What's the Scoop on Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators, a New Authentication Company?

Could it be real... as in they know what they are doing?

http://gfaauthenticated.com/guarantee/ could it be that TPA's have some competition?

If authenticity is determined under such “Guarantee Resubmission” procedures to be found non-authentic, GFA shall pay the purchase price for the autograph in question or at the owner of the signature’s option to replace the signature with a GFA authenticated signature of the original signer of similar item and value. GFA will also refund the reauthentication fee and postage and insurance costs incurred by the signature owner in sending the signature to GFA. It is understood that GFA will replace the signature or refund the purchase price after reexamination and a verifiable receipt of price paid is supplied to GFA.

Of course, it would be nice to know what the procedures for determining non-authentic are..

Service pricing model seems reasonable;

http://gfaauthenticated.com/services/

Since it's headed up by Steve Rocchi could there be another player in town?;

Since 1991 Stephen Rocchi former PSA President, and founder, a former President, CEO and Founder of Global Authentication and was responsible for hiring JSA authenticator Jimmy Spence also a former PSA authenticator. Stephen Rocchi has been instrumental in bringing the three largest authentication companies into the sports world.”

Since it stands for Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA). and so long as we keep certain FDE's out of it - wouldn't it be nice.

Tags: GFA, GFA-Authentication

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Williams on February 16, 2012 at 5:43pm

From this month's Coach's Corner. Yeah, Drew Max, Forensic Document Examiner. Look at this garbage "authenticated" by someone who has the title of FDE. Stinking pathetic.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Williams on February 16, 2012 at 5:48pm

Think about this this; how many tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of autographs have been "authenticated" by Chris Morales, Drew Max, and Ted Taylor!!!!

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Permalink Reply by DB on April 20, 2012 at 3:37am

seems a couple of posts over on the mantle threads seem to be answering the question;

P Reply by Christopher Williams 13 hours ago

According to their website, the $30.00 Level III Service Includes:

Ink analysis, Document analysis (when possible), Chain of custody of the item, background of when the item was signed (if possible). It will also include a Letter of Authenticity, describing the item, the signature, what type of ink was used, a biography of the signer, a photograph, and GFA’s full guarantee of authenticity.

You did all of the above on the below Mantle and you passed it, Mr. Rocchi?

Reply by Christopher Williams 13 hours ago: Here is a link to their website.

http://gfaauthenticated.com/

Try to contact them. You can't. A few of my friends and myself have attempted on numerous occasions to contact them but to no avail. From what I can observe, they do not accept individual authentication submissions from the public.

Although according to their website they have three levels of service ranging from $10.00 to a high of $30.00. $30.00 for a forensic examination? Really?

More later. I might start a thread on this subject.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Williams on April 20, 2012 at 5:07am

DB, thank you for cutting and pasting my posts over here. I had forgotten about this thread started by you. This is where the posts belong.

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Permalink Reply by DB on April 20, 2012 at 5:27am

no problem - once we get going around here we are all well known to wander... pulled the cert over from the post by seller protectandjustice from ebay as I don't think we have had an example of it. Except for the cert number the cert appears very generic and reminds me of burczyk especially if the numbers can't be easily verified online.

I wonder how this "satisfaction" claim is honored since Cyrkin can't reach them by email at last posting; GFA has in place a cash-back authentication guarantee, on every autograph authenticated by GFA. All autographs forensically authenticated by GFA are guaranteed to be Genuine.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Durborow on May 19, 2012 at 6:22pm

Their validity seems pretty poor to me right now. I came across your discussion while researching them. They are also providing Numismatic (Coin) services now. They provided certification for several coins I have recently purchased, the most notable of which is an 1837 Coronet large cent. They certified it to be in 'Mint State Plus' condition which means that it would be a high quality UN-circulated coin. Unfortunately the coin is circulated and has heavy wear and corrosion on it. I WOULD NOT TRUST THEIR WORK!