Why am I listed in Clearbox?

[Peacemaker]

I recently googled myself after applying for a job where 'social media presence' is a consideration, I wanted to see what they'd see. I was really surprised to see a Clearbox profile pop up. The information is old and no longer accurate.

I let my appraisers license expire in 2010 (not 2007 as it says on Clearbox). I haven't had any communication with anyone at Clearbox, I don't maintain an appraiser website any more. I do read this forum for my own amusement and because I have enough experience that I could reactivate my license pretty easily within a few years. Was kind of keeping an eye on the industry to see if the things that made me leave would change. So far, it doesn't appear to be the case...

Most annoying about Clearbox is that there is not a way to email the webmaster and ask to have me removed. There is a phone number to call, and I will do that later but in the net-savvy world it's a big red flag when you can't immediately contact a webmaster.

I guess it's really no skin off my teeth if they want to keep my old info in their database to make themselves look better or whatever. But it puts them up there with the people mining real estate agent data who keep including me on their spam lists, even though I never did sales at all. Just annoying and makes you look clueless and like a scammer, IMHO.

 

[residentialguy]

They listed everyone from the ASC data base.

 

[Evincere]

They listed everyone from the ASC data base.

And although having this information does wonders for bragging rights so as to attract potential, new customers into believing one has the goods and bona fide data, probably 70% of the information is just outdated garbage.

But hey, that's what marketers do.

 

[Peacemaker]

The incorrect info Clearbox has, was based on an error the state made at one point, not something that was ever in the ASC database. So, Clearbox is clearly scraping data from sources other than the ASC. The state corrected their info the day after I told them about it, so, interesting that it persists in the Clearbox database. And if Clearbox wants to be accurate and reliable etc, they aren't doing a very good job vetting their Clearbox data.

But I wasn't really questioning where they got the info, my question was more, why? What is the point of including me? I'm no longer appraising and it's not relevant for people looking to screen an appraiser. Isn't that the business model Clearbox touts? And it's slightly annoying to me personally, that this Clearbox info is taking up space on Google about me that I'd rather see be something relevant to what I do now (but, I can deal with that separately).

It's either lazy, or shady, on the part of Clearbox, and enough of a red flag that I would not do business with them in any event. Either they have no way to verify if what's in their Clearbox database is true or not, or, they don't really care. I suspect it's a bit of both. I would recommend all appraisers (whether they do business with them or not) google themselves and Clearbox and see what comes up.

And Google works both ways, so, we'll just leave this post here for the world to see when they google Clearbox. Take the data you see in Clearbox with a grain of salt, for the reasons presented here.

 

[Mile High Trout]

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=google+removal+request

You could always tell Google to shove it, and remove your information from the web.

Once you're on google, you can never get out, unless you practically strangle someone. At least that's how it used to be, until they were recently compelled to remove data by law. Hundreds of thousands of requests have already gone through. Google web services harassed me for years until I finally bought that call blocker and kept blocking their numbers. Conveniently, google censors all that 800notes data for their solicitation numbers and it's not searchable. Those crooks. Google sucks. I've moved to startpage for simple searches these days.

Clearbox lists everyone I guess. Just viewed my name there earlier. Very unhappy about that because I made it clear I was not joining. Can they use my name this way? I guess that's an easy way to market yourself and get additional web leads. Post the whole ASB databse on your website to drive more traffic. If Joan does it, it's fair game for other appraisers to do that sort of thing as well.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Calls...I hate the way we are marketed to 24/7 on line, phone, whatever. I fielded to "surveys" today and told one that I was flipping a coin and randomly answering with either the correct or incorrect answer - They didn't like that. I love the way they are structured. "Do you approve of Senator Foghorn pushing Old Ladies in wheelchairs out in the street in front of Exxon Truck?"

And mention deep sea diving bells in your post and imagine what google will attempt to sell you in the next banner ad...It sucks.

 

[Mile High Trout]

Calls...I hate the way we are marketed to 24/7 on line, phone, whatever. I fielded to "surveys" today and told one that I was flipping a coin and randomly answering with either the correct or incorrect answer - They didn't like that. I love the way they are structured. "Do you approve of Senator Foghorn pushing Old Ladies in wheelchairs out in the street in front of Exxon Truck?"

And mention deep sea diving bells in your post and imagine what google will attempt to sell you in the next banner ad...It sucks.

You're the one supporting the data system, with your flashy cell phone. You have only to blame yourself.

On a more positive note; Try this item out. It's cheap and works well. It's politics time, which means you've gotta have it, absolutely gotta have it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I1781BY/?tag=realestatappraat

It's easy to use, if you use it right. Don't use the white list. Do jump the caller id box on a second line split. Do not run your phone through the continuous plug in option off of the blocker/id (sentry). It's got 1,000 block capability, and hangs up after the 1st or 2nd ring. So it eliminates your ability to answer super quick, but that's cool, because when you hear it ring once and stop ringing, you know it's working.

ABSOLUTELY have to have it lately. Blocking numbers by the dozen and reporting all of them online as offending numbers. If enough people had this device, and reported offensive numbers online at sites like 800 notes and call hunter, the big phone corporations would have to take notice because they would not be able to reassign numbers after they've been misused with robodailers, political callers, and scam artists. It's big business to sell those corporate accounts that can manage robodailing. If the numbers cannot be resold, the phone guys would have a problem on their hands. Get one today, and stop the madness!

Your pal - Jeremy Hall Appraisals - Colorado.

 

[gregb]

We are all listed in clearbox without our consent. Let me know Joan Trice how I can opt out of the listing with clearbox. You never asked and should allow an opt out option, NOW!

 

[Don Clark]

We are all listed in clearbox without our consent. Let me know Joan Trice how I can opt out of the listing with clearbox. You never asked and should allow an opt out option, NOW!

Took me 1 minute to find this:

jtrice@clearbox.com

 

[Adios]

The incorrect info Clearbox has, was based on an error the state made at one point, not something that was ever in the ASC database. So, Clearbox is clearly scraping data from sources other than the ASC. The state corrected their info the day after I told them about it, so, interesting that it persists in the Clearbox database. And if Clearbox wants to be accurate and reliable etc, they aren't doing a very good job vetting their Clearbox data.

But I wasn't really questioning where they got the info, my question was more, why? What is the point of including me? I'm no longer appraising and it's not relevant for people looking to screen an appraiser. Isn't that the business model Clearbox touts? And it's slightly annoying to me personally, that this Clearbox info is taking up space on Google about me that I'd rather see be something relevant to what I do now (but, I can deal with that separately).

It's either lazy, or shady, on the part of Clearbox, and enough of a red flag that I would not do business with them in any event. Either they have no way to verify if what's in their Clearbox database is true or not, or, they don't really care. I suspect it's a bit of both. I would recommend all appraisers (whether they do business with them or not) google themselves and Clearbox and see what comes up.

And Google works both ways, so, we'll just leave this post here for the world to see when they google Clearbox. Take the data you see in Clearbox with a grain of salt, for the reasons presented here.

The underlying data in Clearbox comes from ASC.gov. If you haven't registered that is all the data we likely have. We do have disciplinary action data. And of course we have completed profiles from approximately 10,000 appraisers.

Every appraisers who Googles himself should find their profile fairly high in the rankings. That is excellent marketing for those who want to be found. For the others, I suppose not.