Case Studies
Real Problems.
Every situation is different. Some require extensive research, others call for creative thinking, careful planning, or simply finding a better way to get something done. These examples show how we approach real situations, work through complications, and develop practical solutions.
These examples are based on real situations we've worked through. Certain details have been omitted or changed to protect privacy.
Family History & International Research
- The situation
- A family wanted to know where their name and roots really came from — a question that ordinary online searches couldn't answer.
- What we did
- Our research traced family history as far back as the 1500s, using historical records spanning multiple centuries. We also explored archival books and records from another country, including sources written in a different language, to uncover information that would have been difficult to find through ordinary searches.
- What made the work valuable
- Roughly 500 years of historical reach, international archives and research in another language, organized into a clear picture.
Auto Insurance Total-Loss Valuation
- The situation
- A vehicle was wrecked and declared a total loss. The insurance company's proposed payout raised questions about whether the vehicle was being valued fairly.
- What we did
- We examined the insurer's valuation report, reviewed condition deductions and adjustments, researched comparable vehicles for sale, and prepared information to support a challenge to the proposed valuation.
- What made the work valuable
- Detailed document analysis, market comparisons and financial calculations, turning a dense report into specific, supported points.
Rental Car Reservation & Refund Dispute
- The situation
- A customer prepaid for a rental car through a booking platform, but the rental provider had no vehicle available on arrival.
- What we did
- We reviewed the policies of both the booking platform and the rental provider, determined the appropriate refund process, and prepared a reimbursement request.
- What made the work valuable
- Two separate companies, two sets of policies. Working out who was responsible for what made it possible to ask the right party in the right way.
Rental Car Billing Dispute — Unexpected Charges
- The situation
- In a separate billing dispute, a customer was charged additional fees after unexpected travel delays caused a late return. Repeated attempts to extend the rental through customer service were unsuccessful.
- What we did
- We reviewed the rental agreement, examined the final bill, documented the attempts to resolve the problem, and prepared a formal billing dispute.
- What made the work valuable
- Careful reading of the agreement and a clear, documented timeline, presented as an organized formal dispute.
Automotive Parts Research & Compatibility
- The situation
- Replacement vehicle components were needed, but part listings varied across model years and sellers.
- What we did
- We researched replacement components across different model years, comparing compatibility information, part descriptions and purchasing options.
- What made the work valuable
- Technical compatibility research that helps avoid the cost and delay of buying the wrong part.
Vehicle Purchase & Contract Review
- The situation
- A vehicle financing contract combined the price, fees, taxes, financing and add-on products into one complicated set of paperwork.
- What we did
- We reviewed the financing paperwork, separating the vehicle price from dealer fees, taxes, financing and optional products, and identified a $3,000 service-contract charge requiring additional review of its cancellation and refund terms.
- What made the work valuable
- Detailed contract reading and a clear financial breakdown, showing exactly where the money was going.
Credit Card Statement Review
- The situation
- Credit card statements across five companies needed a closer look at interest, fees, payment posting, and autopay.
- What we did
- We reviewed the statements, checked interest and fees, flagged payment-posting and autopay concerns, and prepared dispute letters.
- What made the work valuable
- Organized findings and clear steps to request explanations, corrections, or refunds.
Surveillance Camera Research & Community Action
- The situation
- A roadside surveillance camera raised community concerns about its placement, approvals, and impact on a historic town.
- What we did
- We researched right-of-way and historic-preservation questions and prepared a review letter and public-records request.
- What made the work valuable
- Focused research and prepared documents gave residents clear questions and practical next steps. The town voted to remove the camera.
Attorney Fees — Contract Review & Refund Complaint
- The situation
- A person paid under two separate attorney-fee agreements—one for an initial court proceeding and another for a later court stage. The case had not reached that later stage, and a requested refund was refused.
- What we did
- We examined both attorney-fee contracts to see exactly what each payment covered, compared those terms with the stage the case had reached, and reviewed receipts and emails to prepare a documented refund complaint.
- What made the work valuable
- A complicated fee dispute became a concise, documented complaint focused on the specific payment being challenged.
Auto Insurance — Mileage & Premium Correction
- The situation
- An insurance review raised concerns about the mileage entered on a policy and a resulting premium charge.
- What we did
- We examined the customer-service chat, documented the mileage discussion and objections to the change, and prepared a written complaint requesting review and correction.
- What made the work valuable
- A clear account of the disputed change gave the insurer specific issues to address. The insurer corrected the mileage and premium charge.
- Concept / prototype work
Business Software & Financial Analysis
- The situation
- Businesses often lose time and money to invoice errors, shifting supplier prices and duplicate charges.
- What we did
- North Black has explored software concepts for invoice comparison, supplier price analysis, duplicate-charge detection and business opportunity research. This is concept and prototype work, not a deployed commercial system.
- What made the work valuable
- Creative use of technology to explore practical ways of spotting problems and opportunities in business data.