Hi Guys! I am supposed to sleep now but I have just read this article from SUNSTAR telling the public to be aware of a fake developer named: United Gilmore Properties Inc. is back in operations and their “new project” is named: Saratoga Range Subdivision in Baliok, Toril. They claim it to be a high end type of subdivision and is currently selling lots to Davaoeños.
So let me explain to you how come I knew and met these guys.
We learned about this Company whose office is in LandCo from a friend working from a known car company in Davao that these developer’s agents submitted a letter to the company about their offers.They are currently selling lots situated in Baliok, Toril as they claimed.
I and my friends were stunned with the great offer: affordable monthly amortization at approximately 2,995 Pesos per month for a 90 sq.meter lot payable within 10 years. That is approximately 350,000 Pesos worth — total selling price of the lot. What is more interesting with the offer? Aside from they said that Saratoga Range is a high end subdivision, after three years of paying the monthly amortization — United Gilmore Land Inc. said will grant the member an in-house financing for building their home.
BUT what catch my attention is, the totally lax and very easy requirements to be able to buy “their” lots. I was really surprised why and how in this world a real estate company would grant a loan to somebody with just requiring them Certificate of Employment, SSS No., TIN and CTC?
So we were convinced for a free site tripping. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go with my friends during the tripping but my friends went home with a smile because the place is really good. Deep within, I still have doubts against Saratoga Range even though my boyfriend already told me it was just fine and is excited for us to finally own one. Well, who wouldn’t be excited especially with their offer, right?
Anyway, I told my boyfriend that I still have a lot of questions to Saratoga agents. That is why, I am still very undecided and doubting their legitimacy since I haven’t met anyone of them yet and all I saw was a brochure, the letter that the Saratoga agent gave to the well known car company in Davao and the pictures that my boyfriend took when he and my other friends went to the site tripping.
So an agent named “Grace” often contacted my boyfriend about their offer and when are we going to avail of it. My boyfriend told her that I still have a lot of questions to raise and so “Grace” offered us to meet for dinner to discuss the matter.
So the day has come.
Just this night, March 2, 2009 at around 6:30pm — I with Rap and Roy went to Greenhills, as this was our agreed venue for dinner meeting. And yes, I finally met ‘Grace’ and was also able to meet “Raj Junrey Clavecilla” — a financing officer I think because he’s quiet familiar with the pricing. So the discussion went on normally. We were listening to Raj as he introduces to us a brief story about Saratoga and about their owner, the bank, developer and a lot more stuff.
So within the discussion, I and Rap will occasionally interrupt to ask questions and I am honestly surprised that why in heaven does Raj kept on insisting to us that they are legal, they have all the legal papers from HLURB, SEC and a lot more. We didn’t asked about that and now I’m thinking that Raj was somehow defending themselves to us — who unfortunately — we really didn’t have any idea about it.
So I kept on asking him as well, what are the requirements as I honestly couldn’t believe that the only requirements are: TIN and CTC and the 1st monthly amortization payment! OMG! And Ooops, did I ever mention that there’s NO DOWNPAYMENT and NO INTEREST? At that very moment, my brain was already very busy processing all the input I got from ‘grace’ and ‘raj’.
It took us maybe an hour to finish the discussion and finally I have three key points that I considered it as grounds for SUSPECTING that this project is a scam:
1. The very low pricing of the 90 sq.meter lot
2. The unjustifiable loan applicant requirements, no downpayment, no reservation fees and interests
3. The frequent emphasis of ‘Raj’ that the developer and the project is legal
The above three key points I listed above dragged me home, sit in front my computer and search the Internet for articles discussing about Saratoga Range and the developer. And Viola, I found three(3) different articles from SUNSTAR Davao to officially warn the public that this project might be a scam. Grateful that I was able to read and post about Top 10 Financial Scams To Avoid that I already had an idea that there are also a lot of subdivision project scams existing — the data is taken from US.
Now it’s up to you which of these articles below you want to read first.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Regulatory board warns v. housing project
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Mintal farmers accuse developer of trespassing
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fake ‘developer’ back in operation
UPDATE 1: I personally called HLURB office and spoke to Engr. Elmer Duga-duga from Monitoring Department. You can find the contact details below.
Region XI
ROY T. LOPEZ
Regional Officer, RFO XI
3rd Flr., C. Villa Abrille Bldg.,
#7 J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City
Tel/Fax Nos. (082) 222-2895; (082) 225-3875
E-mail: rlopez@hlurb.gov.ph
Unfortunately, Engr. Duga-duga said that there is no Saratoga Range Subdivision project that is licensed to sell and registered in HLURB.
UPDATE 2: Well, above are my grounds only for SUSPICIONS. So, to make this blog post fair to everyone, I would like to inform the Saratoga Range Subdivision developer and agents that you are very welcome to publish your side. You can contact me if you want so you can defend yourselves too. If you could humbly present to me and to a lot more interested to this project — proofs that you have the license to sell then I would humbly make a post of apology for suspecting you as a scam and would even help you find buyers to your competitive offers.
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Yep, something wrong jud kaau about sa ilang deal…i’m about to check their company profile in government agency but I guess your post here is enough. :-O
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Whoa! I couldn’t believe what I just read here. Thanks for sharing, Grace. My Aunt who was fascinated with their offers, was actually convinced by these guys to purchase a lot somewhere in Ecoland, very close to SM/Times Beach and dragged my sister overseas to get one as well. Sometime last year, they both paid P15k to the agents as partial payment. And because my sis is living overseas, they had my number to contact with. And it was annoying how they kept on texting me to give more payments just to get us going with the purchase of the lot. Saying it would be best if we pay them monthly. I opted to wait for real proofs such as processed documents, photos and stuff before making any payments on my sister’s behalf. Like you, I felt some things were just not right. Last month, my Aunt said we should file for a refund because the project does not look like it’s going somewhere. I sent them some letters but I doubt if those SCAMMERS ever intend to return the money. Goodness, these people sure are going to jail soon.
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@rgbconnections:
Lagi boss oi. If I wasn’t able to find a reliable article source I already have planned to call hlurb to verify their legitimacy.
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@Ann:
Hi te ann, OMG! I’m so sad that your aunt was victimized by these people. In fairness to them, they are good emotional attackers just like any scammer does.
And Ooops! I forgot to mention in my post that the dinner meeting that we had was sponsored by them. Hahahha.
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This is sad, pati ba naman sa Davao meron na mga scammers na ganito?
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OMG! May ganun? I know United Gilmore way back 2 years ago kasi I know someone who worked there. He quit the job kasi walang sweldo2…. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may illegal pala silang ginagawa. Tsk3…
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Hi Rhodilee,
Uu nga eh, pati sa Davao. Wala nga naman talagang patawad. Can you imagine how confident they were in approaching a very well known car company here in Davao about their offers?
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Hi Sweet,
Yes. According to what I have read sa SUNSTAR — They were already involved in three scam projects namely: Corinthian Plains during 2006, Pinecrest during 2007 and now this year 2009 is Saratoga.
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hi! can I reprint this post in my blog? i’ll link back to this post of course =) we gotta disseminate this info fast. for sure madami ng naloko mga taong to! =(
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Hi Issa,
Yes. You are very welcome to do that. I need bloggers like you to spread this info too.
Grace
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hala grace! i think i heard this Saratoga Range Subdivision from my aunt (not sure though, basta sounds like that and cheap daw).. plano2 cla mglipat bahay kay barato daw and they’re taking this Saratoga Range Subdivision into consideration.. hehe..
and those financing officers of Saratoga is kind of defensive, huh? haha.. based on what you said.. pangunahan ba mo miski la mo ginaask whether legal ba cla or not.. haha..
nice info! spread the warning!
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Hala. I-Inform jud imung ante liz.
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