Here is the story.
I was trying to sale my condo since 2001, I listed this with few Agents and didn't get any success. Then "A DESI REAL ESTATE AGENT, assured me that he will do best to sale this condo. There was no result in the first three months. Then he came to my home and gave me the advice that it's hard to sale the condo like that. What we can do is if you
pay $10,000.00 then your condo will be sold for sure and you will get this money back after your closing, I agreed.

Next day another agent & MY AGENT came with one client (lady) to show the apartment.

Two days later an offer made from that lady as I was told was presented to me which was very low and it went back and forth few times in duration of three days, after offer was accepted MY AGENT asked me as we agreed earlier for $10,000 cash, which I refused and told him my concerns about getting the money back. The selling agent and MY AGENT
both assured me that don't worry you will get your money back and MY AGENT also said that I will give you the promissory note and the selling agent(who was also desi and the partner of my agent) signed it as a witness. And in the promissory note they mentioned that they will return my money in 40 – 45 days with occurring interest on it.

Also when I received the offer, it only shows the name of the buyer, MY AGENT put his own phone number in place of the buyer's phone number.
Some how in the middle of December MY AGENT told me that it's very hard to get the mortgage approved for this buyer because the buyer doesn't have a good credit. And the deal was dead on December 16th 2004.

I was keep asking my money from them and first on December 16th 2004 MY AGENT told me that you have to sign the mutual release and after that the real estate office will issue the check. (Which his boss The Broker, confirms the office never received the money.)
Later on the second day MY AGENT changed his story and told me that I have given this money to the Buyer and I am trying to get the money back from the Buyer so you have to wait.

I called next week and then MY AGENT said that I still do not have the money and I can't pay you anything now. May be I could pay you on January 20th 2005. I asked him to provide me the post dated checks. He clearly refused to give me the post dated checks, and also said that you do whatever you want I can not pay you anything before January
20th 2005 and also can't provide you the post dated checks, and do not call me again.

I called his boss (The Broker) on Jan 11, 2005 and told him the whole situation and I also said that I was going to the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and then he said that He will see what he can do.

And then both Agents came to my home and provide me the post dates checks dt. February 01, 2005 , February 4, 2005 and February 10, 2005. And took my signature of the Mutual Release.

I was quite happy that finally I got my money back, but on January 31, 2005 the Buyer's agent called my home and left the message that do not deposit those checks till Friday because MY AGENT is out of town and he will call me and explain me what happened. MY AGENT never called me; I have no contact with him so far.

MY AGENT mentioned earlier that his family is having some problem in back home and they moved already for the period of six to seven years, He is also a part of his family. His home was on sale since he took the money from me.

MY AGENT assured me in first week of December to get ready to move because he said that your closing is on December 29 /2004 so I arranged an apartment to rent and gave the deposit which was $2000.00 (first month and last month rent).

Later when situation changed and I requested to the landlord to return the deposit. Usually no one give you the deposit back but landlord returns my $1500.00 and he took $500.00 as penalty.
Later I came to know that MY AGENT AND SELLER's AGENT both work in the same office and they work as a team, which was not mentioned earlier.
It looks to me that everything was pre-planned and they made a fraud with me. Both are involved and they split the money.

Later I called POLICE, the office came in listen the whole story and told me that this is a civil matter and you have to goto small claims court to resolve this.

I filled my case in small claims court, he counter sued me, on the first pre-tiral he sent somebody on the pre-trial day to say that please re-schedule it, MY AGENT is out of country, the court reschedule the pre-trial, on the 2nd pre-trial the guy never showed up, the court staff dismiss the counter sued case and it went to trial, the guy never showed up in the trial as well. and I got the default judgment.

I also complaint for this guy to the RECO, and they also sent that to their trial, had met with their lawyer couple of times and then they cancel his license.

The whole thing was done 2 years ago and since then I am looking for this guy, he sold his house and I have no idea what the heck I should do to find this guy.

I tried to report this to the credit breau and they said they don't take complains to update the credit history from consumer to consumer.

At this point, I got stuck and don't know what else I can do, I am living in USA now.

Your feedback will be highly appreciated.

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Regards,

My two paisas:

Please name the two agents you dealt with. Please tell us what company they were affilliated to i.e., ReMAX etc. Did they have their own site? Do you have a picture of those scums anywhere?
Spread the word so others can avoid them.

well I really want to but not sure if the moderator will like that.

I am not sure that this is a good idea, but will see what other people says about that.

Also any advise that how can I get my money back?

any collection agency, any govt. agency anybody can help? any idea?

the total amount is around $12000/- to $15000/-

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Regards,

You mention that the credit agencies do not take the complaints from consumer to consumer .... have you thought of going through the collection agencies to get your money back .....

I dont know how much of an hassle it is to go through collection agency and how much it will cost but if this guy does not pay you back then collection agency probably can put a remark in his credit history ( I guess this is what you want if you dont get your money back )

if this person is not in canada then then going to collection agency is of no use I guess but not sure ...

All the best ....

I think you have lost your money for good. Some of the claims may be invalid because of the time it took from the day the money was transfered. As someone said, the best you could do now is to let the details of the two lowlives so that others can avoid them and some grief. I am in the market for a house so I should say thank you for alerting me to be cautious about those realtors. I hope I might find a house being sold by the owner instead of an agent.

If possible please create a webpage on geocities, tripod etc with the details and photos of those rippers and post those links here

Hi,

I suggest you try the CP24 helpline, I don't know the details, but
I have seen many incidents they showed on TV. You can look up
their website and look for the helpline number
They will contact the guys involved (all recorded on hidden cameras)
and they will expose them and try get your money back to you.

It may work out for you, either way you don't loos anything.

Cheers

Tom

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