re: Letting the buyer beware. I once sent $125 to a man with supposedly good credentials and never received a word or letter from him. My husband had used him for a search and waited months for his report. But, when it finally arrived, it was nicely done and had some information he could use. Unfortunately, I felt he could do the same for me. This person is still very active in genealogical circles and holds an important post with a Polish group, even appearing as a speaker around the country. I've tried over the past few years, in many ways, to get a reponse from him, but he ignores all messages. He had been 'credentialed' by the LDS, but, I found out later, it was revoked because of numerous complaints. Had I checked with them first, I would have been spared a good bit of aggravation. However, he has been the definite exception in the researchers I've used over the years. All others have been great to work with and have sent notes about their progress, even the people from overseas. Usually an archives will do a search for a reasonable cost, though it might take a few weeks to get an answer. They might also be able to direct you to a person who does searches for a fee in their archives and who is reputable. Local geenealogical societies are a good place to find a reference too. The BBB doesn't always have a report on the person who's caused your problem. The person you used was a scam artist and should be reported to the D.As office in that city. Scamming is a crime, even if it's only $10 or $20. You might be able to get your $$ back. Pat D