Search Engine Optimization News Blog

A Redmond based SEO firm is being sued by the State of Washington over allegedly ripping off numerous small clients – mostly family owned businesses in the area who contracted them to do web services at costs ranging from $3,750 to $9750 with ongoing fees of $40-$100 a month.

The Attorney general’s office states that the company, Visible.net, and owner, Gilbert Walker have been:
Misrepresenting the ability to significantly increase traffic to customer Web sites by achieving top search-engine rankings and failing to deliver other promised services.
Falsely claiming an affiliation with other marketers including Specialty Merchandise Company, a so-called drop-ship wholesaler.
Claiming that its customer service representatives can be reached at any time when, in fact, customers are often unable to reach representatives and sometimes do not receive return calls.
Failing to provide refunds or honor cancellation requests.
Continuing to bill the credit cards of some consumers who have attempted to cancel and submitting alleged debts to collection agencies.
Failing to register with the Department of Licensing as a commercial telephone solicitor and failing to provide written confirmation of a consumer’s rights under the Commercial Telephone Solicitation Act.

90 complaints have apparently been lodged against the company in the past four years. Visible.net’s reply basically states the Attorney General is “misinformed at best“ and that “with all due respect to the Washington Attorney General, we believe that Google, and other search engines, understand search engine optimization and website marketing far better than the Washington Attorney General”.
They go on to state in their official answer to the allegations:
“In fact, we feel so confident that our products and methods work that we offered to have a neutral industry expert selected by the Washington Attorney General make an independent determination of whether the allegations against Visible.net are correct after being given unfettered access to Visible.net’s business, records and software. We are disappointed that the Washington Attorney General has thus far ignored this offer and instead has filed an action based on speculation and innuendo, some of which has come from Visible.net’s competitors. In deciding to litigate rather that take us up on our offer, the Washington Attorney General is disregarding the scores of satisfied customers who have taken it upon themselves to write and send us emails complementing Visible.net on its outstanding customer service and products.”

Time will tell if SEOs will be held accountable for their actions!