Daniel D Tnl

PaternityUSA is a GREAT company!!!

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I am actually more than just satisfied with PaternityUSA; it’s the best choice I could have made!

This is going to be long, but take a minute to hear me out. It is important.

I found myself in a situation I never thought I would be in - needing a paternity test.

I did my research and although I know 3 people, family members and close friends, that have used PaternityUSA in the past (yes, they’ve apparently been around that long), I almost made the decision to go with another company based on a few recent online reviews that are very similar to each other by the way. I further read these reviews, and taking them in their entirety, they don’t seem to even make real logical sense of a buying situation that would really happen. I decided to call them and see what they were about.

They answered, which is the first big plus in my book. I had a great conversation with a member of the staff, and they explained that it was a fake review.

So, I felt comfortable with them, and I went ahead and ordered.

BEST DECISION. Had my kit right away, sent it back ASAP and got results in 2 days. Accurate and reliable just like they say.

I had told them that After I got my result and my case was complete, that I myself would become an advocate per se, in hopes of preventing this from happening to someone else.

Anyways, I mentioned that I had come across some negative reviews online. The review was on one of these third party sites with a person who claims to have paid over $600.00 for a sibling test???

But their sibling tests are $135.00. Hence my point. Don’t believe everything you read unless it is a verified-purchase review system.

I know this isn’t a news flash but SO many online reviews are fake. In talking with a manager, I found out that PaternityUSA actually has a company in place that emails their real clients and requests reviews.

When someone decides to participate in a review, the review is posted right to their site www.paternityusa.com. It is a verified purchaser review received through a third party company that is automatically posted.

Now here is the interesting thing to consider. Other sites’ online reviews have absolutely no verification or fact-checks and are often either filled with exaggeration or completely false allegations. There is no evidence to support a purchase or that the reviewer was an actual customer and no absolutely no due diligence on the part of the review site.

These sites are actually BUSINESSES that make their money by people and companies trying to get bad (and often fake) reviews removed.

In fact, look online at the reviews on these review sites themselves. You can plainly see that some of them are simply extortion companies where “someone” posts something atrocious about a company or a person and then they can pay or sue the website to remove it?! What a racket!

Truth be told, there are countless horror stories online about these types of review sites and reviews made by competing businesses, former employees, vendors and yes sometimes customers that review several times with several different stories on several review platforms.

The best advice I have is only read reviews that say “verified” and talk to the company yourself. Form your own opinion.

Don’t just see that a couple of people, whomever they may be again former employees, competitors, etc, said some derogatory things and let that erase ALL of the GREAT reviews from verified purchasers. When you take a DNA test, you have a very serious question you need answered and in my opinion, that buying decision shouldn’t be left to anyone’s words on the internet. Make calls or send emails and do your homework. If you want to find out if someone is really in your family, isn’t it worth the time since you could make or break family ties for generations to come?

This process is so important – not only to you but to your whole family for years and years. Be sure you make an educated choice.

Best of luck to all of you out there that may be where I was.

PaternityUSA was the best option for me so check them out. They may be for you, too!

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Pros:
  • Great value and results very accurate
  • Cheap
Cons:
  • Honestly none
Reason of review:
Good customer service
6 comments
Guest

You sound like someone who works for the company, going to such great lengths to defend EVERY angle...suspicious...

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1935760

The first posting has no story, just raves about the company which I find entirely insincere, for someone who needed a paternity test. Anyone who is seeking DNA evidence of a familial connection, would have written about their own personal experience.

Guest

I tied them too, and honestly took the time to do this because they did such a great job, and don not deserve FAKE NEWS. They did a great job! That other thing was an obvious fake, they don't have tests that sell for that much.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1742331

GREAT JOB!! Thanks!!!

Guest

These types of false reviews really hurt the consumer when a competitor can trash someone without recourse. Thanks for taking the time to help. My test went without a hitch too.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1730219

How do you know someone's review is 'false'?

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Arnold S Gzq
map-marker Waipahu, Hawaii

Owner is a crook?

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I had a similar experience when there was a slight issue ordering a sibling DNA test. I wanted to test DNA with my half sibling and did not want to use a cheap test from Walgreens or CVS.

When my sibling test did not arrive I had to call and was subject to an endless phone tag until finally being able to reach the owner. I had the displeasure of speaking with this person who was haughty and childish once he became belligerent. He calls himself Ed Leon but his real name is Porfirio Leon. Looks like he has a criminal history and has been the subject of civil actions as well.

I just wanted the sibling test but he insisted the DNA kit had been sent out already. He fabricated the same lies that another person complained about over 5 years ago, that it was not up to him but the company owner named Steve, and then brought up a family emergency. I don't know why he would lie about such things, as it had nothing to do with the issue regarding my DNA test, other than to enjoy deceiving people and being manipulative. Eventually he agreed to look into the missing sibling test.

I waited another week but was told they were looking into the DNA lab for the test. It's been months since I ordered the test for my sibling and myself but I gave up because I don't want to deal with this person anymore

View full review
Loss:
$610
Pros:
  • Cheap
Cons:
  • Service
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
Anonymous
map-marker Waipahu, Hawaii

Owner is a crook?

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I had a similar experience when there was an issue ordering a sibling DNA test. I wanted to test DNA with my half sibling and did not want to use a cheap test from Walgreens or CVS.

When my sibling test did not arrive I had to call and was subject to an endless phone tag until finally being able to reach the owner. I had the displeasure of speaking with this person who was haughty and childish once he became belligerent. He calls himself Ed Leon but his real name is Porfirio Leon. Looks like he has a criminal history and has been the subject of civil actions as well.

I just wanted the sibling test but he insisted the DNA kit had been sent out already. He fabricated the same lies that another person complained about over 5 years ago, that it was not up to him but the company owner named Steve, and then brought up a family emergency. I don't know why he would lie about such things, as it had nothing to do with the issue regarding my DNA test, other than to enjoy deceiving people and being manipulative. Eventually he agreed to look into the missing sibling test.

I waited another 2 weeks but was told they were looking into the DNA lab for the test. It's been months since I ordered the test for my sibling and myself but I gave up because I don't want to deal with this person anymore

View full review
Crissie B
map-marker Hutto, Texas

Paternity-Usa quoted one price; owner yelled when asked to honor price and refused to perform test.

On September 8, 2010, I ordered a collection kit from Paternity-USA . The cost was $150. When I was unable to obtain a buccal swab from my aunt I called Paternity-USA and explained the situation. I was told that it would cost another $125. I was unable to pay this amount and explained that I would call back when I was able to pay it.

I called back in a couple of days and spoke with Ed Leon. I asked his advice as to what type of sample I should send. He explained that a hair sample would be the best option. He went on to give me the percentages of results from a toothbrush, etc. and that they had a 100% success rate when testing hair. He explained that I should obtain the hair from a hairbrush and gather several in order to have the greater possibility that one of the samples would contain DNA. I sent these samples and waited for my results. I understood that the results would be posted in 3-5 days.

I called Paternity-USA on the fifth day to ensure that the results would be posted on the website that day. I spoke with Maura and she told me that the lab was unable to obtain suitable DNA from the sample that I sent, and that I could send another sample. When I inquired as to the cost, Maura asked me to hold. She then came back on the phone and informed me that her manager had approved the test for $100, since I had had problems with the first sample. I paid the amount with a credit card.

On the following Monday, Maura called me and was unable to reach me. She then the home phone number and reached my husband. Without even confirming his identity by using the order number, etc. , she discussed the case with him. She explained that she had quoted me the wrong price and that I would need to pay an additional $100 for the sample t o be processed.

He informed her that it was a verbal agreement and that they should uphold their end of the bargain. He asked to speak to her supervisor but she explained that he would be out of the office for several days due to a family crisis. Needless to say, my family was having a crisis as well and my husband demanded that he give us a call regardless of his location.

We didn't receive a call from Ed that evening, so I called the company the next day. The call was answered by Ed. This led me to believe that perhaps it was untrue that he would be out of the office for several days.

When I began to tell him the situation he interrupted and said rudely, "Yeah, I know who you are. Let me tell you what happened. We had another customer that was sending a second sample since they couldn't obtain a buccal swab. I thought that was who she was asking about and approved the $100 payment . It's usually $125, but we usually give it to them for $100." (I was required to pay the full $125, even though I explained that it would take me a couple of days to get it. I was never offered the option of paying only $100).

He then said that he had misquoted the price and that the lab work wouldn't be done until I paid the remaining $100.

I replied that it was an error on their part and that they should still honor the price that I had paid.

He became irate and said that he was in the business to make money for the company and I would just have to pay it. He yelled that if I didn't want to pay the additional $100 that he would refund the $100 that I already paid. This, obviously, is not a reasonable course of action for me since I would then have to start over with another company and pay t he standard fee in addition to the higher cost for using a non-standard sample.

He told me that it wasn't his problem and that I had to pay it if I wanted the sample tested.. When I challenged whether or not they were a reputable company he kept saying that he processed over 3000 orders a month and that they were a reputable company and this was their policy.

During this conversation, he was extremely unprofessional and condescending. I explained that I had already paid $25 to send the sample. He said they had called me and were unable to get me, and that I should've know because I had called twenty times the previous day and that they had already told me what was required. I explained that they called my husband and spoke to him. He then responded that he didn't know why they even explained this to my husband. I agreed, since the privacy policy clearly states " we only speak with the person who actually purchased the test, and never with the other party unless we received an authorization in writing."

He said, "Good luck proving that" in regard to the fact that he had spoken with my husband. I told him that we had the telephone bill that would prove it, as well as a voicemail message from Maura that specified that the call was in regards to the DNA test.

Throughout the conversation he yelled at me in a very unprofessional manner. I was astounded and disgusted that someone that I had trusted with something as important as a DNA test would behave in such a way. I admit to raising my voice in response. This is such an emotionally charged situation already, and to have someone that basically holds the truth to my parentage in their hand yell at me was extremely difficult to handle.

Ed then told me that he had already explained the situation and that I and my "police husband" could just deal with it.

When I asked for his name he initially gave me his first and last name. I asked him to spell his last name and he began yelling again, saying that he didn't have to provide that information. I then asked for the name of the person that was in charge of the company, and he said that he was the only person I needed to talk to, that he had the last say in this situation. When I asked for his position he identified himself as the sales manager. I later found out that he is actually the owner of Paternity-USA . I continued to ask for his last name and he continued to yell at me that he didn't have to give it to me. The conversation ended abruptly, leaving me shaken and believing that I had no recourse.

I called customer service at GTL and spoke to Cindy, and explained the situation. She was very considerate and sympathetic and, after putting me on hold, assured me that GTL was going to charge back Paternity USA for the balance, and that my sample would be processed

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11 comments
Guest

I, for one, would never use a company that post personal information on the Internet. Difficult customer or not. Very, very unprofessional.

Guest

The rant by this person is the only one negative thing I could find about PaternityUSA. If PaternityUSA was in any way what that lady described, then they would have had other complaints.

WoW I feel sorry for the folks at the lab that had to deal with that one.

I bought a test, and they did a great job!!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-600989

And you just happen to know they have been in business ten years? Ed Leon, is that you?

Guest

I agree. Go the the testing center. The website makes it seem more affordable but after all of the extra charges it costs just as much, and I'm sure the lab is much more professional.

Guest

Why not just go to a DNA testing center for the work? Why waste all that time mailing *** back and forth when you can have it done and over with in ten minutes and the results in four days?

Guest

As you can see. How could anyone not object to having their name related to such a personal matter? He just keeps proving everything I've said about him.

Guest

FOR THE RECORD: In 8yrs this is the first time we have been thrust into this situation of having to defend ourselves from the wildly false, and exaggerated rants of one client of the thousands served.... At no other time has our company ever been forced to disclose any facts regarding a case.

Additionally, this client was given notice on at least 3 occasions that a rebuttal would contain her identification as well...

This client had no objection to her name being used, in-fact she when sent a copy of the rebuttal days before it was published, she responded by posting 3 additional false and grossly exaggerated rants....

NO PRIVACY POLICY VIOLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED....

This is what the privacy policy reads:

1. Notice. When we collect your personal information, we’ll give you timely and appropriate notice describing what personal information we’re collecting, how we’ll use it, and the types of third parties with whom we may share it.

In the end, we regret that any potential client be exposed to this exchange, but again, this is the first such exchange in over 8 years....

We will work more tirelessly than ever to try to prevent such an exchange again....

We do very much desire to serve your DNA testing needs!!!

Thank you in advance for your consideration & business!!!

Guest

The only thing I have to say about this, besides that it is a competed complete fabrication, is that obviously you cannot trust this man to protect your privacy, as he has pasted my name all over the Internet. Again, please email me at cb78634@***.com and I will be happy to forward all the nasty and threatening emails he has sent me. It appears that he had someone else compose the above post for him. His emails are much less dignified.

Also, it has been four months since the test was performed, yet he contacted me in December.

Please note, he has posted my legal and nickname, so that there will be no doubt as to whom he is referring to. Very unprofessional. If my name isn't removed by tomorrow I will file charges against him for violating the agreed upon privacy policy. If you want to protect your privacy I suggest you select another company. He contracts the test out to a lab. Look it up and go straight to them. I think they are cheaper anyway.

Guest

It’s very obvious that Paternity-USA is not the company Crissie Ballard portrays, by the fact that in 8 years we’ve never had anything bad written about us until this client….

Please note, at the end of the day Crissie Ballard got exactly what she wanted (at our loss), so we could just move on and serve other clients, SO WHERE IS THE RIP-OFF?????

WE HAVE SOLD 1000’s & 1000’s OF DNA TESTS, AND HAVE SERVED EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, DIGNITY AND DISCRETION.

As such in my opinion, this is just the rant of A Highly Emotional, Angry, Self Righteous, and Very Combative client….

In the story Cheryl Ballard wrote, she depicts herself as a mistreated client, but the story bears no similarity to the actual facts, what really happened, or why.

She writes… “He went on to give me the percentages of results from a toothbrush, etc. and that they had a 100% success rate when testing hair. He explained that I should obtain the hair from a hairbrush and gather several in order to have the greater possibility that one of the samples would contain DNA.”

First of all, we are in the business of statistics. We NEVER quote anything as 100%. Anyone who knows anything about DNA knows that 100% is never, ever used. Hair samples do have a very high probability of retaining DNA; however the sample she sent in was degraded. We could have gotten DNA from the hair with very high levels of forensics, which is not available at the $125 price she already stated she could not afford. Additionally, her statement simply doesn’t make sense… If she were told we had 100% success rate with hair, why would she be told to “gather several strands to have the greater possibility that one of the samples would contain DNA”. She contradicts herself here. We do in fact tell people to send about 6-10 strands with the root attached when gathering hair samples.

As far as someone speaking to Crissie Ballard’s husband regarding the case, she gave us her home phone number and authority to speak to him regarding the case. Her husband’s name is on the contact information provided by her on the original online order…. We had tried to call her several times regarding the hair sample and were unable to reach her. She informed us that she in her employment she could not easily be reached during the day, to speak with her husband if needed. When we called her home phone number – he identified himself by name (which she had previously given to us) and as her husband, answering the HOME phone number SHE gave us. He still was not given specific case information or any confidential information regarding results – but only consulted with regarding a price.

Now on to heart of the matter…. Mrs. Ballard had several changes to her order, and unfortunately she was misquoted the price for the third change. The reported opinions of the service representatives helping her were that when they tried to explain to the client that an error had occurred, that Crissie Ballard came across our telephone lines like a grizzly bear, but then turned on crocodile tears when she could not get her way…. It was an honest mistake, but she could not be understanding or reasoned with. She DEMANDED the service be provided at a discounted price due to the mistake. A full refund was even offered to her for that portion of unperformed testing, but she would not accept. She would not stop badgering our employees until she got her way.

The claims she made about being treated harshly and yelled at are completely unfounded and untrue. Crissie Ballard was treated with dignity and courtesy until she became overly belligerent and spiteful. At that point, even though it was difficult, she was not yelled at, but we remained as calm as possible in dealing with her and her numerous calls, threats and rants.

In the end, so we could move on with our lives, we did authorize for her to get what she wanted at a loss to the company, only to be libeled and falsely maligned as a thank-you….

It’s so sad that the thousands and thousands of satisfied clients we have served have no place to give rave reviews, and yet one disgruntled client can ruin an otherwise perfect record….

As a matter of fact, these events occurred over 4 months ago, and just few days ago, Crissie Ballard is still finding places to leave anonymous reviews and tell her false-story. In-fact, the ONLY bad reports on us on the entire WWW are ALL from Crissie Ballard….

I will start having some of the many satisfied clients we serve on a month in month out basis to post their views on how their experience with us went….

We feel that perhaps our best defense is to allow other client to put this rant by Cheryl Ballard in its place….

PLEASE DO NOT LET THE UNFOUNDED RANT OF ONE DISGRUNTLED CLIENT OUT OF THOUSANDS SWAY YOU AWAY FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH US….

WE WILL WORK HARD TO SERVE YOUR DNA TESTING NEEDS!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-237021

You will work hard to serve our DNA needs, and just as hard to plaster our name all over the Internet. Staying away!!!!!

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