We are currently adopting our second baby through H to H and have had such a great experience with them. I read all of the other reviews and I really have got to say that I have never had anything like what they are experiencing-and we have done this twice now. I know that they have A LOT of babies and NOT enough families. Yes, you heard me right-NOT enough families. Just last year they placed about 100 babies for adoption and that really is a lot of children for a small agency. I know that they are at times short staffed, but it seems to be better this year than last (we are adopting our Son's bio full brother-we adopted our son last year). They are always there when I need them. If you call the general number, sometimes they don't answer, but when you become approved for adoption your caseworker will have a personal cell phone number that you can call at anytime. Our caseworker really went above and beyond to be there when we needed her! I am giving them five stars because I truly believe they deserve it-because their hearts are in the right place. I didn't take off a star for the money part, because as we all know (those of you that have adopted) it is really expensive to adopt. I know that in the financial contract that you sign states that if you put money down on a situation and they situation does not come to fruition, that they will roll those fees into another situation-and I know that they have a lot of situations at anytime. If you are having problems with the money that you have put down, read the financial contract and see what it says. Anyway, we really owe a lot to H to H-we will soon have 3 children, two of whom have come through H to H. Thanks!
I had a great experience with Heart to Heart, as well as Donna Pope. I found her to be kind and caring, and truly has the best interest of the child at the forefront of the whole situation. Adoption in and of itself is risky and being prepared for that risk, emotionally, financially, etc., is part of what needs to be evaluated before heading down that road. It is scary, yet rewarding.
I can't tell you how great of an expereince with Heart to Heart. Every person there was kind and very open to answer all my questions, sometimes 5 times a day. I would work with Heart to Heart again in a minute!
Our family has adopted two children through two different agencies. Heart to Heart was by far the better of the two. As a family we found everyone to be honest and extremely friendly. Everything was explained to us upfront and they handled our family with dignity. Our experience with Donna and her staff was top notch.
Their initial turn around on communication was very slow a week to ten days each time we were in contact with them. We did a special needs adoption through them. We found their fees high for this kind of adoption and it took over a month to speak to the child's case manager. When we finally spoke to the case manager, saw the file. A shift happened and communication improved dramatically. After this point they were very helpful and really went to bat to complete the placement.
We had a bad experiance with Heart to Heart in Utah. After being matched for only a few short weeks and spending 2 weeks in Utah the birthmom we were matched with gave birth and changed her mind...this we of course knew was a risk and although we were upset we could have handled this. What we were not prepared for was when 3 days after the birthmom changed her mind Donna called us on a friday evening, when we were set to leave first thing the following morning and notified us of the $12,000+ we had put forward for the situation that we had only been matched with for 2-3 weeks that we were out $10,000 in birthmom expences. The application we had signed with the agency had stated we began to SHARE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ONCE MATCHED with a birthmom. We were matched and sent the fees in just 2-3 weeks earlier and had been assured that if the situation didn't work out our fees, minus direct birthmom expences, would be rolled over to a new situation...we were comfortable because how much could birthmom expences be for 2-3 weeks, when birthmom had medical care...well after things feel through Donna states no we are responsible for fees from the time they started working with the birth mom. We line item by line item argued each fee and got a few thousand back but were still out over $7000 to the agency. Add to that the fact that during the 2 weeks we spent in Utah we had only 2 face to face contacts with the agency ( once when we went to dinner with the birthmom ) and then once the friday morning before Donna called us when we showed up at the office to drop off papers and to try to talk to someone but noone was available to see us...we would call multiple times and leave messages just to get phone text messages back from the agency personnel. Even when we texted back for them to please call us we would get texts back telling us they were busy. Overall we had very poor and unprofessional communication from the agency.
Heart to Heart should be named Heartless to Heartless. The CFO Donna Pope is very unprofessional and is a liar. The agency matched us to a birthmother that was not pregnant. Of course, we found this out after we sent the agency $16,000. Due to the circumstances, Donna promised to refund the money if we were matched to a case with another agency before they could locate a case for us. We were matched to a case with another agency 1 year ago, Heart to Heart as yet to refund the funds promised. I would not recommond this agency to my worst enemy. Donna Pope has not communicated with us since we requested the funds. Take our advice - STAY AWAY FROM HEART TO HEART IN SANDY UTAH.
Is there any recourse to recoup "non-refundable" initial fees for adoption agencies that take your money and then do nothing for you
except give you the runaround?
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Reviews
Great Agency-only draw back are the fees
We are currently adopting our second baby through H to H and have had such a great experience with them. I read all of the other reviews and I really have got to say that I have never had anything like what they are experiencing-and we have done this twice now. I know that they have A LOT of babies and NOT enough families. Yes, you heard me right-NOT enough families. Just last year they placed about 100 babies for adoption and that really is a lot of children for a small agency. I know that they are at times short staffed, but it seems to be better this year than last (we are adopting our Son's bio full brother-we adopted our son last year). They are always there when I need them. If you call the general number, sometimes they don't answer, but when you become approved for adoption your caseworker will have a personal cell phone number that you can call at anytime. Our caseworker really went above and beyond to be there when we needed her! I am giving them five stars because I truly believe they deserve it-because their hearts are in the right place. I didn't take off a star for the money part, because as we all know (those of you that have adopted) it is really expensive to adopt. I know that in the financial contract that you sign states that if you put money down on a situation and they situation does not come to fruition, that they will roll those fees into another situation-and I know that they have a lot of situations at anytime. If you are having problems with the money that you have put down, read the financial contract and see what it says. Anyway, we really owe a lot to H to H-we will soon have 3 children, two of whom have come through H to H. Thanks!
I had a great experience.
I had a great experience with Heart to Heart, as well as Donna Pope. I found her to be kind and caring, and truly has the best interest of the child at the forefront of the whole situation. Adoption in and of itself is risky and being prepared for that risk, emotionally, financially, etc., is part of what needs to be evaluated before heading down that road. It is scary, yet rewarding.
Great expereince
I can't tell you how great of an expereince with Heart to Heart. Every person there was kind and very open to answer all my questions, sometimes 5 times a day. I would work with Heart to Heart again in a minute!
Natalie
Loved working with Heart to Heart
Our family has adopted two children through two different agencies. Heart to Heart was by far the better of the two. As a family we found everyone to be honest and extremely friendly. Everything was explained to us upfront and they handled our family with dignity. Our experience with Donna and her staff was top notch.
Their initial turn around on
Their initial turn around on communication was very slow a week to ten days each time we were in contact with them. We did a special needs adoption through them. We found their fees high for this kind of adoption and it took over a month to speak to the child's case manager. When we finally spoke to the case manager, saw the file. A shift happened and communication improved dramatically. After this point they were very helpful and really went to bat to complete the placement.
Bad experiance with Heart to Heart in Utah
We had a bad experiance with Heart to Heart in Utah. After being matched for only a few short weeks and spending 2 weeks in Utah the birthmom we were matched with gave birth and changed her mind...this we of course knew was a risk and although we were upset we could have handled this. What we were not prepared for was when 3 days after the birthmom changed her mind Donna called us on a friday evening, when we were set to leave first thing the following morning and notified us of the $12,000+ we had put forward for the situation that we had only been matched with for 2-3 weeks that we were out $10,000 in birthmom expences. The application we had signed with the agency had stated we began to SHARE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ONCE MATCHED with a birthmom. We were matched and sent the fees in just 2-3 weeks earlier and had been assured that if the situation didn't work out our fees, minus direct birthmom expences, would be rolled over to a new situation...we were comfortable because how much could birthmom expences be for 2-3 weeks, when birthmom had medical care...well after things feel through Donna states no we are responsible for fees from the time they started working with the birth mom. We line item by line item argued each fee and got a few thousand back but were still out over $7000 to the agency. Add to that the fact that during the 2 weeks we spent in Utah we had only 2 face to face contacts with the agency ( once when we went to dinner with the birthmom ) and then once the friday morning before Donna called us when we showed up at the office to drop off papers and to try to talk to someone but noone was available to see us...we would call multiple times and leave messages just to get phone text messages back from the agency personnel. Even when we texted back for them to please call us we would get texts back telling us they were busy. Overall we had very poor and unprofessional communication from the agency.
We would not recommend this agency.
Unprofessional Adoption Agency
Heart to Heart should be named Heartless to Heartless. The CFO Donna Pope is very unprofessional and is a liar. The agency matched us to a birthmother that was not pregnant. Of course, we found this out after we sent the agency $16,000. Due to the circumstances, Donna promised to refund the money if we were matched to a case with another agency before they could locate a case for us. We were matched to a case with another agency 1 year ago, Heart to Heart as yet to refund the funds promised. I would not recommond this agency to my worst enemy. Donna Pope has not communicated with us since we requested the funds. Take our advice - STAY AWAY FROM HEART TO HEART IN SANDY UTAH.
Is there any recourse to
Is there any recourse to recoup "non-refundable" initial fees for adoption agencies that take your money and then do nothing for you
except give you the runaround?