Complaint Review: The Real Estate Solution Group - Birmingham Alabama

This is a long one so feel free to skip if you are rushed for time.

I signed up for The Real Estate Solution Group in Late Sept/early Oct of 2012. I first spoke w/ Rodney in the Birmingham office who gave me a run down of everything and got me started. I told both Laura and Rodney that I was student at the time and only wanted to work part time and they both agreed that was fine.

At first all was well. When I would go into my queue I had a good amount of inspections and was able to take care of them in a timely manner w/o any problems then suddenly one day my queue was  full to the max and the zip codes weren't the ones I agreed to service. I called/emailed them both and was told not to worry that the zips would be removed it was an accident. They were removed and then shortly they showed up again, only this time I was told that was my area and I needed to get them done or be docked. So I did. It got to the point where I would wake up and would have over 100 new inspections (keeping in mind I told them I was a student and only wanted PT). I would get the cards and route together only to see that 30-40 more were assigned. While trying to keep up w/ inspections, I was getting behind in school. I told Laura and Rodney via email that I couldn't work anymore and I would clear my queue b/c I didn't want to leave them undone. 

They appeared to be fine w/ that, but kept on putting inspections on me. Eventually after the first week of Dec, I had them all done and they stopped loading me. I submitted my invoice and received nothing. I called Rodney who never responded to voicemail or email. I called Heather McIntosh, and was told that she would check on it. I called her back after not hearing from her and when she finally answered I asked her point blank if I was going to get paid b/c it was obvious something wasn't right here-sheepishly she replied that Laura said she wasn't paying me anything until I spoke w/ her. How can you SPEAK W/ someone who won't answer the phone?? I called Laura's office and cell phone continuously. I even contacted the California Sec of State and as one of the other post says, her license isn't active. I contacted the Dept of Real Estate and was told that since I was a private contractor they don't get involved HOWEVER I could file a formal complaint based on ethics practices. The rep even gave me the name and number of the broker she works under. I got all of my paper work ready to go to small claims b/c I was bound and determined to get my money. 

After writing letters and "preparing for war" I mailed her a certified letter w/ return receipt as my final effort. The receipt came back but the signature wasn't legible and I knew then that she was playing dirty so if I ever took her to court and presented the signature she could say it wasn't hers..so then I started to think slimey like Laura. Since she wouldn't answer any number w/ a 205 area code I created a google voice number w/ a 408 (Campbell area code) and was able to locate her house phone number by searching online. I called and there was no answer. Then surprise surprise my phone rang through the google account and it was her. I missed the call and she left a voice mail (that I kept). I called her back and when she  answered and confirmed that it was her I "introduced" myself and completely lost it. I told her that I wanted my money and she pretended that she knew nothing about my certified letter and I called her on it and said she had poor staff if they weren't giving her the mail (which I knew was a lie). I told her that I wasn't getting off the phone w/ her until I got my money. And we stayed on while she set up my Chase pay and I registered for the Chase service b/c I didn't have an account. I saw the email requesting me to accept the funds and THEN I let her get off the phone. 

It takes 2-3 days for the funds transfer to take place and during that time the sender can cancel at any time and you better believe I watched the account EVERYDAY to make sure that she didn't reverse the payment. On the last day when the money was finally posted in my account I breathed a sigh of relief and knew then that I was probably one of many who had been through the same thing w/ Laura. 

She is the lowest of the low and has no business hiring contractors that she won't pay. I hope more people become aware of how she operates and won't work for her so she can go out of business...and 24hr can get the contract back in Alabama. I loved doing inspections it was fun, but that fun ended when she wouldn't pay me.