Anyone used Rapid Data Recovery (rapid-data.net)

[noTHINGface]

My mate has trashed his external HDD and is thinking about sending the disk to one of these recovery outfits. He's spoken with rapid-data.net and is considering sending it off to them. Anyone have any experience with these guys?

I've read a post on the over-clock forums (found via google) that wasn't too complimentary -> http://www.over-clock.co.uk/ivb/inde...howtopic=20112

Any of you lot used them? Any recommendations of others?

Cheers

[MadduckUK]

I've read a post on the OCuK forums (found via google) that wasn't too complimentary -> http://www.over-clock.co.uk/ivb/inde...howtopic=20112

i doubt they appreciate being called that

[noTHINGface]

Error - good spot!

[khalliday]

My experience of rapid-data.net was entirely negative - no recovery of any data, no disk repair, cost £235. My advice is therefore find someone else. I also discovered that Fields Associates are the company who actually do the work (or don't do the work, in my case) so don't use them, either.

[noTHINGface]

Cheers boss - That does seem to be the general vibe around rapid-data. I'll suggest that he doesn't ship his disk out to them!

[angrysmurf]

My experience of rapid-data.net was entirely negative - no recovery of any data, no disk repair, cost £235. My advice is therefore find someone else. I also discovered that Fields Associates are the company who actually do the work (or don't do the work, in my case) so don't use them, either.

I'd like to hear from you about how you get on with your case, I've just been caught by this scam myself! Email me at angry_smurfAThotmailDOTcom

[elbitrevnoc]

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT use this company! I have had exactly the same experience as shown in the other thread and, having done a bit of research, have found many others with similar experience. I am now seeing what can be done through trading standards, IT press, etc. etc., to see what can be done about them.

I guarantee that the process will be:

1. Send your drive for the 'no data - no fee' service (£97 if they do recover)
2. They come back and tell you that your problem is too complicated for them to resolve, but their associate company, 'Fields Data Recovery,' has the skills to do this, with an 80% chance of recovery. Note that Fields data also offer a 'no recovery - no fee' service - I wonder if they flip the script if you go that route first???
3. You hand over your £230 - what real choice do you have?
4. Communication now goes into a black hole and you spend three weeks chasing them - none of your calls or emails are returned and if you insist on waiting they will leave you on hold until you give up (14 minutes last time I tried)
5. When you've finally lost it and insist that you are not put on hold, they transfer you to their 'Quality Control Dept', where you speak to someone with no technical knowledge, who says they don't know any more than shown on their screen and that is that the process did not recover any data at all (some 10 days ago!). The reason they quote for this lack of success is exactly the same reason why they told you that Fields needed to be involved in the first place.
6. As much as you insist, no one calls you back to discuss your complaint and you can't get them to return your drive (which you'd be very interested now to get someone else to look at) or obtain any sight of a technical report (which you have, after all, you have paid £230 for)
7. They of course rely upon 'success is not guaranteed' line.
8. You write again and ask for the matter to be passed to a senior manager and that you would like a call to discuss your complaint. They ignore you.

To be honest I am extremely suspiscious about this company's activities and i would welcome any feedback from other that have had similar experience. Any replies from anyone interested in adding some wait to my complaint will be welcome.

Something must be done about this. I am angry at myself at allowing myself to be conned in this way. I nearly decided not to pay the money, but thought maybe I was just being paranoid and cynical. How I wish I'd listened to those warning bells; I've now lost all my data and the hard drive itself.

[IBM]

Does anyone have any recommedations? I've got a trashed disk I'm thinking it's worth sending in....

[mediaboy]

Loving the spambots.. suspcious anyone?

[moogle]

Loving the spambots.. suspcious anyone?

Nope.. Looks like unhappy customers to me.

[Agent]

The IPs resolve to normal UK home ranges, so I don't suspect them to be spam bots.

[angrysmurf]

orry to hear about your exprience elbi, pretty much exactly what happened to me. Start with Bridgeend trading standards in order to help them build up their case history against this company, although they cannot discuss other complaints against these bunch of con-artists.

Public Protection Section
Legal & Regulatory Services
Bridgend County Borough Council
Civic Offices
Angel Street
Bridgend
CF31 4WB
Tel: (01656) 643260
Fax: (01656) 643247

publicprotectionATbridgend.gov.uk

Its important to report your case otherwise more people will get ripped off. I notice on companies house rapid-data and fields are listed at the same address, even though they have to "ship it off to our specialist recovery partners". I cant state my sources but the International Professional Data Recovery Association have a legal case against them, i surprised they are still able to trade.

regards,

[angrysmurf]

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT use this company! I have had exactly the same experience as shown in the other thread and, having done a bit of research, have found many others with similar experience. I am now seeing what can be done through trading standards, IT press, etc. etc., to see what can be done about them.

I guarantee that the process will be:

1. Send your drive for the 'no data - no fee' service (£97 if they do recover)
2. They come back and tell you that your problem is too complicated for them to resolve, but their associate company, 'Fields Data Recovery,' has the skills to do this, with an 80% chance of recovery. Note that Fields data also offer a 'no recovery - no fee' service - I wonder if they flip the script if you go that route first???
3. You hand over your £230 - what real choice do you have?
4. Communication now goes into a black hole and you spend three weeks chasing them - none of your calls or emails are returned and if you insist on waiting they will leave you on hold until you give up (14 minutes last time I tried)
5. When you've finally lost it and insist that you are not put on hold, they transfer you to their 'Quality Control Dept', where you speak to someone with no technical knowledge, who says they don't know any more than shown on their screen and that is that the process did not recover any data at all (some 10 days ago!). The reason they quote for this lack of success is exactly the same reason why they told you that Fields needed to be involved in the first place.
6. As much as you insist, no one calls you back to discuss your complaint and you can't get them to return your drive (which you'd be very interested now to get someone else to look at) or obtain any sight of a technical report (which you have, after all, you have paid £230 for)
7. They of course rely upon 'success is not guaranteed' line.
8. You write again and ask for the matter to be passed to a senior manager and that you would like a call to discuss your complaint. They ignore you.

To be honest I am extremely suspiscious about this company's activities and i would welcome any feedback from other that have had similar experience. Any replies from anyone interested in adding some wait to my complaint will be welcome.

Something must be done about this. I am angry at myself at allowing myself to be conned in this way. I nearly decided not to pay the money, but thought maybe I was just being paranoid and cynical. How I wish I'd listened to those warning bells; I've now lost all my data and the hard drive itself.

please see my comment

[Spud1]

I can reccomend a good company for those having issues - http://www.datawreck.co.uk/

These guys were in the same building as me & my company last year (before we moved out) - actually started up at the same time as us Friendly guys who know what they are doing - not sure what their prices are like compared to the likes of rapid data but they are trustworthy..one of my colleagues has used them a few times, usually to get data off his broken usb sticks though.

I don't have any personal/business link with them though, its just a friendly reccomendation

[Agent]

I can reccomend a good company for those having issues - http://www.datawreck.co.uk/

These guys were in the same building as me & my company last year (before we moved out) - actually started up at the same time as us Friendly guys who know what they are doing - not sure what their prices are like compared to the likes of rapid data but they are trustworthy..one of my colleagues has used them a few times, usually to get data off his broken usb sticks though.

I don't have any personal/business link with them though, its just a friendly reccomendation

I met one of the guys who runs this the other week (looked a bit like Dr Who) and he was a nice guy

[Mike Fishcake]

http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.co.uk/ - Very expensive, but very trustworthy. If they can't get it off, no one can.

http://www.disklabs.com/data-recovery/data-recovery.asp - I know a few people who have used these, and vouch for their quality.