Mazza Property Services - Warning

[Steen Jakobsen]

We remove posts with anything resembling adverts in order to avoid this but can't, and shouldn't monitor PMs. We have banned many users but nothing prevents them from registering under a different name and email address. One rule: Never ever, Nigerians or not, accept unsolicited offers. And I would be the last to be solicited.

[laserblazer]

What 'Resident's Association'?

Some of the developments have them.

[shanagarry]

I guess it is difficult and by highlighting the incidents that do slip through - there is some form of awareness campaign - albeit too late.

While I have not been a victim of this scam - I can sense the anger those victims must be feeling - made all the more galling by those who attempted to scupper its rightful exposure. As a property owner of 20+ years I am only too aware of the dependence we have on our property managers and with them having access to our homes and personal information - it is frightening when you consider the havoc (financial and personal) a 'wrong un' could impose on us.

Well done Michael Crane

[lharrop]

I thank shangarry for his passion and his total understanding of how the victims of this scam are feeling.

It has taken over not only my life, but impacted on my family as well due to the emotional and finacial pressure it has brought.

Throughout, the forum has been a lifeline in a positive way and it those members who supported me as well as Steen as the moderator, that has encouraged me to speak out about her financial scam.

The moderator walks a very fine line and has to allow some freedom of expression amongst its users and this they do well.
They did for instance insist that my previous posting in October 2009, remain on the site after Marion contacted them and asked that it was removed. This initial posting did bring others forward and did have an impact on some of her business interests. It did not however stop her carying on with her scam and others have since been impacted by it.

As Steen says, we all have to take heed of those unsolicited contacts.

Mazza/Rossi/Lewisl/nah/ as one and the same is going to be an ongoing problem with the level of information that we use to register in the first place. Perhaps this needs to be re visited???

[shanagarry]

lharrop - you have my sincere sympathy for the 'crap' you have had to endure at the hands of that deceitful bitch. Life has a way of paying them back 'in kind' - let's hope it is any day soon in her case.

I wish you and your family my very best wishes in resolving the matter and moving on so you enjoy your property - the reason you bought it in the first place.

All the best.

[Michael Crane]

...Well done Michael Crane

I've done nothing. It is the courage and determination of those that are the victims of Marion Day that deserve praise. I am merely the catalyst.

[Michael Crane]

....As Steen says, we all have to take heed of those unsolicited contacts.....

Unfortunately, whilst the rossis of this forum blindly extol the 'virtues' of Mazza et al, and are willing to give them a 5* reference, there will inevitably be a few fall through the net and get caught by her or someone equally as dishonest. As soon as this topic falls off the front page it will become old news. Personally I think it should be made 'sticky' as a warning to all new members. Many of them join this forum to seek advice and help from established members - and when you have the likes of rossi willing to give Mazza such a glowing reference in the face of such accusations, they need the 'protection' that a 'sticky' would give.

[shanagarry]

Michael - I'm fully behind your proposal to make it a 'sticky'

Does anybody have a picture of this modern day 'Bonnie' of Bonnie and Clyde fame - we should make that a 'sticky' - all over the village.

[Steen Jakobsen]

There is already a sticky "Warning", now with a link to this topic, and room for more...

[eccles]

What about the picture on a poster circulated all over the village as well as surrounding villages.
Honest, unsuspecting people need to be warned.

Not all are members of a forum like this. Even those who are members,their visits can be so infrequent that they could potentially miss out on this vital warning and are being ripped off even as I write this posting. So a big YES from me for a poster.

Aso agree that it should be the lead message for the foreseable future.

[sam]

As one of those suffering a financial loss - I would like to say thank you to all who have supported us and our actions. In particular I would like to thank Sharen & Michael Crane for their help in putting the three of us in touch with each other - there is strength in numbers. I would also like to thank Michael for his offer to lead this thread as an independent voice. From the responses, we now have a better understanding of the situation, as have other people.
The involvement of the authorities is something we have discussed, but wanted to go public to warn others and discover the nature and extent of the problem before making a decision. lharrop has already contacted the police, and the result has been posted. Also, the other two of us had given her until 28th February to refund the money, and we wished to stick to our word.
Of course, the police are not the only ones who would become involved. I would imagine that there would be a full investigation into Marion's financial affairs, including declaration/payment of income tax, IVA etc. Marion said she had a number of clients. We now know that we three plus eccles and Rossi were all paying her, and there must be more. She issued me with formal invoices and I paid her through my bank account to hers, so I have a very clear paper trail of my payments and losses. When I did a business management course I remember being told not to upset the authorities, and beware the VAT man, as 'he will call all his friends and they will have a big and expensive party at your house'. I cannot imagine that it would be any different in Portugal.

[DaveK]

Sam, we echo your thanks to Michael and Sharen for bringing we victims together and all other supportive Forum members. It is not nice to think you are begining to know and trust someone only to find such trust is unwarrented. Hopefully no one else will now be caught out.

[pickwick]

Evening Shanagarry et al

This is a sad sad situation and I feel so very sorry for all who have lost money. Perhaps it is time for ALL owners to take control of the financial situation and suggest to ALL management companies that they will only pay IN ARREARS i.e. when bills have been settled and are proven to be settled. I appreciate this will cause a cash flow issue for the honest management companies but those that could offer this risk free type of service could potentially see growth in their business and with support from their bank could make it work and grow thier customer base as cash is cheap now if you are a good risk!!

Just a thought but perhaps worth debating?

Hope to see you soon - in freezing Scotland at he moment

Kind regards

pickwick

[steve]

I don't think it is reasonable to expect management companies to front up bills incurred by owners. The manager merely acts as an agent for the owner in settling these accounts and should be put in funds to do so. If you have ever stood behind a manager paying a block of utility bills or IMI demands you would appreciate that considerable sums are involved. If owners delay payments (and this is not unknown!) the manager is left in a difficult position. In the bad old days some receipts were forged to evidence payment and an overseas owner is not always in a postion to tell. A more realistic way forward is to publicise the good managers so that owners gravitate towards these. Unfortunately cheapest is not always best.

Please keep this topic going. It is the most entertaining for a long time!

[shanagarry]

Regretfully this a 'catch-all' situation - the good are being roped in with the bad and that's not fair - but inevitable.

While we have been fortunate and never had such an occurrence - there is always the possibility for this current situation to arise. What Pickwick says is one solution but would penalise the truly ethical managers. If there is a degree of mis-trust perhaps some form of escrow account could be used - assuming a local bank has the processes and resources to operate such a facility.