Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/23/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 7/2/24 I was charged $580 with pending balance of $325.15 for the certification of 15 stamps and 3 covers. The foundation made a clear error on misidentifying stamp item ****** color and catalogue number. Certificates are reviewed and signed by *********************. These mistakes were signed off on and mailed to my address.I expressed concern over the mistakes along with others such as wrongfully describing an error stamp item ****** in stating "natural straight edge on left as always" when it is very rare to have straight edge on left and furthermore does not note the error itself on certificate. The also left out watermark information for item ****** but included watermark information for another item ******. When I expressed concern they quickly mailed a corrected certificate and stated I was complaining to try to avoid paying dues owed. I first emailed them telling them that I was not going to continue with there service because it takes too long at the risk of an error to have to restart. The foundation was also informed that everything was mailed back to them including good certificates which I expressed I liked but to do so with integrity I am sending everything back with genuine concerns regarding their services. Everything was mailed back to them July 15, 2024 and in an email I stated this the same day. The next day ********************* emailed me that they corrected it and that I was just trying to avoid paying. **************** is very concerning as well as they never expressed common courtesy even after making mistakes on certificates and reviews. There are still concerns in how they did not check for watermark on a potential high value stamp but did check watermarks and noted it on a lesser value stamp. As noted above.I asked for a refund because I will have to pay another firm to correct their issues. There response was that they are the only certification grading company when that is not true there is also PSE.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/08/2024

  RE:  Complaint #********
  
  Responses from The Philatelic Foundation:
  
              ********************************** submitted 18 items to the Philatelic Foundation for opinions as to the genuineness of the stamps and covers. Thirteen of the items were not as the submitter described including ten that were either forgeries, counterfeits or reprints and are basically worthless.  Two certificates included typographical errors that were immediately corrected. ********************** then continued to submit complaints on various opinions which were not valid and not warranted.  The Philatelic Foundation was always courteous with its responses. On the J38 stamp he complained that we did not identify the watermark.  We identified it as J38 which is listed in the ***** Catalogue as a double line watermark.  ********************** submitted the stamp as J29 which is much more valuable and has no watermark.
  
              We provided ********************** with an educational reply (copy enclosed) as to why he is wrong in his objection to our opinion on the ********
  
              On the application to the Philatelic Foundation ********************** agreed to the terms which included fee adjustments based on the value of the certified stamps and covers.  Opinions are not returnable because one doesnt like the opinions, in fact according to the terms (copy included) a minimum fee of $27 is charged even if the expert committee is unable to render an opinion.  ********************* underpaid for the minimal services by $325.15.  We believe, all of ********************** complaints were just to avoid paying for the services rendered.
  
              The next page is a listing of the stamps ********************** submitted and the ** opinions rendered.
  
  We strongly believe the complaint by ********************** is without merit.
  
                                                                                      Very truly yours,
  
                                                                                      *********************
                                                                                      Executive Director