Mayan Lake Realty Rip Off
Jun 9, 2017, 11:38 PM
We were ripped off for $500.00 by Mayan Lake Realty when I gave Rene, the partner, a cash deposit the afternoon before I hoped to rent a house through them in Panajachel. He agreed that the money would be refunded if my husband did not want to rent the house after speaking to him that evening when my husband came home from work. I called Rene first thing in the morning to say that no, we weren't going to sign the lease for the house since there were far too many stairs and I am partially disabled. We expected to find another house through them as agreed.
Rene had SPENT OUR DEPOSIT MONEY the night before, and did not have it to return it to us. Despite my having a signed receipt stating the deposit was refundable," Francesca (the other partner) refused to return our deposit stating I had "not given them enough notice."
This was outrageous. They are not licensed real estate agents and have stolen money from many people around the lake. The locals and expats who live there know to watch out for them as Mayan Lake Realty pays the owners an agreed-upon amount for rent and gouges the tourists for whatever they can get. The newcomers are non the wiser until they have lived there for some time, and find out how much less the owners had agreed to rent the houses for.
I even tried to take Mayan Lake Realty to court for the return of my "refundable deposit," but they do not list a real physical address anywhere in their advertisements. Without an address, they cannot be served to appear in court.
It is very important that people know to beware of people like these, who fleece newcomers to the area as no one knows any better until it is too late. I am filing a complaint with Century 21 in the U.S. as their behavior is beyond the pale. They would never get a license and be looking at jail time for their fraudulent actions if they were working in the U.S. As a licensed realtor myself for many years, I am horrified as to what they get away with in Guatemala where licensing and complaint resolutions are lax to non-existent.
Other people have been ripped off by them when Rene or Francesca have added pararaphs to agreements that were never there when people signed, or when these "agents" convince people to pay in advance in CASH so there is no record of payments being made (and no taxes / income to report) and no recourse when they take off with your money.
I'm glad that one person had a good experience with this outfit, but I can assure you it is because it was short-term and they didn't know they were being fleeced. I am writing this review to let others be forewarned and find someone else to deal with!
Contact me for more information anytime. I will also give you the name of my lawyer who knows these people very well and can write an agreement that will protect you, the tenant, from them. I should have done this from the very beginning, but they are so "friendly" you would never guess that you are about to get fleeced.
BEWARE. There are many properties for rent on the Facebook pages for Panajachel and Lake Atitlan. Avoid rip-off artists at all costs.
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They have been able to remove my (negative) review from AtitlanDirectory.com
My comment (will this too be removed?):
I am glad that Crystal Gunn had a good experience with this company. However, that is not the only type of experience other people such as myself have had. It’s unfortunate that Mayan Lake Realty seems to be able to have truthful, negative reviews removed from this site. This does not help anyone who is new to area to know that they must be very careful dealing with Mayan Lake Realty, and do NOT pay in cash! Even signed receipts are not necessary valid in Guatemala.
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Response from another person affected negatively by this unscrupulous company:
Joseph
Hey thanks for the heads up about mayan lakes. I have had issues with them in the past. You should contact the GM at Century 21 Guatemala located in Antigua. Mayan realty is maintaining many of Century 21 contracts hear in panajachel. They're pretty much a independent contractor are held responsible to Century 21.
I have reported them in the past.
Director of Programs Impact · May 2014 to present · Dunedin, Florida
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From https://www.facebook.com/groups/BadRealtors/
Barbara Long just know that for tenants there is a housing court. notoriously in favor of tenants. it is not legal to scam and steal whether in renting or anywhere else. so i suggest swearing out a denuncio etc. also to serve them just have a friend call and make an appointment with the guy. boom. serve him. Personally i like using social pressure. write a blurb and post in all the lake fb pages. but rather than condemning act as if its all a misunderstanding. and you want to sort it out. you are sure its nothing deliberate or personal. ask him to meet you to settle it calmly . . . etc.
Barbara Long also know that people borrow against property that they own or maybe dont own. it can be ugly getting money to pay off loan. it can be ugly evicting people with kids. years of them living free on your money you loaned them . . . there are no free lunches.
