Does anyone know if Keen monitors emails and phone conversations? If so, doesn't that violate the law for not informing clients?
I think the only monitor they have on emails is to pick up when you're sending a weblink or email address.
You can get around this by putting gaps in-between the web-address you are sending etc etc.
So many emails are sent on Keen, there is no way they could monitor all emails in detail - and as you say, it is illegal to monitor calls without informing the client.. I have no evidence they do this.
I have sent advisors my personal email address on Keen. They have contacted me privately through my email and I now read with them privately for a much lower cost that Keen charges.
I would encourage anyone to do this. Try it with an advisor you regularly read with and know well - the advisor doesn't have to respond - but at least those who are savvy enough, will do so. They can charge half the amount they do on Keen and come out with a bigger profit.
I hate Keen with a passion - they take an oversized cut (hence the high rates from advisors) and rip customers off (particularly those calling from overseas - who get charged higher rates even if they call direct or chat over the net).
Their service is completely addictive as we have all experienced - partly because you are not at all aware what you are spending in many instances until you drop the call.
Other platforms are not quite as bad. C4A I think take a smaller cut from advisors - and at least you have to add money as you go. Bitwine - that gives you intro time to explain the situation before the advisor talks etc, and charges a pre set amount through paypal also works better for the customer IMO.