Tiny House Company Scam: Buyer Tells All

[@raynoladominguez4730]

Mic, you are a superhero to older people hoping to purchase a tiny home. Thank you for your service and due diligence towards this subject matter. You are awesome.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hi! I appreciate the kind words. I'm glad I could help! There's just too much information out there to sift through nowadays.

[@joanndavis4843]

I think Brooks' tiny homes know that after the first $1,000 is paid people will start to smell a rat because of what this lady said about her intuition. It was telling her not to go ahead with the purchase. Brooks doesn't really expect, and probably surprised, when a sale actually does go through. Brooks business strategy is just to keep promising and keep each $1,000 coming in, saying it's for one thing or another until they've got all the $16,000. A $1,000 is a whole lot of money for seniors to lose in any scam. In time this lady will be fine again financially. But if it had been the whole $16,000 it would have taken her years to get back to where she was before she lost it all.

[@kristinlee4392]

She needs to sue!!

[@christysbutterfly1612]

I wish there was a way to get your videos to senior citizens groups, across the world, so hopefully our beloved elderly can be aware that scams happen to everyone especially when it comes to tiny homes.. I'm in my early 50s and am wanting to go tiny in my future. Channels like yours are invaluable to people like me, thank you Mic for doing these interviews and videos! Knowledge truly is power!!

[@MicThinksTiny]

Thanks so much! I hope my videos can help people in making good decisions about going tiny. Thank you for watching :) Feel free to share the video on other social media (i.e., Facebook).

[@phoenixkali]

Same position and age but my partner wants bigger house but I want a wee one with an acre of ground and outbuildings. Drawbacks of a match between a townie and country girl. I’ve lived in a cowshed for 6 years, when council planners saw it they were stunned silent. It’s just one decent room, but it’s dry, dust free, mould free. Still I got my marching orders so I’m going. But the bats in my ceiling cavity have more rights than I do , so I’m fighting them to not dismantle on their behalf.

[@7Jennifer]

Companies like this prey on the desperate or those who don't do their research. So many red flags just by looking at their website. The prices alone scream this is not a legit company. I hope you consider doing a deep dive on Incredible Tiny Homes in Newport, TN.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hey! Yes, it really is unfortunate. You're 100% correct about preying on a specific group of people too. Thanks for watching.

[@toddgiambruno]

Thank you Mic and Vicky! Please do a follow up when you find a good builder!

[@leronl3adtv]

Mic is amazing, mic helped me find a tiny home builder in my area. Currently in talks with United tiny homes, thank you mic and keep these amazing videos coming.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hey! That's awesome. Glad to hear you reached out to United Tiny Homes.

[@JillWalser]

Another great one.Mic! Thanks for showing up to tell your story. Vicki. I love the investigative journalism leaning your work seems to be taking you Mic! 😊

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hey, thanks for watching! I'm glad you found in informative.

[@licensedsalesassociatemich3157]

Is Chime a credit card? She needs to contact Chime and file a complaint with them. Also, she needs to file a complaint with the Attorney General in the state where the company does business. She also needs to contact the Federal Trade Commission. That Federal agency handles complaints regarding deceptive business practices!

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hi! Thanks for watching. That's a great point. I'll let Vicki know. Thanks for the advice!

[@kallasusort2986]

Thank you Vicky for sharing a very personal experience with us. Also you could file a complaint with the Attorney General of your State, with the company and notify all the 3rd party businesses associated with them in the complaint. Also I think the Tiny House builders would be wise to let buyers know who the violators are just as a courtesy to attempt to clean up the business.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hi! Thanks for watching. That's great advice too. I'll let Vicki know.

[@Thomas63r2]

She can file a complaint with the AG of California - but its unlikely the scammers are even in California.

[@wrenstarz]

Older folks admitting they are not tech savvy is like blood for sharks.

[@amechealle5918]

When she said call the better business bureau or other agency I immediately thought or call your Sicilian Uncle and let him deal with them… I’m having a really hard time with the fact that she sent them money before getting ANYTHING on paper. I don’t even give out my personal information other than my “casual” secondary email until I’ve seen what their contract has to say. If they don’t want to give me the details of the contract they are shown the door and I don’t waste any more time with them. Our time and money are valuable and unless they can prove their product and all the details the company has no value.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Fait point! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Yvetteabby]

She can create a case with Chime and let them know she never received the item she purchased. Or let them know she was scammed !

[@JillWalser]

I think she did, she says Chime blocked the scammers from using their product.

[@numberoneduchess]

She needs a lawyer. Also, report them to the BBB in their city and the state attorney's office. Good luck getting your money back. At least you can put them out of business and possibly get them prosecuted for fraud.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Fair point! I'm sure they've considered it. It can get pretty expensive.

[@kellycregeen1393]

I LIVED IN FLORIDA I USED TO HELP MY ELDERLY NEIGHBORS FROM SCAMMERS.THEY ARE EVERYWHERE

[@MicThinksTiny]

It's a shame so many people take advantage of older folks who are just trying to find affordable housing.

[@RCH369]

Brooks Tiny Home Builders, Tiny Home Builders, Saint Tiny Homes. Is this correct?

[@MicThinksTiny]

Yes! Those are the known names at this point.

[@katheryn7318]

She might want to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Check to see if they have a license in California and proceed.

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hey! That's a great idea!

[@Thomas63r2]

When con-men have gone straight and explain how a good con gets started, they usually say they know they have found their mark when their victim responds to a too good to be true offer. The con man knows that a lot of duped victims won't say anything out of embarrassment that they fell for an obvious scam, but that they went against their own better judgment hoping this was their lucky day. $16,000 for a tiny home? - when everyone else is more like $60,000 to $100,000? It still blows my mind that just because it is a tiny home that people will plunk down serious money without actually visiting the seller and looking at the model homes. Even Mr. Tiny at RRC has expressed surprise when people buy an RRC home sight unseen. The price of air fare is low compared to a drained bank account and receiving nothing.

[@DSJ72]

I would tell them your attorney will be contacting them if they don’t send your money and I would report them to the Better Business Bureau!!!

[@carolynpeaker5814]

Where in California?

[@MicThinksTiny]

Hey! They are claiming to be located in Fresno but that's an address for an existing tiny house company.

[@phoenixkali]

The problem with tiny homes and wood cabins is that they don’t match ber rating a2. You’re looking at60k startup to achieve a grant to help you with the next 100k down the line. With conditions. Advice from a planning engineer. This is in Ireland. And they wonder why people don’t avail of the grant and do their own way. Yet same councils want to throw up 100+ of these tiny homes in an estate that looks like a concentration camp “ without planning” for refugees at 480k per unit!!! Get a normal house and camp out in 1 room, rent out the other rooms if you’re brave enough!

[@alissamejia2743]

AI Generated photos and using other builders photos of tiny homes that are listed at one-third the price of actual tiny home builders in the US. No social media account. Only accept payment by a cash based phone app. No physical address. What could go wrong?

[@druo7840]

👍

[@phoenixkali]

😊