certificate. Why list all variation of the others and exclude this one title? Granted PCF may have wordsmith the document to add and make it look differently, but as the certificate states "This certificate relates only to the legal existence of the above-named entity as of the date issued" and essentially, the Certificate of Organization does the exact same thing.
I am still requesting a refund.
[redacted]
Final Business Response /* (4000, 14, 2014/10/13) */
A Cert. of Organization is NOT the same as a Cert. of Existence. I'm not sure that Ms. [redacted] understands the difference between the two. I've called her but she has not returned my latest call.
A Cert. of Organization is issue only ONCE - when a company is initially registered with the Sec. of State. See the attached copy for an example. It is evidence that the company is registered and does not imply that the company is in good standing.
After a company is registered it has certain reporting and tax obligations with the state. Just because a company is registered that does not mean the company is is good standing. E.g., if a company does not file its required reports then that company is not in good standing until the reports are filed.
A Cert. of Existence includes the status of a company - whether or not the company has complied with all its state requirements on a specific date. See the attached copy for an example. A Cert. of Existence can be issued at any time, more than once, after the company is registered.
A Cert. of Existence is only valid for a temporary time period. Banks usually require certs. which has been issued within the last 30-60 days. Other institutions may have different requirements. After that period expires you would need to get an updated Cert. of Existence.
If the two certificates were the same we would have said that on our web site. We've been doing this for over 10 years and know the difference. As I've said previously we've gotten hundreds of [redacted] certificates over the years and have NEVER had a problem like this.
Final Consumer Response /* (4200, 16, 2014/10/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Let us agree to disagree. Please close the file.
Initial Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2014/10/08) */
Received response via email:
I'm [redacted] and I've taken over processing from Ms. [redacted]. I'm sorry not to have responded to you previously but this is the first I've heard of this complaint.
THIS IS MS. [redacted] COMPLAINT:
I...
ordered a "Cert. of Good Standing"; however, what I received was exactly the same document provided by the GA SoS entitled "Cert. of Organization".
I ordered a "Certificate of Good Standing" by this company and received a document entitled "Certificate of Existence", which is exactly the same document issued by [redacted] Secretary of State entitled "Certificate of Organization". The website provides a listing of "other names for [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing" but "Certificate of Organization"
is not listedleaving me to believe I was getting a unique document.
This is definitely a misrepresentation and I am requesting a full refund.
THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS ON OUR WEB SITE:
A [redacted] Good Standing Certificate ([redacted] Certificate of Existence) is issued by the [redacted] Secretary of State and is often required for loans, to renew business licenses, or for tax or other business purposes in the state of [redacted] or in any other state. A [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing is evidence that your [redacted] business franchise - your [redacted] Corporation or [redacted] LLC - is in Existence, is authorized to transact business in the state of [redacted], and complies with all state of [redacted] requirements and therefore is in "Good Standing" in the state of [redacted] (GA).
Also known as a [redacted] Certificate of Existence, a [redacted] Certificate of Status or a [redacted] Certificate of Authority, the [redacted] Good Standing Certificate is a one page document which looks like a letter and bears the seal of the state of [redacted] Secretary of State or another [redacted] state agency if the [redacted] Secretary of State is not the issuing authority. A [redacted] Good Standing Certificate is provided by the [redacted] Secretary of State and is conclusive evidence of the existence of your [redacted] business franchise - your [redacted] Corporation or [redacted] LLC. In most cases a [redacted] Certificate of Good Standing can be valid up to three months.
To obtain a [redacted] Good Standing Certificate ([redacted] Certificate of Existence), your company must be registered as a legal entity with the [redacted] Secretary of State, i.e., your company is in existence in the state of [redacted], and cannot be in default of [redacted] corporate rules, or suspended by the state of [redacted]
Ms. [redacted] ordered her certificate on 8/19/14. We emailed her a scanned copy of her certificate on 8/20/14 and mailed her a paper copy on the same date as advertised on our site. She is correct that the certificate is issued by the [redacted] Secretary of State. They are the only agency that issues [redacted] certificates. And yes, she could have gotten the certificate herself but she ordered it from us. I'm not sure where she is getting "Cert. of Organization". You can see exactly what is says on the attached certificate.
We've gotten hundreds of [redacted] certificates like this and have never had a complaint. I'm not sure exactly why she is requesting a refund.
I will try to call her tomorrow.
Please let me know what else I have to do in order to resolve this issue.
[redacted]
PCF, Inc.
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2014/10/10) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Apparently Mr. [redacted] is in this to make a buck. I get that! I also understood exactly what was on the website. My point is this: If one can obtain a Certificate of Organization (received after applying for my LLC), which is in essence, is the same as the Certificate of Existence (or Good Standing), why should one have to pay $44 for said certificate after having paid $100. No where on the PCF website does it state Certificate of Good Standing is also known as Certificate of Organization. If that had been the case, I would never have ordered the certificate. Why list all variation of the others and exclude this one title? Granted PCF may have wordsmith the document to add and make it look differently, but as the certificate states "This certificate relates only to the legal existence of the above-named entity as of the date issued" and essentially, the Certificate of Organization does the exact same thing.
I am still requesting a refund.
[redacted]
Final Business Response /* (4000, 14, 2014/10/13) */
A Cert. of Organization is NOT the same as a Cert. of Existence. I'm not sure that Ms. [redacted] understands the difference between the two. I've called her but she has not returned my latest call.
A Cert. of Organization is issue only ONCE - when a company is initially registered with the Sec. of State. See the attached copy for an example. It is evidence that the company is registered and does not imply that the company is in good standing.
After a company is registered it has certain reporting and tax obligations with the state. Just because a company is registered that does not mean the company is is good standing. E.g., if a company does not file its required reports then that company is not in good standing until the reports are filed.
A Cert. of Existence includes the status of a company - whether or not the company has complied with all its state requirements on a specific date. See the attached copy for an example. A Cert. of Existence can be issued at any time, more than once, after the company is registered.
A Cert. of Existence is only valid for a temporary time period. Banks usually require certs. which has been issued within the last 30-60 days. Other institutions may have different requirements. After that period expires you would need to get an updated Cert. of Existence.
If the two certificates were the same we would have said that on our web site. We've been doing this for over 10 years and know the difference. As I've said previously we've gotten hundreds of [redacted] certificates over the years and have NEVER had a problem like this.
Final Consumer Response /* (4200, 16, 2014/10/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Let us agree to disagree. Please close the file.
I like the service of this Company, the owner [redacted] is very professional and efficient and good adviser.