Century 21 Metro-Alliance - William (Bill) Proper Jr. & Carrie Proper Bill & Carrie Proper rented me a house that was "More Than a Month into Foreclosure!" Chandler, Gilbert Arizona

After reading the Ripoff Report on Jane Wombolt from Century 21 Metro-Alliance, I felt constrained to submit my report. I had a similar experience unpleasant experience with a realtor couple from Century 21 Metro-Alliance in Arizona. I was relocating my family from nearly 2,000 miles away to Arizona. Our plan was to find a short-term lease on a home in Arizona. We would move into the leased house on a temporary basis and look for a home to purchase during the lease period. We found an advertised rental home online, and rented it through Century 21 Metro-Alliance realtors William (Bill) and Carrie Proper. Initially we thought they were the owners. We later discovered that Carrie was the actual listing agent. Bill had no verifiable affiliation in connection with the listing. However, for some reason, they seemed to think it best that Bill handle all transactions with us, even though his name was not on any of the documents.

Realizing there was a serious foreclosure problem in this part of Arizona, we asked Mr. Proper to conduct a formal title search to confirm for us that this home had no similar issues. He said he would do so, and get back to us with confirmation. When he reported back to us, his report was, "I checked it out and everything is fine, there are no foreclosure problems the title is free and clear." Proper emailed the lease agreement to me. We printed it, signed it and sent it back on April 18, plus a security deposit and one month's rent. On Saturday, April 26, after traveling almost 2,000 miles, we moved into the house. However, on Sunday, April 27...the very next day, a "NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE" was posted on my front door. Of course, Bill Proper insisted that this was a mistake. When we asked how he conducted his investigation to ensure there were no foreclosure problems, he replied, "I asked the owner."

Perhaps Proper wasn't sophisticated enough to comprehend the term, "Title Search." The facts were easily obtainable. On Monday, April 28, 2008, My wife called Title Trust Service Deed Company of Arizona and (within minutes) learned that the notice was indeed valid. The judgment was filed on March 12, 2008. Line 206 of Century 21 Metro-Alliance lease agreement says, "Landlord shall not allow the Premises to become the subject of a Trustee's Sale." However, the Carries and the property owners entered into a fraudulent agreement with us on April 18, 2008...more than a month after the premises had already become "the subject of a Trustee's Sale."

After more than a week (and overwhelming evidence) Proper finally admitted during a phone call, that the house was in foreclosure. Then, like the heartless individual that he has proven himself to be, he went on to say, "The good thing about it is, you get to stay in the house until the "Trustee's Sale" takes place on June 20...without having to make more rent payments." Proper continued, "That's almost 2 months. The check you sent, more than covers you through that period. In fact, you might even get lucky and to be able to live there for close to 3 months before you're served with a notice to vacate the premises."

When we requested that our funds be returned, he tried to move us into another house. He initially quoted a rental amount, but the rental amount kept changing on. When we asked about foreclosure issues on the proposed unit, he replied, "Oh, I'm sure their mortgage is paid, they're Oriental." He said they wouldn't consider a short term lease, but we could add a clause to the contract allowing us to buy out of the lease when we were ready to purchase our home. But, this proved to be more deception. When he advertised that home, he advertised it...available on a short term lease basis.

After being persistent with Bill regarding our deposit, he finally said the owner had agreed to return it directly to us, but he insisted that it be sent to him instead. When he received my un-deposited cashier's check, he and his wife Carrie Proper, insisted that they would not give it to me unless I...(1)signed a cancellation of lease agreement...(2) return the key and garage door opener to them...(3) and move out NOW. Not tomorrow, but now. He even volunteered to follow me home to conduct a move-out walk through inspection. When I suggested that I could not move out at that very moment he replied, "Then I can't give you your check back." He went on to say, the alternative was that I sign a new lease agreement (which he conveniently had with him) or we could be arrested for trespassing. They went on to say, "We're concerned about your safety. As trespassers, anything could happen to you and you would be protected."

Then things turned even more bizarre. Mr. Proper asked me if I would give him $100 now, and he would allow us to live there for $100 a week. When I refused, Mrs. Proper pulled out another contract and as Bill said, "Well, do you have $25? Will you pay $25 a week?"

Prior to moving in, we were informed by Mr. Proper, as well as by written lease agreement, that once we've moved into the house, our dealings would be with the landlord, not Mr. or Mrs. Proper. However, William Proper has consistently refused to provide us with the owners contact information as per the ARIZONA RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT.

Furthermore, Proper maintains that he gave me the only key to the house. However, when we came home one evening, we discovered that someone had been in our house. We called Proper and asked who else had a key to the house. His reply was, "Well, there shouldn't be anyone else with a key." He then quickly changed the subject. We know for sure that someone was in the house, because things had been moved around.

Then, early one Sunday morning, we heard our doorbell aggressively ringing. I was asleep, so it took me a while to get clothes on and to get down stairs to the front door. When I arrived at the door, I peeked through the blinds and saw Bill Proper standing at my front door, keys in hand as his wife sat in the car parked out front. It appeared as though he was trying to gain entry. Knowing that someone had entered prior, in the interest of my family's safety, I had changed the locks. He stood there with a frustrated look on his face. I told him that I was just waking up. He replied that he would be calling me. I watched and waited to see if he would use the keys in his hand to start his car, but when he got in and immediately pulled away, I realized his car was already running. Now, it was even more apparent that he did have keys, and attempted unlawful entry.

Then, he began a series of phone calls and voicemails some of which contained threatening messages like, "You are trespassing. If you don't return the keys and garage door opener by tomorrow, I'm going to have resort to another method and that way you won't like. This is an example of his cold-hearted business ethics after I had moved my family nearly 2,000 miles based on calculated deception.

I contacted Mr. Charles McLean, the designated broker for Century 21 Metro-Alliance in Chandler/Gilbert Arizona, by email first; then by phone. He said he would be meeting with the Propers the next day and would get back to me. To this day, I have not heard from him.


UPDATE June 03, 2008:

I received a call this morning from Phil Mercurio of Century 21 Metro-Alliance. Mr. Mercurio left a voicemail identifying himself as the partner of Charles Mclean. He said he wanted to speak with me regarding my complaint. When I returned his call, he indicated that he was interested in assisting me in getting into a home. He seemed somewhat reluctant to speak much about their meeting with Bill and Carrie Proper. He did say that were required to write and submit a letter stating their version of the issue.

When I asked if the Propers had seen my letter, Mercurio replied, "Yes, I gave them a copy of it." I said, "Great. Now, can I get a copy of their reply letter?" He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't know if I can do that."

He insisted that he is trying to assist me by helping me find somewhere to move. Quite honestly, he seemed more interested in protecting the Propers than anything else.

Additionally, when I checked out Century 21 Metro-Alliance, I discovered that they already had 3 open complaints against them, prior to my own complaint.

Another Victim
Phoenix-Metro, Arizona
U.S.A.