Water Sysop Services™ - Client Report

American Dream Communities

We first contracted with American Dream Communities (ADC) in 2007 to take over running the water system facility at Mobile Home Country Club, located at 1923 Barton Chapel Road; Augusta, GA 30909.  They had purchased the property from a Leo Ghitter (now the current owner and operator) and had taken steps to improve the property.

They seemed to have a problem getting payments out on time when invoiced, but I went along with them on it because they paid four months at a time.  When the third invoice came due (invoices must be paid by the first of the month in order to continue service for that month), they were late again.  But by this time the property was going back to the original seller, Leo Ghitter.

Had they contacted me about the sale and explained that they were transferring ownership back to Mr. Ghitter, and paid the invoice on time, I would have gladly refunded the balance for June, July and August.  Had the payment been on time, and they had contacted me before the first of May, I would also have been open to refunding part of the payment for May, since ownership was transferred before the month was up.

None of that happened.  When I called and actually got someone on the line, I was first told that the payment was being processed and that the check would go out soon.  Then, in a later phone call, I was told that my payment was ready to go out and they were waiting on a client to pay them before they mailed it out.  Calls I made after that last one were answered by their office message machine and not by a human.

I sent them a final bill for May (this is the second invoice for this bill) by certified/return-receipt-requested mail.  As specified in their contract I added a 10% late fee to it ($330.00 plus $33.00 = $363.00.)  I got the return receipt that specified that they had indeed gotten the invoice, but there was no response to it.

I sent out another bill on the 24 of July, 2008.  This bill included May's original invoice, the late fee and a 12% annual finance charge ($366.63.)  I received notice from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that the invoice was refused by the recipient.

All together, I believe that I sent out four invoices. Two had a mistakes in them which I corrected in a later invoice (one included a full month's service fee for June, which I didn't feel was necessary; and the other included a double late charge when my accounting package added an additional late fee instead of the 12% annual finance fee.)

I am profoundly disappointed that a company that presents themselves as professionals on their website and via the phone would fall down so completely in paying an invoice to a vendor.

While I will continue to mail invoices to ADC with accruing finance charges, I will not send them certified/return-receipt-requested mail in the future.  Why should I continue to spend $5.32 a month just to have them refuse to accept the invoice?

My personal recommendation as a vendor and water system operator is to not do business with ADC.  I would suggest that one exercise caution if he or she is considering a contract with ADC.  They did not honor the written and signed contract that I had with them (both parties signed the contract) and I am still waiting for that payment of a three month old invoice.

If you are a vendor and you need to see the original Water Sysop Services/ADC contract, the signed and the refused USPS return receipts, and/or the actual invoices, I can provide copies for you to look over upon request.

Mike Jackson
Water Sysop Services
Augusta, GA

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