Complain about a product or service

Keystone Homes

Stephanie of El Miage AZ (08/09/08)
My husband and I paid $15,000 in earnest money to have our dream home built by Keystone American home. The home was to be built in a subdivision named Rachel Ridge in Surprise, AZ. We paid the money in January, 2008 and the home was to be completed in late July-early August, 2008.

In June, 2008 we realized that work had stopped on our home. We asked the builder what was going on and was told that the banks had stopped providing money to complete the homes due to the housing market. Keystone would have to sell their empty spec homes prior to receiving any more money to complete the homes. Our home wouldn't be completed until the end of the year. They offered to us the purchase of the model home of the floorplan we wanted at a large discounted price. We decided to go with that since our home we were having built did not have the same number of upgrades as the model home.

We completed the paperwork with the builder on July 3, 2008 and was told by the project manager to have our renters for our home we were moving out of to put in their 30 day notice at their apt. complex. This way they would be able to move into our previous home the beginning of August. We did exactly that. My husband and I went in and signed the last of the paperwork with the broker the 3rd week in July and was told it takes 24-48 hrs to get the title on the home and close. We were to be moved out of our home by the 1st weekend in August.

By that Friday, August 1st we were told that we would need to find some temporary place to be for awhile by the broker due to the title companies not wanting to work with Keystone American so we could close on the home. We had to move out of our previous home on Sat. August 2nd because a rental agreement had been drawn and our renters were set to move in. However, Keystone American could not close escrow on our new home. My husband and I and our 4 children had to move into a 1 bedroom suite hotel for almost $500 a week. No communication had been given to us from Keystone American that there were problems with them being able to pay their subcontractors or having problems with the title companies.

We found out that Keystone American had 4 open cases against them and filed through the AZ. Registar of Contractors for mechanical liens on the homes. We met with Keystone American, in which the president of the company would not come in and speak with us or address our concerns on Monday, Aug. 4th. My husband and I took our 4 children into the office with us, along with a neighbor who also had placed $15,000 down for earnest money, and told Keystone American our concerns. We communicated that we would not just sit there while Keystone American took our $15,000, not provide us with a new home and have us homeless living in a hotel for $500 a week. Keystone American came back with an offer for my husband and I to take pre-possession of the home however we would need to put $4,000 security deposit down and pay $2,000 a month for rent. We declined that offer.

Later that day we were informed that Keystone American was in fore closure on the homes and could never close escrow on the home we were purchasing. Later that week we were asked by the bank that is taking over the homes if we wanted to buy it when it foreclosed and went to auction in November. We would have to bid $1.00 higher than the bank and they would tell us what they were planning to bid for. No money has been refunded to us and we had to look for a least expensive place to live since the hotel and cost of food was becoming too costly. Plus, in addition to all of this our children were due to start school on Monday, and were enrolled in the school in the new subdivision. We have had to unenroll them from that school and place them back in their old school until we can obtain a more permanent residence.

We are out of $15,000 in earnest money, $500 (we will have to pay another $300+ for another temp. placement) for hotel costs and hundred of dollars out of food having to purchase eating out or buying food daily. My husband has had to take 2 weeks off from work due to this situation. Our family has been extremely stressed which has affected our health, caused a lack of sleep and anxiety in 2 of our children regarding the recent changes and the unknown of where we will be living.

Allison of Murfreesboro TN (03/04/08)
My family and I bought a brand new home in Scottish Glen neighborhood 3 months ago. The builder is Keystone Homes. Since we bought the home, we have discovered that half of our house is not insulated, and our chase pan for our chimney is not large enough to protect from water. In result of this, we have extensive water damage in our 3-year-old daughter's room which has started growing mold and mildew. There is also water damage on our mantel which has now started taking on new shapes. My advice to you....DO NOT BUY A KEYSTONE HOME! They are throughout Scottish Glen, so beware!

Carlene of Murfreesboro TN (01/02/08)
I purchased a new home. The builder is keystone homes. I have some warranty issues that need to be taken care of and have attempted to contact them by phone and e-mail with no reply. I would like to know what course of action to take.

Leaking roof and water damage to my garage which needs to be corrected asap.

Becky of North Versailles PA (03/03/07)
I purchased a 2003 Kia Spectra, paid cash $12,022 had problems all along. Tires/ brakes / transmission/ lighting/ heating/ exhaust/ TPS sensor/ wheel cylinder.. Complained all along that the car shimmied and was all over the road, and was tired of replacing brakes and tires and headlights and etc. and at 45,636 told I needed a new transmission and they weren't gonna be responsible. I had replaced tires 3 times by this point at 16,258 miles, again at 25,862 miles and again at 34,963 miles and due again at 47,000 miles.

Brakes were done at 12,485 miles again at 25,483 miles and again at 35,082 miles and again at 43,052 miles. Check engine light came on repeatedly and the TPS (sensor)was the cause 4 times 1st time at 1,524 miles, again at 10,477 miles, again at 12,484 miles and again at 26,239 miles. headlights constantly needed replaced. Heating had wiring repaired. Dome light worked when it wanted to (cause they say, was the door blend) said it was fixed...still never worked properly. The car nothing but a headache. But, final straw was the transmission... Contacted a lawyer. My lawyer told me to submit every repair. I gave every repair receipt and even a computer printout of all work.

The lawyer was so wrapped up in getting the transmission ordeal taken care of. And once she told me KIa would replace the transmission and give a $1,000 towards the inconveinence of being down without the car while it was being settled. Heck, I just wanted to get it settled and get the car up and running again so I settled. But at no time did my attorney mention that she raised an issue about the constant wear of tires and brakes. Well the day I got the check, instead of going to KIa about an alignment and tires I went to the tire place and told them I was told from Kia that I needed tires once again. And that Kia blamed the tires were no good.

The tire company told me if it were their tires he would replace them for free. Well he did the alignment check and told me once again (because this has happened in the past) that I needed to put cambers and casters and such on the car because I should not put any tires on this car because if'n I did I would have to replace them again after only 9,000-10,000 miles. That my car tires, instead of riding straight they were actually driving on an angle and that has been why the tires were wearing and the brakes. But, I had this reading once before and I went to Kia in White Oak Pa and the service advisor said to me... NO No Becky, don't worry we will have it taken care of. I said what is it. He said well its like this, unless your a Kia mechanic you wouldn't know this but theres something under the car that gets set on a Kia and only Kia knows the settings and we adjust them. He said I'm taking care of it right now. You have no need for theses cambers and casters Kia cars has these adjusters.

Well here I am once again paying for insurance at $105 a month and the car sits once again because no matter where I go to, or who I talk to, I'm being sent from one direction to another. Even the Kia dealer I purchased my car from tells me to go to another establishment because they are new owners and he (Larry Headly) could not even pull up a printout on my car in his computer, and at that time he didn't even have any Kia mechanics there.

Even my transmission does not seem right and I have no idea what I am suppose to do. When I tried contacting even the att. she was ignoring me until just recently once I contacted her Director of Communications and told him, he then talked to her and told me to call the Rep. she was dealing with directly but not to mention her name or the fact that she gave me his # because her hands were tied because I signed. But, what I signed and agreed to was all about the transmission, and I did not find out until afterwards about the issues underneath the car and that that was the reason all along that even the tires that came with the car went at 16,258 miles.

I submitted everything to my attorney and I can't see why if she had told them of all the issues all along that what was the reason she couldn't call the Rep, and why not mention her name and such or is it because reason being she never even mentioned all the other things but yet made me submit all info. It's ridiculous because I'm still paying Ins. but can't drive the car because it isn't safe and everyone I correspond with sends me off in another direction.

I have lost an average of 7 mos. of no use, and when I need to go somewhere I have to call upon someone else to get there. I have no idea who to turn to, whether another attorney and file another claim, or what because even KIA's consumer assistance center has not even replied... Distraught

Monica of Chesapeake VA (12/18/06)
The steering in my vehicle 2003 Kia Sorento, 44000 miles, totally went out due to bolts coming lose and and teeth stripped. Thank God it happened in a parking lot only minutes before being on a highway, I could have been killed. It was repaired at GreenBrier Kia in Chesapeake Va where the problem was downplayed and swept under the carpet as fast as they could. The whole idea that I could have been on the highway and lost total control has gone over in my mind to the point where I would like to get out of this vehicle.

I called Kia consumer affairs and requested some kind of assist to get me out of this vehicle...she told me its not going to happen. This is something she admitted never had happened before and you would think they would want to get this vehicle off the road. If anyone has had this problem or knows of someone that has, please contact me. This is a major defect and could end up killing someone if this should happen again. I am upset with the kia company as I said, they don't seem to care about the seriousness of it.

Linda the comsumer affairs person downplayed it totally and all she could say was, it was fixed. I asked her if she would want to be driving in a car that totally lost its steering, for no reason. They dont care and they aren't doing anything about it. So much for standing behind what you sell. Be careful if you are looking to purchase a Kia

Angelos of Hamilton OTHER (12/04/06)
I am financing an 02 Kia Spectra, which has had a water leak since the day I signed the leased. This was a new car right off of the lot. I had complained and broght the car to the dealership repeatedly to have the problem found and fixed. They weren't able to find the problem for over 2yrs (I am locked into a 5yr lease) until one day they decided to actually LOOK at the problem. It took me a total of 7 times that I had to bring the car in for the same problem. While this was going on I had to replace my tires almost immediately after purchasing the car and the steering rack has went twice and the shifter bushing has been replaced and the exhaust downpipe had rotted off leaving the car running rough. The brakes constantly fade in and out, sagging doors and sloppy alignment of bodypanels.

Davidl of Lawtey FL (10/25/06)
I own a 2003 KIA Spectra. At the moment, it has 62434 miles on it. KIA offers a 5yr/60K mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. I called in to KIA about my car's dash. Even though it has been taken care of, protected, the defroster vents craked and broke off and the areas where the dash meets the defroster openings is coming up/seperating from the rest of the dash. I called KIA Consumer Affairs, Spence who took my call offered to mke calls to see what could be done. I get a call back the next day and he says KIA refuses to offer any kind of goodwill help for my problem since the car is out of warranty. It is 2434 miles past, I would think as custoemr goodwill, they would offer some assistance with this as it appears to be a defect! My only options are to pay them $527 or more to replace the entire dash. I find this to be BULL. The car is only just under 4 yrs old. It is not far over the warranty coverage period. I would think an auto manufacturer would at least offer some assistance to a customer, but I guess I was mistaken.

Jennifer of Murfreesboro TN (03/09/06)
I purchased a home in Murfreesboro TN. My closing was on 05/27/2005. I have several things wrong with my house that need to be repaired. Some items are minor and others are very costly. I have contacted the builder to get these items fixed, but am having no luck. After several attempts that got me nowhere I filed a complaint with the TN Department of Commerce and Insurance Board for Licensing Contractors. They reviewed the case and intern opened a case with TN Department of Commerce and Insurance Division of Consumer Affairs (CHAMP) and this department tried to contact the builder and mediate to get this items fixed. There was no response.

The CHAMP coordinator then sent out a TN inspector to come and see what was wrong with my property. They found numerous problems and attempted to contact the builder several more times after that still with no response. The case has been closed unsatisfactory due to no response from the builder as on 03/09/2005. The case will then be put back in the hands of TN Department of Commerce and Insurance Board for Licensing Contractors. They will review the case and see if there is misconduct on the builder’s part and maybe a formal hearing. They are unable to make the builder repair or replace anything. They can only fine him or suspend/pull his license. This is why I feel my next step is small claims court so I can get the items fixed.

My house is being ruined and is unfunctional.

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