ComplaintsforSunset Ranches Companies, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  05/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My dad bought land from Sunset Ranches, aka ***** Land Buys, and died in December 2021. I am Administratrix of Estate. I contacted them about dad's accounts. They had trouble coming up with how much was owed to how much was paid. I paid on these accounts thinking they were close to being paid off for the last year. This land has run me $952 a month and was sold to my dad in 3 accounts. Its made my life very hard. When I asked if these accounts could be combined, *** stated, "our system can't do that." BTW I realized a few weeks ago their website states $188 a month, money back guarantee. In October 2022 my daughter was stillborn. I made payments until December 2022. Then it became financially hard for me because I was trying to keep my own utilities on and pay for my child's burial. She still doesn't have a headstone, btw. I was also off on FMLA so financial hardship has lasted for MONTHS for me. I told Sunset Ranches all this. I was having trouble coming up with $1k so for some reason they sent me a payoff of $75k, I guess trying to pretend to be workable. ******************* told me that land could be refinanced for $56k but couldn't tell me how much would have to be paid for that to happen. It never did because they cancelled two of the accounts two weeks later. Then they had the audacity to email me about reinstating the accounts. They will not respond to my numerous inquiries about applying my money to the remaining account. Theyve gotten around $11k off me, thats a shifty way to do business. I've reported them to the **** and they won't respond to them either. I want my money and dad's money back. Even what he paid when he was alive. They admitted to me the main account could have been increased or decreased. They sold him three accounts just to make more money. I haven't hired an attorney yet, but if the BBB and **** can't resolve this I intend to. I also plan on whstleblowing to the *** since if they're this messy with customers, I'm sure their taxes are messy.

  Business response

  05/19/2023

  During the last 30 years Sunset Ranches has NEVER cancelled a customer's account if that customer was willing to show good faith by paying the minimum (sometimes less) payment that was due. Sunset Ranches responded to all the account related inquires and tried many times to work out a reasonable payment schedule with Ms. ***** to save her lands but she NEVER made an effort to discuss what she could pay, as we would have been more than happy to work with her. We have a reinstatement program that is good for 60 days after the date of cancellation. Ms. ******* accounts can be reinstated provided she makes all the past due payments, taxes, fees which will be held in trust until we can find her the same amount of acreage that she owned. *********** will be in a different area but in the same ranch.

  Customer response

  05/25/2023

   
  Complaint: 19978099
  
  I am rejecting this response because I had discussed numerous times the fact that there were three accounts and had been requesting since March 2022 for them to consolidate these accounts. Sunset Ranches failed to do that in a year and a half. Sunset Ranches never proposed any other alternative payments other than their $952.00 a month on THREE accounts they refused/failed to consolidate. I have provided the BBB with all of these communications. I made "good faith" payments for over a year and they failed to find a way to make these payments more affordable. 

  Their fake program to restore these accounts is not acceptable. I am no longer interested in keeping this land. I request a refund in full on all accounts of the land payments I made since December 12th, 2021, as Sunset Ranches has spent an entire year proving they cannot handle an estate account, cannot consolidate accounts, and cannot provide accurate statements. As previously stated, they provided amounts of $75k, $66k, and a consolidation payoff of $56k, and could not provide the minumum payment required for the $56k. It is my desire to be completely refunded of the around $11k I have paid and wash my hands of this place. 

  They were also aware that my daughter also died October 13th, 2022. In fact, all payments were made up to January 2023. They were paid my entire maternity leave check of $3k. 

  I have requested numerous times since this issue for a refund since consolidation could not be done as promised, and they have refused. I just want my money back, and have no desire to keep this land. Then they can continue ripping off veterans, elderly people, and their families. However, they will not be getting any more funds from me, and they can stop lying to the BBB about pretending to work with me because they have not. I'd like to have the refund of all monies paid to pay off a loan I borrowed to give them their money- which I'm STILL paying 159% interest on- and maybe my child could have a headstone. They are fully aware of that but of course, they have to make themselves look truthful. Please review screenshots as sent to the BBB. There is plenty of evidence of communications. 

  They had a year and a half to consolidate these three accounts to a reasonable payment, and ******************* promised in writing "according to your and your dad's good payment history" this could be done, and it wasn't. It's not my problem they were either incompetent, lazy, or trying to make more money. They were requested numerous times to consolidate these accounts into a reasonable payment. I was told "by law they had to charge a certain amount" but again, they wouldn't tell me what it was. 

  I think the only fair thing to do here is refund me, and then I'll stop complaining and circulating screenshots of their fake promises.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  05/30/2023

  Sunset Ranches has done everything we could to cooperate to resolve this matter.  That there is no new information - only that the  complainant "does not accept the response.

  Customer response

  05/30/2023

   
  Complaint: 19978099
  
  I am rejecting this response because Sunset Ranches ignored the request for refund in my response. As stated, I am not interested in their pretend 60 day program. What they failed to state to the BBB, they wull require about $5k, which I do not have, to reinstate these accounts. I also do not want the headache of 3 accounts, and my daughter needs a headstone more than we need overpriced, empty land and fake email promises. To accept this fake program would be to invite Sunset Ranches to continue the behavior outlined in my complaint. Again, they had from March 2022-April 2023 to consolidate these accounts. No proposal or documentation was ever sent to me to do so, other than ******************* statements of "we have to charge so much by law." She did not state how much that was when asked. 

  They stated in writing several times over the past year they could consolidate these accounts and failed to do so. Therefore, a refund from December 2021-April 2022 is requested. I spent $11k with these people and these payments were arduous for me, which they were well aware. Sunset Ranches misled me to believe these accounts could be made more affordable by consolidation yet failed to do so. I feel that a refund is satisfactory based on the manner these accounts were treated. If Sunset Ranches is an honest company, a refund should be no issue, and they should have the desire to correct their mistakes as any other responsibile company would do.

  Any other time a business who puts things in writing is held accountable, and Sunset Ranches should be no exception. 

  Sunset Ranches also failed to respond to a ************************************ complaint, and I think that is very telling of their guilt in the matter. 

  I also want to know why the BBB logo is listed on their website. This sticker should be removed, as the BBB logo demonstrates proven, fair business practices. Based on my experiences as well as other users online reviews of Sunset Ranches, this is not the case. I don't think the BBB logo needs to appear on their website as it is misleading. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

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