DNAPrint Genomics Ceases Operations
In February, I received a number of comments and emails which suggested that DNAPrint Genomics was not processing results and could not be reached by telephone. DNAPrint was one of the first companies to offer ‘large-scale’ autosomal testing, although their tests were unable to compete with the testing currently offered by companies like 23andMe and deCODEme.
Indeed, the company has recently ceased operations. From the site: “DNAPrint® Genomics, Inc. has regrettably ceased operations. We thank you for your support.â€Â As I wrote last February, the company was scheduled to be purchased by Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, but the deal fell through shortly thereafter.
GenomeWeb Announces DNAPrint’s Demise
From an announcement today at GenomeWeb – “DNAPrint Genomics Goes Bustâ€:
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Genetic testing company DNAPrint Genomics has shut down its operations, according to a notice on its website.
The Sarasota, Fla.-based firm shut down operations sometime during the past month. Its most recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission was on Feb. 9, in which it announced that its President and CEO Richard Gabriel had resigned from the firm as well as its subsidiaries Ellipsis Biotherapeutics and Trace Genetics.
The cash-strapped firm, which had been trading on the Pink Sheets, had inked a deal a year ago to be acquired by Nanobac Pharmaceuticals. However, the deal fell apart after Nanobac was unable to raise additional funds before a deadline on March 31, 2008.
Attempts by GenomeWeb Daily News to reach company officials were unsuccessful.
March 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
DNAPrint Genomics, a Florida-based genetic genealogy testing company known for its AncestryByDNA test, has ceased operations, according to a notice on its home page. My call to the company went to voice mail, then was cut off. Read more on theGenetic Genealogistand GenomeWeb.
March 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
So, how do we get our money back?
Joni Fisher’s last blog post..DNAPrint Genomics Ceases Operations
March 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I paid $690.00 through Paypal. I received the kits for two tests and sent them in but have not received results. Because the time period for genetic testing can be 8-12 weeks, it is beyond the time frame to dispute a transaction with either PayPal or Bank of America (where the funds came from in my case) by the time you know you did not receive the results/product. I was advised by Bank of America to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center which is a partnership with the FBI, National White Collar Crime Center, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance via http://www.ic3.gov. I would ask that others do the same so that DNAPrint Genomics would receive some attention from this agency. Thank you.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am
[...] DNAPrint Genomics Ceases Operations » The Genetic Genealogist [...]
March 15th, 2009 at 3:42 am
I was ALSO apparently ripped off by DNAprint–for $860!! I’ve been waiting for results from 2 kits sent in in January ‘09. When there was no confirmation of receipt of the kits, I smelled a rat. Couldn’t reach a soul there, and now I know why! Thanks for the info about who to contact. Hopefully we can get the money back somehow!
Good luck to you,
Maggie
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
ANCESTRYBYDNA.COM RIPPED ME OFF. I sent $650.00 to get my mothers DNA done for her before she died. We never got the results.After many phone calls and almost a year later with assurances that everything was fine and we would receive our results, they finally admitted they were going out of business.
They told me however, that they would gladly reimburse my money but it would take a few weeks for me to see the refund. That was back in January. I tried calling again dozens of times, each time leaving them messages, begging them for my money. I even e-mailed numerous times and got no response there either. Last time I visited their WEB SITE, ANCESTRYBYDNA.COM, all contact information was gone from the site.
THEY RIPPED ME OFF! I know that when the economy gets better they will start their business back up, probably under a different name. BEWARE!
April 18th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Charged money for tests that never happened? Strung along so you can no longer get a reversal from PayPal? No refund? I stopped by DNAPrint in Sarasota, FL on March 5, 2009 to follow-up on my refund and doors were locked and mail is being returned as undeliverable. This is a grossly irresponsible way to go out of business. DNAPrint marketed a EuropeanDNA 2.0 product they could not produce, took our money, and delivered no results or refunds. Take action:
1. File a complaint with the SEC (Security Symbol: DNAG): https://tts.sec.gov/acts-ics/do/complaint
2. File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
3. File a complaint with the State of Florida Division of Consumer Services: http://app1.800helpfla.com/cswebcomplaints/FileComplaint.aspx
4. Contact Bank of America at 888-553-6494 regarding DNAPrint’s account # 21-4636135-281
5. Send a letter to the DNAPrint Chairman of the Board: Dr. Hector Gomez, 5105 Rue Vendome, Lutz, FL 33558 and/or call him at home: 813-909-1579
We deserve our money back and need to take action!
April 21st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
According to their website DNA Print provided testing for forensics to police departments. I wonder if they were ripped-off too or whether DNA from crimnal cases is still being processed.I sent in 435 dollars in early January. Every time I tried to call the message machine would hang up on me.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I paid 990.00 through paypal. I sent my samples back in early October. I called ate December and I was told that the machine was broken and would soon be repaired. I think the person on the phone had to be intentionally lying to me. Has anyone received a refund?
SS
May 6th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
DNAPrint has been reconstituted by a group of its investors, and plans to go forward in virtual mode, outlicensing the testing to a 3rd party that is financially stable. At this point, unfulfilled orders are expected to be processed by this 3rd party. So, hopefully all customers that have been unable to get refunds will eventually get the results they paid for. DNAPrint former management worked with the investors to secure this solution, which is laudable. They could have just walked away.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
by the way, the post suggesting people go to the SEC is ridiculuously vindictive. Managing a company that fails is not a crime and does not necessarily involve fraud (is Chrystler corporate management getting locked up?).
May 19th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
HOW DO I GET MY MONEY BACK???!!! This is completely immoral and dishonest for this company to continue taking orders and processing payments even though they were going out of business! That is stealing! If someone knows how to get reimbursed, please let me know. These test were done for my whole family who has lost relatives recently without knowing much about our heritage. This was the first time I ever used a DNA test… and the first time, I get ripped off and get no results.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:22 am
[...] and was to be paid annually. I am fortunate to only be out twenty dollars since this company ceased operations in early 2009 and others lost a lot more money than I. The point of this cautionary [...]
July 24th, 2009 at 1:22 am
[...] were unable to compete with the testing currently offered by companies like 23andMe and deCODEme. DNAPrint Genomics Ceases Operations http://polishgenes.blogspot.com [...]
September 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
ancestyrbydna was a scam from the first. several years ago they gave me results showing 1/8th of my ancestry as “unknown”!! They never refunded my money or acknowledged my demand of a re-test. crooks