This is how we protect people from getting taken advantage of on this site.

Quote from @Jay HinrichsI carry trash bags in my car and every time I visit a job site or meet one of my clients there, they get handed one too. 

Just depends if the site wants to cater to the true fan or to a larger audience (and both are viable models). 

Unfortunately I got a statement saying that I was being charged several different fees including the underwriting fee as well as a site visit fee (they never came to visit site).

Go to a construction site (production home builders--- Toll Brothers, Orleans, KHov) and find the carpet installer.

This is from the revenue.alabama.gov site where the state laws and listings are located. 

We have not received any word despite a news posting on their site about another company taking over.

The reason being every site and project is unique, and while I do attempt to provide a reasonable estimate of what it will take to complete your project there are many factors outside my control.

Went through the tools section under BiggerPockets and it referenced "TransUnion Full Credit Report by RentPrep" and linked to RentPrep's site.

If not, use the search feature available at this site.