Public Mediation

Mark Aguirre vs. The Pip Group (Bluffton, Sc)

The PIP Group Tax Lien Investment Company DUPED Me....

M. A. vs. The Pip Group (Bluffton, Sc)
    • Claimant Seeks: 1 non-monetary items.
    • Claim #: 4795297
    • Amount Involved: N/A
    • Filed On: Aug 25, 2016
    • Posted On: Sep 13, 2016
    • Complaint(s):
      • Bad business practices
      • Problem with a service
      • "I just feel ripped off."
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Statement of Claim
Complaints Involved (3) - View
Claimant says:
"Updated August 31, 2016

1) Approximately $10K of my tax liens have not been redeemed. They suddenly stopped over a year ago. Apparently this is a common trend with several other PIP clients that has been reflected in their complaints towards this company.

2) PIP acquired a property for me. Because a tax lien was not paid off by the original home owner, I now owned the property. PIP's market expertise and experience led me to believe that this acquired property was a great investment to own. As PIP's founder, Charles Sells wrote me: "We have been attempting to sell it “as is”. It has “good bones” and good potential, but only way I see it moving is if we can partner with a contractor on it, or make the repairs. We have a formal estimate of repairs at $22,000. The real estate agent for the area thinks we could resell it for around $55k, after repairs. It would rent for about $850/mo. Thus, a resale, or cash flow rental would make this property a great returner....".

With that, I decided to do my own research. I contacted 3 local real estate agents in the city of Kankakee, IL where the property is located. Each agent said that the property was worthless and declined interest in representing me due to the location and the high level of crime in the area. All 3 agents were reluctant to visit the area itself. They went on to mention that the area in question had many abandoned homes. I then contacted PIP's own "designated" realtor. Her response (paraphrased): "I have many PIP clients that are very unhappy and in the same situation as you...PIP is extremely disorganized. I've priced your property for sale at various prices with no interest. I even tried to sell your property at auction as low as $5000....I received NO bidders."

I then decided to contact the city of Kankakee, IL and offer this property as a donation to the city. The city declined my offer.

3)PIP claimed that they paid $12000 + in taxes, legal fees and insurance towards this property on my behalf after it was acquired. Question of the Day: Why would an expert investment company like PIP pay tax money in that amount on a property that is worthless? Couldn't they have invested that money towards the necessary repairs and rent it out OR sell it instead?

4) PIP claimed taxes were up to date and paid in full. According to the local tax collector in Kankakee, IL, taxes have not been paid since 2012, and as of this coming November 2016, will have accumulated to over $5000.

5)Communication with PIP is horrendous. At one point, it took me 9 emails and 3 phone calls over a period of four (4 ) months to receive one reply. This is not only unprofessional, but a very common complaint with several of their clients that I have spoken with as well.

6)According to PIP, my tax liens have all been paid up in full, yet my bank tells me otherwise. Besides, if I am all paid up and have no tax liens to redeem, then why am I now receiving invoices for PIP's “management” fees. Funny thing about these fees....I haven't received an invoice in several years....until August 2016.

7) My offer is simple and fair: I will be happy to transfer ownership of my acquired Kankakee, IL property to PIP (a $30K value according to PIP estimates)....AND I will transfer ownership of all my remaining, unredeemed tax liens to PIP (approximately $10K). In exchange, PIP would eliminate any monies owed through my account for accrued taxes, fees and insurance payments that have been paid on my behalf, and business relations between us will cease. No more headaches, no more run- around, no more invoices and no more wasted time and money."
...
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Additional Communication Between Claimant and The Pip Group (Bluffton, Sc) Hide
  • Aug 26, 2016, Claiming party added:

  • My offer is simple and fair: I will be happy to transfer ownership of my acquired Kankakee, IL property to PIP (a $30K value according to PIP estimates)....AND I will transfer ownership of all my remaining, unredeemed tax liens to PIP. In exchange, PIP would eliminate any monies owed through my account for accrued taxes, fees and insurance payments made on my behalf, and business relations between us will cease. No more headaches, no more run- around and no more wasted time and money.

  • Sep 06, 2016, Claiming party added:

  • Write Charles,

    We are certainly moving in the right direction and, with that, I thank you for your response.

     
    1) Yes! I certainly can easily and immediately accommodate your wishes regarding any postings on the BiggerPockets website (if that is allowable and possible through their site administrator). As for your request for written correspondence with Mr Hartman, all I can say is that our friendship over the last 10 years consists of communication that is, not only rare, but by phone..... so I wouldn't be able to assist you with your specific request.

    2) However, it is also important to understand that I do not plan on losing money after 10 years of doing business with PIP. My offer was contingent on the assumption that my full investment with PIP (approximately $45K) had been returned to me with an 18%-36% annual gross ROI as per my direct negotiation with PIP's President, Mr. Don Fullman.

    3) In the interest of time, I am also willing to accept a reduced ANNUAL NET gain of only 12% on my original investment– I am sure you would agree, that this is an exceptionally fair offer, indeed.

    4) I do not wish to hold the remaining unredeemed tax liens in my account. PIP would need to take full ownership for I plan to close the account that houses those unredeemed liens.

    5) Additionally, I will not accept any ROI payment of interest or shortage on my investment with PIP. Proceeds from PIP's efforts for the planned restoration and resale of my Illinois property will not be acceptable. A one-time payment to me for any shortage would be the only option.

    6) Finally, I would expect that PIP would sign an official release which reflects my wishes to be absolved from all business relations and free from any contracts, monies owed, entitlements and the like past, present and future.

    7) Yes! Like you, I want this to be done. I plan no negative retraction. I just want my money back and a fair interest on my investment. As a measure of good faith to you and the PIP Group, I will gladly extend my official public post date of this claim to September 9th OR cancel all public postings all together in the hopes that you will agree and act immediately in accordance with my wishes.

    Wrap this up today, Charles. Represent your company well by making me a happy client. I have no interest in escalating this matter, nor do I have any interest in collaborating with others who are in a similar situation as myself to bring harm to your company. I simply want what I deserve and I am simply not willing to wait any longer than a few more days.

    Best,

    Mark Aguirre

  • Sep 08, 2016, Claiming party added:

  • Charles, I took the liberty of extending the posting date to September 10th. I hope you can appreciate that. Have a nice day.

  • Sep 09, 2016, () added:

  • Mark,

    I haven't had a chance to review your follow up, but I will over the weekend. Hopefully we can get this behind us.

  • Sep 16, 2016, Claiming party added:

  • Which weekend were you considering your review and resolution of this claim?

  • Nov 16, 2016, Claiming party added:

  • Mr. Sells,

    I must admit that I was surprised at your open and positive interest in resolving my issues and formal complaints with the PIP Group. In fact, your last words were that you had received my offer and was going to review it over the weekend so that we could come to a quick resolution and get this mess behind us. Well...it's been over 3 months now since that weekend. And yes, I did remind you 2 weeks later...but to no avail. This is yet another example of the lack of customer service and inattention that the PIP Group provides to it's most valuable customers. And, is one of several reasons that prompts my desire to cease business interactions with your company in the first place. Ironically, the PIP Group is able to allocate plenty of time and attention to promptly amn efficiently issue me, yet another, billing statement - a statement of fees incurred for "managing" my PIP account....another $340 to be exact. Perhaps you might take the time today to stop kidding yourself into thinking you are "managing" anything of mine. I haven't received a lien redemption in 2 years, you have over $10K of my unredeemed money....and my "PIP-acquired" property is completely worthless as it rots away next to the train tracks in Kankakee, IL with $5000 in back taxes and a city manager who is not even interested in it as a free donation. So tell me.... What exactly are you managing? 3months ago, I promised to remove any negative reviews if you resolved my issue quickly, but since then...I (and several other PIP customers) have posted more negative reviews. I think it's time. It's time to: DO THE RIGHT THING,MR SELLS. I will not only be glad to remove the negative, but I will be more than happy to replace them with positive notes about how you admitted a mistake, mis-invested my money...BUT how you eagerly and aggressively sought to resolve the mistake in good faith. So...what are we waiting for....MORE negative publicity? Follow through and make this right. It's good for business.

    Mark Aguirre

What Claimant Wants Hide
Just make me happy!
Claimant invites The PIP Group (Bluffton, Sc) to make a fair offer.
1. Other – Copy claim to regulators Sep 09, 2016 $14.99
2. Other – Pay for claim posting cost Sep 09, 2016 $7.99
3. Other – Physical delivery charges Sep 09, 2016 $4.99
Cash total : TBD
  • 0
Do you agree with the claimant’s demands?  (If you are a party to this claim, click here.)
Respondent's Counteroffer Hide
Message from The Pip Group (Bluffton, Sc): Mark,

Have you had a chance to review my comments/counter? It is better than what you offered.
What By When How Much
1. Please Review Sep 20, 2016 N/A
Non-cash: 1 items
  • 0
Do you agree with the respondent’s Response?  (If you are a party to this claim, click here.)
Awaiting response from The Pip Group (...
Claimant commented
Claimant: (Comment):
"Mr Sells....I still don't see any response or resolution to the fair claim that I posted 2 years ago....what are we waiting for? ."
 (8 years ago)
Reply
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  • Contributed Solution: by Joyce Laviolette On 09-25-2018
    View more
    I was ripped off by PIP. They didn't do due diligence on buying my tax lien and I ended up losing my butt by them not checking clear title on the property. They stopped balancing statements and sending them ...oh the list goes on GROSS MISMANAGENT OF FUNDS and of their job duties and of the property management of the property. they made my $40,000.00 disdapear leaving me broke and stick with a piece of crap property that has a Mortgage Lien on it that I have almost $20,000 into and I can't sell it
If you are a party to this claim, click here.
Is this a fair resolution?
  • Question: by Bobby j (40 points) — Don't Like To See People Get Taken
    • On: 03-20-2017
    View more
  • Is PIP anything to do with Partners in Profit - some kind of investing scheme involving one Joanna Wheatley or Wealth Partners? Free press releases, but otherwise invisible online.
  • 1
  • Contributed Solution: by Steven Albright On 09-18-2016
    View more
    PIP needs to show some paperwork More...
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Is this a fair resolution?
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