MAC Marketing's version of 'Where's Waldo'?

Remember the MAC Marketing crossword puzzle? We made a post about it back on June 11th, 2013.

Hilarity ensued over in the comments section of one of Vancouver's leading real estate chat sites when Vancouver Condo Info advised that the infamous MAC Marketing Solutions (you remember them... the condo marketing firm exposed for lying to and deceiving the public on TV) had come out with a Vancouver real estate-themed crossword puzzle contest to celebrate their 50th contributing article to the publication New Condo Guide.

The post generated a slew of responses on VCI, most making suggestions for MAC about potential crossword clues and answers:

One VCI contributor even crafted his own version of the crossword.

Well now MAC Marketing seems to have another game for us to play. MAC's 2013 holiday greeting is out and it not only reminds us of their summer time crossword puzzle, but also of the famous  "Where's Waldo" puzzles. 

Simply add numbers to this gallery of MAC personalities and we can play "where are the 2013 MAC scandal employees." 

(click on image to enlarge):

In case you have forgotten who those employees are, let's recap. First there is the infamous 'Chris Lee'.

Chris is fake name for the MAC Marketing sales assistant who, along with MAC administrative assistant Amanda Lee, presented themselves as house-hunting sisters to CBC-TV and CTV-BC.  Here is a screenshot of 'Chris' from the CBC story:

After the scandal we noted she was still working for MAC. Can you spot her in the MAC holiday greeting?

Next there is Amanda Lee:

Here is a CTV screenshot of Amanda next to one of Amanda Lee's Facebook photos (which initially caused us to question the whole deception): 

'Chris' and Amanda claimed they are primary scouting for a condo in advance of their parents arrival from China for the Lunar New Year.  Supposedly their parents were coming to help them purchase a condo.

Once exposed, CTV pulled no punches in capturing the essence of their story in one shot:

In addition to Chris and Amanda, there was also the older blonde MAC sales rep who quarterbacked the fake condo buying sisters through the Maddox sales centre for the TV deception. Here is a screenshot from the CBC story:

Is she in the MAC holiday greeting?

Let's not forget the MAC sales director who possibly set up the photo shoot, Melanie Briggs. CBC-TV reporter Matthew Black advises Briggs was supposed to be in attendance at the media spot but was a no-show. Was she involved in the pre-planning of this deception?

For bonus points you can hunt for Janet Frost, MAC Marketing's Director of Sales. In an unrelated episode, Frost was suspended for 21 days by the RECBC for misconduct while associated with Maverick Real Estate (see this post and this post).

You could also check to see if Sharon Matsumoto is there. Ms. Matsumoto was the subject of an April 15th, 2013 RECBC disciplinary decision. We posted about the decision and the fact that google showed numerous links between Ms. Matsumoto and MAC Marketing. Presumably she isn't currently with MAC, but who knows for sure?

Last, but not least, there is MAC Marketing President Cameron MacNeill:

In the Vancouver Sun McNeill stated:

“I don’t know all the details about what precisely happened that day. I want to get to the bottom of this. I don’t know if it was an overzealous employee or if this happened in a formalized way.”

All-in-all it looks like great holiday fun as you hunt for these seven leading 2013 MAC Marketing personalities. How many could you 'find'?

Hopefully 2014 will bring some results on the RECBC investigation into the scandal and we can find out answers to the questions McNeill himself asked. Because we're sure if all this happened in a formalized' way, condo buyers would want to know… especially if the employees involved in any 'formalized' deception are still active in selling real estate.

For those who may have missed it, here is the CBC coverage of the scandal:

 

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Who's policing dishonest BC Realtors?

Lots of disscusion in our posts (see here and here) about CTV-BC's coverage of realtor Marco Vincenzi's forging of signatures and altering documents.  Apparently this was done in order to increase his commission on the sale of a yaletown condo.

In their third instalment of their coverage, CTV-BC asks 'Who's policing dishonest BC Realtors?' It's a poignant question, particularly in light of the MAC Marketing scandal we covered earlier this year.

After admitting to altering documents and other improper behavior, MacKenzie’s realtor (Marco Vincenzi) was ordered to pay a $1,250 fine, take a remedial course. He was also suspended for 120 days. The council took 16 months to make its decision. Said MacKenzie:

"To see this long drawn out secretive real estate council process that finally resulted in something that I think is just a slap on the wrist is insulting and angers me. It calls into question for me the actual ability of the real estate council to do their job and their mandate and uphold the public interest, rather than giving the perception that they're protecting the realtors."

Bingo!

What is particularly frustrating is the fact that MacKenzie also went to the Vancouver Police Department, who declined to proceed with a criminal investigation. Her case was ultimately reviewed by the Financial Crime Unit which felt the situation was better handled through a regulatory process rather than a criminal one.

And we've just seen how effective that was.

Even more galling was the fact that Vincenzi was allowed to continue selling real estate after the complaints were filed.  In virtually any other professional field, an individual accused of misconduct is placed on some form of administrative leave until individual is cleared of wrongdoing... and with good reason.

If the accused individual is, in fact, committing fraudulent acts... are you really going to let that person carry on committing the same (or worse) offences against innocent/unwitting members of the public?

It brings to mind the liars from the MAC Marketing scandal, who just so happened to dupe CTV-BC,  Despite having committed specific violations of the Realtor Code of Ethics, the infamous 'Chris Lee' is still selling real estate as the RECBC supposedly investigates (see here and here).

As MacKenzie says, it all "calls into question the actual ability of the real estate council to do their job and their mandate and uphold the public interest, rather than giving the perception that they're protecting the realtors."

It's gratifying to see CTV-BC finally begin to look at these issues.  But more needs to be done.

We asked Lynda Steele of CTV-BC about the status of the MAC Marketing investigations.  Here is our twitter exchange (click to enlarge):

She says she thinks it's worth taking another look at. If you agree, let her know on twitter @CTVLyndaSteele or via email at Steeleonyourside@ctv.ca

Make your voice heard.

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Dishonest realtor's punishment questioned by victim - CTV BC

Meet Janet MacKenzie.

She's the condo buyer we told you about yesterday who made an offer on a Yaletown property that was listed with a reduced realtor's commission.

Her realtor, Marco Vincenzi, tried to make a deal behind her back that would compensate him for the money he stood to lose on that reduced commission. To accomplish this, he forged documents on MacKenzie's behalf that resulted in direct financial gain for himself.

When MacKenzie was made aware of what he was doing, she went to Vincenzi's real estate office in Coquitlam and demanded a meeting with his boss, Jason Watson. Watson insisted in a recorded conversation that Vincenzi’s days as a realtor were done.

"Ultimately by the end of the day, I can't say it will be tomorrow, but probably by Monday he won't have a license," said Jason Watson, managing broker at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty."

But rather than see MacKenzie take her concerns about Vincenzi to police for formal charges, CTV-BC reports that Janet Watson, the managing broker at Sutton Group - West Coast Realty, told MacKenzie not to call police.

Instead MacKenzie was urged to allow the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) to handle the matter. CTV-BC reports Mackenzie was assured the RECBC would see that Vincenzi would lose his license permanently.

In a ruling that surprises no one who follows this blog though, the RECBC didn't revoke Vincenzi's real estate license.

Vincenzi was found to have committed professional misconduct. The RECBC ordered him to pay $1,250, take a remedial course and gave him a measly 120 day suspension.

Vincenzi's explanations for his actions?

Vincenzi told the Real Estate Council he was in the running for a platinum award given to realtors who secure $100,000 in commissions for the year. The council's ruling says, "at the time of the transaction he had earned approximately $90,000 and he states that there was a lot of pressure of him to put him over the $100,000 threshold."

Vincenzi also told the council he was facing "a great deal of financial pressure" because of his upcoming wedding.

So Vincenzi claims he forged his client's documents because he's publicity hungry for a realtor award. There's also the small matter that hes desperate for cash to pay for a upcoming wedding... and this is justification not to ban him from selling real estate forever?

Says MacKenzie:

"The idea of saying, ‘well, because I was under financial pressure, that's okay, somehow makes this okay,’ it doesn't. It's not acceptable. Knowing right from wrong is kind of a basic principle."

No kidding.

It's the same basic principle that doesn't excuse one from going on TV to lie to about Asian buyers  during Chinese New Year.

These are the actions of a few that tarnish and destroy the reputations of an entire industry.  Why is the RECBC even tolerating this behaviour?

What rankles even more is that Vincenzi's suspension doesn’t kick in until June and it appears the Metro Vancouver realtor is still in business, accepting calls on a current listing from a CTV intern posing as a potential customer. 

CTV-BC consumer reporter Lynda Steele went to Sutton Realty in Coquitlam to see what Vincenzi's boss, Jason Watson, had to say about his employee's professional misconduct, but she was told Watson was in a meeting and not available.

It reminds us of the liars from the MAC Marketing Solutions scandal who are still out selling real estate while under investigation for their transgressions. Does the RECBC not appreciate the optics of their inaction?

CTV-BC says they are airing a third part to this story tomorrow.

For the sake of the public at large, and the industry as a whole, let's hope they continue to pursue this issue.

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So what's the status of the RECBC investigation into MAC Marketing's media manipulation stunt?

Yesterday we told you how it appears the infamous 'Chris Lee' has resurfaced as a sales agent at another MAC Marketing project: MThree in Coquitlam.

'Chris Lee' is fake name for the MAC Marketing sales assistant who, along with MAC administrative assistant Amanda Lee, presented themselves as house-hunting sisters to CBC-TV and CTV-BC. They claimed their parents would be in town from China for the Lunar New Year to help them purchase a condo.

It was, as we now know, an orchestrated lie undertaken by a number of MAC Marketing employees to deceive the media and the public.

There are still many unanswered questions about what happened that day.  All the public was ever told about the fiasco was this Facebook posting by MAC Marketing Solutions president Cameron McNeill...

...that and a short email sent out to media outlets by MAC. When he received a copy of that email, CBC-TV reporter Matthew Black tweeted:

In an email to CBC, MAC Marketing owner Cameron McNeill writes he implemented "appropriate actions" vs employees who duped media and that he accepted the resignation of a "MAC senior manager." But, McNeill won't comment on specifics, citing privacy concerns. Statement from MAC Marketing doesn't elaborate on what "decisive actions" it took, or who was fired/resigned after duping media.

It's disconcerting because there were a number of MAC Marketing employees involved in the whole media sham and no one knows the actual extent of their roles. 

In addition to the fictitious 'Chris Lee' there was her 'sister' Amanda Lee:

there was Nic Jensen:

there was the MAC sales rep who quarterbacked the fake couple through the display suite to deceive the TV cameras:

and, finally there was the MAC sales director who possibly set up the photo shoot, Melanie Briggs. CBC-TV reporter Matthew Black advises Briggs was supposed to be in attendance at the media op but was a no-show. Was she involved in the pre-planning of this deception?

All the players in attendance before the TV cameras that day purposefully lied to and deceived the media/public.  This raises huge questions about their character and ability to carry out their jobs in the real estate industry. According to the British Columbia edition of the Canadian Real Estate Association's Realtor Code of Ethics:

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is universally recognized by real estate professionals and consumers alike as the measure of professionalism in real estate. The REALTOR® Code is intended to define the high standard of performance the public has a right to expect from those licensed to display the REALTOR® trademark.

As REALTORS®, we accept a personal obligation to the public and to our profession. The Code of Ethics of The Canadian Real Estate Association embodies these obligations.

As REALTORS®, we are committed to:

• Professional competent service
• Absolute honesty and integrity in business dealings

• Co-operation with and fairness to all

• Personal accountability through compliance with CREA's Standards of Business Practice

To meet their obligations, REALTORS® pledge to observe the spirit of the Code in all of their activities and conduct their business in accordance with the Standards of Business Practice and the Golden Rule — Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Article 15: Advertising Claims

Claims or offerings in Advertising must be accurate, clear and understandable.

The actions of all the MAC employees at the media op that day were in clear violation of the real estate industry's Code of Ethics.  They blatantly acted to deceive the media/public. Based on this how can the public have faith or confidence in future real estate transactions with them?

When the story about MAC's deceptions originally broke, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) announced that they were investigating MAC Marketing for false/misleading advertising for which  MAC faced fines of up to $20,000 and the individuals involved faced having their licences to sell real estate suspended.

So what's the status of that investigation? CBC-TV reporter Matthew Black tells us that he:

"wrote RECBC last week and was told their investigation is still ongoing. They couldn't say when it would conclude saying it depends on 'the volume of complaints' being looked into and 'how involved' the investigation needs to be."

Which brings us back to the promotional photo which shows MAC's sales team for the upcoming MThree development in Coquitlam. The photo caption doesn't list names but it sure looks like the sales team includes the MAC employee we know as the fictitious 'Chris Lee' and MAC sales director Melanie Briggs:

If this is actually 'Chris Lee', how can she be allowed to return to work while under investigation by the RECBC?

And what of Melanie Briggs?  We still don't know the extent of her involvement, if any, in this debacle.

MAC Marketing president Cameron McNeill has declined to hold a press conference to fully explain what transpired in this fiasco. Because of that the public still has numerous unanswered questions.

In any other field, employees would be placed on administrative leave while under investigation for breaches of a code of conduct.  Apparently this standard doesn't exist in the real estate industry.

Doesn't the public have a right to know if they may be dealing with RECBC members who are under investigation for misleading the public, especially when they may be purchasing thousands of dollars of real estate from them?

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MAC's infamous 'Chris Lee' appears to resurface on another MAC Marketing project

You all recall the infamous MAC-gate story, don't you?

That's the scandal where condo marketers MAC Marketing Solutions was forced to admit that two of it's employees had posed as prospective homebuyers in televised news segments on a supposed spike in sales around the Lunar New Year.

MAC Marketing Solutions president Cameron McNeill confirmed to media outlets that the two young women – presented as house-hunting sisters, whose parents would be in town from China for the New Year to help them purchase a condo – are in fact an administrative assistant and a sales assistant with MAC Marketing Solutions.

That sales assistant in question gained a certain amount of notoriety with her performance under the fake name, 'Chris Lee':

So how damaging do you think it would be to have a sales associate - who would go on television and deceive potential buyers - continue to sell condos for you? As a prospective buyer, would you trust her or her company?

We ask this in light of the fact a sharp eyed contributor to VCI has noted that 'Chris Lee' has apparently resurfaced on another MAC project: the MThree development in Coquitlam.

(hat tip BWilson - comment #116)

Profiled on MAC's facebook page, the development is showcased with several pictures:

One of those pictures (bottom right) presents the MAC marketing sales team and the caption says that this is "the MThree sales team ready to help you! Feel free to get in touch with your questions: phone 604.472.9555 or email info@liveatMThree.com" 

But look at who's front and centre in the photo.  Is that not the infamous 'Chris Lee', the MAC sales associate who so brazenly lied to us on the evening TV news in the MAC-gate affair? (click on image to enlarge). Someone on Facebook has apparently already posed that question to the MAC Marketing Facebook staff:

If that's the same individual, this presumably means Cameron McNeill's investigation into the MAC-gate affair is complete.  At the time he said:

When asked if the ploy may lead to terminations at the company, Mr. McNeill said it would depend on the depth of responsibility. “If it was blatant and on the hands of one person, then I think there might be some severe repercussions, but it’s hard for me to answer that without knowing all the details surrounding it.”

So what were the results of that investigation?

Based on what you saw on TV two months ago, would you have faith in buying a condo from this team if 'Chris Lee' is back to work without any accounting or explanation for what she did?

We're sure potential customers at MThree would want to have any concerns assuaged before engaging in any business deals with a sales associate who appears to be the one who so willing lied to the public last February.

How can potential customers not ponder, "if she lied to me on TV to sell condos, how do I know she won't lie to me now to close a sale?"

And what of the investigation by the Real Estate Council of BC? What assurances do we have they have looked into her role fully and have absolved her of responsibility for her actions? How is it she could so blatantly lie and misrepresent herself on TV and there not be any sanctions?

And our local media... do they not have an obligation to inform the public about what was really behind her performance on that evening newscast two month ago, especially if she is back selling condos again?

'Chris Lee's' apparent re-emergence to sell condos demands these questions be answered in the public interest.

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Thurs Post #1: MAC Marketing Solutions president Cameron McNeill issues apology at CHBA-BC awards ceremony. Public and media still wait for an accounting

Every year the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC (CHBA-BC) produces an annual awards program they call the Georgie Awards. It's an industry shindig to celebrate excellence in home building.

Says the CHBA-BC

Entrants and finalists exemplify the high caliber of expertise and hard work that is associated with CHBA-BC member companies.

Earlier this week the 2013 awards were handed out and a number of employees from the disgraced MAC Marketing Solutions were up for recognition.

Talk about your awkward situation.

It prompted the CHBA-BC to issue this statement on the MAC Marketing fiasco (click on image to enlarge):

The CHBA-BC was keen to stress that:

"the Georgie Awards® won by MAC Marketing Solutions were for projects not related to the recent news reports."

MAC Marketing president Cameron McNeill got up at the ceremony and made a speech/apology to the assembled throng.  You can listen to that speech here.  

This is what McNeill had to say:

… and what has ensued since then is, ya know,despite the fact that the media started to die down, it's had a chance for me to have a lot of self reflection and to really scrutinize, ahh, ya know our, our moral compass as a company. 

And, ahhh, I think it's really important to, ahh, for me to, ahh, to understand that. And today, I'm, ahh, I'm incredibly proud of of a MAC team of about 25 people here, ahh or 20 people here, this is my 20th year at the Georgie Awards and ahh, I've had, an incredible outpouring of support from people in the industry, ahh, the Canadian Homebuilders Association. I'm very, very, very proud of this industry and our place in it.

And despite the fact that our reputation has been bruised, our morale character remains steadfast and I'm so proud of that. 

I think I owe the entire industry an apology, and the media an apology, for any embarrassment that this may have caused, and any hardship that may have happened as a result of this, ahh, unfortunate incident. However, umm, I think it's really also important for us to use this as a celebration of the, uhh, high standards that we share as an industry, and that I know MAC represents. 

And, ahh, it is now my job, more than ever… excuse me, i'm (illegible) a little here, it's my job more than ever to, ahh, ensure, and it's MAC's job more than ever to ensure, that this never happens again. So thanks for giving me a moment and, ahh, good luck to everyone tonight.

McNeill says he thinks he owes the entire industry an apology and the media an apology.

We agree.  Although we would add that he also owes the public an apology too. And the proper forum for that apology is a press conference that addresses the unanswered questions about exactly what happened, who was involved and what has been done.

CHBA-BC may be satisfied with the response by MAC Marketing, but they are the only ones.

And since McNeill is clearly willing to speak publicly about the issue, it's now time to provide that accounting.

(hat tip derp for the audio)

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BIV Magazine reports both MAC Marketing Solutions and Key West Marketing under investigation by Real Estate Council of BC

Business in Vancouver Magazine is reporting today that not only is MAC Marketing Solutions being investigated over allegations of media manipulation, but so is Key Marketing Inc.

In a piece titled: Real-estate marketers investigated over allegations of media manipulation, reporter Glen Korstrom updates the MAC-gate incident:

The Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC) is investigating a series of incidents in which Metro Vancouver real-estate marketers have allegedly duped media to spur sales and inflate the perception of demand for real estate projects.

The RECBC regulates the real-estate marketing industry and has the power to suspend licences, cancel licences, reprimand and impose fines of up to $20,000.

Its most recent investigation involves MAC Marketing Solutions and a charade that at least one of its employees executed on February 8. MAC owner Cameron McNeill publicly apologized for an employee who pretended in television interviews with CBC News and CTV News to be a customer.

The employee and another woman posing as her sister claimed they were both daughters of wealthy Chinese parents who wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year by buying them a Vancouver condo as a present.

McNeill then conducted an internal investigation that prompted the departure of a senior manager, he told Business in Vancouver.

McNeill would not name the senior manager nor say whether he fired the employee or if he or she resigned.

“Some poor judgments were made and those poor judgments led to unfortunate circumstances,” McNeill told BIV February 20. “I’m not going to say that my investigation is finished entirely, but I have a much clearer picture.”

Korstrom then tells us the RECBC has taken up an investigation into the activities of Key West Marketing and former MAC Marketing partner Cam Good:

RECBC is also investigating two incidents of alleged media manipulation perpetrated by Key Marketing Inc., according to RECBC spokesman Tyler Davies.

Key principal Cam Good, who like McNeill is a past BIV Forty under 40 winner, denies that either of the incidents were indeed “similar deceptions.”

The first incident involved a February 2011 helicopter tour of White Rock that Key organized. Good issued a news release at the time that urged media to view and meet a “a group of Chinese realtors” as they took a helicopter tour of nearby real estate projects. Media outlets reported that the realtors represented overseas clients.

But it later was revealed that the realtors, who were of Asian descent, were based in Metro Vancouver. It was not clear if they had any potential clients based in Asia.

“There was no deception,” Good told BIV in an email. “There was never any misrepresentation about what was being done or who they were.”

The second RECBC investigation into Key involves an April 2012 incident in which a Global TV story about CONDOday Events Inc. identified Key sales manager Tara Fluet as an investor.

CONDOday is a company that Good owns separately from the Key. The two companies share office space and some human resources.

CONDOday hosts Groupon-style deals for investors who are given a short window of time to buy a home in order to reap a substantial discount.

Good said Fluet regrets not disclosing that she was a realtor and that she works for CONDOday’s sister company.

“Tara apologizes for this lack of transparency,” Good wrote in the email. “It was [a matter of] an off-duty salesperson from a related company stopping by an event to check it out and happy to answer questions when asked. 

It wasn’t intentional media manipulation. 

If anyone has anything they would like to pass on to the RECBC, the complaint page is here and their contact info is here.

Korstrom also notes overall real estate industry sales are tanking and gets this take from the MAC president:

In the heady days before the economic downturn, MAC Marketing’s annual sales neared $1 billion, second in Vancouver to Rennie Marketing’s approximately $1.1 billion in sales.

Sluggish real-estate sales, however, have reduced all real estate marketers’ sales targets and made the sector more competitive.

“I like this market,” MAC principal Cameron McNeill told Business in Vancouver. “It’s one where balance and execution creates stronger results. I like a balanced market where developers who can execute well, and [marketing] companies that execute well, can outperform.”

Despite the recent embarrassment of having to publicly apologize and undergo a Real Estate Council of British Columbia investigation into a situation where an employee pretended to be the daughter of a wealthy buyer, McNeill remains upbeat about the future.

“Character is who you truly are,” he said. “Reputation is how people perceive your character. I remain steadfast in our strong moral character.”

He now shies away from quantifying each year’s total sales, but he said that MAC consistently sells more than 1,000 homes each year and employs about 100 staff, including 60 brokers, or “MAC Engine” members, as he prefers to call them.

Kudos to BIV, and reporter Glen Korstrom, for following up on this story.

We'll keep you updated on any further news we come across.

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MAC Marketing scandal makes headlines in Hong Kong

Locally, the MAC Marketing Solutions scandal has dealt the real estate industry a black eye.

And now the story is gaining attention overseas.

In Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post is out with this story: Bogus buyers exposed in scam to boost property market in Vancouver - Deception aimed to create the impression that Chinese buyers are still flocking to buy into Vancouver's housing market, where prices are falling

A senior executive at a Vancouver marketing firm was forced to resign after employees of the company were caught posing as the daughters of rich Chinese property buyers in interviews with TV reporters.

The deception was intended to create the impression that Chinese buyers were still queuing up to buy into Vancouver's teetering real estate market, which has long been fuelled by money from China and is now rated as the second least-affordable city in the world, behind Hong Kong, according to the Demographia consultancy.

(hat tip: southseacompany)

For BC's real estate industry it's a black eye they just don't need right now. The Hong Kong paper is even reporting earlier events of media manipulation and fake Asian buyers:

It's not the first time that spurious reports about buyers from China have been used to hype the Vancouver property market. In one incident in 2011, a local marketer tipped off TV reporters that a group of property buyers from China were taking helicopter tours of the region to spot potential purchases. It was later revealed that the "Chinese investors" in the report were in fact Vancouver real estate agents of Asian descent.

Combine this with confirmation that Vancouver's housing bubble is in the process of deflating:

The average price of a detached house in the core district of Vancouver West topped out at C$2.25 million (HK$17.13 million) last May. It has since fallen by more than 11 per cent.

And the impact on the industry is incalculable.

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Thur Post #2: Huffington Post states MAC Marketing Solutions being investigated for "dishonest tactics" - Updated

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Update: Paragraph on Nic Jensen clarified
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Earlier today the Huffington Post published their story on the MAC affair.

Titled MAC Marketing Solutions Manager Quits After Fake Investor Scandal, the Post states that the BC Real Estate Council (BCREC) is investigating MAC for "dishonest tactics."

This follows up on the notice being sent out to all real estate agents in BC, an indication of just how seriously the BCREC is treating this issue.

Sources indicate the BCREC is in the process of visiting all of MACs sales centres to "evaluate business practices" as part of their investigation. We are told this is standard practice with all large investigations.

Meanwhile there is speculation that the manager who quit is Nic Jensen.  Regarding the internet sources linking him to Amacon Development it appears Jensen may have recently joined MAC as either a VP or a senior manager. Media outlets advise they are seeking clarification from MAC.

A curious development on the MAC Facebook page.

In a response to the statement of MAC president Cameron McNeill, which was posted yesterday on MAC's Facebook page, a poster by the name of 'Ponzik Xenon' appears to allege that there may be efforts afoot to organize a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers who have already bought in the complex.

We're trying to confirm whether there is any validity to this claim.

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