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Saw this on Fox 4 In Your Corner TroubleShooter Refund Worries dated May 13, 2008 07:17 PM
You can see the link at http://www.fox4now.com/Global/story.asp?S=8319612&nav=menu563_3_1 and look on the left and you will see a tiny red video camera beside the words ‘Refund Worries’ – Click on that and you can see the Fox 4 video for yourself.
“Mark and Lori Sheerin first came across Paragon Properties of Costa Rica on the internet in March of 2007. “We were interested in purchasing some land in Costa Rica because we heard different things about it through different people and thought it would be a great retirement place,” said Lori. They plopped down $29,500, half the purchase price. “They made so many promises, there’s no risk, you’ll absolutely get your money back if you are not 100% satisfied,” said Lori.
A month later, Mark and Lori got cold feet and asked for their money back. “We originally asked for our money back very soon because Mark found out he had health issues to deal with,” said Lori. Denied. Paragon sent them a letter reminding them that they have to actually visit the property in Costa Rica before they can ask for that refund. The contract does indeed say that so off they went. “It just wasn’t what they expected at all,” said Lori.
Now having fulfilled their end of the bargain, they asked for a refund again. That was November. Lori played a game of run-a-round with Paragon for a month then called 4 In Your Corner.
I called Paragon’s Chairman of the Board, William Gale. He told me the refund usually takes up to 120-days but Gale said he’d try to get it in ten. But by Mid April, still nothing.
Now 180 days had elapsed. I decided it was time to drive over to Hollywood and pay Paragon’s main office a visit. The receptionist told me no one in the office would talk to me so she handed me the phone number to Paragon’s attorney. The attorney told me he didn’t have any information on the case.
Within an hour of leaving the office, the Sheerins got a phone call. “Mysteriously, all their funding came in,” said Lori. “They got all the funds they needed to make the refund and I finally got our refund, all the money in full after you went to the office.”
Their year long journey was rough but they learned a good lesson. “If you ever do business with anybody, investigate the company completely, Better Business Bureau, references if you can, just do your homework,” said Lori.
That’s good advice. Here’s another tip: Buying a property sight unseen is a risky idea, especially if you pay up front. If you insist on doing that, make sure you read and understand every word of the contract. In the Sheerin’s case, the property was not developed but the contract said flat-out, Paragon had 18-months to build roads and other structures. But the contract did not specify how quickly it had to provide any refund.
The Attorney General has about twenty complaints on file about Paragon. The Better Business Bureau gives it a “D” rating.”
It’s been years and years since all this Paragon drama first started, is even one of there projects complete? I don’t mean housing as that is up to the lot owners, but the infrastructure; paved roads, water to each lot and electric to each lot?
just gets better and better. check out GRAND THEFT OF THE 2ND DEGREE for Bill Gale last year:
http://www.clerk-17th-flcourts.org/bccoc2/pubsearch/case_summary.asp?hidCaseNumber=07005745CF10A&07005745CF10A=CRM&hidSendingPage=search_results&hidCourtType=CRM&hidGeneralType=CRM&hidS=case_number_public&SearchT=&mscssid=&user_type=&hidPageName=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clerk-17th-flcourts.org%2Fbccoc2%2Fpubsearch%2Fpublic_search.asp%3F&btnSummary=View+Selected+CaseBroward County Case Number: 07005745CF10A.
GRAND THEFT OF THE 2ND DEGREE 03/27/2007
Statute FXXD8120142BB
William Alan Galeis this not the same Bill Gale who is chaimran of paragon properties?
These people are pathetic. Harking back to all the blah blah that Gale wrote a year or two ago is almost laughable now.
It’s not a good news week for this company.
See this http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/333/RipOff0333542.htm
Paragon Properties Of Costa Rica Unscrupulous and unethical real estate land sales in Costa Rica BUYER BEWARE! Multicommercial Baden Oficina, #17A, Barreal De Herdia Hollywood Florida
Paragon Properties of Costa Rica have totally ripped us off of $33,000 and they are not a company you want to do business with! They have put me and my family under considerable distress over the past 3 years!..They made a severe mistake by doing a bait and switch on us and have failed to live up to their contractual obligations.
We have been trying to get our money back for several years now and I am at the point of such extreme frustration that I thought I would share my story.
Our story starts in Mid November 2004 – A friend of ours was sent a package of information about a development called Heights of Pacifica in Costa Rica that Paragon Properties was offering for sale. They said it was the chance of a lifetime. We first spoke with Paragon Properties sales representatives, Bruce Goldberg and Larry Edwards. They confirmed that the Heights of Pacifica development was almost sold out but they just got back two side-by-side one acre lots and could offer them to us at the original price of $16,500 each. They said we would need to move fast, so they faxed us a tract map and sold us on the fact that two side-by-side lots would be much more valuable down the road than one lot. As a result, they talked us into buying lots #176 and #177, which then became lots #38 and #39 after re-mapping, and, we were also assured they had direct ocean front views.
At the time, we had a few other investments going and only had $16,500 for the one lot, but we were assured that if we sent in a post-dated check for the second lot, it would not be a problem. We followed their directions to the tee and couriered all the necessary paperwork and checks to them. Our first check was cashed right away in November 2004. Then, much to our surprise, our second check, which was post-dated as of January 1, 2005, was presented to our bank for payment early in December so the bank rejected it. This should have been our first alert that something was not right. Regardless, we sent them another check right away, which they eventually cashed, so both lots were paid for in full by Jan. 2005. We subsequently received written confirmation from the Florida lawyers, Charles Neustein, that we were in escrow on the above two lot numbers. They told us the paperwork in Costa Rica takes time but to expect our legal documents in about 6 months.
Finally, in late 2005, we received some documents in Spanish with a letter saying that corporations had been set up under a Mexican entity for us and that our properties would be transferred into that. Much time went by, but finally in March of 2006, we finally received the property documents from Paragon, and much to our surprise, the tract maps showed two very different and separate lots highlighted in yellow (#43 & #73), that were not side-by-side, nor, were they even in the vicinity of the two lots we purchased. After making three attempts to reach someone from Paragon, I finally got through to Bill Gale, the Chairman of the company. I explained the situation and expressed my concern about being fearful that while they gave us title to two lots we didn’t purchase, that they may have given title of our lots to someone else. He assured me, in no uncertain terms, that it was just a paperwork mix up and he would see that the corrections were made within a month or so and send out new documents. He also assured us that the properties had gone up in value and not to be concerned or nervous.
June 20, 2006 – we were informed by Bill Gale at Paragon that the lots we purchased were indeed sold to someone else and he clamed it was because of our check bouncing. Now, that didn’t make sense for a minute because if that were the case, we should still have had at least one of those lots that we originally selected. Regardless, the only reason the check bounced was because Paragon tried depositing a post-dated check early. He didn’t really have a good explanation for this error, but said we should just be happy with the lots we have as they have already gone up in value. Then, he had Joni in his office email us photographs of the lots, but there were certainly no ocean views as had been previously represente just a lot of dense jungle. At that point, I informed Paragon that since they could not give us title to the two lots we originally purchased, and we are not interested in keeping the two that they randomly gave us, we requested our money back, with interest, immediately.
June 30, 2006 – after many email exchanges to try settle our matter, we received an email (with a Phase I tract map attached) from Bill Gale personally saying that they had found two lots, side-by-side, #101 and #102, that they would exchange for the lots they gave us in error. We emailed back that day asking for view photos from this location.
July 20, 2006 – we sent communication again asking if they had taken photos from lots 101 & 102, and received a reply from Joni that they were in the works but the crew on the ground was busy.
August 16, 2006 – much to our surprise, a written letter from Bill Gale was sent to us saying that if we weren’t going to take lots 101 & 102, that we should just fill out the enclosed Request for Refund form and return it with all the original books and records and they would give us a refund. The letter reached us in transit during a move from California to Hawaii, so we actually received it on Sept. 6, 2006. We immediately emailed Bill Gale saying we will go ahead and take the refund since they could not provide us with view photos from the new lots, however, there was no Request for Refund form enclosed.
November 2006 – a form was finally sent to us. During the months of November and December, I had several conversations with Joni about feeling odd about just sending back books and records directly to Paragon. I suggested that we work through a neutral escrow party. After not hearing back over the holidays, I sent yet another request with the same suggestion directly to Bill Gale on Jan. 2, 2007.
January 23, 2007 – I received a phone call from a sales guy by the name of Lyle Wexler indicating that Paragon was reneging on their offer to cancel these two sales and refund our purchase money. He further claimed that Bill Gale, while he is the Chairman of Paragon Properties, did not have the authority to correct this mistake for us, However, Lyle was going to save the day for us by allowing us to use our $33,000 credit as a down payment on their newest and much more expensive development called Ocean Palms.
February 2, 2007 – I sent another email to Bill Gale saying that we didn’t appreciate the phone call from Lyle Wexler and at that point threatened legal action in our communication.
April 24, 2007 – After hearing absolutely no response from Paragon for several months, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I also alerted the editor of AM Costa Rica, the local newspaper.
April 25, 2007 – I received an email from Bill Gale saying that they were waiting for me to send them back the documents, and gave us the option to use their lawyer in Florida, Charles Neustein, if we wanted to use a neutral party. He confirmed that they would honor their commitment and give us back the $33,000 but would not be giving us any interest. Finally I thought I was getting somewhere!
May 22, 2007 – Charles Neustein confirmed receipt of all the books and records and informed us that he would forward them along and that it could take some time to transfer the deeds back in Costa Rica. He asked us to be patient.
July 16, 2007 – we followed up with Charles Neustein, as we had not heard anything. He responded the following day saying that Bill Gale’s mother had passed away so he was out of the office, however, he felt that the check should be sent to us in the next 10 days.
October 4, 2007 – Months went by and again no one would return our phone calls or emails since July. Finally, on this day, Charles Neustein replied saying that he spoke to Bill Gale and “they had a problem with the money in Costa Rica, but our refund should be coming promptly. Subsequently, Joni at Paragon sent an email on Oct. 29, 2007 confirming that she received the books and records from Mr. Neustein and would begin the process.
November 12, 2007 – we received a letter with some legal documents from Esteban Soto C., the President of Paragon Properties, asking us to sign the documents that would allow them to transfer the properties back to Paragon. We were told that their Costa Rican attorney, Maria Auxiliadora Alfara will complete the process that will allow them to send us our refund. We immediately signed them and sent them back in the Fed Ex package provided to us.
January 18 & 21, 2008, we followed up with Joni about the $33,000 reimbursement, and she responded on Jan. 21 saying she will check on it.
February 20, 2008 – I sent yet another inquiry about the refund to about 6 people now involved in communication at this point on the matter. Subsequently, I phoned their Costa Rican attorney, Ms. Alfara, and she confirmed by phone that she transferred title of our two lots back to Paragon on February 15th so our check should be sent out very soon.
March 5, 2008 I finally received an email from Joni at Paragon saying; I have confirmed that both Phase One Lots have been transferred to Paragon as well as ownership of the two societies set up for the purpose of these transfers. This portion of the process was complete on February 21, 2008. The refund request was entered for process on that day and we are awaiting funding to the operating account in order to process this request. I will forward to you upon receipt the check number(s) and tracking information. Usually this process takes approximately 30-60 days to complete. I realize that we have experienced delays in the title transfer process due to the holidays last year and have requested that this refund be process immediately and sent to you as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, please call me at 954-925-1153. Joni at Paragon Properties
April 3, 2008 – Send another request to Joni for an update, and she responded on April 21 saying she would try to get an update. Since that time I have not heard back from anyone, and sent yet another request to all parties involved yesterday, May 12, 2008.
May 13, 2008 To date, I have not received our $33,000 refund and no one from Paragon has responded to my recent requests.
May 14, 2008 spoke to a new gal named Jackie this morning. She is now telling me that they don’t have all the funds from Costa Rica and offered to cut me a check for 10% of the amount due in the meantime. I explained that we have been waiting years for this refund and I want the full amount now.
We have continued to act in good faith for 3 years, however, Paragon Properties has continually stalled our refund process causing significant injury and personal distress to me as a result of their fraudulent actions, misrepresentation of facts, and failure to resolve the matter in a timely manner.
I am currently seeking legal representation and plan on filing complaints against Paragon Properties of Costa Rica, their parent company Premier Realty Sales of Costa Rica, William A. Gale, and Esteban Soto C., with the U.S. Postal Service, the FBI, the FTC, the FCC and with the Florida State Attorney General seeking an injunction to prohibit Paragon from doing business in the United States. I am seeking others willing to join in a class action lawsuit against these people.
Corinne
Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S.A.This is getting a bit overwhelming and I must confess that I really don’t have a huge amount of time to be watching over ‘controversial’ matters like this….
In the name of fairness, I will ask the Chairman of Paragon Properties – Bill Gale who regularly visits our Discussion Forum to respond.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comIt seems abundantly clear that Paragon Properties, and their various subsidiaries are obviously a scam. I investigated property purchases quite extensively a couple years back …Paragon are the hard sell, zero substance approach. I have also travelled the road from Jaco to Quepos seveal times the last few years, not once have I seen the remotest sign of any infrastructure development whatsoever in their lands around the Parrita area. Look at all the threads on this board about Paragon …kind of points in one direction only.
Anyone who puts any money into their hands is making a donation to a fraudster! Scott, it will be interesting to hear what Bill Gale has to say, no doubt the words will be comforting as one reads them…but at the end of the day actions and honest business practices far outweigh any platitudes that might spill out from him.
This is DEFINITELY a scam outfit. About 1 1/2 yrs ago I contacted them about the property near Quepos-the 1st young woman could not tell me where it was located,even though I told her I knew the area well and could find it without problems-she had someone else call me and he also would not give me specifics either. When he pressured me for a deposit- I asked him how could he be asking for a deposit for property-sight unseen, without giving all details? He pressured me further, asking if I had the money TODAY to go forward. I then said to him, this sounds fishy and maybe even illegal to pressure someone like this-he then hung up!Scott-light bulbs should be bursting-Open your eyes folks!
I just saw this posting and I want to become apart of the fight against Paragon because I know they screwed me also and are giving me the run arround.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Paragon Properties of Costa Rica April 2010
Please see: [ https://www.welovecostarica.com/public/Class_Action_Lawsuit_Filed_Against_Paragon_Properties_of_Costa_Rica_April_2010.cfm ]
Scott
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