I initiated contact with Richard Garcia. He said that his company was a property management company that he managed properties in Southern California. He said his usual landlords had moved out of state and needed a property management service. He told me that his service was 100% guaranteed to find me a place. He held himself in the light that these were properties that he managed that he would be able to work with us despite our negative credit and current income. He also stated that since we were paying his fee that he would be able to work with us on the deposit if one was even needed.
Relying on this information I purchased his service using my Google account for payment of $189. He said this was for administrative fees that he would be emailing me a list of properties and to let him know which ones I was interested in.
I was then sent an application which had basic information. The application was an email he said copy and paste in new email and then answer the questions. I did this and initialed where necessary. One portion of the text was actually hidden which I did not see because you actually had to click on the portion of text to make it visible. I was not familiar with this feature.
At that time I had already paid the $189 and then was told to "sign" the application.
I was sent 3 lists of properties that had properties from 6/09 to the present day. I requested information regarding 10 of properties. Richard Garcia had me working with Cynthia by this time. I was sent the contact numbers and instructions to call each place and make an appointment to see the property.
I called the numbers provided. I was instructed to tell them that a broker Richard Garcia had referred me to them. I left messages when I did not reach anyone. One property was already taken. I talked to one gentleman who told me all about their process and how they would need to run their own credit check and I would need to pay for that and also that would do full background checks due to HOA regulations. Another agent in regards to another listing said that I would need to come into office and be qualified before I could even see the property.
At this time I realized that Mr. Garcia was not what he held himself out to be. He gave me numbers to call told me to take all my information with me and be ready to leave a deposit with that person who showed me the place to show that I was serious. He did not tell me that everyone I called would be another Relator or Property Manager.
When I signed up for service I thought I would be working with one person who would find me a place. That he would qualify me for the properties he had and it was only a matter of finding the right one!
Upon this realization that what I thought I paid for and what I got were two different things I contacted Mr Garcia and requested full refund. He told me that he cannot that his company will not allow him to do so. He is the owner of this company.
I informed Mr Garcia that I had decided that I would not be moving at this time. I had a baby prematurely and she was in hospital. That his service was not needed anymore.
Mr Garcia did not cooperate with me. He still ran my credit report as well as my boyfriends even after I informed him that he did not have permission to do so. Mr Garcia said that I was trying to rip him off and that based on my credit that is what I do. My boyfriends credit report also came back with some interesting information regarding his employer it stated that he was a porn star working with deez easy and a con artist. This was not on his credit report 3 months ago.
I gave Mr Garcia the oppurtunity to refund my money and even keep the 39 for his troubles. He refused. He has been very unprofessional.
I recieved only one call back from the 8 messages I left. The real estate agent I spoke with did not even know Richard Garcia. I spoke with in regards to my situation and he informed me that this is becoming a new upcoming scam.
Mr Garcia obtains information from public records and makes potential renters believe these are properties HE manages. The truth is that he provides a list and a coaching session to how to rent a property and nothing more.
0 comments