auction.com REDC Refuse to release my deposit after SELLER non performance, Irvine, California

On august 15, 2011 i won an auction for a property in Lakewood, Ca on Auction.com. On the site, i notice that there was a pdf for a commitment to insure the title for the property by a title company called Chicago Title so I said cool, I know that i'm getting a clean title for the property. Per the contract, I then sent in my earnest money deposit of $12955.79 to their closing company at Chicago title. I then get an accepted offer from the seller...all is well so far.

As this is to be an all cash deal, I let the Seller's Agent(SA) know that I wanted a quick close and she said that would be no problem. However a few days later I was then told by SA that there is an issue with title and that the closing might take a bit longer but that it was nothing to worry about. I was then redirected to my "Closing Officer" at Chicago title who later told that she discovered that the city of Lakewood put a lien on the title for unper modifications tot he property, and that the seller would have to correct the violations before the sale could proceed. Weeks and weeks went by and i was strung along the whole time. When i saw no work was done on the property yet, i contacted the CO.

The first story was that the contractor had to meet with the seller to discuss what had to be fixed. a few more weeks go by... Still no work has been done. I call the CO back. I'm told that the contractor and seller have canceled their meeting. Days later, i call the CO back. I'm told that the seller/contractor postponed the meeting again. more days go by, still no work on the property....I call CO back. I'm told that the seller and the contractor finally had their meeting, and that the quote is higher than expected. More time goes by. I follow up again. Then all of a sudden out of the blue, almost TWO MONTHS later I was told by CO that the seller would not be making any repairs at all to clear title and that I would have to make the repairs on my own and clear title on my OWN!!!

At this point i said forget it, and i request that the deal be canceled and that my deposit be returned only to hear back that the seller REFUSED to return my deposit and is trying to force me to purchase the property with the lien on it. If these people have proven untrustworthy with my $12,000 deposit...Do you think i would even think of sending them another 250k to "close" this deal? HELL NO!!!!! Keep in mind that communication was so terrible durring this ordeal It seemed like i was intentionally ignored after i sent my deposit.  I had to call multiple times per day to get any type of information. No voi were returned....no emails were returned...

I was given the run around more times than i can count....Title officer says to call auction.com agent.....auction.com agent say to call title officer....all to buy more time...for what? to hold my deposit for as long as they can!!! These people are CROOKS! BUYER BEWARE!!!!! Any attorney that would like to represent me and assist with making sure these crooks dong get away with this. Please contact me! 310-895-5085ago Title, so I said cool, I know that i'm getting a clean title for the property. Per the contrace, I then sent in my earnest money deposit of $12955.79 to their colsing company at Chicago title. I then get an accepted offer from the seller...all is well so far.

As this is to be an all cash deal, I let the Seller's Agent(SA) know that I wanted a quick close and she said that would be no problem. However a few days later I was then told by SA that there is an issue with title and that the closing might take a bit longer but that it was nothing to worry about. I was then redirected to my "Closing Officer" at Chicago title who later told that she discovered that the city of Lakewood put a lien on the title for unpermitted modifications tot he property, and that the seller would have to correct the violations before the sale could proceed. Weeks and weeks went by and i was strung along the whole time. When i saw no work nas been done on the property yet, i contacted the CO.

The first story was that the contractor has to meet with the seller to discuss what has to be fixed. a few more weeks go by... Still no work has been done. I call the CO back. I'm told that the contractor and seller has canceled their meeting. Days later, i call the CO back. I'm told that the seller/contractor postponed the meeting again. more days go by, still no work on the property....I call CO back. I'm told that the seller and the contractor finally had their meeting, and that the quote is higher than expected. More time goes by. I follow up again. Then all of a sudden out of the blue, almost TWO MONTHS later I was told by CO that the seller would not be making any repairs at all to clear title and that I would have to make the repairs on my own and clear title on my OWN!!!

At this point i said forget it, and i request that the deal be cancelled and that my deposit be returned only to hear back that the seller REFUSED to return my deposit and in trying to force me to purchase the property with the lien on it. If these people have proven untrustworthy with my $12,000 deposit...Do you think i would even think of sending them another 250k to "close" this deal? H*LL NO!!!!! Keep in mind that communication was so terrible durring this ordeal It seemed like i was intentionally igmored after i sent my deposit.  I had to call multiple times per day to get any type of information. No voicemails were retirned....no emails were returned... I was given the run around more times than i can count....Title officer says to call auction.com agent.....auction.com agent say to call title officer....all to buy more time...for what? to hold my deposit for as long as they can!!! These people are CROOKS! BUYER BEWARE!!!!! Any attorney that would like to represent me and assist with making sure these crooks dont get away with this. Please contact me! (((phone number redacted)))

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