Driving Up & Down Home Values: Spotlight on U.S. Homebuilders, California's Central Valley, Fresno, Clovis, Calif. Real Estate
Monday, 20 February 2006
Sunriver Homebuilder or Patriots Home Cleaned Up Lot but Rat & Mouse Extermination Gets Started Topic: Best Rat/Mouse Traps
Sunriver or Patriots Home's Neighborhood Rodent Farm Scoreboard
www.victorpest.com's Rat & Mouse Strap score: 2
Tomcat Rat Snap Trap Score: 3
Killing the rats and mice one or two at a time won't get the job done soon. We are hoping that Sunriver homebuilders realize the trouble they have caused to peaceful residents on this neighborhood on the bluffs. If the company decides to do something to help us eliminate the rodents that came with the storage of their construction waste next door, at least our children will not feel terrified any longer.
We just hope they see the inconvenience they have caused us.
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 2:26 PM EST
Include your name, address, and home and work phone numbers.
Type your letter if possible. If it is handwritten, make sure it is neat and easy to read.
Make your letter brief and to the point. Include all important facts about your purchase, including the date and place where you made the purchase and any information you can give about the product or service such as serial or model numbers or specific type of service.
State exactly what you want done about the problem and how long you are willing to wait to get it resolved. Be reasonable.
Include all documents regarding your problem. Be sure to send COPIES, not originals.
Avoid writing an angry, sarcastic, or threatening letter. The person reading your letter probably was not responsible for your problem but may be very helpful in resolving it.
Keep a copy of the letter for your records.
Sample Complaint Letter
Name of Contact Person, if available
Title, if available
Company Name
Consumer Complaint Division, if you have no contact person
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear (Contact Person):
Re: (account number, if applicable)
On (date), I (bought, leased, rented, or had repaired) a (name of the product, with serial or model number or service performed) at (location and other important details of the transaction).
Unfortunately, your product (or service) has not performed well (or the service was inadequate) because (state the problem). I am disappointed because (explain the problem: for example, the product does not work properly, the service was not performed correctly, I was billed the wrong amount, something was not disclosed clearly or was misrepresented, etc.).
To resolve the problem, I would appreciate it if you could (state the specific action you want—money back, charge card credit, repair, exchange, etc.). Enclosed are copies of my records (include copies of receipts, guarantees, warranties, canceled checks, contracts, model and serial numbers, and any other documents).
I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem, and will wait until (set a time limit) before seeking help from a consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau. Please contact me at the above address or by phone at (home and/or office numbers with area code).
Sincerely,
Your name
Enclosure(s) cc: (reference to whom you are sending a copy of this letter, if anyone)
Source: Consumer Action Handbook 2001, Federal consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO, 82009, www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 11:24 AM EST
How to Write the Perfect Complaint Letter Topic: Homeowners' ComplaintBox
Satisfaction Guaranteed: How to Write a Complaint Letter
Tired of in-your-face advertising? Don't hide under the covers and hope it'll go away on its own;write to the advertisers and tell them what you think!
Why
You may not think complaint letters are important, but they can be a powerful way to express your disappointment. Think of it this way: businesses believe that they are serving you with the best products and services. It's only when you let them know that they're doing something wrong that they can change.
Here is an example of issues to complain about. Construction waste in your neighborhood will make you ashamed and lead to write complaint letters.
Modern technology gives us more ways to work, shop, play and complain. You can send your letter by mail, fax or e-mail, you can fill out the company's online feedback form, or you can call and leave your message on the head honcho's voice mail.
Where
In the extremely likely event that the company you'd like to send a letter to is one of the millions not included on this site, you can probably find their contact information at Hoovers or Big Yellow.
If your complaint is about what you believe to be a deceptive advertising practice, you might want to send copies of your letter to the Better Business Bureau and the attorney general (see sidebar) of the state where the company does business. Include a CC at the bottom of the letter (i.e., "CC: Better Business Bureau" or "CC: Attorney General Joe Schmoe") so the company knows you mean business.
Who
Address your complaint to the head honcho, not the customer service department, the complaints department, or anyone else. The big cheese (a.k.a. Chief Executive Officer, President or Chairman) has the most power to solve your problem. You can find out his or her name when you get the company's address. While you may not hear from the CEO personally, you're more likely to get action than if you send your letter to anyone else.
What
Start by identifying what you're complaining about and describe why you're upset. Then tell them how they can make it all better. Do you want them to stop running commercials at your local theater? Do you want your money back because you paid eight bucks to see a commercial? Let them know how they can make you happy!
Now it's time to get serious. Tell the company what you plan to do if your complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily. Will you never visit their theater again? Will you tell your friends and family not to go there? Will you call on your buddy, the President of the United States, to publicly denounce the company?
Be polite and professional; we don't have to tell you that swearing, crayon scrawls, and typos are not the best way to make the company see things your way. You may be mad, but a clear, polite letter will get better results than a sloppy, angry one. Finally, thank the company for dealing with your complaint.
Source: To find more info, check badads.org.
You too can write your perfect consumer complaint letter.
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 10:49 AM EST
Copy of Letter Sent to Sunriver or Mark One or Mark I, City Manager, Fresno Mayor and District 2 Rep. Topic: Homeowners' ComplaintBox
Andrew T. Souza
City Manager Office
2600 Fresno Street
Second Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Mr. Souza:
This letter comes to you as a formal complaint against Sunriver Homebuilder (Patriots Home, Mark One or Mark 1) which owns a vacant lot located on Hanna Ave (Cross streets: Cromwell and Hanna Ave) in district 2. This lot is located between two private homes in this Fresno residential area. We are asking you to take actions against Sunriver so they can clean up the lot.
Sunriver has chosen to store construction waste of all kinds on this vacant lot for months. Once this trash gets decomposed, it releases a putrid smell besides all the flying trash particles that take over the neighborhood anytime the wind blows. Despite our repeated phone calls to Sunriver and the office of Brian Calhoun, the stored waste (https://shopnowshop.tripod.com/drivingdown) has not been picked up on a regular basis. For the past few months, my family has been battling all kinds of pests, rodents such as rats, mice, frogs and other insects that seem to find a quiet refuge in the mountains of construction trash maintained and operated by Sunriver on above lot. For sure, we are distressed and concerned over the health of our children who become afraid of being in our own garage or back yard. In plain daylight, rats and mice run out of the waste to our garage and vehicles. For the welfare of our family and all the other families living in this quaint residential area and for Christ’s sake, get Sunriver’s owners to clean up the lot! The company put up a sign to prevent others from dumping trash there, yet it is continuing to do the same thing. The presence of the WM trailer on the lot leads one to believe that pickup is imminent, but it has only been a delaying tactic. Sunriver takes away one load only to replace it with two or more loads the same day. We believe that Sunriver can keep the vacant lot clean if forced to do so!
We are tired of living among rodent-infested construction waste left by a homebuilder. We do not know where to turn to to find help. If the city can not enforce its own code, who else will get them to do anything? By buying relatively expensive homes in a decent Fresno neighborhood, we expect the city to provide us with a minimum of services. Why should Sunriver drive down the property values of the whole neighborhood with its stored waste? What kinds of message is the city of Fresno sending out to business owners and other families who want to relocate here?
Sincerely yours
cc: Brian Calhoun / District2 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721
cc: Alan Autry/Fresno City Hall 200 Fresno Street Second Floor Fresno, CA 93721
cc: Sunriver (Patriot’s Home, Mark 1 or Mark One) 4720 W. Jennifer Suite 107 Fresno, CA 93722
Neighbors’ Signatures:
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 12:37 AM EST
Pest Extermination: Victor Rat and Mouse Trap Vs. TomCat Rat Snap Trap Topic: Best Rat/Mouse Traps
Thanks to Sunriver, the lot is now clean. We still do not know how long it will remain this way. Now that the lot is clean, the rats and mice that found refuge there migrate to our shed and garage. I was doing yard work this afternoon. I opened the shed to retrieve a broken edger. I saw two humongous rats chasing running away to find cover. It was plain daylight. I decided to go to Orchard Supply to purchase some old-fashioned rat and mouse traps.
This kind of domestic terror must nipped in the bud. Our children are afraid to visit and play in the garage. They will not go to the shed for any reasons. That is the predicament we find ourselves in. Because the construction waste filled with cardboards, broken pieces of sheetrock and other materials were the quiet habitats of rodents that had to find new homes.
This is what we are doing. We intend to engage in a war with them. We hope that Sunriver will understand our problems with these pests. Long after they clean the lot, we, neighbors, will still have to deal with rats which are known disease carriers. That is where the city should be concerned about a public health crisis.
Any way, we have set some traps. We hope to catch a few mice and rats. We are rat hunting! We will show you the results of our pest campaign.
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 12:08 AM EST
