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First Step Rentals

  280 inquiries |
Rental Vacancy Listing Service |   Business Alert

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1002 East 17th Street, Suite K
Santa Ana, CA 92701 | Get Directions

(714) 560-0557

http://www.firststephomerental...

Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM Saturday 9AM-4PM

Company Rating

F

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Complaint Experience

N/A

Complaint Resolution Index (CRI)

Membership Information

This business is not a member of Business Consumer Alliance. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.

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Complaints and Resolutions

Complaint Experience

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Complaint Resolution Index (CRI)

BCA's Summary and Analysis:

Of the complaints we have received against this company, in at least some cases, the complaint allegations are very serious.

Complainants allege the company uses misleading sales tactics, fails to fulfill services after accepting an upfront fee of $200, and refuses to provide refunds. Complainants further allege properties provided by the company are misrepresented, do not meet their criteria, are not available for rent or are being handled by another party not affiliated with First Step Rentals, and appointments to see properties are not made. Complaints also allege listings contain false information, actual rental prices are more than what is listed by the company, duplicate listings, or no list provided at all. Complainants experience difficulty contacting the company to resolve issues or request refunds, many complaining they are left on hold for extensive periods of time or their calls are not returned, and dissatisfaction with offers of only a partial refund. .

The company responds to a few complaints by referring to their contract claiming consumers are informed of the services, the length of time the services are contracted for, as well as the fee prior to paying. If the renter does not wait the full 90 days they forfeit their partial refund. In general, the company fails to address the specific allegations of the complaints.

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Complaint Closing Statistics

0 complaints against First Step Rentals closed in last 3 years.
Complaints Type of response
0 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
0 Making a partial refund
0 Agreed to make an adjustment
0 Refusing to make an adjustment
0 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
0 Unanswered

Other Information

Company Info

First Step Rentals offers assistance to people looking for rental properties.

Primary Contact: Raymond Fuentes (Owner)
Business Started: 10/31/2012
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Licensing

California law requires anyone conducting a prepaid rental listing services to be licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate (BRE). A real estate broker’s license will also satisfy this requirement.

Anyone licensed to conduct such business, unless licensed as a real estate broker, must also maintain a bond in the amount of $10,000 for each location.

As of October 14, 2013, we are unable to verify that this company is licensed with the Bureau of Real Estate (BRE) as a PrePaid Rental Listing Service. To verify licensing, call (877) 373-4542 or visit the BRE website for PrePaid Rental Listing Services

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Government Actions

BCA has no information regarding government actions at this time.

Comments and Analysis

Complaints against rental listing services allege that the properties advertised do not exist or that the listings are not current and the properties were already rented, were never for rent or authorized by the owner to be listed, or do not meet the criteria of the person seeking the rental. Other allegations are that the properties listed were taken from ads in other sources, such as newspapers or Internet websites. Refunds, even if provided for in the contract, are extremely difficult to obtain.

California law requires companies offering rental listings to enter into a contract with you before accepting their fee from you, and the contract is subject to certain requirements. First, it must expire no longer than 90 days from the time you execute it. It must include, besides specifically what you are seeking in a property, a provision for refunding anything you paid over $50 to you if you obtain a rental elsewhere and a provision for refund if they do not provide you at least three available rentals meeting your specifications within five days after you paid your fee. It must also outline the small claims court remedy that is available to you.

For businesses outside of California, please check with the agency that regulates this industry.

Other Considerations

Before paying anyone a fee to provide rental listings consider the following tips:
• Know your rights as a consumer and the requirements of businesses who offer prepaid rental listing services. Some states have laws specific to these services and require that companies who offer these services maintain a license. For example, in California, by law Prepaid Rental Listing Service Operators must be licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate as a real estate broker or maintain a Prepaid Rental Listing Service License with the Bureau of Real Estate. They must also include specific information in their contracts including their licensing information, acknowledgement that they have accepted a fee, a description of services, the tenants property rental specifications, refund and cancellation clauses. In addition, PRLS companies must provide a full refund of the fee if they do not provide at least three available rental properties to the tenant within five days of the contract execution date. There are also refund provisions if the tenant locates their own rental
• Do not pay in cash or money order.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Research and compare the listing price to similar properties in the area. If the listing price is considerably lower than similar rentals this is a red flag.
• Review any contracts for information regarding exactly what services the company will provide, refund policies, as well as cancellation rights.
• Check out the business on the Business Consumer Alliance website. Also do a search online for the business name, phone number, company personnel, etc to see if there are any reports that point to a scam or any complaints regarding the business.
• Visit the property listed on your own. Check to see if the property looks like it is on the market. Go to the local courthouse to see who owns the property and contact the individual to see if they are renting their home.
• Consider using the services of a licensed real estate broker or other real estate professional.
In California, you may find a list of licensed Prepaid Rental Listing companies or check for enforcement actions by contacting the BRE website
or call 877-373-4542. Consumers outside of California can check with your local real estate commission or authority for more information on rental listing services.

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Additional Info

DBAs:

1st Step Rentals
First Step Home Rentals
1st Step Home Rentals

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Contacts:

Julie
Michael

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