Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/06/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I retained Mr *** and Leverage Auto Appraisals on May 13, 2025, paying a fee of $550.00 for the purpose of negotiating an increased value for my vehicle for the express purpose of avoiding having the car be totaled and receiving a branded title. When I first spoke to Mr **** he spent nearly an hour on the phone talking about all his experience, that he had just gotten a very favorable value increase for another car that was the same model as mine, and that getting an increased valuation would be no problem. In the following 30 days, there was some communication with Mr. **** but never any demonstrable progress, and numerous unfulfilled promises to return calls and texts. When we did speak or text, he was always busy in negotiations or traveling, but I never received any substantive responses about the valuation negotiation service that I paid for. On June 17, I requested a refund, as no demonstrable progress had been made, and because he had failed on multiple occasions to return calls or texts. He did respond to that text, indicating that his fees are non-refundable. He indicated that he shared my frustration and that I should "hang in there".As of July 2nd, still no demonstrable progress had been made. I texted him on July 2nd, and he responded, explaining that he had family issues, and indicated he would get back to me that afternoon. He did not. On July 9th, I texted again, asking for a status. He did not respond, and as of today, August 6, I have still heard nothing from him since July 2nd.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/31/2025

  I would like to respectfully address this complaint regarding the services provided by Leverage Auto Appraisals.
  Within three days of Mr. ***** retaining my services, his appraisal was fully completed and a Letter of Representation was sent to ****, his insurance company. At that point, we were waiting for the insurers appraiser to respond. Unfortunately, they did not hire an appraiser for over two months. That delay was significant and entirely beyond my control. It ultimately required me to escalate the matter through my contacts at the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation before the insurer finally moved forward. Once they did, their appraiser contacted me immediately, and I was able to negotiate a settlement increase of more than $3,700 for Mr. ****** This ensured he received fair market value for his vehicle rather than the insurers initial low offer.

  It is also important to clarify that under Oregon law (OAR 836-080-0240), when the final appraised value is greater than the insurers last offer, the insurer must reimburse the insured for their reasonable appraisal costs. As a result, Mr. ***** will be receiving 100% reimbursement of the appraisal fee he paid to me directly from his insurance company. Because that expense is being returned to him in full, there is no financial loss, and therefore no basis for a refund request.

  I acknowledge that there were frustrations during the waiting period. During that time, I faced a family emergency in which my wife nearly lost her life, as well as my own recent health issues in late July and August that limited my ability to respond as promptly as I normally would. I primarily manage client communications through email, and the last email I received from Mr. ***** was on June 25, 2025. Much of his communication was instead directed to my personal cell phone, which is much more difficult to manage given the high daily volume of calls and texts I receive. I apologize if my responsiveness fell short of expectations. Because, these are really good people. As a sole appraiser, I do not have a full staff to manage communications like a larger company might, but I believe this one-on-one approach allows me to deliver stronger results in the end. As seen in our many 5 star reviews. Last year, I settled 363 claims, with only 7 that did not get at least a $1,000 increase. And, zero that didn't get an increase.  
  
  Leverage Auto Appraisals is a consumer only appraisal firm. I do not work for insurance companies, and my mission is solely to help policyholders receive their true fair market value from their insurance company's questionable settlement offers. This approach has consistently delivered results for hundreds of clients and has earned over 134 five-star reviews. While the process with Mr. ***** was slowed by the insurers resistance and my personal circumstances, the outcome demonstrates my continued commitment to achieving the best possible results for consumers.
  
  In closing, I regret any communication gaps that occurred during this process, but I emphasize that the result was both a substantial settlement increase and full reimbursement of Mr. ****** appraisal fee. I remain committed to helping consumers receive fair treatment from their insurers.
  Kind regards,
  *** ***
  Leverage Auto Appraisals

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/25/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Date of transaction was 14 June 2024 I paid Leverage Auto $499 The business was to provide an independent appraisal for my totaled vehicle but failed atrociously. Leverage Auto Appraiser, *** ***, had promised that they get my case for my totaled vehicle appraised within a week and an increase in my settlement which never happened. When I asked for updates, I had never received any. After about a month had elapsed, and still no updates, I contacted Leverage to request a refund. Leverage's response via email was made excuses and proceeded to disrespect and insult me.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/28/2025

  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We sincerely apologize to Mr. ***** for any frustration or dissatisfaction he experienced. It is never our intention to leave a client feeling dismissed, disrespected, or dissatisfied, and I truly regret that he feels that way about his interaction with our service.
  
  After thoroughly reviewing our records, we found no prior request for a refund from Mr. ****** However, we want to make it clear that we had no objection to issuing a full refund of $499.00 to Mr. ****** and completed that refund on  *********** stands behind our commitment to fairness and client satisfaction. I am personally ensured that this refund was processed as quickly as possible after standard verification that no reimbursement was already issued by the insurance company directly, which is a customary practice under Oregon insurance law.
  
  This particular claim presented several highly unusual and difficult obstacles. The insurance company involved failed to respond to our formal letter of representation for an extended period, delayed the process at multiple stages, and refused to provide valuation documents that are typically standard in these negotiations. Furthermore, their decision to involve an appraiser from ******** with no experience in Oregon market values created an additional barrier to fair resolution. In our view, many of the issues Mr. ***** encountered stem from the insurer's handling of the claim, not from our appraisal process. We attempted to shield our client from these behind-the-scenes challenges, but unfortunately, that may have come across as excuse-making. For that, I sincerely apologize.
  
  I also want to address the assertion that I was disrespectful or insulting. Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows that I take great pride in treating clients with empathy and respect, especially our military families, which ******** is part of. I deeply regret if any comments or interactions were perceived otherwise, and I extend my genuine apology to Mr. ***** for any miscommunication or misunderstanding.
  
  We remain committed to ensuring every client feels supported and respected. While this case was more complex than most, I ensured Mr. ***** received the refund he is due, and I wish him the best in resolving his claim. Please confirm if there is anything else the BBB requires to close this complaint. I have provided documents showing we have provided a full refund. Normally, we have a no refund policy, but this case was an exception to this rule. 
  
  Kind regards,
  *** ***
  Leverage Auto Appraisals

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/28/2025

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Zakharie *****