RESOURCES & CONTACTS - WHAT YOU CAN DO
You need to take action if you're a consumer, seller, buyer, or an honest agent trying to sell a home. You may have discovered that you are a victim agent False Advertising and Consumer Fraud--either with your current home, a home you're consdering, or regarding another home for sale that is unfairly competing with yours on the market.
The Birmingham Association of Realtors, the GAMLS and the Birmingham MLS allow and cover-up agent false advertsing and deception to the consumer. This illegal, deceptive practices are ignored and swept under the rug if CONSUMERS AND THE MEDIA do not demand truth, accuracy, and the ethical disclosure of information in the housing market as required by laws and regulations.
A full investigation of this ongoing cover-up needs to be conducted by the Alabama Attorney General, FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and several other government agencies, for disciplinary action to be taken against these banks, agents, builders, and local real estate companies who have committed this crime against consumers, home buyers, and the real estate community. These individuals are NOT above the law and should be held accountable for deceiving the public and all consumers.
Below is a list of helpful links you can use to file reports or complaints regarding false advertising, illegal deceptive practices and consumer cover-up:
The Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act (see especially page 3 that specifies unlawful activity):
http://www.ago.state.al.us/File-Alabama-Deceptive-Trade-Practices
File a Complaint with the State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General, regarding the unlawful activity as described in the above Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act:
http://www.ago.state.al.us/Page-Consumer-Protection-File-a-Complaint
Real estate agents and brokers are NOT above the law and should be held accountable for deceiving the public and all consumers.
Consumers should contact the media and a good attorney. They can also file complaints at a number of entities: the institution itself, the Better Business Bureau, State Attorneys General, the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel, the CFPB Consumer Response Center, other Federal and State agencies, or on-line consumer complaint boards such as www.ripoffreport.com or www.complaints.com.
Media Contacts:
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham Affiliate): http://www.abc3340.com/global/Story.asp?S=12776766
ABC News Tip for the Brian Ross Investigative Unit: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mailform?id=13942252
Alabama's 13 (Birmingham NBC Affiliate): http://www2.alabamas13.com/tools/site_information/contacts/
NBC News Contact (select "Story Idea" for Feedback Type): http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10285339
CBS 42 (Birmingham Affiliate) - Submit News Tips: http://www.cbs42.com/content/contact/news.aspx
E-mail CBS News - "60 Minutes" - 60m@cbsnews.com
Government or Consumer contacts:
State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General Luther Strange: http://www.ago.state.al.us/Page-Consumer-Protection-File-a-Complaint
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Birmingham Division: http://www.fbi.gov/birmingham/
Alabama Department of Public Health: http://www.adph.org/administration/Default.asp?id=503
Alabama State Representatives: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/house.html
Alabama State Senators: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senate.html
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/
Federal Trade Commission: http://ftc.gov/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/
U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
National Association of Realtors (Law & Ethics): http://www.realtor.org/law-and-ethics
If you need assistance in digging deeper into the records of your home (or other home you are concerned about), please seek out an honest and ethical real estate agent, appraiser, or inspector who can help you find the accurate sqaure foot, land/acreage, documents and home history recorded in the Multiple Listing Service or at the county property records office.