ComplaintsforFlatfee.com Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  11/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I have paid for a flat fee listing for a property more than 3 weeks ago and left several voicemails and email contacts to see what the delay is with no response from the broker.

• Initial Complaint

  10/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Hired Flatfee.com to assist with a rental home and after 30 days of no inquiries I was concerned that Flatfee.com was not forwarding any inquires. I had several friends inquire about leasing the home and never received and information from Flatfee.com. They should not be allowed to operate in ******* or any where else. SCAM!!!

• Initial Complaint

  09/03/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am the owner of a home building company. I buy lots and found a listing sold via flatfee.com The communication since the start was horrific. Not only it takes multiple tries to get someone, but when they answer, they forward you to different people. This is a simple task: you list a property and specify the party in charge of selling it. So, here we are trying to buy this property at the asking price. We finally locate the person via email and they sign the offer letter. One day before closing, the title company sends a request to extend and they respond saying that the contract was never valid since they had signed late. So, they make everything tedious, sign late, and then who knows why they drop commitments without notifying anyone. In real estate as in construction, nothing is pretty, unforeseens always happen. If you aspire to make a deal with such poor communication, light up some candles and pray for a miracle because that is what it takes for a deal to go through.

  Business response

  10/20/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/09/19) */ 09/19/2021 Case# XXXXXXXX. Sadly, this land buyer mistook our brokerage as a selling brokerage. We are not. FlatFee.com lists property in the MLS covering Alabama and Florida for owners who wish to save a listing commission. Reading her complaint, I feel that she saw a listing on our site. If so, that inquiry concerning a property would have been forwarded to the owner. The owner would have taken the buyers inquiry under consideration, or not. FlatFee.com is never part of any dialog between the owner and buyer. Our listings are Limited Service only. We are not part of any contracts, addendums, closings or commissions and fees. Some owners are very proactive with follow-ups and cultivating a sale ...... some are not. I am sorry that the buyer, ********* ********, misunderstood our roll in the selling process. If he had worked with a tradition buyer agent, he would not have had the problem that he experienced. Traditional agents are fully aware of discount brokers and how they operate. They operate with the owner directly. Sincerely, ***** *******/Broker Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2021/09/20) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) My complaint revolves entirely around Flatfee.com's lack of communication with the prospects. This is precisely why I was not sure who I needed to be following up with. Please understand this is more useful for you than it is for me. I know I will never use your services again. In the other hand, you should worry at least answering the phones. Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2021/10/04) */ Again, we are sorry that the buyer had the notion that we are involved with a showing or sale of listed properties. FlatFee.com does not sell properties. We list properties for owners. Our response emails to inquiries, as this buyer inquiry came in, are that we have forwarded the buyers email to the owner and it is up to the owner/seller to respond. Our phone message asks the caller to send us an email rather than leave a phone message. That email then is forwarded to the owner. Sincerely, ***** *******/Broker

• Initial Complaint

  06/14/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On May 14, 2021, I purchased the flatfee.com 6-months Max Photos package for $175. According to the website, the package includes a Flat Fee MLS Listing in your LOCAL Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in Alabama. The home I listed is located in Baldwin County, Alabama which uses the "Baldwin Gulf Shores MLS". The website states that FlatFee.com flat fee listings cover this MLS, which is the sole reason I chose this company. The home was erroneously listed on the Mobile MLS. I contacted FlatFee.com and they stated they would let the broker know however no response was ever received from the Broker. The broker is not listed as a member of the Baldwin Gulf Shores MLS, nor is FlatFee listed as members. In addition to listing in the wrong MLS, buyers and real estate agents were unable to contact us unless they were members of the Mobile MLS - buyers were unable to get in touch with flatfee if using Realtor.com or Zillow.com. Additionally, I purchased for sale sign on May 17 and never received.

  Business response

  06/25/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2021/06/24) */ BBB with case #XXXXXXXX. ******** ****** MLS listing. In response to her compliant concerning her MLS listing. June 24, 2021. FlatFee.com covers the state of Alabama and Florida. We have been a brokerage for 21 years. This seller requested the Baldwin MLS in Alabama for her listing. Our website stated that the Baldwin MLS had a history of heavy fining brokers to limit the coverage of limited-service listings. We stated that we withdrew from that MLS 10 years ago. We stated that the listing would be posted from the Mobile MLS. These adjoining MLS's have members that are members in both Boards. In fact, the Boards are in discussions to merge together. The client listed with us. We listed the property and had expenses. The client posted an unannounced chargeback for the posted listing and printed and sent signage. Out of pocket, FlatFee.com lost $125. We refunded her full payment through our PayPal account. We are sorry for her change of heart with her listing with a limited-service brokerage. Thank you, ***** *******/Broker for FlatFee.com Consumer Response /* (2000, 8, 2021/06/25) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) I appreciate the services offered by a limited-service brokerage however the website does not state anything regarding ******* MLS having a history of heavy fining brokers to limit the coverage of limited-service listings. In fact, to this day, the website still clearly states that they cover the Baldwin Gulf Shores MLS, when they clearly do not *************************************************** I suggest modifying your list of MLSs covered in Alabama by removing "Baldwin Gulf Shores MLS" from the list. I requested a refund through Paypal for the sign because I never received it, even after multiple attempts to contact you on the status of shipping the sign. To date, the signage was never received - feel free to send me a tracking number that shows delivery to my address and I will be happy to cover the cost of the missing sign. I then requested a refund from Paypal for the MLS listing as a last resort because I could not get in touch with anyone to remove my listing from the wrong MLS. I ended up having to call the MLS directly to have them remove my ad so I could relist with a full service agent because I could not get in touch with anyone at flatfee in a reasonable timeframe (3 days). I had multiple agents show up in my driveway unannounced because they had no way to reach me without being a member of the Mobile MLS. While some agents do have access to both MLSs, most do not. Again, I value the services offered by limited-service brokerages but this company is falsely advertising that they list with the Baldwin Gulf Shores MLS when they clearly do not. That along with a lack of communication on their part is the reason for this complaint.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩