Avvo Inc

The issue has been resolved

Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because: Only one of two reviews were claimed to be posted
Sincerely,
*** ***

Complaint: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because: YOU HAVE NOT RIGHT TO ASSIGN A RATING TO ME WHEN I AM NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE INDUSTRY YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH.  REMOVE THE RATING IMMEDIATELY.  IT IS MEANINGLESS TO PUBLISH THAT I AM NOT PRACTICING IF YOU ASSIGN AN ARBITRARY RATING TO ME.Sincerely,[redacted]

We have reached out to the consumer by email and phone to add them to the DNC list.  We have started the process.
 
Thank you.

We believe we have resolved this matter.
 
Thank you

This isn't a proper complaint for the Revdex.com, as it involves Avvo's publishing activities, not a commercial transaction.
Avvo rates attorneys in order to provide consumers with more information about the often-opaque legal industry. The Avvo Rating is calculated using an algorithm that takes into...

account numerous factors in an attorney’s background. The rating is based on the information found in an attorney’s Avvo profile; the more information available, the better the assessment can be. While Avvo bases profiles on state licensing and disciplinary data, and manually adds other information it finds online, every attorney is going to know best the details of their own background. Attorneys can "claim" their Avvo profiles, for free, and add such information. To learn more about the Avvo Rating, visit http://www.avvo.com/support/avvo_rating

Thank you for contacting Avvo. We do not delete profiles on Avvo.com. The information in a lawyer profile is pulled from public records and publicly available information. If you are concerned that public information we share on our website is incorrect, please let us know and we will do our...

best to update it. Please also check with your state bar association to ensure your information is updated in the public records. You can also claim your profile and update your information that way. Once you claim your profile you may add or update information in your profile including your practice areas, work and academic experience, and professional achievements. You will also have the ability to ask for reviews from current and former clients and endorsements from other attorneys. Please note that when you claim your Avvo Profile, we will automatically calculate a numerical Avvo Rating that will appear on your profile page and in search results.

This isn't really a proper complaint for the Revdex.com, as it involves Avvo's first-amendment-protected publishing activities. We don't remove profiles of attorneys. However, I will make sure that Ms. [redacted] is added to our do-not-call list.

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Sincerely, [redacted]

We apologize for the confusion, but our records & the state bars of AZ and TX confirm that these are different individuals. The disbarred TX attorney was originally licensed in 1990 and graduated from a different law school than the AZ attorney, who was licensed in 2002. It is unfortunate that...

you had a bad experience with the AZ lawyer and would encourage you to file a complaint with the state of AZ. However, Avvo relies on state records to ensure attorney profiles are up to date, and we have confirmed that these are not the same individual.  Thanks,Jereme F[redacted], Avvo Legal Program Manager

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because the response is a TOTAL LIE. I never called the company at all, and the entire exchange was by email. I wad invited by the company to write a review on February 26. I submitted a negative review on March 1, which was denied without explanation on March 2.When I complained that the review I wrote did meet the site guidelines, a customer care rep named Ann, wrote back and APPROVED my review:“Thanks for taking the time to write to us. I have approved your most recent client review and it is now posted in your attorney's profile. We have a team of people who read client reviews to ensure they meet our community guidelines, and sometimes we make mistakes. Thanks for pointing this out and giving us a chance to correct it.” I did NOT have to rewrite anything, as my original review was approved as is. Confirmation that my review was approved was sent on March 3 (see attached).On March 24, 2017, however, I checked AVVO’s site and found my review of K[redacted] was no longer posted. Immediately, I wrote AVVO that I did not “see my review posted at all” and asked why it had disappeared? AVVO did not answer this message or more than 50 follow-up queries.When no one at AVVO replied to my support request by March 23, I wrote back and asked, “You did not respond within the promised 1-3 business days. Why not?” After 10 more messages to AVVO went unanswered, I tried to submit a new support request on April 2, but discovered that AVVO had suspended my account—all without telling me why.See attached.Evidence is attached showing the approval, that the review has since disappeared (as there are NO reviews in the lawyer's profile), and that I was suspended for asking over and over again why an APPROVED review was removed. The company is not telling the truth here and, as usual, has submitted NO supporting documents.On information and belief, AVVO runs a scam website where it pushes legal advice for sale, inflates reviews to entrap customers into using one of their lawyers, and then blocks negative reviews.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Complaint: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because:  It sounds like you have no control over your sales team.  I will not accept this issue as resolved because of this.  Thank you for explaining my qualifications to me.  If you can explain that then perhaps you can explain to your sales team what they may and may not promise?It's unfortunate you'd rather damage your business reputation than refund money you unlawfully took from an account.Sincerely,[redacted]

Sorry about the unwanted calls. We will add to the do-not-call list. However, it's possible that some attorneys will still get called a) if they have claimed their Avvo profiles, or b) if the licensing data we have is not associated with the firm name. We can certainly add any specific attorneys to...

the DNC list if you send me a list of attorneys.

We here at Avvo apologize about the phone calls. We were simply reaching out to see if you were interested in updating the information on your free online profile. I understand the frustration of these calls, and have placed you on our 'Do Not Contact' list. Please allow up to 2-3 business days for...

all calls to stop. 
 
In regards to your profile, these are created from publicly available information and public record. We do not delete profiles for that reason. If you believe something we are posting is inaccurate, please contact your state bar to have it corrected. You can also email us at [email protected] if you need something updated. 
 
Thanks,
 
Jereme F[redacted], Avvo Legal Program Manager

While we apologize for the frustration this has caused Mr. [redacted], Avvo does not remove reviews upon demand, or disclose account-identifying information. We also do not investigate the substance of reviews, or require any evidence of the matters discussed in reviews. Ours is an open forum for...

clients to leave and read reviews. Preserving that openness is critical to our being a credible source for consumer legal information, and it is a big part of the reason why millions of consumers rely on Avvo every month when choosing a lawyer.   This openness is balanced with pre-screening of reviews for compliance with Avvo’s Community Guidelines and our dispute process, under which we will – on attorney request – take a review down and let the reviewer know that it has been challenged. We only re-post the review if the reviewer affirms it. If you’d like us to initiate that process, please let me know. In this case, we contacted the reviewer and they affirmed that they were a client of Mr. [redacted] and would like their review to remain posted. Additionally, We do not delete profiles on Avvo.com. The information in a lawyer profile is pulled from public records and publicly available information.

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Sincerely, [redacted]

Complaint: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because:
 
When I had contacted the company before filing a complaint with Revdex.com, they did not even mention or offer the “rating not displayed.”  If they insist on listing my name, then they should provide their “rating not displayed” option.  Had they done so in the beginning, we wouldn't have wasted all this time of back and forth.    Sincerely,[redacted]

Complaint: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because:
As I previously wrote, the First Amendment does not give Avvo permission to use my personal information for profit without my consent. I am repeating my original request that Avvo remove my personal profile from their website. At this time, Avvo is unlawfully using my name for an exploitative purpose without my consent. Sincerely,[redacted]

We can flag you profile at your request as to not practicing.  
Please advise if you would like us to do this.
Outside of this Avvo considers the matter closed.

Thank you for reaching out. I apologize that [redacted] was unable to better assist you. I have taken a look at your account and approved the client reviews you are referring to. These were denied in error, but are now published. Please let me know if I can assist further. Thank...

you, Jereme F[redacted] Avvo Legal Program Manager