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Report: #1127186

Complaint Review: Formations, LLC - Shane Bohart - Boulder Colorado

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  • Reported By: Ryan — Ormond by the Sea Florida
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  • Formations, LLC - Shane Bohart 1301 Walnut St Boulder, Colorado USA

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Formations, LLC has repeatedly recruited sales professionals all over the country to procure real estate properties for their "existing" clients. The interesting thing is that over the past couple of years, several people have joined the firm, have worked their tails off to procure business for the firm, then have either been forced to leave or been booted out. While these individuals have not received a dime for their work, all the business that they created was left behind with Formations, LLC. Meanwhile, management has often bragged about running a business without having anybody on the payroll.

Formations, LLC has a revolving door of interns from the University of Colorado. In fact, the company management is always happy to disclose that they have had great support from the University, which keeps sending those interns who are made to do office work with little or no compensation. When these interns are fed up with the way that they are treated and decide to leave, they are instructed to write a goodbye letter itemizing all the "positives" of having had the priceless (sic) opportunity to be used at Formations, LLC. At least one of the interns has indicated that he felt pressured to write such letter. He feared that if he refused, his chances of securing gainful employment elsewhere might be affected. Meanwhile, Formations, LLC uses those letters as recruiting tools to convince gullible real estate agents and brokers to join Formation, LLC.

There is evidence that the firm has consistently recruited unlicensed individuals to broker real estate transactions, and has shared commissions with those individuals, which is an act contrary to the laws that govern the licensed real estate business in the state of Colorado.

Formations, LLC often leaves past associates names on their website long after they are gone, which makes it look like they are a successful and busy company.

One of the owners, M. David Paul, is just a ghost. We never saw him, heard from him or knew of his attendance of any of the office meetings. He was the reason we joined the firm, and we never heard his voice. The managing partner, Shane Bohart, is awful to interact with! He is one of those obnoxiously loud type-A personalities that constantly berate his work force. He treats people in a rather uncivilized way.

Go work for Formations, LLC at your own risk! But be warned. You will be made to work, and work, and work. Perfection will be demanded of you. You will be put on a schedule and weekly reports of your performance will be expected. You will not be allowed (yes, allowed) to express your opinion on any subject. Although you are hired as a contractor, Formations, LLC will rule you and will tell you what to do and how! And unless you have no personality and self-respect, before you even complete a year, you will be shown the door and all your work will go to waste. There has been plenty of unhappy associates join and leave this company for the past couple of years, including licensed attorneys. We all have talked about what an aggravating waste of time our unpleasant experience was.  

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/28/2014 01:16 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/formations-llc-shane-bohart/boulder-colorado-80302/formations-llc-shane-bohart-m-david-paul-terrible-work-experience-questionable-bus-1127186. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
2Author
0Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#3 Author of original report

Formations, LLC - Shane Bohart, M. David Paul Terrible Work Experience - Questionable Business Practices Boulder Colorado

AUTHOR: JustMeToday - ()

POSTED: Sunday, March 23, 2014

1)      The First Amendment affords us the right to anonymous speech. We have nothing to hide however, and all that we have disclosed here is the truth. Therefore, if it ever becomes necessary, we don’t object to making our identities known.

2)      For those who do not know, Ormond, is not a last name, it’s a city.

3)      We being called "bully" did not surprise us. This company’s owner has a habit of using detrimental labels. Our intention here is not to be malicious or “bully” anybody. We feel that sharing our experiences might help someone else to avoid falling prey to unreasonable, judgmental and unprofessional treatment by this business.  

4)      It is true that "numerous people... have provided an important and direct impact" on this company's (modest) success. Unfortunately, not a single one of these people can attest to having collected any “significant” benefits for all their hard work as this man claims. A couple of people working directly with him may have obtained some compensation, but nothing as significant as it is claimed here.  

5)      It is true that "not everyone that joins the company has made economic gain…", and in fact, most people who have joined the company have not made any gain at all. They have worked for free for months and in some cases even years, with little or no financial gain. For this company owner to say that "...many, many individuals have achieved financial, professional and personal success from Formations, LLC" is a gross exaggeration of the truth. Perhaps this business owner has a distorted perception of what financial gain and success really mean.   

6)      To say that he is an ethical and honest “leader” is self-serving. Our experiences left us with a very different opinion. An overabundance of ego, pride, and arrogance are not positive leadership traits.

7)      We applaud anyone who feels that it is "important to stand up and make sure others know the truth”! We are believers of equal rights and freedom of speech. Unfortunately, this company owner appears eager to point out how great they are instead of addressing the negative remarks about their business practices in this report.   

a) This firm wants to enjoy the taxable benefits of having self-employed agents working under 1099s, but treat them more like employees. Employment or continuation of employment is subject to fulfilling certain demands usually reserved for W2 employers.   

b) The local university has consistently “supplied” interns to this firm. There has been a revolving door of barely paid or unpaid people at their office. Those interns handle office tasks while this company’s owner takes pride in having nobody on the payroll.    

c) There have been unlicensed persons trained and appointed by the broker/owner to transact real estate sales. These persons have received and/or are under the expectation of receiving a portion of the company's commissions as compensation for their real estate brokering services.  

d) If the owner cared so "deeply about the wellbeing of others" he would treat them with dignity and respect. Instead, he patronizes and berates them. 

This complaint report is not intended to hurt anyone personally, or to bully or to be malicious in any way. This is a complaint about a business and its practices. The owners of this company know or should have known that our claims are conforming to truth.   

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#2 Author of original report

This is a complaint about a business and its practices.

AUTHOR: JustMeToday - ()

POSTED: Thursday, March 13, 2014

1) Ormond, is not a last name, it’s a city. We being called "bully" did not surprise us. Our intention here is not to be malicious or “bully” anyone. We merely felt that sharing our experiences would, maybe, help someone else to avoid falling prey to unreasonable, judgmental and unprofessional treatment. 

2) It is true that "numerous people... have provided an important and direct impact" on this company's (modest) success. Unfortunately, not a single one of these people can attest to having collected any “significant” benefits for all the hard work that they put in. 

3) It is true that "not everyone that joins the company has made economic gain..." but to say that "...many, many individuals have achieved financial, professional and personal success from Formations, LLC" is a gross exaggeration of the truth!  

4 Ethical and honest “leader”? We beg to disagree.   

5) It is ok to feel "important to stand up and make sure others know the truth”! We are all about equal rights. Let’s keep it truthful.

a) Even though this firm wants to enjoy the taxable benefits of having self-employed agent contractors working under 1099s, these contractors are imposed specific sales training and management oversight, and are required to provide weekly written explanation of their sales activities efforts on a specific document designed by the company, explaining in detail, when and how they do their work, as a condition of employment and/or continuation of employment. This can be easily verified.  

b) The local university has “supplied” interns to this firm. There has been a revolving door of barely paid or unpaid people at their office. Those interns handle office tasks while this company’s owner takes pride in having nobody on the payroll. That can be easily verified.    

c) There have been unlicensed persons trained and appointed by the broker/owner to transact real estate sales. These persons have received and/or are under the expectation of receiving a portion of the company's commissions as compensation for their real estate brokering services. That can be easily verified.

d) If the owner cared so "deeply about the wellbeing of others" he would treat them with dignity and respect. Instead, he patronizes and berates them. That can be easily verified.

This complaint report is not intended to hurt anyone personally, or to bully or to be malicious in any way. This is a complaint about a business and its practices. 

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#1 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Correct Information from Formations, LLC - Shane Bohart

AUTHOR: Shane Bohart - ()

POSTED: Thursday, March 13, 2014

I was just made aware of this malicious internet posting and felt it important to immediately respond to these inaccurate and inappropriate accusations.

 To be concise, I have provided my response in a list of five items for your review and consideration.

 1)  No person named Ryan Ormond who reported this review has ever worked for my company.  Therefore this is an “Anonymous” posting by someone who is clearly upset and disgruntled because of my decision to terminate our professional relationship.  It is further disappointing and telling this individual doesn't have the courage to properly identify themselves and has resorted to being an “anonymous cyber bully.”  Also, this individual has misrepresented the truth throughout; appears very malicious and angry; and has done this with intent to hurt and cause damage all while hiding in the shadows of a fictitious name.   Sad, unfortunate and telling.

 2)  For the record, I am exceptionally proud of Formations, LLC and its team members, partners, clients and friends as well as the significant business success it has achieved since inception.  Numerous individuals of various ages and capacities have supported the company since it started and they have provided an important and direct impact on our corporate success.  I shall continue to support all these individuals in their professional and personal endeavors and I remain very proud and confident in these relationships.  In fact, I am happy to provide 100’s of personal and professional references if ever necessary.  

 3)  At Formations, LLC we continue to utilize an innovative business model of real estate professionals and others as we continue to build a national platform.  Please understand, not everyone that joins the company has made economic gain, however, many, many individuals have achieved financial, professional and personal success from Formations, LLC.  I remain proud and confident in how this company has performed and the many individuals that have both contributed and benefited from this corporate idea.

 4)  As the founder and leader of this company, I work daily to do my best and operate this company with the upmost level of integrity, ethics, transparency and honesty.  Some may not agree with my style, my decisions, my leadership and I respect that.  However, as my family, friends, coworkers and many others will attest, I care deeply about the well being of others and abide by strong ethical principals in life and business.  To claim otherwise and to do it anonymously is unjust and wrong.

5)  I contemplated not responding to this anonymous posting located on an unfamiliar website, but I felt it important to stand up and make sure others know the truth and encourage people to stand up and stop “anonymous cyber bullying.” 

I welcome an opportunity to talk directly to anyone at any time to discuss applicable matters including the anonymous author of this piece should they want to reach me.  I am not hiding from anything or anyone, ever. 

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