Dawson Ford Garbee & Co. Realtors

Review: Fees that were supposedly owed to Dawson Ford Garbee that are in question were deducted from a settlement check with out authorization I have a appointment to talk to a lawyer on the April 27th 2015 about the fees in question. I may be wrong but I didn't think one could deduct moneys form a subcontractor settlement without authorization. I have attached the statements that were sent to me I never received any invoices. In the policy manual attached there is a paragraph about agent accounts. It states that invoices will be payed 10 days after invoiced. I had not received a invoice for over a year for any of the charges and on top of that the statement has invoices before I was even a agent these statement attached also. There has been a lot of closed door meeting and lot of paper shredding. I have been a contractor in VA for many years last year was my first year as a real estate agent and I have never seen a businesses run as poor as this one has. There has been many agents effected by the same things, have found out and buy intimation and threats they have never filed a complaint. Copies of my emails are attached with intimation. I do hope something can be done to check into this matter. This is the copy of complaint from sent to VA contractor boardDesired Settlement: To refund the money taken with out authorization.

Business

Response:

[redacted] Thank you for contacting us in regard to the complaint filed by [redacted]. I am attaching all the information you may need. There are two forms [redacted] signed when he joined the [redacted] which I have requested they forward to me. Brokers are not given these documents, the board office keeps a copy and the agent joining keeps a copy. These forms, signed by [redacted] disclose the broker will be billed for certain fees and he acknowledges by his signature he will pay these fees. For billing purposes only brokers are billed vs. agents. Therefore the [redacted] only has to do accounting / billing for about eighty brokers vs. six-hundred plus agents. These forms do not say we will bill / invoice the agents. However, our policy manual states we will bill them. However, we have no listed or required time for billing per our manual. Most all agents simply bring their check in each quarter as funds are due. However, we have a majority we have to bill as time goes on as they do not pay as agreed. I have attached series of [redacted]'s paper work. He joined my firm in October of 2013. He renewed his license in October at a cost of 65.00, attached. Then joined our firm at a cost of 60.00 to DPOR attached. Once his license came in, he then set an appointment, went to the [redacted], received a "new comer' package and signed documents with [redacted] stating he would have to pay quarterly dues. Also state, local and national dues each Jan. of each year, (these funds he pays directly to [redacted]). The quarterly fees he pays to our firm each quarter, the forms state he acknowledges that fact. This includes MLS dues, lock box key fees. Also, the same package includes a statement that if he is signed up late for a [redacted] meeting, signs up and does not go, he has listings entered into MLS later than 48 hours after they are signed, does not put photos of listings in, in less than 48 hours, etc., he is fined. There is a bill from [redacted] attached for 20.00 which represents the last mentioned items. Also his detailed statement for his quarterly dues, his two fines and his E & O Insurance. This is like a malpractice type insurance for Realtors. DPOR does not allow a broker to pay for this for an agent / independent contractor. Therefore they are billed once a year. As [redacted] mentioned our policy manual that he himself is quoting, states he will pay his invoice within ten days of receipt. He was invoiced and did not pay within ten days so this was deducted from his LAST commission check. [redacted] had this invoice and should have paid within ten days. Amounts for quarterly dues, MLS fines, etc. were in his new comer packet and he signed acknowledging these costs and payments. Again, he was given this invoice and did not pay same.[redacted] owed the monies, was given a detailed billing and again, as he states did not pay same within the ten day policy period. Please let me know any other questions you may have or items you may need from me. I will be glad to provide you any information at anytime. Thank you for your attention to this matter, sincerely, [redacted], BrokerDawson Ford Garbee & Co. Realtors

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

WOW Im glad I have this in writing. Yes I did contact Mr.Dawson about being a agent at Dawson Ford Garbee in Oct of 2013 but there was contending education that need to be done before my license was reinstated there for the Realtor Board would not release my license this that was completed (attached). I was not a agent till the first of January of 2015 I didn't act as a agent nor function as one (attached). The whole problem lies in what Mr Dawson had told me when I came to Dawson Ford Garbee that it would cost about 1000.00 to sign up for everything it did cost 751.00 dollars nothing was every said about Dues payed to him thru out the year only for any extra advertising which I paid as they were due. There were never any invoices that needed to be paid thought out the year. There are other agent that can contest to that I have attached the email from Mar 10th 2015 that even states the fact of poor business pratices. DPOR found no board regulations that were broken for shorting a check to a subcontractor they did say action in business may be improper,unethical and otherwise deserving of corrective action. After reading the MLS sign up sheet the the only thing about Dues is if not paid one will no longer be a member. Had Dawson Ford Garbee ever given a invoice as per there policy manual an invoice would have been paid,but being that no invoices were given again agents can contest to that and agents have left Dawson Ford Garbee over this. Not to mention the threatening emails that are attached also. How to resolve this complement would be have Mr. Dawson issue a apology to his agents and former agents on his poor business practices and step up and take responsibly as a business owner and not pawn off his lack of responsibly on others. The letter from the DPOR is worth the money.

Regards,