Why Masa make the Difference ?

A few weeks ago we contacted our agents to say that they still haven't refunded part of our legal fees as promised. What was their reply,-- they sent us a brochure !!!!

The first page makes this statement ' Why masa makes a Difference'

Among its reasons for being the ' agent of choice' are

A secure company , all masa homes are BUILT ON URBAN LAND WITH FULL PLANNING PERMISSION  prior to construction .

We give you complete peace of mind throughout  and beyond the buying process.

Members of AIPP, FOBDAC, NAEA, ISO 9001. organisations whose aim is to PROTECT the interests of anyone who is buying overseas property.


PEACE OF MIND !!!!!    PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS !!!!!! 

Sorry, but the only things that Masa have done  is told us lies, walked away with their large commission , promised to   help us get our money back but then continue to let us down.

These statements will be familiar to everyone who has seen an overseas property brochure, but surely their statements can be challenged by the trading standards people ??

We focus on Huma as the bad guys, but surely the agents should be held to account. We have contacted channel 4 , the newspapers, a place in the sun, Dom gets it done, watchdog,  etc. but I suspect that they are all in close association with these agents because buying overseas property makes good television viewing and they don't want to rock the boat. 

We as buyers are just the tip of the iceberg, there are thousand and thousands of people in the same situation as us, all the victims of two things-- corruption and greed. People I have spoken to have said that we have only ourselves to blame for being taken in by it all, but I don't agree, we did not get what we paid for, they won't give us back our money, and no-one seems to be able to offer a solution  --- not even the law !!!

We are continuing to write to anyone who might be able to help, and are determined to fight this until we get a result. By the way, the most uninterested people we have had contacted are our own  dear government, the people who are elected to speak for us !!!

If you believe that your agent should take some responsibility, please write to them, and to the trading standards. 

Antojo
I'm not going to defend the agents or the developers in any of this. They certainly 'sold' properties with out the correct planning permission in place.

However, before the bubble burst, and the governments stepped in, DEVELOPERS DID sell off- plan without the proper planning permissions. THIS WAS THE NORM. Many 1000's of properties were sold this way. They all knew planning would be given and later down the road when it would all be made 'legal'. 
Fortunately they got away with it for a long time and sold 1000's and 1000's of properties.

Then all of a sudden, it all turned sour in 2005 ............ Why? Who knows? Building developments ground to a halt because of planning irregularities....
Guess over building was to blame. Then to top that the housing crash in Spain. Much I believe caused by fear of buying because of planning irregs and demolitions. So nicely highlighted by the government. i.e. stop building what you have already started. The Spanish got their wish to avoid over building didn’t they !!!!

Unfortunately we (ACC buyers) got caught up in the chaos and planning mess that followed the stoppages and planning irregularities. Maybe if building had continued into 2006 we would have 'got away with it'. Property built - paid for - and everyone happy! (Just the final Hab license to get hold off like people on MCC.) But that's hind sight.

In summary, sadly we are the real loosers and have certainly gained a very valuable experience from this.

The Spanish authorities have learnt the hard way with their total miss management and incompetence. They have killed the life blood in some areas that could and would have beocme major tourist centers. Alas, not now. It's even a nightmare to try and rent your property. Who want's to go there ?
Many many buyers will never buy in Spain again.

Having personally been involved with some consumer programs I can asure you that they are not in cahoots with the agents and developers but their primary interest is what makes a good program and it news worthy and I am sorry to say that  another story where UK buyers are struggling in Spain is possibly old news

People also get confused with MASA as they have a number of divisions some that actually build and soem that act as an estate agent selling re-sale and new properties

I know that it is no consulation but we have inspected finished propertues on this development and found them to be of good quality with fewer defect than we would normally find

There are a couple of potential avenues the first action against your agent if they have a UK trading company, potential acvtions if you have been misold

The other is for everyone to complete one of the offical Spanish Complaints forms and submit these to OMIC, the Spanish Consumer department, for investigation

If anybody needs one I can mail a cipy of the process to people if you PM me a mail address

Roy,

I am not confused at all about Masa !!  I understand that Masa International mainly act as overseas property agents,  I am looking right now at their brochure , on the first page it states quite clearly ;

MASA's Partners and Accreditations

AIPP, Channel4, FOBDAC, NAEA, Ideal World Television, ISO 9001. 

I am trying to make the point that I have contacted four of these agencies and none of them offered any help. They all opted out by saying ' ACC is a legal matter in which we cannot get involved '. In my opinion, what is the point of having bodies such as the AIPP if they are not willing to investigate complaints.

Of course they do not want to help, they depend on each other for advertising and business and of course sponsorship. 

You say you have been involved in inspecting finished properties on 'this development '   Which development are you talking about ?  Are you referring to properties built by Grupo Masa ?   Camposol perhaps ?? enough said. 

You are right when you say that stories about UK buyers in Spain is old news, but people need to be made aware of just how many people are struggling to get some justice. 


Phil, 

I understand that it was normal practice for developments to start before full planning permission, but my point is that masa made statements in its advertising ' all masa homes are built on urban land with full permission ' .  I would like to see their advertising exposed to the media and would hope that people would no longer be taken in as we were. 

At the end of the day, we just want our money back, we have exhausted all of the routes we can think of now.

Hi Antojo I think the main point that I was trying to make is that people seem to forget to try the Spanish consumer support system which is readily accessable at the local Town Halls using a department called OMIC

I have seen some good results through these people and they have good links into the Town Hall people anf this is worth a try

For any business in Spain, where you receive bad service their attitude changes when you ask for the form

I do howevevr know that this is a very complex issue but they are all ading under the Spanish system

FANTASTIC NEWS

We have today had a letter from Masa International telling us that they have had a meeting with Huma and a representative of Andalucia government, regarding progress of the issue of the final documentation for ACC development. Apparently this October/November they expect approval of Plan de Ordenacion del Territorio del Area del Levante Almeriense (POTALA). Huma believes that the commencement of the construction could happen between 5-8 months after the POTALA is approved. If anyone knows what this means, we would appreciate your comments!!! They are still offering us the option of exchanging to a different property.

REALITY CHECK

Masa washed their hands of us a year ago as soon as we started legal action against Huma, we told them in July 07 that we had NO intention of proceeding with any property built by Huma and when we asked for their help in getting our money refunded they said that as we were taking legal action they were unable to help us any further. So much for their promises in the brochures!!!  They obviously don't make any notes on their files, otherwise they would never have sent us this letter. Can you believe their audacity?

This shows how little they care.

Just as a footnote, we don't believe a word of the letter, it is just more stalling and if they think we will fall for it they have got another think coming. 

Hi All,

Not wishing to rain on anyone's parade, but how many times have we heard this one.   it seems to be a re-hash of the same old song from the same old sheet.    We had a meeting....Yawn!.....heard that one before.....Yes another plan to be aproved.....Yea?....yawn.....and wait for it......the any day now speech work will start resuming.......Yea and pigs might fly....

PS: I still dont have my money back.   Dont know about MASA, but I went with Parador and I got the same bull***t.    They all promised that it was perfect.   The reps and lawyers lied....Thats about the size of it...Now we cant get our money back....

Anyone try contacting E.T.A.

Les

re the letter from MASA:

Check the date on it.

I have nothing to do with MASA but given that the message is exactly the same as we heard last year, as vague as ever and promising nothing by any confirmed date, my guess is that this letter has been held up in the post!

Received the same letter from Masa today.  We, like others have a file of similar letters that we have had since 2004. It usually means that they have had an approval of yet another plan, and there is the usual 5 months period for objections to be made.

We are used to this now and  know that it means absolutely nothing !!!

Why they think that people will continue to be taken in by yet another stalling procedure is beyond me. Anyway, if they were anywhere near competent and had accurate records, they would know which of their clients had already started legal proceedings against Huma. To send this letter to such clients would be inappropriate. 

The Spanish love paperwork !!!!

but surely this at least means that they are still trying to get planning permission , and not considering going into receivership. Which at least looks more promising for getting our money back  doesnt it ? 

Alfie

Sorry Alfie,

but I think the answer is still No.   You see most of us were taken in by these letters and held on for too long in good faith and the belief that "Any day now the plan will be aproved" and we are still waiting.   Now we are pulling out and cant get our money back, because there is no more money in the kitty.   All these false hopes are fueled by HUMA......Sorry Alfie, I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but I thinke you are being taken for a rpual ride.

les

I'vealso received the same leter. How incompetant they are really are !" We pulled out last January. Masa even refunded the money that they had held . 
We are now waiting a court hearing date....

Can the Spanish get anything right..........?

Funny enough, even the letter states that it must be the local council give permission to re start building after the junta passes the POTALA ! 
KEEP PASSING  THE BUCK WHY DON'T YOU.