[brighteyesk9]

I am so upset that this is very difficult to post. But I want everyone to know that my husband and I have been ripped off by our adoption agency.
We signed an 18 month contract in April 2004 with an agency. The contract should end in Oct 2005.
However, our agency began by calling and asking us to agree to take a birth mom that wanted over $600 a month for birthmother living expenses and she was only 3 months pregnant. The child was a bi-racial child and we would only agree on a bi-racial child toward the end of the contract if we had not adopted by then.
Then our agency called and ask us to take another bi-racial child that the birthmom was due in 4 weeks. And the birthmom lived in the same county that my husband works as a deputy in.

Our home study was done in May 2004. We were told that the home study would take about 3 weeks. We still to not have a completed home study. The fee for the home study was $1500.

We have paid our agenyc $7500 at this time and the agency refuses to work for us anymore.
The agency is owned and operated by one person.
We ask for our agency to make personal contact with us. To call us and tell us the progress of the adoption. The only time that we heard from the agency was when we called her. And on several of those occassions she was rude. The agency has also hung up the phone on us.

At this point we are trying to get a small portion of our money back from the agency and for the home study.

I have to say that we are not only emotionally upset but down right mad that we have been treated in this manner.

I hope that no one has to go through the emotional or the financial issues that we have been through with our agency.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Alta

[Big Dreamer]

Alta,

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. Unfortunately we had a similar experience with a “big agency” that claimed to place over 300 babies a year.

You can read what we ended up doing at the following link

Did Adoption.com make a difference for you?

What state are you in? If you are in Texas I can recommend a great attorney/agency.

I will PM you and let you know the name of this agency. On the outside they sound awesome, in reality….well lets just say I will PM you…

Hugs and hang in there,
Maria

[emsd55]

I am truly sorry to hear what you are going through. Belive me, I can sympathize with you. My husband and I had a similar problem with an agency we were dealing with (which we are no longer using). Have you tried contacting the individual who has done your home study? I don't know what state you are in, but usually the background check will take approximately one month. But the rest of the homestudy should not take that long. My husband and I were using an out of state agency, who has lost their article 13 to do busines my husband and I are living in. We had already laid out $4,000. The agency we were dealing with claimed that they placed 300 babies a year. That money was for our family profile. I am quite surprised that your home study cost $1,500. Again, I don't know what state you are in, our home study was only $950. Have you done any kind of background check on the agency? I would. Try to contact the state social service department to find out and the Better Business Bureau to see what is up with them. The agency we were using "dumped us". One of the agreements that was reached between the state that agency was in and where we are came to an agreement and they had to refer us to another agency. Which they did. Luckily, the new agency took everything we had. Good lucky with everything and let me know what happens.

Janet

[ShellyFL]

This would be a great post to put in the forum for your state, so others can be aware. Being from Florida, I think I know what agency you are talking about, and it is great to know this info! It is really helpful to hear others experiences. Stay strong, and stay positive. It will happen for you!!

[emsd55]

thanks for the response and the support. something will eventually happen.

[bunny2]

Hello! After reading your emails, I am super concerned about choosing someone that I can trust. I am looking at an agency in Utah and another in TX. Please send me any information that you have on ones to stay away from!

Thanks so much!

[brighteyesk9]

Oh how I wish I could tell you what agencies to stay away from. I honestly do not know.
If I had to do it over again, I would contact the state licenseing board. That is where I would start. Also you may want to contact several attornies and ask them if they can refer an agency.
Just be careful and I wish you the best of luck.
Alta

[emsd55]

We were referred to a new agency. When we received the info for the new agency there was correspondence along with it that came from the state adoption agency that we live in. Thanks.

[Big Dreamer]

Hi Bunny,

If you PM me I will tell you the name of an agency to be leary of.

I can also tell you the name of a great agency in TX they are located in Dallas.

Though we moved to San Antonio from the Dallas area we will use them when we are ready to adopt again.

Best Wishes,
Maria

[Triathelete2]

My Husband and I are just starting the process here in Florida and are afraid that we will choose the wrong agency. Especially after reading this thread. If anyone knows of any good angencies in Florida would they please pm me or post.

[Jackie99]

Needs to be regulation of agenices, faciliators, lawyers and birthmoms in the US. I understand what you are saying and I am trying to figure out a way to there is regulations when it comes to adoptions.

I could tell you terrible stories with our agency, lawyers, social workers, and birth mom after us flying to another state for the birth and delivery to say no I am keeping the baby as the social workers convinced me I can get food stamps and welfare to raise the child.

Our adoption agency increased fees from $8500 to $15800 and then dropped back to $9500 as no one was signing up.

THere needs to be regulation all the way around and through Child and Family Services is not the answer.

I fell your pain.

Jackie