Montana Department of Labor and Industry - Business Standards Division. Compliance Department This Agency Failed Completely to Handle a Valid Complaint against 2 Real Estate Agents who Harmed Us - Proving that they Are Just a Big Government Agency who does not care about the consumer nor any type of justice. Helena Montana
What a Big Waste of Time for Us. I would advise any citizen, NEVER to file a complaint, against a real estate agency, or any other company, with the Montant Department of Labor and Industry.
You will just end up spinning your wheels for months, getting treated badly and NEVER getting any type of justice.
Read our Story and See:
My husband and I had a contract on our home in Maine. We wanted to buy a home in Montana. This was back in June, 2019. I saw a home listed by a real estate firm - Clearwater Montana properties. I contacted the two agents who listed the home.
I was assured that they would represent us as customers and would handle any offer I made. I got a call from one of the agents urging me to make an offer on the home because another offer might come in. I e-mailed a fair offer of $ 255,000 on a home priced at $ 270,000.
I wrote the offer up carefully and asked them to submit it to the seller for consideration. I asked the agents to formally write it up after the seller had time to consider it. To my shock and surprise, I got an immediate e-mail reply, from them, that they WOULD NOT SUBMIT MY OFFER. Also, that I should find OTHER REPRESENTATION.
You see, dear readers, these two unethical agents were trying to get a higher offer by pitting one buyer against another. Thus, I lost the house and when the buyers for our Maine home saw I did not have a contract, they walked away from the deal we had with them.
I AM SURE, DEAR READERS, YOU WILL AGREE WHAT THEY DID TO US WAS UNETHICAL.
I tried to file a complaint with the Association of Realtors in Butte, Montana - which was close to where the 2 agents lived and practiced real estate. The director there, Judy Kivela, said she could not take my complaint because one of the realtors was not a member of her board.
She advised me to file a complaint with the Gallatin Board of Realtors. After doing so and providing all documentation, that Board - headed by Steve Candler - failed to handle the complaint and did not even send me a Letter of Acknowledgement.
It turned out, they refused the complaint and sent it back to Judy Kivela.
SEE A REVIEW I WROTE UP, ON THIS RIP OFF REPORT SITE ON THE GALLATIN BOARD OF REALTORS LAST YEAR.
This Judy Kivela then advised me to file a formal complaint with the Montana Department of Labor.
This is where the real horror begins:
I did file the complaint back in August, 2019. After all the work and time I put into the complaint - including a tape of a message left to me by one of the realtors, urging me to make an offer on the home, I got the run around from the very start.
The two women in charge - Sarah Braden and Shelley Gloege - treated me in a most unprofessional manner. It was clear to me, from the start, that both of these Government Workers - had no intention of taking my complaint in any serious manner. It was also my opinion, that - like most Government Agencies - they fail to help the citizen.
First, there was supposed to be a MEETING of the BOARD on January 15, 2020. I was assured, I would be called that morning to listen in and given an opportunity to answer any questions the board might have.
More later.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Barbara
United StatesTO JIM; CYBER BULLYING, CYBER HARASSMENT AND CYBER STALKING CARRY BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL CRIME PENALTIES
#4Author of original report
Tue, April 28, 2020
Dear Readers:
Here is JIM again. The person who has nothing better to do in his sad life, than to harrass, stalk and bully me.
He is guilty of not following the rules for use and regulation of this valuable site.
Perhaps, he is a Non Essential Person, who is unemployed.
Please igore what this person is saying. He has nothing to do with the original complaint.
He is just a sick, individual who desperately needs medical help.
TO JIM:
Know this now. Your cyber stalking comments are being kept and printed out. They are being given to the police authorities. They already have a file on you.
You will soon find yourself in jail.
Stop now and also stop abusing this valuable site.
Signed,
The Truth
Jim
Anaheim,California,
United States
Barbara - You Are A Moron In Multiple States
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, April 27, 2020
I think the dear readers should know full well that you did the same thing in Maine as you did here. Real Estate agents are not obligated to present an offer if they know full well the offer would not be accepted. Moreover, if the agent no longer wishes to represent you, it's most likely because you pulled the same crap in Montana as you did in Maine.
So, just as you did in Maine, you went after the realtors who decided they would not represent you any further. And, just as what happened in Maine, no one would listen to you because, of course, you have no reason to file a complaint with the agency. This isn't a matter of realtors covering one another, which is what you allege everywhere you go. It is because you have no case. You're like a vexacious litigant and after a while, no one listens to people who cry wolf.
Back then, when you were still in Maine, I told you that agencies like this will not listen to your empty concerns. You are now in another state, and yet again...the same thing. I guess I was right again. Perhaps the Unabomber's old outhouse might be available for purchase?
Barbara
United StatesContinuation of Report on Our Horrible Experience with the Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry
#4Author of original report
Sun, April 26, 2020
I am the author of the Report on the Montana Department of Labor and Industry - Business Standards Division in Helena, Montana.
This update starts with the April 24th, 2020 report leaves off.
Our complaint against 2 real estate agents, was supposed to be heard by the Board in a meeting to be held January 15, 2020. I was assured by Ms. Gloege that I would be called, that day to listen in on the meeting.
Well, I waited all day long and she never called me. I even canceled a medical appointment just to be by the telephone.
The next day I sent an e-mail to complain that I was never called. I get a reply from Ms. Braden saying that it was not necessary for them to call me, since the meeting was cut short because one of the Board members was absent. She also gave an excuse that there was no phone in the meeting room.
Both of these government employees knew full well how important the meeting was to me and that I expected to be called. THEY DID NOT EVEN CALL ME JUST TO EXPLAIN THAT THE MEETING WAS CALLED OFF. That would have been the ethical thing to do.
I was shown no courtesty nor respect for my time.
I was then told, by these 2 government employees that the next meeting would be April 8, 2020.
Before that date, I made sure to tell both women that I would be waiting by the phone on April 8th to get the phone call.
Well, here is what happened on April 8th.
The phone rings at 9 am EST. I answered and Ms. Gloege said that the meeting was to begin. I heard the director of the meeting announce that I was to remain silent unless called upon to speak.
THAT IS THE LAST THING I HEARD. I WAS CUT OFF AND THE PHONE WENT DEAD.
Needless to say, I was very upset. I tried calling the Labor Board, but there was just a garbled message.
I tried another number for them, but there was no opportunity to reach anyone.
I also sent a fax, saying I WAS CUT OFF. PLEASE CALL ME BACK.
No one called me back. No one cared that I was cut off.
Thus, I missed the entire meeting and was not given any opportunity to respond to any questions nor put in any input.
I am sure this woman knows the difference between a MUTE BUTTON and a CUT OFF BUTTON on a telephone. Most people are intelligent enough to know that they cut off someone.
I feel strongly that this was done on purpose and with malice.
The next day, I sent an e-mail to Braden and Gloege to tell them how upset I was that I was cut off and never had any chance. They knew it was important for me to hear the goings on of the meeting.
I get back a very rude e-mail from Braden - saying that she instructed Gloege NOT to answer me.
She claims it was not done on purpose. I feel otherwise - and with good reason.
I wrote back asking for an opportunity to give input and respond to questions.
She never replied back. There was absolutely NO FEELINGS WHATSOEVER. NO RESPECT FOR ME AT ALL.
JUST PURE ARROGANCE.
On Friday, April 24th, I got 2 form letters from Ms. Gloege saying that MY COMPLAINTS ARE DISMISSED AGAINST BOTH AGENTS.
Well, dear readers, it did not take long for them to throw me away like yesterdays trash.
I am sure you all agree that this is no way to treat citizens.
However, what should anyone expect from State Government Agencies! We all need to learn and I sure did, that such State Government Agencies are basically a PROTECTION AGENCY for the real estate agent, or any company that the consumer is complaining about.
I have had several experience with other State Government Agencies - and the result is always the same.
It is like a coin toss:
HEADS, the Company and Government Agency Wins. TAILS, the Citizen Loses.
In the final analysis, I caution all readers out there, NEVER FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANY COMPANY WITH A STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
All the citizen will get for his or her time and trouble is fustration. First the citizen is harmed by the company they are complaining about. Then, the citizen is further harmed by State Government Agencies, who are supposed to be a venue for such complaints.
As far as the Montana Labor and Industry - Business Standards Division, - their name is just an Air of Respectability who are not responsive to the needs of the citizen.
Signed,
They Should Be Classified as Non Essential