open letter of complaint

Today, on my mother-in-law's birthday, I emailed the following text to the majority of the patrons of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain. I shall post responses if and when I receive them.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I believe your company supports the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain. I am contacting you with regard to a member of the Chamber - Casa del Sol Properties of Emsworth, Hampshire. I ask that the Chamber make enquiries relating to the events outlined below and advise me regarding any response. In my opinion, neither Casa del Sol nor any of the other companies or individuals referred to have acted with professional responsibility throughout this sorry tale.

Further details are available on request.

Yours faithfully,

Bob Hopkins.

• My in-laws, Mr and Mrs Talbot, are purchasing a house on a new-build estate in Pozo del Esparto, Almeria.
• The process began in 2002 when Casa del Sol took them on an inspection visit and introduced them to GoGo Estates in Aguilas, Murcia.
• GoGo showed them details of an off-plan development and introduced them to the developer, Crevisa Dos S.L. and a solicitor, Carlos Minguez.
• In June 2003 they sold their property in the UK to raise the deposit.
• In April 2004 they moved into a rented apartment in Aguilas arranged by GoGo Estates on the understanding that their property would be ready for occupation within three months. It wasn't, and they had to find their own alternative accommodation.
• Subsequent false promises from the developer's agent, Bert Holdorp of Estáras Playa S.L. & Albe Servicios S.L., and GoGo Estates have kept them locked into a waiting game. They have lodged with various friends in the area throughout this time.
• Until 13 September 2005, Casa del Sol made no attempt to monitor or remedy this situation.
• On 13 September 2005 my wife spoke with Mr Carl Marodeen of Casa Del Sol Properties. He said he had no knowledge of any problems regarding the Pozo del Esparto development, but that he would look into it. My wife asked to be copied into any correspondence and Mr Marodeen agreed.
• On 21 September my wife phoned Casa Del Sol for an update. She spoke briefly to Carl Marodeen, who then passed the phone to Harvey Marodeen – Carl’s father, who dealt with my in-laws’ initial enquiry. Harvey said he was unaware of ongoing problems with the Pozo del Esparto development. He said Carl had recently driven past the development and had reported that the properties ‘looked occupied.’ When asked about GoGo Estates, Harvey said his company no longer dealt with them – he said whenever Casa Del Sol phoned them, GoGo Estates simply ‘hung up.’ When asked about Bert Holdorp (the developer's agent) Harvey was equally unimpressed, and reacted with disbelief when my wife explained how Mr Holdorp had behaved towards my in-laws. When told of the Town Hall’s abysmal response to my in-laws’ plight Harvey again expressed disbelief, and suggested their solicitor should be acting on their behalf. Mr Marodeen said he would get personally involved by writing to my in-laws’ solicitor. To date he has not contacted my wife with a response.

Comments

[Andy M.]

Please stay well away from GoGo estates. The company is run by an unsavoury character called Ronald Goosgen who will stop at nothing to take your money. There are multiple injunctions and bankrupcy filings against him and many other agents refuse to deal with him. He has changed the name of his company several times to cover his trail. Asks anybody who knows their way around Aguilas and you will hear planty of nasty stories. You have my symapthies.