Complaint Review: Wendy Phillips-Joelman

A simple search of this individual has turned up a story in a local newspaper in Trinidad that Mr. Darren Mcleod has also ripped off another lady and holds her money and refuses to pay her back. Apparantly he sold her property and swindled the proceeds.

This was found by a simple google search.

One can only imagine how many other persons have suffered.

Instead on trying to do the honourable thing and repay these ladies, he has time to reply to this site to boast of a romantic relationship with one of the ladies in question.

This is enough evidence

don't do any business with Darren McLeod

Mr. Mc Leod is in the same place he was before during and after the sour business dealing with these ladies(2 of them out of 4 being in the legal profession). Again, if he swindled and disenfranchised these ladies then how is it that they have not used the courts to get redress??? They were all in Trinidad in 2009 for a wedding yet they did nothing to recover the monies they claim were somehow taken from them unlawfully.

Each time a false account is posted here it will be answered. In USA these ladies would probably have to pay Mr.Mc Leod much more money for breach of contract. Apparently they didn't finish law school.

They appear on these pages disguised as many different people who supposedly had nothing to do with the transaction in an attempt to smear he good name of Mr.Mc Leod. Try and keep trying. One of the parties know exactly here Mr.Mc Leod lives since she visited him there for 4 days once. Anyone reading on will see through the lies and deceit. Banana republics apparently are great places for weddings....Give me a break..

the ex employee who is stupid enough to defend this gentleman has not been on the receiving end of his fraudulent activity. Numerous persons have been swindled by this gentleman and have been suffering ever since.

It is unfortunate as these persons will never ever see their money reimbursed due to Mr. Mcleod's numerous political links with the government that is now in power in the banana republic called Trinidad.

In the US, this individual would surely be residing in prison.

If you are a religious person, what is in darkness will always come to light.

I am an ex-employee of Mr.Mc Leod and how we severed ties was unpleasant. I hated him and his company. I was shocked out of my skin when he passed me in public and acknowledged to me like nothing happened.

After that we would have cordial hellos until one day I called him and asked him how he could forgive me for what I had done. What he taught me that day changed my outlook on business. He said in business, "hate nor love has any place," we get burned, we move on".

One day while I was at the bank (after I left his company) he was at the counter and I was directly behind him. I saw him pull two cheques out of a slender file-like thingy. I could not see the cheques properly but the one on top was a many-digit cheque from what I could see. The way the Teller treated him said a lot (as well as the look on her face when he presented the cheque to her for deposit). The lines were fairly long and it was about 11 O'clock in the day. On the counter there was about 50 something cents, most of it in copper and probably 2 ten cent pieces among the change. Mr.Mc Leod stretched almost a shoulder length toward the change and pulled every piece to him. Everyone was looking. He didnt care a d**n. In addition to his how-much-ever hundreds of thousands he wanted that too. I learned again.

He is not the best boss. Kinda fussy and scary but he is not unfair and for sure he is a shrewd businessman. I worked with the company when this matter arose and left shortly after but I saw all the documents because I was the one who had to copy them to send them to several departments in the US. What he has said is true here and he did ask me to look at this site but he did not ask me to say anything. He knew I would feel compelled to tell the truth. All these ladies except 1 were in Trinidad, 2 were in Trinidad for business and 1 wasn't. I will say no more but there is a lot of dishonesty involved and a lot of omission on the part of these ladies. Its a good thing that Mr. Leod has all of his facts documented. He is far from perfect as we all are, but a right thing is a right thing and the law is the law regardless of who thinks its Banana Republican.

Picture 2 Attorneys a Physician and a pre-school teacher entering an agreement, being wronged and NOT fighting it in court. Thats downright smelly. I know the facts, I have seen the evidence, I know of the issues which have not even been raised here by Mr.Mc Leod and it is sad that they chose to malign his character instead of face the repercussions of their breaches. They wanted a refund of their deposit on very dishonest grounds as all of us at the office at that time were aware of. If he decided to do that then who would reimburse him for his travels to the US to have the contract signed,his hotel accommodation, car rental and all the related costs? He would then be the loser.But why? He didn't breach the agreement, they did.The company's Attorneys were actually wishing that these ladies had sued. They would have lost on every ground possible. I have no reason to take his side on this matter.I am just privileged to have been witness to this mess and he's actually not on the wrong side of it I'm glad to say. I want to say"women" but Im one too so I will say....people...

Banana Republic you call it Lester? The ladies wrote to terminate the contract before term....that was the material breach. If the term ran out and the development was incomplete THEN Daren and his company would be liable to refund NOT if the contract was frustrated by the other party.

In addition, the damage that was initiated against his character by their launch of a most senseless internet smear campaign should begin to be rewarded with their deposit. Their can be no quarrel with a buyer's change of heart in any transaction, but the way out of it must be honest and fair.

There are new reports of the Doctor in this matter sharing this case with her clients(sound proof available). People talk. More so in Banana Republics. Funny how the law works in Banana republics too for those of them who would make use of it. A few words to the seemingly wise..

I will leave you the floor, doubtful of any return.The level of arguments are too weak and emotional. Lacking intellectual substance.Let them find a court. Nothing will heal or repair here!

This is in response to Caribbean Attorney.
Having read your input in this matter, there are some matters which need clearing up seeing as you consider yourself an expert on law.

Was Mr. Darren's new offer to the 3 ladies accepted in writing? It seems to me that it was not so therefore they would have been bound by the first signed contract and would not have been entitled to a refund for the duration of the contract. Therefore on the closing date if the 3 ladies were unable to come up with the funds to complete the purchase their deposit would have been lost.

However it seems that the property was never completed by Darren according to the other persons on this forum(Daren can clarify this) and so since the agreement was signed in 2006 and is usually for a duration of not longer than a year, this agreement has most likely expired. Therefore the contract is null and void and the 3 ladies should be refunded their monies. Yet it seems that Daren refuses to refund them their money.

It is clear that these ladies are being taken advatage of and probably do not have the resources to seek legal redress.

If you say they can't seek legal redress it just goes to show what type of laws exist in these banana republics with clearly a backward third world outlook.

I note that most of the comments here are from persons in the US. Sometimes US citizens fail to realize that law is not solely an American entity. Other parts of the world have different laws. For instance, a 'sale' in most parts of the Caribbean does not occur at the point of the 'closing' but at the point of the opening. Once a deposit is paid the Seller has rights as well as the buyer. A Seller would reserve a property for a Buyer once a deposit is made. He/she would then stop advertising it as available, refuse higher offers/bids and is generally not able to enter any negotiations of a material nature in respect of that property until the the closing date has elapsed(90 days standard time).

Therefore if the Seller cannot show good title he/she is bound to return a deposit to the Buyer. Also, if the Buyer 'decides' after signing a binding contract that he/she wishes to 'opt out' of the transaction, the deposit is lost. A contract is usually clear on which instances a contract may be terminated. Forget about what it sounds or seems like..ITS SIMPLY THE LAW. Judge Judy would do a better explanation of one's responsibility to know what they are signing before doing so. It is like buying up food at the Supermarket only to realize the food bought were already stocked. Taking it back seems logical and practical because there is no immediate need for it but the Supermarket wont take back the food because it was already bought. How is that the Supermarket's fault? Seems unfair but thats only because we are talking about money. Law is therefore as serious as money.

The fact (assuming it is) that these ladies had a chance to view the document before signing means that they would have had an opportunity to refer it to legal minds for further advice but it is not good enough to make a decision to halt a contract in tenure and look forward to a return of the deposit. The Seller would have the right to withold the deposit as liduidated damages and if there is a case of defamation of character(Slander or Libel or both) then that is yet another case in the Seller's favour. That is probably why the website about the issue at hand was taken down. If it were true he would be more likely to rush-repair the situation in defence of his name. Anyone would.

One question for the party of Buyers:

Are they not pursuing justice through the courts? I am not advising on it I am merely curious as to what is expected by posting these comments here if justice is the aim. I have seen many cases like this one and to be honest with you your case is weak naturally and further weakened by the fact that you have taken this course of action which will attain effects that would not profit your cause as well as enrage the Seller beyond wanting to deal with you at all. Why register a defamatory website about someone who has your money and has all legal right to withhold it from you. From the report here it appears that this situation could have been avoided. Perhaps your attitude was too American and you thought that you would have an easy way out of something you clearly changed your mind on.

The other commentators should to be schooled in Caribbean Commercial Law. Coming online to vent emotional miseducation with an narrow American view of the world only looks simple and pitiful. If these ladies had a case they would know exactly where to get redress. I am under an impression that this forum is existant due to other natural roads being blocked up. It is unfortunate indeed but it only underscores the fact that legal agreements are very serious and once a contract is not properly performed, 1 of the two parties is left hurt. At least this is how it works in the Caribbean and the American laws or culture does not arise for discussion n this case.

it seems that a lot of people have been ripped off by this individual and i too have seen the website which has since been taken down.

there is also another situation of an individual who built a website for mr. mcleod and (((Redacted))) and was never paid for his services.


another website is (((Redacted)))
i inquired about the arden development in maraval when i was in trinidad and was told and i saw for myself that it never got off the ground. as a previous author said, not a brick was laid.

someone connected to the arden development has stated that daren mcleod is currently before the courts on numerous matters relating to the development

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

I too had a very bad experience with Daren McLeod and Homes of the Caribbean.

I feel sorry for the 3 ladies who gave Daren $15,000 (USD) and did not get their condo.

How can Daren Mc Leod say these ladies ripped him off when HE HAS THEIR MONEY, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR CONDO?

He has $15,000 (USD) of their money. They have nothing!

Who ripped off who?

I think he ripped them off.


I saw a website about Daren McLeod and Mercantile Advisory Services a year ago on the internet. The website had a PHOTO of Daren McLeod and the other members of his organization. The website also had photos of the land in Trinidad (Arden - Maraval) where the condos were to be built, a copy of the Contract which said if he changed the price they could get out of the Contract and McLeod would give them their money back. I don't know why the person who put the website up took it down, but they should put it back up.

The website explained that Daren had $15,000 of their money. He was the contractor - He had their money. Why didn't he build their condo and then if they refused to pay, take them to court?

The website said that he never put up one brick at Arden in Maraval.

Please, please, if you are reading this and you know where I can see the website about Daren McLeod with his photo, please post the URL.

Everyone needs to see what he looks like.


Please, please, put up the website about Daren McLeod again.


Curious

I wonder who 'Karen' really is ? Im wondering whether she is certain that she visited Trinidad in February at Carnival time when she said she did. I wasn't in the country at that time so Im sure 'Karen' really exist and Im also sure she is just mixing up the months she was here in Trinidad....

I have also thought of purchasing property in my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. I stayed in a local bed and breakfast when visiting Trinidad last Feb, for Carnival 2007. While there I asked the driver to show me some of the new developments. The driver employed at the bed and breakfast took me to condo developments located in Arden, Trinidad. When I asked him if there was any property a little more affordable he took me to what looked like a small plot of land where some trenches were dug also located in Arden. However, upon talking to the some of the neighbors living by this plot of land I was told that this land has been in the same state for approximately two years and no new work had been done.

I then asked my driver who the developer was for that plot of land and he told me it was a guy by the name of Daren. I am glad that I came across this site!

Daren you are in the wrong. I am glad I took the time to speak with some of the people in the area where your so called development project is taking place. I also have pictures if anyone is interested in seeing this "development".

Karen
Durham, NC

The contract specifies that their deposits are refundable if the deal doesn't go thru. It didn't, for various reasons-- yet you don't refund them.

Real estate deals aren't "closed" until everyone has signed the mortgage, etc. It's always contingent on "securing acceptable financing." That word "acceptable" gives the buyer(s) almost infinite lattitude to back out of the deal if they don't like the loan terms they are offered.