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Report: #438193

Complaint Review: Savvaidis & Associates - Rhodes Town Select State/Province

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  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Rhodes Other
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • Savvaidis & Associates Gr. Lambraki 14 & Amenikis ,Cyprus Square Rhodes Town, Select State/Province United States of America

*Notice of Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Decision: A neutral and independent arbitrator has determined that the following Report contained one or more false statements of fact. The false statements have been redacted. Savvaidis & Associates *Statement redacted as false in accordance with Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Rhodes Town Rhodes Greece

*Author of original report: Agents and Developers Need to get with the times

*Consumer Comment: Why unbelievable?

*General Comment: unbelievable

*Author of original report: If it wasn't true it wouldn't matter

*Consumer Comment: If it is true then you wouldn't be writing on here

*Author of original report: This Report is TRUE and DOCUMENTED

*Consumer Comment: This report is full of lies and twisted facts

*Author of original report: Savvaidis Associates Property for Sale Rhodes Greece

*Author of original report: Origional sales contrat, Actual building Licence and ITV Homes from Hell will notes

*Author of original report: Now Showing in June 10 on ITV1

*Consumer Comment: Just one more Brit who watched too much house in the sun

*Consumer Comment: Not as bad a rip off as reported

*Consumer Comment: Not as bad a rip off as reported

*Consumer Comment: Not as bad a rip off as reported

*Consumer Comment: Not as bad a rip off as reported

*Author of original report: Savvaidis Estate Agents sell luxury Villas and Real Estate in Rhodes Greece whether legal or Not in my case

*Author of original report: Mr Savvaidis

*Author of original report: Savvaidis & Associates Rhodes Greece, Daily Update of Illegal Property, Luxury Villa, House in Kalathos

*Author of original report: Savvaidis & Associates Rhodes Town Rhodes Greece 85100

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Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Program In re: Savvaidis & Associates, Complainant, v. Lynda Harrison & David Oliver, Author. Rip-Off Report No.: 438193 634392 632996 ARBITRATOR DECISION Bruce Meyerson, Arbitrator Complainant, Savvaidis & Associates, has challenged the truthfulness of certain statements (each, a Statement) initially posted by Author on the Ripoff Report website at www.ripoffreport.com on March 27, 2009, Ripoff Report Nos.: 438193, 634392 and 632996 (the Report). Both the Complainant and the Author (together, the Parties) have agreed to submit the dispute to the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration. Each Statement challenged by the Complainant has been considered, together with any Witness Statements and Documents provided by the Complainant and the Author, for determination of the truth or falsity of the Statement. Under the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Rules each Report is presumed to be true unless rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance of the evidence means a showing that a challenged statement is more likely false than it is true. Each challenged Statement is reiterated below together with the Arbitrators comments and ruling: 1. Statement: Savvaidis & Associates sold the Author, using its own lawyers, a house with nonbuilding compliance and without plans. Discussion: The parties dispute the role of Savvaidis & Associates. The evidence indicates that Savvaidis & Associates served as a real estate agent in the transaction, not the seller. The attorney has submitted a statement indicating that she was the attorney for the Author, not Savvaidis & Associates. The listing of the property states that the structure when built will have two floors. When built the home had three floors, according to the Author, causing the structure to be out of compliance with applicable laws, resulting in a penalty. Plans were to be provided by the builder, not Savvaidis & Associates, acting as the agent. Ruling: I find this statement false. 2. Statement: Call to say we would have to have an additional floor due to the height of the retaining walls or we could not have the villa we had chosen, after a long discussion we agreed to the additional floor and pool at a cost of 60,000 Euro. The house was then to be a five bed room villa. Discussion: Because the Complainant has the burden of proof, it is up to the Complainant to provide evidence to contradict the facts alleged by the Author which are presumed to be true. Ruling: As to this statement, the Complainant has not produced evidence to sustain its burden of proof. 3. Statement: The report we have still yet to see nor have we seen the aerial photographs and as yet an original bill of any sort this cost 400 euro as yet for nothing. Discussion: The report referred to in this statement is an engineers report. Because the Complainant has the burden of proof, it is up to the Complainant to provide evidence to contradict the facts alleged by the Author which are presumed to be true Ruling: The Complainant has not provided a submission from the engineer that the Author has received a copy of the report. As to this statement, the Complainant has not produced evidence to sustain its burden of proof. 4. Statement: The house papers I have not seen relating to the purchase of the house, its land and areas should have been given at the beginning of the purchase agreement and we were not even in receipt of a tax number or residency card (blue card) and we had never been given a contract of purchase. Discussion: The Complainant states that this statement relates to an agreement with the developer. Ruling: Because the Complainant has not provided any submission from the developer, the Complainant has not produced evidence to sustain its burden of proof on this statement. DATED this 1st day of December, 2010. /s/Arbitrator

An Executive Retreat as advertised by Savvaidis & Associates Real Estate Agents, Rhodes Greece Property address Number 6 Kalathos Views Kalathos Rhodes Greece

Whilst holidaying in Rhodes during August 2006 we saw an advertisement in the local property news of an executive retreat, luxury villa set in 800sq metres of Land, with landscaped gardens it was being offered for sale by Savvaidis Estate Agents, the largest on the island, who also advertise in the UK and hold their seminars in Manchester and London also employing English staff.

We went with an employee of Savvaidis and Associates, Jackie and saw a piece of land with what we were told was the beginnings and ends of plot 6 (one of six detached Villas that were to be built).Shown by two olive trees of what would be a luxurious villa. We loved the view and the area and decided that we would put in offer of 215,000 Euro plus taxes of 19,500 Euro and when this was accepted went with Jackie of Savvaidis to their Pefkos office and paid a 2 percent deposit, I said to her "please do not let there be any hidden surprises or costs, and If there was anything else unexpected I would rather know now", she said "there wouldn't be" "it is a super site and the builders finish is excellent", they would be there to help us every step of the way. We visited Rhodes town to sign the necessary paperwork where Lynne Usher Savvaidis's International Sales Manager supplied us with one of Savvaidis recommended lawyers and on her advice employed our lawyer Mara Macredou, with as suggested power of attorney for the times if needed when we were not in Greece.

We were told that at some stage during construction we could pick our floor tiles, kitchen, outdoor tiles, bathroom tiles and furniture and that we would be contacted when the house was ready for this to be done, I was a little concerned that this would mean another visit to Greece but was assured that it could be done vial email, and if we required tiles or fittings that were over budget we could choose from brochures and pay the difference.

Work began around October 06

Dec 06:

DPO came to Rhodes to transfer funds, he became rather concerned that the size of the land was not 800 sq metres as Per photo (A1 hard copy in file) and it was questioned with Jackie as where the land was going to be,

Jan 07:

Call to say we would have to have an additional floor due to the height of the retaining walls or we could not have the villa we had chosen, after a long discussion we agreed to the additional floor and pool at a cost of 60,000 Euro. The house was then to be a five bed roomed villa.

April 07:

The garden as per pictures (A2 hard copy in file) was now stretched, we came to See if we could pick the tiles whilst we were there, but were told there was no choice as that was no longer on offer????

July 07:

We visited again to see the progress on the house when we noticed that this house was the only one without air conditioning and a solar water heating system on the roof.

Again we visited Jackie of Savvaidis at the Pefkos office with our concerns, we were again re-assured that hot water would be supplied and not to be silly and not to worry.

House due for completion at 30 Sept 07

Once again visited to view house from 5th to 12th September 07

The house could not be snagged as it was not finished,

We returned yet again October 07 and it is still not finished

All payments have now been made except the final payment of the original house and this was due on completion in September 07. And as the house was still not finished we refused to pay. 2 months later received demanding calls stating house was completed and ready for snagging.

December 07 we were informed we needed to fill out a tax return as we were in UK we explained we didn't realise we needed one as we had not made final payment we did not realise we owned the house yet but we had owned the house since we signed the initial contract (A3 hard copy in file although not an original contract as never supplied) or what we thought was a contract enclosed also as per email (A4). This Tax Return was 100 Euro, we still don't know if this has ever been done?

Lee and Dave arrived at end Feb 08 to find patio badly cracked no lighting or hot water we were informed by neighbour several cracks in the party wall between the properties had appeared and been re-pointed, this continued to crack throughout 07 and 08. There were no light switches or sockets no form of heating and no hot water present at the property they slept on the floor after cleaning builder's debris plaster and paint from the floors, the toilets in the property are all used and full of faeces they are also all cracked with the water leaking over the floors.

Whilst they were in the property a man came to repair the tiles on the patio unaware that DPO and LO were in the property, he took the broken tiles up and re-placed them with new ones over the large crack.

A snagging list as per the initial agreement was prepared the keys returned and the boys returned to the UK (Snagging List in main file).

Snagging list forwarded in March 08 to the builder, Savvaidis and our own Lawyer.

08 received email wording to read, "Jobs are all fix" and "all snagging done" (A5 original in file sent at 4am in the morning). We questioned as how the snags could have been done in such a short space of time and we had no contact regarding replacement fencing, type or style etc

Lee- Dave returned after confirmation received that the house had been rectified in May 08 Not one thing had been touched, In-fact no one had even been at the house - had to rent an apartment in Pefkos

At this stage our lawyer decided that the best thing to do would be draw up a memorandum of understanding with a timetable for fixing the problems.

Our lawyer now tells us that all the faults have been rectified. We are told by Savvaidis that the house is ready on time and the keys will be waiting for collection at the Kalathos office. I email to confirm this and the day they will be arriving email. Enclosed (A6 original in file)

The boys are now on the road driving across Europe with all our belongings and 3 dogs in a furniture removal van we had purchased for the purpose of this journey. They left the UK on August 13th 08 and arrived in Kalathos on 20th August 2008.

No keys available for house as they had agreed they would be

DPO demanded keys and after an hours wait they were thrown on a desk in savvaidis office by a boy who had been sent by the builder.

The house is now in a worse condition than the last time it was seen overgrown gardens (over 1metre in height), filthy broken Toilets, no hot water, no light switches or sockets and nil done to the snagging list. The bodged repair that was done whilst the boys were previously at the house on the patio had again cracked as had several other places on the patio and pool area also repaired in Feb.

Emergency electric was arranged by DPO via English electrician at a cost of 700 Euro. The electrician also advised us that the electrics were sub standard and the consumer units were incomplete.

In Late August a man turned up in a red beaten pick up and introduced himself as Anglolese from Lardos who was a metal fabricator who had been instructed by Dimitris Dideades (the builder) to replace the dangerous wooden fencing which is made of strips of thin wood attached by two screws to the top of a 5 ft retaining wall. He asked how long DPO would Be there for. DPO stated "for good now we have moved from the UK DPO agreed a style Of fencing and the man said he would return to do it, he also said he had been employed to replace a section of number 5s however it materialised he had never set foot on the land next door nor replaced any fencing it seemed as if he was there to find out when we were leaving,

LH arrived 3rd slept and refused to stay due to the conditions under which she would have had to live and therefore returned to UK on 10th September.

DPO and LH both went to see lawyer on Monday 8th Sept after desperately trying to arrange an appointment by phone and through Savvaidis we finally managed to get to see both her and her father, the head of the law firm. After the meeting we became very concerned as the advice they were giving us seemed rather strange, we were beginning to question who our lawyer was acting for us or the builder.

They were more interested that the money was paid irrelevant of our concerns and they told us that it would make the builder more likely to correct the jobs if we paid him. We asked why as per the memorandum of understanding the jobs were not done and this seemed to be ignored the Memorandum of understanding has not been seen to date. They informed us "this is the Way things are done in Greece".

We were then supplied by our lawyers an independent structural engineer, Andreas Chadzis as we were by Now really concerned with problems on the property and also due to our neighbour at No 5 commenting that the party wall was bowed, and had been re-pointed several times. He arrived to do his full structural survey with a Polaroid camera, no pen, no pencil, no note pad, no spirit level nor any technical equipment of any sort; in fact he had to borrow a pen! He took several pictures over a half hour period and did nothing else.

He phoned ten days later to say the report was completed and he wanted his money.After many calls from the engineer with regard to payment although we repeatedly told him that we had not seen his report or had a bill, he told us that both were with our lawyers along with several aerial photographs off the site, I paid the money (and kept a receipt in main file) to L Usher of Savvaidis. The finds on this report was said to total 15k euro to repair the patio and the other snags on the house.

This report we have still yet to see nor have we seen the aerial photographs and as yet an original bill of any sort this cost 400 euro as yet for nothing.

LH arrived back at beginning Oct to a bed the boys had spent all the time cleaning and trying to get some order. The whole house was a disgrace. Complaints began between us Savvaidis and our lawyer. Further meeting with L Usher commenced where DPO threatened to go to property show in the UK to share our experiences of buying through Savvaidis with others and she became rather Irate, LH told L Usher she would not pay more than 30k euro of the 60k owed for the house after 2 calls between L Usher and the builder which seemed very easy and very strange 35k was agreed in final settlement, to gain a quick completion was what we were told.

2 weeks later another email arrived from the builder to say "will accept 35k with no further recall from either party". (A7) enclosed

LH now very concerned that if house was to collapse and we signed this we would have No recourse with the builder at all. We became very suspicious at this point::::::

I took it upon myself to get further advice and it arose that the house papers I have not yet seen relating to the purchase Of the house, its land and areas should have been given at the beginning of the purchase agreement and we were not even in receipt of a tax number or residency card (blue card) and we had never been given a contract of purchase.

I de-instructed the lawyer but was still trying to get the paperwork I should have been given from them, this proved very difficult

LH and AN Other contacted the lawyer who was most evasive and then were informed she had left for the UK. 2 weeks later I turn up in the lawyer's office with AN Other to collect the paperwork I should have had from the beginning of purchase, a small amount of paperwork was thrust at me. Then I was subjected to torrent of abuse by Mr Macredou father of Mara Macredou our lawyer, head of the business and then thrown out of office and told that they never want 2 hear the name LH again and that if I wanted any papers I could get them myself.

These lawyers had been paid in advance in 2006 for all aspects attaining to the purchase of the property. We at no time were given a contract or the deeds to the house as should be done, this fault lies with both Savvaidis and our own lawyers. We have no tax numbers they will not hand it over, no residency card -, get it yourself, no copy of the reports I have paid for I.e. engineers report, memo of understanding or tax return, and as yet it is unknown who pays the electricity bills.

This in Greece means you own the property and the house is legal, without final electricity which is signed off by the electricity company the property will never be legal. Backhanders have been spoken about with regard to gaining final electricity this I refuse to be involved in. The papers went for translation a new lawyer..... Hired, at this point several discrepancies came to light the house was: -

Not 100sq metres as sold to us nor was it the 150sqm it should have been after the additional floor infact it was 96sq metres

The house now stands at approx 160 sq metres as we are informed a walled outside area is classed as indoor space.

No plans had been made for pool or its licence no plans for the basement, the house is now Illegal.The pool, which is unusable is cracked all the way round and when filled pours into the Pump room.

DPO starts on rectification of patio. Upon removal of a large section of the patio which took 2 weeks manual labour it was revealed that only 4mm re-baring had been used with a lack of any hardcore infact it had been laid on soft soil.

Areas around the pool have been taken up to reveal the same 4mm re-bar, this took a further week of manual labour.

We were then introduced to a member of the team employed on the building of the properties retaining walls, who knew of the problems only to well? The construction of the retaining walls we are told is not good, he actually worked on the shuttering of the retainers and confirmed DPO'S worries that building specs had not been adhered to. Substandard and Insufficient re-baring we are told was used in the building of the retainers and patios. The pool he confirms was laid on soft earth and that within 2 years they would sink, and that people would be 'crying in their soup'' especially our neighbours at numbers 4 and 5. He stated that the main retaining walls of the next door house had suffered major problems during their construction with the walls bowing before the concrete set, butresses had to be erected in order to make them stable, he said there wasn't the correct amount of steel in the buttresses either, the engineer Tharanos told them '' I have been 30 years in this Job you will do what I say''.

The buttresses (Dec 08) are showing signs of cracks, and on one buttress the top section has indeed fallen off, laying fears of DPO, s worries, and confirming that what the builder's employee said is true.

Engineer Tharanos was confronted by AN Other, and in front of 2 other people in my new lawyers offices admits that 'of course it is illegal what are you going to do about it the builder is my family'', he then threatens to make a paper to make the house illegal even though it already is and he as the engineer oversaw the building of, and to have the house bulldozed and to leave just the land.

18 December yet again AN other assists us by organising hot water cylinder and solar panels so we don't have to spend Xmas Without hot water.

This money 1500 euro I owe to AN other....

20 December we still cant get hot water and don't know what to do, AN other helps again by Arranging for an English speaking heating engineer to arrive at our villa, whilst going about his job it is remarked that it is likely the electrics of the house were left unfinished and without any provision for air conditioning due to none payment of the electricians on site as it was a Set procedural job and no electricians would have left a house unfinished unless they had not been paid for their work.

At this point it is also advised that as soon as is reasonably possible that the roof of our villa must be tiled as the water is contained on the flat roof because of uneven finish of concrete and the lack of drainage and failure to do so will result in water seeping through into the bedrooms,

We have watched other villas of a very superior quality build being erected close by ad all the Roofs have adequate drainage and have all been felted as in the UK.

Merry Xmas

It is the 29th December 2008 at this point we are all very concerned, very wary of anyone Bringing any type of news, we have not heard anything at all from anyone, no helpful Savvaidis or their International sales Manager Lynn Usher, no lawyers, no builder nor his engineer who is making paper to bulldoze his own illegal house down, we are leaning on the patio wall looking at the retaining walls and cracks are now appearing and quite a significant bend resembling a banana is quite apparent now to the eye, but looking downwards to the bottom of our patio we can also so our wall footings or what I can only say is the lack of them.

Looking back to the pictures that were taken whilst the house was being built it is quite obvious that the walls were actually erected with no footings just a line of mortar that was left over from the previous days work. Some of these walls are 5 to 6 metres high one of which is a party wall and the retaining walls that are bowing are minimum 4 metres up to 7 metres in height. We ask does any form of legislation apply in Greece, are we the only ones that this has happened to. The New Year is nearly upon us and who knows what that will bring.

It is now February; we have had an offer from the builder to buy back the house at 180,000 Euro, 55,000 Euro less than we paid and no offer for costs

Making a brief calculation of what has actually being spent: -

Euro Removal Van, Insurance, Costs of ferries, diesel to Greece 7,000 Builders Clean 350 Light switches, sockets, circuit breakers and labour 700

Plumbing for washer80 Additional Plug Sockets (only 1 in whole of 180

Hot Water

1500

Walls patched, skimmed and sanded x 2 men Interior/ exterior 550 Buy lights 350 Outdoor Lights 240 Purchase and Install middle floor Kitchen2500 Re-tile downstairs kitchen and buy tiles350 Purchase of tiles for Middle floor 300 Dig up patio - pool surround and re-enforce 650 3 x trips for snagging not done 1200

Rental of apartment in Pefkos 300 Flatten gardens-now regrown 100 Re-align and seal all doors and windows due to leaks 200 Fit marble threshold strips in bathrooms x3150

Purchase of curtains 400 Dog passports 600 Engineer report 400 Loss of interest8600 Previous loss of rent due to 1 year late 8000 Return to UK travel

7000 Legal expenses as yet unknown Paint for internal and external 300 Labour for painting x 2 men inside&out 1,200 Tax Return (Never Seen) 2009 None Receoved 100 Total additional expenses as per brief notes 43,300

We are now in the process of purchasing paint to re paint the whole house as only one coat Of paint was initially used on both the inside and outside of the building.

Obviously the inside has now all been prepared for painting so here goes the next unpaid job that should already have been done.

The cost, and rising, of our executive retreat now stands at Euro 278,300 euros and counting.

I have today contacted the European Standard the new UK based outlet of lawyers who cover foreign countries and businesses who do not abide with EU regulations.

1st March 2009.

Today we have water seeping through one of the top floor bedrooms after a night of heavy rain, in addition the patio has continued to crack in several more places and coming adrift from the front of the house, this is not possible to fix without digging the whole front area of the house up. The path has also cracked and split also needs digging up and replacing. Please see photos in main file for the size of the area to be replaced.

3rd March 2009

Today we buy paint the cost of the paint being 300 Euros.

4th March present

Painting has begun.

As of 9th March 2009 at correct costings we are owed 278,300 euro, if it is agreed that our money will be returned, then we are as of the said date prepared to accept this amount, however, if further legal proceedings are made additional costs will be added.

In addition to this if I receive no reply within the next 10 days of this brief which is already under offer the above will be passed to editorial for publication in the UK, with original full documentation and photographs

Lynda H & David O 18th March 2009

Have today heard back fro the Solicitors and copy a paragraph taken from their letter:-

You advised that you have contracted with a Real Estate agency in Rhodes to purchase a holiday home. Not only has your seller breached the contract (on multiple levels); they also show no sign or indication of a friendly or reasonable or fair resolution of the pending issues, thus prompting you to take legal action.

As a matter of fact, we happen to have experience in dealing with cases much similar to yours on the island of Rhodes, exactly because we have assisted other clients (with more or less similar agendas against a competitor of Savvaidis & Associates) who have found themselves deceived, taken advantage of and misrepresented by their seller; as well as the latter's recommended legal representative!

Without getting into details (due to the confidentiality rules), suffice it to say that we have acted as attorneys for British purchasers of a villa in Kalathos who had following issues:

(a) Their title to the property was faulty and inaccurate. They have never been made aware of this until the time we stepped in; identified the problem; and resolved same by essentially preparing and filing a corrective Deed to remedy the above misrepresentation. (b) They had been utterly lied to in regards to the mortgage proceedings. In fact, the Bank was close to foreclosing on the property, simply because our clients did not meet their mortgage contractual obligations being oblivious as to what such obligations entailed. We have represented our clients before the Bank; affected the required filings; obtained the complete file of the mortgage; and straightened out the situation without any further complications to our clients' detriment. (c) Our clients were receiving legal representation by a local lawyer, currently employed/acting as legal counsel to the company they have purchased from! (d) Notwithstanding the above, the same company appeared to continuously request additional funds from our clients (on various fictitious grounds); with our engagement, we managed to halt such requests for payment, whereas our clients now have valid claims against the company for breach of contract; poor delivery; defamation; moral damage etc. etc.

As a first step, we would like to review the complete materials, agreements, deeds/titles, certificates of registration etc. you are holding to first make sure that you have indeed obtained what you paid for (I.e. a legally executed and competently registered deed). Following our review of said material, we will be in a better position to further advise you of your recourses. Depending on the answers we obtain from reviewing the material, we will guide you through the process of rectifying the situation; apprise you fully of your rights, obligations and eventual recourses for compensation (as applicable). Also, depending on the disclosures obtained (by reviewing the documents/material alone), we may need to represent you before the Rhodes Ktimatologio to establish the current legal status of your property (incl. title status, lien status; whether there have been any successive registrations and/ or conveyances of the property without your knowledge or consent; whether there are any third-party claims to the property which would obstruct its development etc.).

All the above can be in principle scheduled and concluded within one to two weeks (incl. full legal analysis/report in writing of findings and suggested recourses).

Private and confidential

In addition on 18 March 2009 the following have been notified by email:

Greek Embassy (UK) Sunday Mercury Athens News PM Forum.org CIOB,org European Law Monitor BT Openworld Division EE European News Rotary Gr Newsdesk NOTW Featureworld.co.uk Euro Costs to 18-03-08 inc. 1st Solicitors Fee 1000.00 Fireplace Installed and Bricks, sand Cement 250.00 279,550 Euro To Be added Phone, Fax, Email, Postage charges plus Hourly Lynda H & David O

L h Rhodes
Greece

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/27/2009 08:57 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/savvaidis-associates/rhodes-town-select-stateprovince-85100/notice-of-ripoff-report-vip-arbitration-decision-a-neutral-and-independent-arbitrator-ha-438193. 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:
6Author
13Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#19 Author of original report

Agents and Developers Need to get with the times

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Reimbursement is not the objective here, for those of us who have purchased already who only have illegalities to try and put right, for these illegalities we paid in full. For these illegalities we pay again, this in a nutshell has happened, it cannot be undone, much more is to come from this, but at present if this stops one person from having their hard earned money stolen for the benefit of others then long may we all continue.

But the objective being to stop future purchasers from being conned into illegal property for the benefit of others,

Savvaidis has no funds for reinbursement he barely has enough to keep the offices he has left open.

What it has done is force new sales to be conducted in a professional legal manner, giving satisfaction to the buyer seller and the Government. To enable licences promised to be held, that the house is the size it should be in the correct sized plot and of good construction, to basically try and ensure that people get what they have paid for.

Nothing on this report has affected the Rhodes market, the corruption that has been doled out to all has affected the market, and will continue to do so till it stops.

Greece is now a member of the EU, would you accept this in England, then why should you expect it in Greece, it is time to follow the laws of the land for the Agents the Developers and the Lawyers.

Hopefully for future purchasers they will get what is sold, legally and not by underhand corrupt means as has been the norm till now.

To all future purchasers, check your licence matches the size of your property, check that the size of the plot is correct, check you have a pool licence, the list goes on, and to the developers and their Agents, the answer is if you do your job properly there will not be these problems.

 

 

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#18 Consumer Comment

Why unbelievable?

AUTHOR: YidsInRhodes - (United Kingdom)

POSTED: Friday, November 12, 2010

I too am a 100% genuine Rhodes homeowner & am also puzzled by your methods. I'm sure many of us investing overseas have encountered issues, but actively seeking to disrupt the already sensitive market seems a foolhardy way forward in attempting a resolution.


NH, the last poster, having an obvious vested interest in this procedure is hardly in a position to express 'shock' or further criticize the housing market she once promoted, & is actively seeking to benefit from as an agent in direct competition with those filed against.

LH, while I have some empathy with your situation, I also agree with RPO in that your attempts to publicly force the issue does cause concern, unrest & a growing lack of support among other owners. A wholesale undermining of the Rhodes property market would seem of little benefit if your short term aim is to sell or seek reimbursement.  
  
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#17 General Comment

unbelievable

AUTHOR: natalie humphreys rhodes property o - (United Kingdom)

POSTED: Thursday, October 21, 2010

I am shocked to see some of the supposed consumer comments on here, these people have valid claims and are in the process of legal proceedings against all that have done wrong, no way is the last comment written by a rhodes property owner, if it was then wouldnt say this, the problems in the rhodes property market are the properties with problems, sometimes publicity is the only way to stop it happening time and time again, all these anonymous comments can only be from one person....

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#16 Author of original report

If it wasn't true it wouldn't matter

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Thursday, October 21, 2010

Have you checked YOUR Building Licence?

If you have a pool please also check that Licence?

I think also you should check the land size then, and the real biggy is to check what size your house actually is, if by then you are really lucky and have no structual defeciencies, you will find out what in fact you do have.

But to find any of the above out you will need all your paperwork, I was told I had all mine but to this day after asking many many times I still would not have this if I had not spent over a year finding it all.

Lies Mr whoever, you are having a laugh, its the truth and everone knows it.

Please be aware that the only people to ruin the Rhodes Property Market are the people who sold, and who built and who supposedly transferred the illegal properties.

Are you happy to pay a fine to legalise a house that you have already paid for? Covered for 40 years, then guaranteed, no rental as you are the one to declaire it illegal. Yet people were sold these properties against rental income and on mortgage. Do you think that is fair? Do you think that is legal? and finally do you think that is right?

 Maybe you are very rich and do not care, but the majority of people who will not be able to afford to pay and then loose again as their mortgages are based on the rental income will not think so, Or do you not care about anyone but yourself, I speak with a lot of owners from Rhodes and I feel your opinion is not reciprocated. The information and the things I have been told from many many owners should only happen in your nighmares, and are very sad to even hear.

When an item is paid for in full and sold to you with lies and deceipt, not just for one person but for nearly every person who bought in Greece, from many Agents, Developers, and Lawyers you should expect to get what was paid for.

 

I find it very difficult to believe that you are actually a property owner,more likely a property developer or Agent.

Greece as a whole not just Rhodes, every single island and the mainland is soon to find out they have the same problems also...

I think you are very sad to question what I believe you already know to be the truth whoever you may be, Owner, Developer or Agent

What a very sad and selfish person you sound.

 

 

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#15 Consumer Comment

If it is true then you wouldn't be writing on here

AUTHOR: Rhodes Property Owner - (United Kingdom)

POSTED: Thursday, October 21, 2010

I just have to say that if all of this is true then you wouldn't be documenting it on here. Especially regarding the Lawyer - if it were true you should have taken legal action against them directly.

The rest of us property owners in Rhodes are getting fed up of you ranting on and destoying any market left here in Rhodes. Why don't you sort your problems out with the people concerned directly - do you really have a case I ask myself??

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#14 Author of original report

This Report is TRUE and DOCUMENTED

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Thursday, October 14, 2010

This report is fully true.


I have today been informed by Rip Off Report that Savvas Savvaidis, Mara the lawyer and the builder dedes have all made statements, Savvas and dededs saying that there is a building license and mara saying she acted in accordance with her ethics and codes and conducts, firstly Savvas and Dedes we have never said there isnt a building license, see the copy attached to this rebutal, the FACT IS that the building license is 1 license for 3 attached properties and each property should be 57m2, in fact the properties are built 100m2, 100m2 and 160m2, all of the properties need legalising before next March 31st, at present is the undeclared m2 is legalised it will cost 60 euros per m2 if it is not done by end March the costs of 800 euros per m2 that is declared. FACTS ARE that you left us with an illegal house, also  the pool has no license, nothing on here is untrue. AS FOR MARA well are arguement with Mara is that the Notary Contract she signed for us is for 120,000 euros, she paid the tax on this amount, yet charged us 19,500, we want a full breakdown from our Lawyer Mara showing the receipts for where she paid the transfer taxes, also she holds our file and will not release it, without our file our accountant cannot compile our greek tax declarations.

I am happy that finally Savvas, Dededs and Mara have decided to answer the questions written in these reports, but astonished that all 3 of you can only say that there is a building license, we know that!!!!

Lynne Harrison and David Oliver have no criminal record, they are free to come and go from Greece at any time.
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#13 Consumer Comment

This report is full of lies and twisted facts

AUTHOR: Rhodes Property Owner - (United Kingdom)

POSTED: Saturday, October 02, 2010

On this website nothig is substantiated.  Don't believe everything you read.  People can write what the hell they like on this site - noone checks the truth!

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#12 Author of original report

Savvaidis Associates Property for Sale Rhodes Greece

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The programme that was shown on 22 July 2010 - The one that Sav wanted to stop, instead he bames someone else again,


Here is the link


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE1JDYeS8h8


Click to watch or cut and paste in your browser.


Savvaidis Associates


Savvaidis - Associates


Savvaidis & Associates


Savvaidis & Associates Ltd


The name keeps changing but thats the lot so far.

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#11 Author of original report

Origional sales contrat, Actual building Licence and ITV Homes from Hell will notes

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Saturday, August 07, 2010

Please find to follow the contractual agrement given at point of sale for the luxury Villa from Savvaidis & Associates.

The building Licence showing what was built. Instead of 100sq meters detached with pool, it shows a 55sq meter terraced property, and no pools on the whole site. This licence must be granted before building begins,

The ITV programme Homes From Hell Jully 22nd 2010, with explanitory notes.

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#10 Author of original report

Now Showing in June 10 on ITV1

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Showing on ITV1 June 2010 Holiday Homes From Hell Places by the Sea

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#9 Consumer Comment

Just one more Brit who watched too much house in the sun

AUTHOR: Herman G - (United Kingdom)

POSTED: Saturday, July 25, 2009

Buying a vacation property in the mediterranean was all-too-trendy in the good times in Britain.

Unfortunately, without paying cash for such a home and additional resources to deal with the all-too-frequent problems ( and the "little" matter of obtaining an EOT license to legally let the property ), one is destined only to loose it all - hardly the agents fault.

"It is against Greek Law to with-hold the paperwork but no-one seems to care here" complains LH.

As Mr. Rose stated, LH is renting the property illegally as two units for a total 1200 pounds per week ( easily verified via google ) - against Greek Law. but she does not seem to care.

Pot and kettle comes to mind.

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#8 Consumer Comment

Not as bad a rip off as reported

AUTHOR: Jeff Rose - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, June 29, 2009

Why is it not as bad as reported!!!!

Because instead of a 55sq m property the reporter now has a 2 bed Villa and a 1 bed apartment which is beimg rented out for 800 pounds plus per week as a 2 holiday rentals, without all the appropiate licenses, for swinging pool, no fire certificate, and EOT license from the Greek Government.
All this means it is not declared to the Greek Tax office
Maybe this person has forgot to put this in their report.

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#7 Consumer Comment

Not as bad a rip off as reported

AUTHOR: Jeff Rose - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, June 29, 2009

Why is it not as bad as reported!!!!

Because instead of a 55sq m property the reporter now has a 2 bed Villa and a 1 bed apartment which is beimg rented out for 800 pounds plus per week as a 2 holiday rentals, without all the appropiate licenses, for swinging pool, no fire certificate, and EOT license from the Greek Government.
All this means it is not declared to the Greek Tax office
Maybe this person has forgot to put this in their report.

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#6 Consumer Comment

Not as bad a rip off as reported

AUTHOR: Jeff Rose - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, June 29, 2009

Why is it not as bad as reported!!!!

Because instead of a 55sq m property the reporter now has a 2 bed Villa and a 1 bed apartment which is beimg rented out for 800 pounds plus per week as a 2 holiday rentals, without all the appropiate licenses, for swinging pool, no fire certificate, and EOT license from the Greek Government.
All this means it is not declared to the Greek Tax office
Maybe this person has forgot to put this in their report.

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#5 Consumer Comment

Not as bad a rip off as reported

AUTHOR: Jeff Rose - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, June 29, 2009

Why is it not as bad as reported!!!!

Because instead of a 55sq m property the reporter now has a 2 bed Villa and a 1 bed apartment which is beimg rented out for 800 pounds plus per week as a 2 holiday rentals, without all the appropiate licenses, for swinging pool, no fire certificate, and EOT license from the Greek Government.
All this means it is not declared to the Greek Tax office
Maybe this person has forgot to put this in their report.

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#4 Author of original report

Savvaidis Estate Agents sell luxury Villas and Real Estate in Rhodes Greece whether legal or Not in my case

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, June 22, 2009

It is now the 22nd June 2009 and following the meeting with Mr Savvaidis nothing has happened by way of redress to our problems.

No phone calls no updates and certainly no prospect of making the house legal.

I now have to speak 3rd party to deal with Miss L Usher (International Sales Manager) as she has lost 43000 Euro for the second time.

I have been to see the Alpha Bank in Rhodes who tell me now, the exact size of this Villa on paper is 55sq meters plus 15 sq meters garage space.

The Villa we initially purchased was a 100sq meters increased by 50sq meters due to the basement we were told we had to have, and also that we paid 110,000 euro not 234,500 inclusive of taxes as we have paid.

My tax papers if they have been submitted for the year before this are missing whether with Savvaidis or the recommended lawyers or the accountant we paid the lawyers to instruct for us, now I will be fined.

There are to follow a couple of emails I have sent to Savvaidis but have as yet received no reply

Email 1 sent on9 June 2009
Hello Mr Savvaidis
I am rather concerned that after visiting with the Alpha Bank I am told the exact legal square meterage for his house is 55sq meters. Plus 15sq meters as a garage.
I believe even though we did no get a correct contract the paper I signed with yourselves was for 100sq meters then it was increased due to the basement to 150sq meters.
I am at the end of my tether no with regard to this situation, we are still attempting to make the bank believe that we have paid in full for the initial contract as on the paper it stated 110,000euro was paid in the Notarised Greek Contract and in actual fact the one sided A4 payment schedule that you provided shows a sales price of 215,000 plus 19,500 euros for the purchase costs fees! I have been asked by the bank for a private agreement which states the full price I paid not as per the ridiculously low figure that appears in the notarised Greek contract.
I have no swimming pool license and therefore this is of no use to me by way of borrowing money against my property, so you can probably see that I am very annoyed that although we paid over 200,000 euros for our home, we can only borrow in the region of 70,000 euros!
The Villa Godwin on this site is for sale with yourselves at a cost of 295,000.
We are so disappointed with the house, even more so that it is quite apparently illegal and that despite having discussions with you personally over one month ago and you agreeing to help to fix the outstanding issues to date we have only received an electric bill, the papers we needed for the bank were obtained by Eleni Roditi in person at the planning office.
We now wish you to market the property at its current market value or pay us the money back which currently now stands at 295, 000 euro. We have no interest in this property and it has infact turned into a nightmare, it has made my partner ill and has caused me unknown stress.

Your reply would be appreciated.

Best regards

Email 2 sent on

Hello


Due to the amount of questions could you please ask Mr Savvaidis if he could answer the following please,


1) Where has my post gone from Mara's Office, Mara told Eleni Roditi it was there?


2) Progress with revised Engineers drawing's?


Are they going to be re-submitted to the planning office in order to obtain a new license showing more m2?



Pool license?

Electricity supply?

Has all IKA been paid?


3) Original Sales Contract showing full sales price, needed for bank?


4) Copy of last years Greek Tax Return


5) Copy of Pink Slips for Tax purposes


6) Copy of Engineer report (at your office)


7) Copy of agreement for extra floor?


8) If the plans/drawings are to be amended to show the correct m2 (internal) how is this possible when the original building license is already at its maximum m2 for the size of the land?



If all of these problems cannot be fixed as an agent can you please tell me how I can sell this property please.


These are the questions I have been asking for since August 2008, please can you have a look into this for me so that we can progress further with these problems.


Many thanks


Lynne Harrison

Email 3 sent June 5th 2009
rom:Lynne Harrison [mailto:lynneharrison@gmx.com]
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 2:27 PM
To: Savvaidis Associates - Lee Tokouzis
Subject: Fw: Re: 6 Kalathos Views



Hello again



Just a quick mail, to question the details of our account.



As there seems to be a 43,000 euro payment astray by your accounts department does this mean that the 35,000 euro owed to the builder is now incorrect. There seems to be a large discrepancy somewhere with regard to the purchase of this Villa.



I have also noticed that Villa Godwin is for Sale at a price of 295,000 Euro. This is actually more than the total cost of what we required for the builder to buy back this Villa. Due to the circumstance of, and the problems associated with this Villa known as 6 Kalathos Views, I would be happy for this property to be purchased back or sold by yourselves for the money we paid plus associated costs as laid out in the report already forwarded plus ongoing costs.



If this house was a legal house as we were led to believe, I was informed by Jackie a member of your staff it would be worth between 400-450 thousand euro.



This situation is now becoming one of the worst experiences both myself and my partner have ever experienced or ever wish to experience again, we are both very dissolusioned and distressed with regard to the whole situation to a point where we are at the end of out tether, we have been informed by the bank that the house is a legal 55 sq meters with no pool. That I am unable to loan money on this property as it is illegal.



Your reply would be appreciated.



Yours sincerely



Lynne Harrison

Email 4 sent 28th May

Hello



Just a quick mail to se if I can collect some paperwork I need for the Bank to finalise my mortgage on the above property.



I have been requested to supply the following:



1. Engineers Report 400 euro paid never recieved.

2. Post from previous solicitors including tax return. I have been told I now have a fine to pay as this return is late.

3. Confirmation as agrred with Lynne Usher of my payments made needed urgently by the bank.



I would also be grateful if you could let me know of any update on the progress of the problems with this house.



Many thanks



Lynne Harrison

as i have so far received no reply I take this to mean no one has any answers. Also I have been asked to pay an electric bill for a Mr Tharinos whose name the electric is in as it cannot be passed on to me as the house is illegal.

Where this will end I do not know, I feel the UK branch of the European Court is our next way forward.

22 June 2009, I am planning to fly to the UK on 25th June 2009, to meet with the European Court officer in the UK,

Since this story began I have been contacted now by 4 different people who email me with regard to their problems and I have also had 2 visits to the Villa from people wishing us luck as they have experienced similar problems.

So when I return from the UK I will post my findings and to those people who are following this story I thank you

Lynne Harrison
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

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#3 Author of original report

Mr Savvaidis

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Thursday, April 09, 2009

8th April 2009

Meeting arranged by Mr Savvaidis upon my request, immediate contact was made by the Owner of this company Savvaidis & Associates.

A more pleasant man there is yet to meet, Mr Savvaidis was unaware of the problems that we had experienced, he and his staff thought that the problems had been rectified by the Engineer in charge of the construction of the building.

The meeting lasted for three hours with Mr Savvaidis and his Solicitor.

I have nothing but praise for the time and consideration both Mr Oliver and myself were shown. Mr Savvaidis asked many questions, and requsested a full explanation of the concerns we have.

A determined man with a passion for giving the inexperienced buyer a property of their dreams so they can live in his homeland with enjoyment and pleasure.

During this meeting my apologies were given to Mr Savvaidis for the error in judgement and placing blame at the door of this very well respected business man. Mr Savvaidis has our utter respect with his prompt and careful handling of a very difficult situation.

From leaving the meeting with this man, I find that my stress and worries that have been on-going since last August have all but dissapeared. I have had continuous contact from Mr Savvaidis and am able to pass on any worries that I have to him, without fear of things being mis-understood or mis-construed.

All complaints that I had, have been rectified or in the process of being rectified by this man and his company Savvaidis & Associates. A man proud of his name, his company and his staff. But more than that, proud of what he offers his clients, wishing only for the happiness, comfort and enjoyment of his country.

I must say that I am very glad that this property was purchased via Savvaidis and Associates as better treatment from a company I have yet to see, be that here in Greece or the UK.

Hats off to this Man and his Company, and for the English consumer, long may he continue in business for the sake of those of us wishing to purchase property here in Greece.

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#2 Author of original report

Savvaidis & Associates Rhodes Greece, Daily Update of Illegal Property, Luxury Villa, House in Kalathos

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Monday, April 06, 2009

Further painting work is now been carried out and I have informed Savvaidis Initially by email to say I would use this report after 10 days if I had not herd from anyone, no answer from Savvaidis. Again I reort that this report is now been shown on Google.

2 April 2009. Hear from Solicitor in Rhodes Town that Savvaidis and the Engineer are furious with me, they are going to take me to court.

3 April 2009. Today again hear that Savvaidis is making paper to sue me, but would like to arrange a meeting to discuss matters. This is wonderful as I have been asking since August to meet with him but have been ignored completely, he is very unhappy with regard to this report but as I informed the solicitors, I can prove each article and sentence, by either origional email correspondence and or/ photographice evidence. Plus UK Doccumentation. He is to meet with me on Monday 6th April in Rhodes town with his Solicitor and the Engineer Tharinos.

4. 6 April 2009. Arrive at Solicitors officebut am informed that they have not heard from Mr. Savva Savvaidis nor the Engineer Tharanos. So No Meeting, this I am informed due to the fact that I am now on page 2 of Google when Savvaidis is entered. So nothing to worry about I will go away.

Also informed on this date that the electric to the property I have paid 240,000 euro for is in the Engineers name and he will have it cut off, so I cant live in the house as it will have no power!!!!!

Also once again I asked for my plans which by Greek Law must be handed over, I was told not available and the Solicitor had to legally request them this wil not be till 27th April 2009.

The Solicitor now informs me that I requested that the basement be built and not as I was phoned and told that it had to be due to the height of the front retaining wall. As per the copy of the plans I have seen in the Solicitors office the plans for this building are for two floors only and not even for the 100 sq metres I have paid for.

I have requested that my money be returned in full with costs but to no avail.

The answer to this being we go to court but this can take up to five years here as they will appeal.

Cout proceedings and papers are now in the process of being issued with the International and Rhodes Courts.

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#1 Author of original report

Savvaidis & Associates Rhodes Town Rhodes Greece 85100

AUTHOR: L harrison - (Greece)

POSTED: Friday, March 27, 2009

27.03.09
The Engineer that built this house is now refusing to give us our plans, this is because they are only for a two storey property for which we have paid in full. There are no plans for the three storey or the pool.

It is against Greek Law to with-hold the paperwork but no-one seems to care here.

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