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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-10 > 1191796293


From: "David Weston" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] About Genebase
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 19:31:33 -0300
References: <851083.98928.qm@web55401.mail.re4.yahoo.com><0a9801c80872$ef08bb80$640fa8c0@Villandra2><000001c808e7$988e7680$6500a8c0@dell><000601c80915$52e8a280$640fa8c0@Villandra2>
In-Reply-To: <000601c80915$52e8a280$640fa8c0@Villandra2>


I do not believe that Genebase is guilty of anything other than poor planning, website design and
seriously underestimating customer demands, by jumping into a technically complicated market they
appear not to have been staffed or equipped to handle. Look at the trouble FTDNA had when they
first started their DeepSNP service. GeneBase is providing people results to their customers now so
they must be overcoming their initial problems and I don't believe it can be honestly said they are
out to deliberately scam anyone. GeneTrack BioLabs, the company behind GeneBase, is an established
genetics lab originally focused on paternity suits and other legal testing servives. Here is an
article from the Globe and Mail, a Canadian national newspaper, on them from Feb 2007:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070207.wdnaaa0207/BNStory/

GeneTrack BioLabs has been accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a Biology/DNA forensics
lab since at least 2003. You can see their Scope of Accreditation certificate here:

http://www.scc.ca/Asset/iu_files/lab_scope_gb_inc_e.pdf

Their Scope of Accreditation was expanded and extended to 2011 here:

http://palcan.scc.ca/specs/pdf/338_e.pdf

Regardless of the above, I firmly believe in corporate accountability. Corporate behaviour in
Canada is governed by the province in which the company is registered. Refer to the "Business
Practices & Consumer Protection Authority of British Columbia" (http://www.bpcpa.ca/) for
information on how to lodge complaints against companies based there. Concerns with false or
misleading advertising can be made through "Adverstising Standards Canada" council
(http://www.adstandards.com/en/). Suspected on-line fraud or scams can be reported to the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Telemarketing Task Force, known as Project Phonebusters
(http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams/tfraud_e.htm).

Also, if it is felt an accredited lab is not meeting appropriate standards of genetic testing,
complaints can also be made to the Standards Council of Canada (http://www.scc.ca/en/index.shtml).


David W.



-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of
Dora Smith
Sent: October 7, 2007 4:08 PM
To:
Subject: [DNA] About Genebase

I checked out the link David provided below - and boy, that is some
"review". Actually a blog in response to a favorable review. The
comments are unanimously negative. There appears to be serious problems
with this company. Hard to know if it's intentional fraud or if they just
aren't bothering to provide what they sell; actually looks like the latter, but there is a point
where it makes little difference what the intention is.
Two people actually reported getting new meaning to bare bones results back
from the company. The main complaints seem to be that the web site
doesn't work and has never worked, service is slow to nonexistent, customer service is completely
nonresponsive, and issues arise that don't arise with any other company; and the local BBB report on
them is consistent with that.
I got the idea that not enough of Genebase's customers know where to complain for the BBB to have
accumulated enough grounds for legal action.

I did some fast research and added to the blog some highly pertinent information the people who
commented lacked, including the physical address of the company that owns Genebase, and specific
information on where and how
to complain effectively about this company. People on the blog said they
didn't know where Genebase is physically located - that web site carefully never says - and they
vaguely thought they should possibly complain to the
Attorney General. Actually one complains to the local BBB, which has the
power to investigate and seek resolutions, and which does refer companies
for legal action if over time it becomes indicated. I recently went this
route with a Canadian company, and it worked. It's very easy to complain
to a Canadian BBB. ;)

I also noticed that you need specific Google searches to get into the Genebase website without
registering first. The home page makes you
register with them to get into the web site. Already that looks suspicious
to me. It's a strategy that is common on the web sites of less than
scrupulous dealers.

Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin, TX



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