Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/05/14) */
This family paid $14,200.00 for a 2-year contract with Angel Adoption. We state on our web site that it is not a 100% service. We also state in a seven page meeting overview, on page seven, in the last paragraph that reads, "We have a 95...
to 98 percent rate in placing couples that join us. However wonderful this statistic is, it is not 100%."
No one in our organization would ever tell a family that we have never had anyone go thru their contract and not adopt. That is why we explain in many areas that we have this 95 to 85 percent rate. There will always be someone who falls in this small 3 to 5 percent that go thru their contract. I believe that in some cases couples are so excited to adopt that they will hear what they want to hear or not hear the small risk.
They spent 21 months of their 24 month contract being gender specific, knowing this would greatly reduce the amount of times their profile would go out to prospective birthmothers. They also were not open to Caucasian, knowing that our statistics sheet which is in our folder they received shows that that is the largest percentage race we place. They did finally open up their search perimeters 3 months before their contact expired.
In terms of adoption, each month is a lifetime. Many of our couples that do not get connected the traditional way by having a birthmother choose their profile; will be connected towards the end of their contract. When a birthmother contacts us and does not want to select a family we choose the family for her from the top of our list of waiting families. This means, that the family that has been with us the longest and is looking to adopt the race of baby that is expected, is chosen by us to work with the birthmom. We also get birthmoms who call us directly from the hospital who have just given birth. We again go to our list and call the couple that has been with us the longest to adopt the baby. THIS is how were maintain a 98% success rate! If you have not been chosen "naturally" from your profile, the LAST months are the most important in your adoption journey. It is when you are called with those babies that are ready to be born or just born and are waiting at the hospital.
We did offer to extend their contract for an additional 3 months at a reduced rate of $1000.00. The normal price is $1,775.00 for 3 months. Initially they were thankful and ready to continue. On April 4, 2014 they called to let us know they would like their check back because they decided not to pursue adoption anymore. If you continue your contract you have earned the right to stay at the top of our list and get these situations I explain above.
It is not our practice to play "God." In the 16 years we have been in business, there have been situations where a couple does not adopt. In many of these situations the reason is clear why someone does not adopt;
*not committed to the program
*deep down didn't really want to adopt
*just going thru the motions for their spouse
*turns down many situations that others follow thru with and are successful
This couple does not fit any of these scenarios, except for being gender specific and limiting when their profile could be shown.
I am willing to extend another 3-month contract at no cost to this couple. They will have to email us for a new 3-month contract to be sent to them. With the current price of Google advertising, this is all I can do. Given that they are warning couples to do their homework before signing up with Angel Adoption, I do not know if they would be willing to work with us again. Also, I know that they are warning others to be wary of Angel Adoption, but currently her brother is signed up with us and was connected with a birthmom days before this Revdex.com complaint.
We currently have one of the top Google marketing teams. There is not a week that goes by that I do not get a call from another adoption agency or facilitator asking how we are dominating Google. We keep the secrets of our success close to us to benefit our clients. We have been truly blessed to have this amazing and very intelligent teamwork for only us.
Please remember that we are under contract with Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois and the Department of Child and Family Services of Illinois. They continually review our web site and our printed material to make sure everything is correct, accurate and no false information is given out.
In reference to the Revdex.com complaint; the Revdex.com is usually reserved for a situation that is fraudulent, unethical, and dire. People who make a Revdex.com claim usually are warning others to never go near this organization. Although we were not successful in placing a baby with this couple, I do not believe we did anything fraudulent, unethical or irresponsible. You will notice we do not have one complaint posted on our Revdex.com profile and our rating is an A+. If this complaint results in the publication on our Revdex.com report on our website it will have a direct result on the number of birthmoms we receive. The birthmothers have nothing more to go on to make their decision. Adoptive Parents are aware of our 16 years in business and the fact that we have placed well over 900 babies in homes.
I am not only an owner but also an adoptive mom of 5 children.
[redacted]Please be aware that I was asked to answer this complaint without using names due to the fact that it may be published on our Revdex.com link, therefore I apologize if it came across as being a cold answer.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2014/05/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Again, like we stated before, we were told that no family had ever gone
through their contract and not received a phone call for a baby. We
understand that things can happen, birth mom can change her mind, adoptive
parents can change their minds, etc. In response to your comment,
"couples will hear what they want to hear," it is ironic that we know
another couple that is going through Angel Adoption that heard the same
thing!
We did spend quite a few months being gender specific, but we were so open
to any race that we felt that they counteracted each other. Also, we paid
Angel over $14,000, so we also felt that we should be able to choose. We
started out in the African American program, which is quite a bit cheaper
than the program we are in now. We were told by our case worker, not Angel
Adoption, that we were limiting ourselves, so that is when we changed to a
different program that broadened our race choices. Angel mentioned that
they adopt about mostly Caucasian children and that it says this in a
pamphlet in the folder we received. I am sure it does, but it would have
been nice if an Angel Adoption employee would maybe remind us of these
statistics every now and then. As a prospective adoptive parents you are
bombarded with tons of paperwork and it would be nice to have someone who
would give you a reminder every now and then.
Angel said that the only thing they can do for us is to extend our
contract for 3-months because of the price of Google advertising. I see
how you continue to stay on top. I am glad to see that the money we paid
you went to your advertising and not mine. I had to ask to be put on
Facebook and Pinterest, even after we were one of the longest couples with
you. One would think that an advertising agency would be working hard for
those parents who had been with them the longest, however this is not
always the case.
Yes, my brother and sister-in-law were matched 8 days before their
contract expired. However, to mention that in this complaint is very
unprofessional. My husband and I paid for our contract just like they did.
We are two separate circumstances and we would like to keep it that way.
However, as for them, they were matched but now could owe up to $20,000
more. They were matched with another agency in another state, so since
there rules are different they will have to pay attorney fees, as well as
a multitude of other fees. I recall being told by Angel that we would have
to pay attorney fees and possible some other state fees, but I was never
under the understanding that we might possibly pay twice the amount we
started at.
So in response to extending our contract and working with Angel again, we
would be willing to if it can be guaranteed that they only money we will
be paying out is attorney fees and some expenses for stay. However, I am
sure that this can not be guaranteed.
We are not warning couples to not use Angel Adoption. We are merely
telling others to know exactly what they are getting into before they do
it.
[redacted]
5th grade teacher
PCS
Final Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2014/05/29) */
I would like our clients to know that I am quite saddened that you were made to feel mislead. We take much pride in our reputation and honesty. I am also sorry to hear that you know of another family that also heard that a family has never gone through their contract and not adopted. That is why we, DCFS and LCFS are so diligent in having our 95% to 98% success rate on our; meeting overview, our web site, our package of information and meeting. The sad fact is that someone has to fall in this 2% to 5% that do not adopt in the 24 months. As I explained before, our program is designed to favor those couples that are near the end of their contract or may have decided to stay on longer.
Contrary to what you think, we take each adoption very personally.
The process of adopting a child is filled with many unknowns, much heartache
and much mental anguish. We remind our adoptive parents to keep
thinking of the end result, a baby that will erase the anguish
the moment they lay eyes on him or her.
In 16 years and after over 1,000 adoptions I have watched our
couples go through much anguish and much joy. They have endured, forged
ahead, cried and fought their disappointment to get that miracle baby in their
arms.
I am not just an adoption professional, but also an adoptive mother of five. In order to be successful in adopting five children you must open yourself up for many disappointments. Personally it took me eight and a half years and nine failed adoptions to adopt my five miracles. It took my strength and tenacity to build my family. We have many couples that have adopted from us twice or even three times. They can all tell you their stories and of how they came to have a house full of children. Personally, I can tell you of the time my husband and I were getting ready to go to court for birthmother relinquishments and received a call not to come. We never found out what happened to that baby boy. Did she place him or did she keep him? Or that same year when our next birthmother's sister called us the night before we were to take the baby home from the hospital to tell us she had chosen another family a doctor in the hospital told her about. Another baby boy we would never know. Or the birthmother we befriended and paid her expenses for four months to find out she was working with three other couples at the same time.
Our first adoption we were chosen in 3 months. In our second adoption it took 29 months to be chosen. Adoption is filled with these; I don't know why situations.
Adoption takes courage. It takes the courage to put yourself into vulnerable situations. It takes the courage to move past previous life disappointments. It takes the courage to accept unknowns. It takes the courage to put your life in the hands of another woman. Upmost it takes patience.
We can most definitely keep you on for 3 more months for no cost. You will be at the top five on our list. Taking advantage of the last minute situations or the birthmoms that may give us a bit more leeway. You are right; we cannot guarantee who will choose you and what the states formalities will be regarding attorney fees. We also cannot guarantee that you will pay just "some" expenses to stay. Some states you may be there for 3 days and others you may be there for 10 days. If a holiday falls in, it may be longer. If it's in state it might be shorter.
We can take you back on as clients, with the search perimeters you had when you left. Open to any race, a birthmother expense budget of $2500.00 and attorney fees. You are a very cute, easy to pick couple. It may just not have been the time yet.
How can we make this situation better for you? I am willing to help.
Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/05/14) */
This family paid $14,200.00 for a 2-year contract with Angel Adoption. We state on our web site that it is not a 100% service. We also state in a seven page meeting overview, on page seven, in the last paragraph that reads, "We have a 95...
to 98 percent rate in placing couples that join us. However wonderful this statistic is, it is not 100%."
No one in our organization would ever tell a family that we have never had anyone go thru their contract and not adopt. That is why we explain in many areas that we have this 95 to 85 percent rate. There will always be someone who falls in this small 3 to 5 percent that go thru their contract. I believe that in some cases couples are so excited to adopt that they will hear what they want to hear or not hear the small risk.
They spent 21 months of their 24 month contract being gender specific, knowing this would greatly reduce the amount of times their profile would go out to prospective birthmothers. They also were not open to Caucasian, knowing that our statistics sheet which is in our folder they received shows that that is the largest percentage race we place. They did finally open up their search perimeters 3 months before their contact expired.
In terms of adoption, each month is a lifetime. Many of our couples that do not get connected the traditional way by having a birthmother choose their profile; will be connected towards the end of their contract. When a birthmother contacts us and does not want to select a family we choose the family for her from the top of our list of waiting families. This means, that the family that has been with us the longest and is looking to adopt the race of baby that is expected, is chosen by us to work with the birthmom. We also get birthmoms who call us directly from the hospital who have just given birth. We again go to our list and call the couple that has been with us the longest to adopt the baby. THIS is how were maintain a 98% success rate! If you have not been chosen "naturally" from your profile, the LAST months are the most important in your adoption journey. It is when you are called with those babies that are ready to be born or just born and are waiting at the hospital.
We did offer to extend their contract for an additional 3 months at a reduced rate of $1000.00. The normal price is $1,775.00 for 3 months. Initially they were thankful and ready to continue. On April 4, 2014 they called to let us know they would like their check back because they decided not to pursue adoption anymore. If you continue your contract you have earned the right to stay at the top of our list and get these situations I explain above.
It is not our practice to play "God." In the 16 years we have been in business, there have been situations where a couple does not adopt. In many of these situations the reason is clear why someone does not adopt;
*not committed to the program
*deep down didn't really want to adopt
*just going thru the motions for their spouse
*turns down many situations that others follow thru with and are successful
This couple does not fit any of these scenarios, except for being gender specific and limiting when their profile could be shown.
I am willing to extend another 3-month contract at no cost to this couple. They will have to email us for a new 3-month contract to be sent to them. With the current price of Google advertising, this is all I can do. Given that they are warning couples to do their homework before signing up with Angel Adoption, I do not know if they would be willing to work with us again. Also, I know that they are warning others to be wary of Angel Adoption, but currently her brother is signed up with us and was connected with a birthmom days before this Revdex.com complaint.
We currently have one of the top Google marketing teams. There is not a week that goes by that I do not get a call from another adoption agency or facilitator asking how we are dominating Google. We keep the secrets of our success close to us to benefit our clients. We have been truly blessed to have this amazing and very intelligent teamwork for only us.
Please remember that we are under contract with Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois and the Department of Child and Family Services of Illinois. They continually review our web site and our printed material to make sure everything is correct, accurate and no false information is given out.
In reference to the Revdex.com complaint; the Revdex.com is usually reserved for a situation that is fraudulent, unethical, and dire. People who make a Revdex.com claim usually are warning others to never go near this organization. Although we were not successful in placing a baby with this couple, I do not believe we did anything fraudulent, unethical or irresponsible. You will notice we do not have one complaint posted on our Revdex.com profile and our rating is an A+. If this complaint results in the publication on our Revdex.com report on our website it will have a direct result on the number of birthmoms we receive. The birthmothers have nothing more to go on to make their decision. Adoptive Parents are aware of our 16 years in business and the fact that we have placed well over 900 babies in homes.
I am not only an owner but also an adoptive mom of 5 children.
[redacted]Please be aware that I was asked to answer this complaint without using names due to the fact that it may be published on our Revdex.com link, therefore I apologize if it came across as being a cold answer.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2014/05/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Again, like we stated before, we were told that no family had ever gone
through their contract and not received a phone call for a baby. We
understand that things can happen, birth mom can change her mind, adoptive
parents can change their minds, etc. In response to your comment,
"couples will hear what they want to hear," it is ironic that we know
another couple that is going through Angel Adoption that heard the same
thing!
We did spend quite a few months being gender specific, but we were so open
to any race that we felt that they counteracted each other. Also, we paid
Angel over $14,000, so we also felt that we should be able to choose. We
started out in the African American program, which is quite a bit cheaper
than the program we are in now. We were told by our case worker, not Angel
Adoption, that we were limiting ourselves, so that is when we changed to a
different program that broadened our race choices. Angel mentioned that
they adopt about mostly Caucasian children and that it says this in a
pamphlet in the folder we received. I am sure it does, but it would have
been nice if an Angel Adoption employee would maybe remind us of these
statistics every now and then. As a prospective adoptive parents you are
bombarded with tons of paperwork and it would be nice to have someone who
would give you a reminder every now and then.
Angel said that the only thing they can do for us is to extend our
contract for 3-months because of the price of Google advertising. I see
how you continue to stay on top. I am glad to see that the money we paid
you went to your advertising and not mine. I had to ask to be put on
Facebook and Pinterest, even after we were one of the longest couples with
you. One would think that an advertising agency would be working hard for
those parents who had been with them the longest, however this is not
always the case.
Yes, my brother and sister-in-law were matched 8 days before their
contract expired. However, to mention that in this complaint is very
unprofessional. My husband and I paid for our contract just like they did.
We are two separate circumstances and we would like to keep it that way.
However, as for them, they were matched but now could owe up to $20,000
more. They were matched with another agency in another state, so since
there rules are different they will have to pay attorney fees, as well as
a multitude of other fees. I recall being told by Angel that we would have
to pay attorney fees and possible some other state fees, but I was never
under the understanding that we might possibly pay twice the amount we
started at.
So in response to extending our contract and working with Angel again, we
would be willing to if it can be guaranteed that they only money we will
be paying out is attorney fees and some expenses for stay. However, I am
sure that this can not be guaranteed.
We are not warning couples to not use Angel Adoption. We are merely
telling others to know exactly what they are getting into before they do
it.
[redacted]
5th grade teacher
PCS
Final Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2014/05/29) */
I would like our clients to know that I am quite saddened that you were made to feel mislead. We take much pride in our reputation and honesty. I am also sorry to hear that you know of another family that also heard that a family has never gone through their contract and not adopted. That is why we, DCFS and LCFS are so diligent in having our 95% to 98% success rate on our; meeting overview, our web site, our package of information and meeting. The sad fact is that someone has to fall in this 2% to 5% that do not adopt in the 24 months. As I explained before, our program is designed to favor those couples that are near the end of their contract or may have decided to stay on longer.
Contrary to what you think, we take each adoption very personally.
The process of adopting a child is filled with many unknowns, much heartache
and much mental anguish. We remind our adoptive parents to keep
thinking of the end result, a baby that will erase the anguish
the moment they lay eyes on him or her.
In 16 years and after over 1,000 adoptions I have watched our
couples go through much anguish and much joy. They have endured, forged
ahead, cried and fought their disappointment to get that miracle baby in their
arms.
I am not just an adoption professional, but also an adoptive mother of five. In order to be successful in adopting five children you must open yourself up for many disappointments. Personally it took me eight and a half years and nine failed adoptions to adopt my five miracles. It took my strength and tenacity to build my family. We have many couples that have adopted from us twice or even three times. They can all tell you their stories and of how they came to have a house full of children. Personally, I can tell you of the time my husband and I were getting ready to go to court for birthmother relinquishments and received a call not to come. We never found out what happened to that baby boy. Did she place him or did she keep him? Or that same year when our next birthmother's sister called us the night before we were to take the baby home from the hospital to tell us she had chosen another family a doctor in the hospital told her about. Another baby boy we would never know. Or the birthmother we befriended and paid her expenses for four months to find out she was working with three other couples at the same time.
Our first adoption we were chosen in 3 months. In our second adoption it took 29 months to be chosen. Adoption is filled with these; I don't know why situations.
Adoption takes courage. It takes the courage to put yourself into vulnerable situations. It takes the courage to move past previous life disappointments. It takes the courage to accept unknowns. It takes the courage to put your life in the hands of another woman. Upmost it takes patience.
We can most definitely keep you on for 3 more months for no cost. You will be at the top five on our list. Taking advantage of the last minute situations or the birthmoms that may give us a bit more leeway. You are right; we cannot guarantee who will choose you and what the states formalities will be regarding attorney fees. We also cannot guarantee that you will pay just "some" expenses to stay. Some states you may be there for 3 days and others you may be there for 10 days. If a holiday falls in, it may be longer. If it's in state it might be shorter.
We can take you back on as clients, with the search perimeters you had when you left. Open to any race, a birthmother expense budget of $2500.00 and attorney fees. You are a very cute, easy to pick couple. It may just not have been the time yet.
How can we make this situation better for you? I am willing to help.