ComplaintsforOwnwell

• Initial Complaint

  06/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was initially impressed by Ownwell's claims of meticulous research and local expertise for property tax reductions and suggested it to others.For the context, we get to appeal for tax reduction with county 1 time. Ownwell filed an appeal for my house (******************) with 67 unrelated properties (Attaching PDF). Some of properties used are literally whole **** road / street. Example "NOVARA TRL " or "*************" which is ******* sq ft property compared to my 7800 sq ft house. They even used property "*********************" that was in the opposite side of the city ~25 miles away. If a genuine effort was made by the ****** agent or even generative AI was used, it would have chosen properties that are by same builder, similar size of house and lot and proxomity.I did a 10 minute search myself in County website and found few properties in my street itself valued way lower and would have been better candidate. Even I pointed a property that is by a way more reputed builder than ours, is sold at higher price and have better features and lower valuation in county. I emailed Ownwell also with the properties I found and to my surprise they didnt use properties I mentioned in email for protest. My software developer experience tells me that they hired an intern to build a database of addresses in their system and developed a random address list generator for each property that enrolls with them. They did not function in way they advertised and messed up my one and only chance with county to appeal. Had any human from Ownwell had spent 5 minutes to spot check their random address list they generated, they would have not filed with that list.Now to fix this, I need to file arbitration with the Texas state and fees for that is 500$. Ownwell should own their mistake and refund me for the arbitration fees and help me file the case. As a customer I feel cheated because they neither put any efforts nor did they consider the options I had provided them.

  

  Business response

  06/25/2024

  After researching this matter, we reached out to ***** on 06/25/2024. The information he was originally sent was a document that should not have been shared with him, as it did not accurately represent the evidence that we used when presenting our case to the Williamson County Appraisal District for his appeal. We acknowledged this in our correspondenance and explained why we do not recommend pursuing aribitration and why we would not. A copy of the email is attached to this response along with the evidence we did use and the evidence used by ********** Central Appraisal District for his property. 

  Since we did send information that was not accurate to his property, and we will not be pursuing arbitration for this account, we did offer a discounted contingency fee of 20%, while still keeping the Premium member benefits which are usually a 35% contingency fee. 

  Here is our reasons for not pursuing arbitration: 

  1. ****************** was sold in February 2023 for more than your property was valued, so our system would not have chosen it as a sales comparison. After reviewing the evidence that ********** Central Appraisal District used for both ****************** and your property, ****************************************** Umblachery was not chosen as a good equity comparison since is was a recent sale and also because of the square footage. 1224 Umblachery St has a square footage of *****, while your property has a square footage of *****. Williamson County uses the square footage of ***** to determine if a property in this neighborhood is an accurate equity comp to be considered as a true comparable based on the evidence we have reviewed. I have attached a copy of the evidence that ********** CAD used for your property; due to security reasons, I cannot provide you with the evidence used for 1224 Umblachery St by ********** CAD.
  2. I have had one of our property tax consultants review your property to see if it would be a case that we would take to arbitration. At this time, we cannot get a further reduction for you. Here are the notes I received from our tax consultant as to why.
  In an arbitration case, the burden of proof for why the value should be lowered falls on the property owner or their tax agent instead of the county defending their value. When we look at the evidence that Williamson County has for your property versus the evidence that we were able to pull, we see that Williamson County has stronger evidence to support the value. ****************** is ***** Sqft, and 1232 Umblachery St is ***** Sqft. The subject is ***** Sqft. The ***** 10 Equity Comps are all ***** to ***** sqft, and they all value around $760k, which makes their equity grid better than ours. Their 5 sales are also really tight and better than ours.

  ********************* - *********************** Specialist

  Customer response

  06/25/2024

  Complaint: 21874839
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Hi *****,
  
  
  I knew something like this would state where you would claim that the report you sent earlier was some internal document and the actual document used was something different. I don't have a way to prove that evidence is fabricated after the fact or not as Ownwell believes in ZERO TRANSPARENCY when the process is happening. Thus, let's not consider the *** you just sent and solely rely on the exposing evidence that was sent by Ownwell support rep by mistake and county's official appraisal report.
  
  
  Answer me this:
  1. Asking the question again as it was not answered: Why was "3417 Limousin Dr" not used by Ownwell as an argument as it is exactly the same floor plan/same elevation/same number of bedrooms/bathrooms and even little bigger than ours lot size and was also mentioned by appraisal district itself in their report of our house (*******************************************) and is valued at $717,819 now (*******************************************************************************************). Isn't this an argument that Ownwell should have used in protest? This could have solely reduced the price and is a strong argument for arbitration as well. Tell me why ******************* is not a good argument for pursuing arbitration?
  2. Also are we contesting for year 2023 or year 2024. Afaik, it is for 2024 and the appraisal for 2024 for comparable property is what matters. Only previous years matters for homesteads which are out of scope of properties mentioned. Given that, ********************** as I stated is built by a more reputable builder and thus it is "always" sold more than our builder in the same period. You cannot compare a Xiaomi phone with the same specification to an iPhone/Samsung, as the latter always had high purchase and resale price. Isn't this an argument that Ownwell should have used in protest?
  3. Also everywhere from Internet to Redfin to offline real-estate, it is generally believed that "Bigger houses have lower price per sq ft than smaller houses" even though bigger house may have higher total value. 
  "**********************" by ********************************* preliminary value was ******* and after protest it was reduced to $******* which is 11777$ drop on an already low value. Its 2023 appraisal was $733,449 which means $77949 drop. Effective price/sqft is ******* / ***** = 188.47
  "1232 UMBLACHERY ST" by the same comparatively low quality builder 'Pulte' as ours compared to *****************************. You were able to reduce from $665,354 to $648,915 which is a $16439 reduction. Price/sq ft is ****** / 3384 = 191.759751773.
  
  Even 1224 Umblachery has a lower price per sq ft than ours, even though its total sq ft is lower as you stated.
  As all of these properties have lower price per sq ft (and better builder) and modern expensive finish than ours. Isn't this an argument that Ownwell should have used in protest?
  4. "1232 UMBLACHERY ST" by the same low quality builder Pulte as me. You were able to reduce from $665,354 to $648,915 which is a $16439 reduction. Price/sq ft is ****** / 3384 = 191.759751773.
  5. Even a random Computer science college student can make the list of properties you have created. I strongly believe OwnWell's algorithm cannot find better properties (maybe as important features like builder reputation, etc) are not used in your claimed Machine Learning. What is the benefit of using OwnWell then.
  
  6. You stated "Even with strong evidence, the County has the ultimate authority and can overturn our case". That is the exact reason why arbitration is filed and thus you should file it.
  
  Why would I use Ownwell (to use your 20% offer) in future when I know your human/algorithms are not doing the needed due diligence? I am making a loss of 760$ this year itself, next year it would be even more
  
  If you are able to match the **************** in arbitration, there would drop of 38,181 in valuation and thus ~760$ in less property tax I need to pay. I know if you charge 35% of 760$, you would still make a loss as arbitration cost is more than that and thus you are refraining, but you should own your mistake and file arbitration. That is the resolution I want or pay for my loss if Ownwell dont have expertise to file arbitration.
  
  Regards,
  
  *********************

  

  Business response

  07/08/2024

  On July 7, 2024 our Property Tax Consultant ********************, responded to ****************** request explaining in detail our process for reviewing information and preparing evidence for an appeal. It should also be noted that ************** has also messaged with our CEO, *********************, through LinkedIn regarding specific properties and received responses from him. We understand that ************** is not happy with the outcome of the appeal, however, we presented the strongest case possible to earn the reduction we were able to achieve for 2024. Also, after careful review by our arbitration team it was determined that this property would not be a good candidate to pursue binding arbitration, due to the strong evidence that ********** Central Appraisal District has for the property and the value that was achieved. The reason for this is that in binding arbitration the burden of proof for a further reduction is on the property owner and their agent instead of the County. We have explained this to **************, and have offered him a discounted rate for our premium service of 20%, which is usually 35%, of the savings moving forward. At this time, Ownwell has offered all the explanation that we will provide regarding the results of the appeal, and feel that we have offered the best solution to his complaint that is possible. We will not be moving forward with binding arbitration for him, and will no longer continue to provide any further clarification regarding why specific properties were or were not used in our evidence when presenting the case before the ********** Central Appraisal District during the appeal.

  
  Here is the response that ************** received from our Property Consultant Manager, ***:

  Thank you for your detailed feedback and patience. I understand your concerns and appreciate the opportunity to clarify our actions and decisions during the protest process.
   
  We consider multiple factors to find the best comparables for your property. While 3417 Limousin Dr has similarities, the Williamson County Appraisal District already used this sale when valuing your property (see comparable sales report). We must analyze all sales in the market area, and the absence of a comparable in our evidence doesn't mean it was ignored - it simply didn't meet the criteria for the strongest evidence in your appeal. Our consultants approach each case with extreme caution and care, aiming to provide new sales to the county to achieve the best results for our customers.
   
  We understand your analogy comparing different brands, but market value assessment involves more than the builders reputation. The property tax code requires considering factors like location, square footage, property age, condition, access, amenities, views, income, operating expenses, occupancy, and legal burdens. Our choice of comparables aligns with the appraisal district's methodology and complies with the law.
   
  Although it's commonly believed that larger houses have a lower price per square foot, appraisal districts like ***************** consider many factors beyond size, including construction quality, age, location, recent sales data, and specific property features. Their standardized methodology ensures consistency and fairness, which may not always match broader market trends or online platforms like Redfin. In your case, the appraisal districts comparables are chosen for their similarity in overall characteristics and market behavior within your neighborhood, ensuring defensible valuations.
   
  Our system combines algorithms and expert reviews to select comparables. While builder reputation might not be explicitly considered, our goal is to provide the most accurate and defensible comparables based on quantifiable data and appraisal standards.
   
  We evaluated the potential for arbitration carefully. In arbitration, the burden of proof lies with the property owner or their agent, compared to it being on the district during the administrative hearing season. Based on our review, ********** Countys evidence is strong, and their selected comparables are robust. Pursuing arbitration may not yield the desired reduction, therefore we do not recommend. However, we are committed to ensuring you receive fair treatment and will continue to monitor and assist with any further valuation issues.
   
  I hope this provides clarity on our process and decisions. We value your trust and strive to deliver the best outcomes for our customers.

   

  *********************

  Senior **************** Specialist
  

  Customer response

  07/08/2024

  Complaint: 21874839
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Ownwell has not been able to justify why other property which the County itself has listed on the appraisal report which is exactly the same model / elevation, bigger lot size, etc has been valued 50k less not used for argument with County. Given the facts two properties are in same community and other one has better features, it doesn't make sense. If they truly care of customer, they would have gone above and beyond.
  
  Looking at Glassdoor review of July 7, 2023 by someone who claims to be Ownwell General Manager who stated :"CEO: made it obvious that it was preferable to upset 20 customers, than to put resources into fixing known platform problems, including issues that *** be unethical on our part in choosing not to fix them. I was told that the risk of any individual customer bringing a claim or suing us was too small to address the costlier root issues that would ultimately affect many.", it feels that they are not interested in truly solving this as they would need to spend time to correct their mistake and they dont value a single customer.

  Regards,

  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  06/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Ownwell, Inc. filed a property tax protest for a property (APTONB, LLC located at *****************************) we own and manage without authorization. As we handle protests internally, this is extremely problematic and could result in significant legal liability for Ownwell, Inc. By filing this protest, Ownwell, Inc. is holding themselves out as a legally authorized representative which they are not. I have not been able reach Ownwell, Inc. via email.

  

  Business response

  06/12/2024

  This property *********************************************** *** *************, was signed up for Ownwell to protest on May 15, 2024 by ******************************. Since the property address matched the *** and it was owned by an entity, APTONB, LLC, Ownwell filed the protest since we did not want to risk missing the deadline for our customer. We were under the impression that *****, had an interest in the entity that owns the property or potentially that the property had been recently purchased and the ownership had not been updated by ****** Central Appraisal District. 

  Since the ownership on Ownwell's Authorization of Agent form and Notice of Protest did not match the owner of record with ****** Central Appraisal District, Ownwell was never coded as property tax agent for this property by ****** Central Appraisal District, which means that we would not be allowed to move forward with a protest on this property. I have notified **************** regarding this and assured him that no one from Ownwell will be present at the scheduled hearing on 06/18/2024 and that they can proceed with the protest on their own. 

  We have also contacted the customer who signed this property up to try to confirm why they signed the property up and are awaiting their response. A copy of the signed Service Agreement by *********************** and the email between myself and ******* ****** is attached for review. 

  Customer response

  06/12/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ******

• Initial Complaint

  06/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I need to see what Ownwell submitted to the ************* appraisal district when protesting my 2023 property taxes. I was told in a June, 2024, hearing when I challenged DCAD's 2024 increase of over 50% of the market value of my house that it was based on survey that Ownwell submitted. I have done a lot of research and it maybe that Ownwell submitted someone else's survey. I think I can resolve the issue if I could just see what was submitted by Ownwell.Thank you contacting me by phone or text would be good. I get so many emails, I would like a heads up so I do not miss anything Ownwell emails to me.

  

  Business response

  06/13/2024

  On Friday, June 7, 2024 ************* contacted Ownwell with the request for the information contained in this complaint. We discussed this with our Property Tax Consultants who work with ****** Central Appraisal District, and on June 13, 2024 we contacted ************* by email and phone conversation with the results.  A copy of our correspondence with her is attached. The only files we were not able to share in this complaint are the evidence used in the 2023 appeal and the 2024 evidence sent to Ownwell by ****** Central Appraisal District due to file size limitations, but ************* received them in the email we sent to her. 

  In 2023, we handled the protest for ***************** property and earned a reduction in value from $495,390 to $490,000. In the evidence we provided to ****** Central Appraisal District is a copy of the appraisal and survey provided to us by *************. The appraisal shows the property's square footage as ***** square feet. In November, we reached out to ************* because the central appraisal district had not changed the square footage after our appeal, and we offered to file a correction to get this updated for her. She provided us with a survey, which we submitted to ****** Central Appraisal District, but our request for a correction was denied because we showed a reduction in the square footage of 5%, but ****** requires a change of at least 10% before they will correct the square footage. 
   
  In *****, each property must be manually assessed by the county every three years. Since the property was built in 2021, 2024 was the reassessment year for this property. It appears that the appraiser reviewed the survey we presented as evidence for the square footage correction and found an enclosed porch on the survey that was not previously considered by the appraisal district. They, in turn, would have been required to do a manual inspection of the property, which could have been either by a drive-by of the property or an aerial inspection using a drone to verify the enclosed porch. 
   
  After a review of this property and the county evidence provided by ****** Central Appraisal District for 2024 before we were removed as the tax agent, our property tax consultants, who are very familiar with ****** Central Appraisal District, feel strongly that the increase in value in 2024 is due to sales comparisons used by them and not the enclosed porch that they added to the square footage as a result of the survey. The enclosed porch is very minimal in size and should not have resulted in a higher valuation based on this alone. 

  Sincerely, 

  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  05/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ----- Forwarded Message -----From: ***** *************************** **** <**************************>To: ********************************** <**********************************>; **************************** <****************************>; ********************************** <**********************************>; **************************** <****************************>; ******************************* <*******************************>; ************************** <**************************>; ************************************* <*************************************>; ***************************** <*****************************>; *************************************** <***************************************>; ******************************* <*******************************>; ************************************ <************************************>; ******************************* <*******************************>; ************************************* <*************************************>; ***************************** <*****************************>Sent: Friday, May 3, 2024 at 01:15:24 AM CDT Subject:Remove all name variations including the one below at ********************************************************************************************** from all postal mailing lists or get sued.

  

  Business response

  05/03/2024

  We received the request form ***************** 05/03/2024 at 1:30 am. We responded to her at 7:56am on 05/03/2024 confirming that she has been removed from our mailing list and will no longer receive any communication from us. 

• Initial Complaint

  11/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired OWNWELL to represent me to dispute my taxes in Nueces County ** this tax year (2023).I didn't really hear anything from them until July of this year letting me know they were 'still working on my case'. I continued to receive emails every few weeks through October of this year, when I realized my tax bill was due, and OWNWELL was still telling me it was being worked on. I contacted them by phone in October, and was told MY AN OWNWELL employee, that they were still working on it, and they had until the end of the year to resolve. I then contacted the NUECES TAX OFFICE and spoke to many different people, each telling me that OWNWELL was a NO SHOW for my appointment to dispute my taxes. The appraiser then told me that they offered OWNWELL the opportunity to appear at a later date, or even do the meeting virtual. They received no reply from Ownwell, so my tax dispute is no longer available for me. The appraiser told me that OWNWELL had only ONE employee there, and there was no way that one person could handle every property they had signed up to represent, yet I was never notified by OWNWELL that they had missed my appointment. I am no longer able to dispute my taxes for this year, yet OWNWELL continues to LIE and tell me they are still working on this.This has cost me, at a minimum $1000+ in tax excess tax I am now having to pay. AT NO TIME DID THEY NOTIFY ME TO TELL ME THEY MISSED MY APPOINTMENT and give me the opportunity to represent myself. The Nueces county Appraiser whom I spoke to told me that I am not the only client that they were to represent, and DID NOT. They did not represent me in good faith, and in addition to notifying BBB, I believe they need to pay me what I have lost for this tax year. They should also not be allowed to do business in the ***********. I will include recent screenshots of their continued lies, telling me they are working on my case! The tax disputes CLOSED IN JULY. (I spoke directly to appraiser)

  

  Business response

  03/11/2024

  This year with the Nueces Central Appraisal District, we encountered a situation where they wrongfully dismissed several of our appeals as no-shows, even though they never informed us of the appeal date. Our attorney had to meet with them to finally get these accounts reopened so that an appeal could be heard. We did notify *********** that her appeal was ongoing during this process because we were working to reopen these cases as quickly as possible, even though it took our attorney getting involved for that to happen. We informed *********** through an email dated December 5, 2023 that we were successful in getting her account reopened for appeal. 

  On December 6 we had her appeal and were successful in lowering her home's value from $906,283 down to $777,273. We invoiced *********** on December 12, 2023 and the invoice was paid by *********** on January 23, 2024 with no further contact regarding her account. 

  On 3/11/2024 I reached out to *********** via email confirming these facts, and offered her a 20% contingency fee beginning in 2024 if she decides to remain with us, and apologizing that we were not more forthcoming with the reasons for the delay while we were dealing with Nueces Central Appraisal District regarding this situation. 

  All of this is shown in the attached files. 

• Initial Complaint

  10/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ownwell acted on my behalf to protest 2022 property tax values. The only service they provided was accepting the initial assessed value from my county with no reduction without my approval or knowledge. With that acceptance I have no ability to file independently for arbitration in an effort to reduce my value. I spoke with my local appraisal office and I was informed that they received no protest in value for my property or request in reduction. Ownwell fraudulently claims they are working in your best interests, accepts the initial offer from your county, and with that acceptance you have absolutely no recourse for arbitration. If they do not see value in pursing a reduction, I should have been informed of that, and I could then pursue the reduction independently. With their acceptance of the assess value, I have no further options.

  

  Business response

  03/11/2024

  ****** did file appeals for this property in both 2022 and 2023. The proof of these appeals are the attached Board Order (2022) and Settlement Agreement (2023)

  
  For the 2022 appeal, I am awaiting evidence and comments from our Property Tax Consultant who handled this appeal. Since it is over a year old, it may take me appoximately 1 week to be able to provide further details regarding the results of the 2022 appeal. 

  
  For the 2023 appeal, while it is true we settled this appeal in such a way that the right of the Property Owner was not preserved to pursue arbitration, we did feel as their tax agent that we were acting in their best interest by taking this route. The Market Assessed Value of this property for 2023 was $779,610, when Ownwell performed our detailed evaluation of the property, our opinion of value was $856,000 as indicated by the attached evidence. While the property owner did provide us with an appraisal dated 10/2019, our experience in presenting evidence and appeals to various Appraisal Review Boards, including Bexar County, has shown that appraisals that are 3 1/2 years old will not be accepted as evidence. The reason for this is that the property is evaluated as of January 1 of the tax year, and therefore we have to present evidence that shows the condition and value of the home as of January 1, 2023. 

  
  I have explained this in an email to the property owner and offered a free appeal for 2024. Along with the free appeal, I offered a guarantee that we would close our the appeal in such a way that the Property Owner would have the ability to pursue arbitration even if Ownwell chooses not to pursue that option for them. I have also offered a reduced contingency fee of 20% for future years. 

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  -On 5/2/2022, I filed a tax appeal for my 2 properties in ***** through Ownwell. -Through the process, the advertised deal is that I ONLY pay the 25% of the savings that they get through fighting for a lower tax on my properties in 2022. I paid this 25% on 8/25/2022.-A year later (9/27/2023), they filed more appeals on these 2 properties without me initiating this process. I no longer own one of these houses and didn't request these services.-I went through their start-up process on 10/5/2023 just to check and there is NO mention of an automatic renewal on their website. -I just paid their service 10/26/2023 because they'll add interest to my bill tomorrow. Invoice #****** for $72.46 Invoice #****** for $77.30 To re-iterate: There is zero verbiage across their entire website stating this is an auto-renewal plan. This company is also used once a year for a passive service, there should be no expectation that a customer would remember their once-used business name and remember 365 days later to manually cancel something they did not know they were signed up for.

  

  Business response

  11/06/2023

  Hello, 

  In response to the complaint filed by ********************* we have provided the signed service agreements from 05/02/22 which states that this service will continue unless the customer provides a written request to cancel services. We successfully lowered his property tax responsibility in 2023 and as a result, invoices were sent for services rendered. 

• Initial Complaint

  07/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  - this business was supposed to be protesting my property taxes for my homestead for 2023-2024 - the home is in very rough condition and I spent hours providing the appropriate documentation, quotes, expert opinions, and photos to show this - after the final hearing, OwnWell contacted me to let me know theyd settled at X, which was about 200% what it should have been - I went back and forth several times with both ***************************** regarding this matter - HCAD: because OwnWell was your Agent, and protesting on your behalf, theyve already agreed to this appraisal, and nothing can be down - OwnWell: email from OwnWell on 6/6/23: We do apologize that this was not the best outcome but we did try our absolute best and with this information listed above we were able to get your assessed value lowered to X - email from HCAD Open Records on 7/21/23: After a diligent search, there are no documents responsive to your request. The 2023 value was settled during an Express Informal Meeting (not a Formal Hearing) with the appraiser on 5/9/2023 (see below). They never showed up. They never went to court. They never provided any of the documentation that I gathered. And they settled on an Express Informal, without even trying. And then told me in writing that they tried their absolute best. (To clarify, this home is barely livable. The photos I provided showed giant holes in the ceilings, leaking water, foundation cracks, etc., so had they simply provided the documentation, any one could have seen this home is not worth what they settled on.)

  

  Business response

  09/08/2023

  we have responded to her multiple times with an explanation and the most recent is included below. While we understand that this is not the outcome she was hoping for, with property tax reductions and assessments, we are at the mercy of the county. What we, and the customer, consider 'facts' are not necessarily the same information the county will use to make a determination and ultimately, it is their decision. In this case, we earned the only reduction the county was willing to ****** She is correct, that the outcome was determined at an information hearing and we made the decision to settle at that level based on trends and outcomes in Harris County throughout the season. As agents, counties will often present settlements to us before a formal hearing and most often this is the best decision that can be made. When there is an opportunity to continue the process for a potential greater reduction, we will do so, but there was not in this case. The reasons were outlined in our email responses to her. Additionally, because this was not considered an open market sale, we would not have been able to get the property reduced to her original sale price.  All that said, we want her to be as satisfied as possible, so we voided the invoice associated with this appeal so she was not charged for the work we performed. Additionally, as stated in earlier communication with her, we also changed our contingency fee from 25% to 20% so she is receiving a reduced rate on any services provided going forward. 

  The unfortunate truth in many situations related to our business is that oftentimes property owners have an idea of what they believe their property should be assessed, or what reduction should be earned, and in reality that is not how the process works. We are not able to go before a county and present a final number that we believe to be true and insist that we receive that result, even regardless of what evidence we present. In these cases, the customer will not always be happy and there is no further recourse we can take. In the case of *********************' complaint, we have reached the end of the road in terms of options. Again, we have not charged her for the work completed and would love the opportunity to try again next year for a better outcome - and at the reduced rate I mentioned above. 

   

  Best regards, 

  ********

• Initial Complaint

  06/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Ownwell created a huge headache with our investment property tax bill. Either Ownwell or Montgomery county clearly mistakenly entered the wrong appraised value for 2022, but now Ownwell is requesting I pay for the large "savings" that are in fact just a booking error. Ownwell even provided supporting documents that show the legal description doesn't match up and can't provide proof that they actually held a hearing for my property. The document sent by Ownwell shows my properties legal description as:Lake ****** Hills 02, Block 3, Lot 69 The correct legal description is:S516408 - ************* 08, BLOCK 2, Lot 25 The quickref number on the document is correct, but there is blatantly an error. Based on this legal document, my bill should have been based around the 2022 proposed value of $222720 if anything at all, not the higher 2022 proposed value that they are trying to use to create a larger bill.Document attached.

  

  Business response

  08/22/2023

  We did reach out to the customer, *************************************, with the email screenshot below. We have not heard back from him but do consider the issue resolved as we provided proof of the reduction. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩