Just say No thank you. Tell them you will give them $200 if it turns out to be a good client and watch them balk.

I agree, just say no. Feeding off agents has become a cottage industry.

Roberta, they must have called you right after they called me!

Started exactly like this ...

the guy who called: "Do you have a broker there?" ... I'm sure you can all imagine the mood they set right away!

... so my response was: "How can I help you? And may I ask who's calling?" ...

he: "*whatevername* with Real Estate Client Referral"

me: "I won't waster your or my time ... we're not interested in any Referral providers"

he: "so, do you have a broker there?"

me: "I AM THE BROKER and we are not interested, thank you!"

he: ... just hung up ...

I've been getting way too many of these in the last year ... majority of these people can't do much more for you than what you can do yourself. Why let them do the SEO and get the leads that you can target on the internet yourself?

Also, be careful with these companies ... they might say it's not a referral fee but in reality it is and they should have real estate license to receive referral payments.

happy to help :-). I just thought it was funny you got the same call and posted about it here!

I had an absolutely horrible experience with this company!  I ended up threatening to call the better business bureau on them if I didn't get my money refunded.  I got every cent back after many many phone calls.  It's a HUGE scam!  They told me they had over 50 potential leads for me when I signed up.  They sent me a grand total of two in over six months.  And both of those leads had no interest in working with an agent...were not told an agent would be calling them. (the people who called me said each lead was qualified and notified that we would be touching base).  The entire experience left me feeling very very suspicious about any lead referral company.  

Definitely not worth the big bucks you are made pay up front!

I've had a few calls from these parasites.  They start off by telling me they have someone looking for a 3/4 bed house in my neck of the woods.  Or they will ask if I have any inventory someone is looking to buy in my area.

Another annoying phone call is pitch men looking for agents to attend  real estate or get rich seminars.

I don't like to hang up on people because I think its rude so I politely tell them I will only pay if the transaction closes escrow or send me an e-mail with the information.  I will be making up an email address just for things of this nature.

Roberta - that is so funny - I received the same call this morning from the same company - I asked a few questions, the referral fee was the 99 dollars - I told her that if the wanted to give me the "lead" I'd be happy to help them but I'd want an agreement with them that the referral fee would be due at a successful settlement instead of in advance - she hung up the phone on me.   Oh well...

Do not walk away. RUN!

I had a call today from recr.com.  I have had nothing but negative experiences from these tyes of companies.  Thank you for your posts to help me avoid another problem..  You'd think I'd learn.