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| - A SCAM WITH ONE PURPOSE: TO TAKE YOUR MONEY
How It Works and How to Beat It
AS A FORMER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER for several of the largest newspapers in the United States, I state without hesitation that this is one of the most egregiously dishonest companies of any kind I have ever encountered.
How dishonest?
For starters, the "Weldon M. of Cave Creek, AZ." who posts a "positive" review here about McMath is none other than its owner _ Weldon Lee McMath himself _ posing as a satisfied customer. A blatant lie _ and a stark violation of Yelp rules.
The Yelp response:
"Weldon M.
Cave Creek, AZ ...
This review has been removed for violating our Terms of Service."
McMath uses every trick in the book: lying in their initial agreement, failing to deliver services, misstating the law, and attempting to intimidate tenants.
The scam:
McMath owns "RW Maintenance, Inc." _ a "cleaning company" operated out of his own office _ that "cleans" properties after moves and fabricates "problems" as grounds for withholding deposits (complaints here show how the so-called "problems" match from property to property).
McMath actually finds what Arizona law calls "normal wear and tear," like soiling, which the law says is NOT grounds for withholding deposits. McMath nonetheless convinces landlords it's enough, that they should use his "cleaning report" as the basis for keeping your money.
McMath claims he offers these "reports" as a "courtesy" to landlords, that the decision to withhold security deposits is the landlords'. Totally untrue.
Richard B. Cooke, the unctuous McMath property manager handling our rental, spiked our RW Maintenance report with insulting personal remarks, bragging in detail how he had "advised" the landlords about what to keep.
It is proof positive that McMath Realty Property Management/RW Maintenance and the landlords act as one.
By snatching your deposit money for landlords, McMath then positions itself to become the real estate agent handling sale of the property, an incredibly flagrant conflict of interest. Indeed, Cooke landed the account as the agent selling our rental.
What to do:
+ Photograph your rental property inside and out before, during and after occupancy. Date everything.
+ Photograph ALL walkthroughs, showing Cooke and whoever else, like landlords, in the pictures. DON'T let them rush you or brush off any questions. Date everything.
+ Tape-record phone conversations with Cooke, McMath representatives and the landlords. In Arizona, it's legal to tape conversations as long as one party knows about it (that's you).
+ Save your e-mails, texts and letters to and from EVERYBODY. Mail each letter twice, via both regular and certified mail. Keep careful track of the dates of everything.
+ NO MATTER WHAT, go on record by filing complaints with the following (it really DOES make a difference _ and McMath hates it, for good reason):
~ARIZONA BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
1010 E. Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Karina Rodesno, Lead Conciliation & Engagement Specialist
(602) 264-1721
E-mail: krodesno@arizonabbb.org
General BBB contact: info@arizonabbb.org
~SMALL CLAIMS COURT
YOU HAVE ONE YEAR TO FILE. Any individual can file in Maricopa County Small Claims Court for damages of up to $2,500. The court strongly encourages plaintiffs to use AZTurboCourt. If you don't, you will have to go to the courthouse to fill out the necessary forms. It costs $38 in fees.
~ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
1110 W Washington St.
#310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 771-1000
If you are seeking guidance concerning the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act you may wish to consult an attorney. If you don't have one, you may find it helpful to contact FREE community legal services:
Maricopa County Central Office
305 S. Second Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 258-3434
(800) 852-9075
~NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGERS
The association has a strict code of ethics _ and Weldon McMath is a member.
To file a complaint against him: http://www.narpm.org/about/ethics/
To contact the national office:
638 Independence Parkway
Suite 100
Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
Phone: (800) 782-3452
FAX: (866) 466-2776
EMAIL: INFO@NARPM.ORG
~INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGERS (IREM)
430 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (800) 837-0706
FAX: (800) 338-4736
Email: getinfo@irem.org
~ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE (ADRE)
2910 N. 44th Street
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85018
The Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE), under the direction of the Real Estate Commissioner, enforces Arizona's Real Estate laws. A complaint may also be filed with the Arizona Association of Realtors® (see below).
~ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (AAR)
To file a complaint against McMath:
http://www.aaronline.com/resolve-disputes/ethics/
Send your completed materials to AAR along with your submission to:
Attn: Ethics
Arizona Association of REALTORS®
255 E Osborn Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85012
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