***pls dont use freecourtdocuments for status check ***

[backtoschool]

I'm unsure that this needs to be a sticky. I believe that people need to actually read the Terms & Conditions of what they are signing up for. When I went to that site months ago (when it was being "pushed" here by its creator), I discovered their little disclaimer that they'd store all your documents for "public use".

That is specifically why I never signed up for it. Plus, I don't like any site that is littered with advertising in the manner that site it littered.

Yes, I remember when the site was being promoted, and I warned about the Google crawls then, and you did too. Online nothing is free. If you are getting free information from a site, rest assured that they are making more money by giving you that little bit of free info and then selling YOUR info to someone else, than they would make if they charged you directly for the info.

Pacer is 8 cents a page. Most queries are one page. You get 10 dollars a quarter of free queries. You also can check to see if there are any updates to your docket for free. There is really no need to use the free sites. If you are not too compulsive about it, Pacer will end up being free anyway.

[justbroke]

I'm unsure that this needs to be a sticky. I believe that people need to actually read the Terms & Conditions of what they are signing up for. When I went to that site months ago (when it was being "pushed" here by its creator), I discovered their little disclaimer that they'd store all your documents for "public use".

That is specifically why I never signed up for it. Plus, I don't like any site that is littered with advertising in the manner that site it littered.

The prior thread on this topic is here. (https://www.bkforum.com/node/45969)

[backtoschool]

There are a couple of sites that offer free access to court dockets, but if you accept the terms of condition of those sites, you are giving the sites permission to tag your info for google crawls. Pacer is not tagged for google or google search enabled. These sites are. Once you look up your info on these sites, your info will be tagged for google search and available to anyone who types in your name on Google.

If you do not join these sites, then someone would have to look up your case in pacer, or would have to pay about $20 to see your info in one of the big online datamines.

It's only about a $20 difference, but some people won't pay that $20, so your info is still more private when you do not join these free sites.

[tdawg]

Make this a sticky?

This seems pretty important. I almost created an account on freecourtdocuments, but I am so glad I didn't. If this public access is irreversible, then people here should be made aware of it.

[justbroke]

No worries. Someone else posted about the same thing. Your posting is much more "visible" though!

[justbroke]

Please don't post the same thing in multiple sections of the Forum.

[johny]

Just to forewarn everyone...i requested an invitation code from this free site that gives us an update of pacer. Did not know at that time... that by asking an invitation we r giving them access to our bk docket from pacer and once u retrieve this docket from their site..GUESS WHAT >>>

UR ENTIRE FILE SHOWS UP ON GOOGLE NAME SEARCH........YES I"M NOT KIDDING...

happened to me and two others i know...so IF U WANT UR BK INFO TO BE PRIVATE PLS DONT USE FREE LINKS TO ACCESS PACER DOCUMENTS..

Not sure if access of ur docket thru pacer will lead to a similar situvation...but I DONT INTEND TO FIND OUT

Just a headsup for those who dont want their info displayed to everyone on a public domain..speciallyfor potential job seekers who i'm sure will run ur name on google...

JOHNY