**This article has been updated at the bottom with a response from Brian White of the Ray White Group.**
An ex Gold Coast real estate agent and current property developer, Rod Lambert has been broadcasting an interesting email to agents throughout the country today. If you have not got it in your inbox yet, chances are it will arrive soon.
I have a real problem with what Rod has done but first read the email yourself :-
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Dear agents, the website hereunder will become one of the greatest listing devices you have ever come across against Ray White.
I am a property developer who was defrauded by Michael Kollosche of Ray White Broadbeach and have complained bitterly to Ray White and provided evidence that he conspired with a three time convicted fraudster and criminal to force us into buying a property that was artificially inflated by $2.74 Million dollars.
I now intend to expose this mercenary company for their ruthless and underhanded tactics which Brian White supports and advocates.
As we all know, we have heard the numerous complaints over the years about Ray White agents and their unscrupulous and underhanded conduct, particularly at auctions.
The Chairman Brian White does nothing to stop it.
The case in point is that of the Ray White superstar Michael Kollosche from Ray White Broadbeach who is under major investigation by the OFT and the QPS after multiple complaints were made about his conduct in relation to artificial price hiking on the Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach beachfront.
There have been complaints including allegations of fraud and misleading and deceptive conduct by several parties.
Ray White still employ him, and Brian White backs him.
Kollosche was recently named and shamed in the Queensland Parliament by the Member for Rockhampton, The Honorable Robert Schwarten MP.
He has admitted to The Australian Newspaper of knowing about fraud on the Mermaid beachfront yet Brian White does not make him go to the Police. Why?
The truth is White thinks he is above the law and this web site that has been designed in the public interest and will shed light onto what this company is really about and what some of them get up to.
Have a look in the Austlii search section in the site and type in Ray White and see how much litigation Ray White is involved in.
It is frightening…..your sellers, buyers and landlords should be made aware of it!
Please get this web site out to as many people around Australia as you can.
Be sure the CEO’s of major Agency groups see this site.
One thing is for sure, if you are up against Ray White for a listing in the future, be sure the seller views this site, once they do the listing will be yours!
www.donttrustraywhite.com
Regards,
Rodwell Lambert
Property Developer
Mobile 0408 780 065
Email rlambert@onthenet.com.au
PO Box 350, Nobby Beach Q 4218
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My problem with Rod’s actions is about how he is attacking the whole Ray White membership with what some individuals have alledgedly done. I know if a salesperson in a First National office on the other side of the country wronged a client I would be disgusted but equally so I would also be disgusted and out for blood if local agents tried to use it against me in a listing presentation here on the Gold Coast.
You have to give credit to Rod for one thing, he is standing openly by his claims and not hiding behind anonymous websites. I have no knowledge if Rod’s claims are true but if they are I hope that the Queensland Police and OFT bring the hammer down.
The issues themselves that are raised on the website have already been featured heavily in the public domain in newspapers and even on Today Tonight.
I think Rod’s choice to concentrate on the whole Ray White network in the domain name itself and by asking agents to show sellers the site is a bad one and will effect on good people throughout the network that have done nothing to him. In my opinion he should have kept the fight to just the Broadbeach office.
Obviously Rod has had problems with Brian White as well which is why he might be justifying the attack on the whole network. I would like to hope that Brian is waiting until the QPS and OFT investigations are finalised before doing anything drastic but again it does not matter, the rest of the network are not at fault. If they individuals are found guilty they will and they should be punished to the full extent of the law.
I believe that agents should refrain from using the site to attack their local Ray White real estate offices. Besides the legal implications of doing so I just dont think its right or fair.
There are many advantages of belonging to a real estate group but one of the disadvantages is in times like these when actions of other members reflects badly and unfairly on you. If this is used like Rod is asking Brian White and the whole Ray White group are going to find themselves in need of a fantastic Reputation Management consultant.
Is it fair to attack the whole team if one of the players has done the wrong thing?
What do you think?? Is Rod right or wrong on this one?
*********UPDATE*********
This response from Brian White was received in the comments section of the article :
A comment from Brian White, Chairman, Ray White Group:
You may have received an email pertaining to a commercial dispute between a former practising real estate agent and developer and one of our agents on the Gold Coast.
This dispute has been particularly painful for me and my family. Our business has been in operation for 110 years. It has been built on the hard work and strong ethics of so many people for so long.
When complaints are made we, as trustees of the Group, investigate them diligently. Where there is proper evidence of wrongdoing we do take immediate action. We do however stand by the presumption of innocence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we support our people wherever possible.
This particular issue is complex and has been running for a number of years without any clear findings from any of the external authorities to date. During this time we have also investigated this matter extensively with the full support of the Ray White parties involved. We have also cooperated fully with the Office of Fair Trading in it’s independent investigation.
The Office of Fair Trading has indicated it cannot provide a time frame for its decision. However they understand the urgency of the matter. We hope it will be concluded soon and, of course, we will comply fully with any findings the Department makes.
In the meantime, we appreciate the overwhelming support from members of our network as well as those industry professionals who operate externally from our Group.