HOBB Community

I am a long time listener of the David Yates Home Improvement Show in Texas.  He now does public service announcements I believe (or commercials) for TRCC. (Texas Residential Construction Commission) On several occassions I have heard people call in and talk about their negative experiences with TRCC. Mr. Yates IMO  does not want to hear anything negative on TRCC. I have spoken to quite a few people who told me the process was a waste of their time and money. There are many articles on this site that shows what is happening with the commission.
One of the most outrageous is the $1000 lunch article by Byron Harris. People who have actually gone through the process should be able to go on the air and tell consumers their personal experience without being slammed. They went through the process, they have the documentation, why not let them speak?
Mr. Yates does many good things for his communities (one being the support of the Arbor House) but on this topic again IMO we need some open discussion from the people themselves.

IMO listeners should always take such shows with a grain of salt.  They may very well give some good "how to" advice, but when it comes to calling a spade a spade, most won't go against advertisers, government agencies, etc. 

Another example is "Rosie on the House" in AZ, a radio show.  One of the contractors they recommended had a revoked license which was on the AZ Registrar of Contractors records.

Yet another is Colorado's Tom Martino, who recommended some national tract home builders that have many complaints against them. (US Homes comes to mind, can't recall the others.)

Referral lists and such often degenerate into "paid ads," and a person just can't trust everything these people say on their shows.

  On WBAP 820 AM Radio "Dallas,Tx" Saturday August 5th 2006.

   On WBAP 820AM Radio (Dallas, Tx) Saturday August 5th 2006 I was tuned in listening to David Yates of "The Home Show" when I heard a commercial about the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) that infuriated me. I called in to talk about my foundation problems and the TRCC.  During this call I explained to him how I felt about his talk show promoting the TRCC, because I myself have been through the TRCC process that was a total waste of my time and money.  I explained that an inspector from TRCC came out and falsified their inspection report to lean more toward the builder on my problems.  After we were through talking on the air I heard David Yates taking cheap shots at me personally. I then wrote him the following e-mail explaining that his behavior was not expectable.
     On 8/5/06, Rodney Washington <hydman35@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

After hanging up the phone speaking to you on the radio, I was angered to here you make some uncalled for comments. AFTER I HUNG UP !!!!!

Let me make this very clear: I was listing to your show as I have done on many occasions, when I heard the commercial on TRCC that prompted me to make a call to you about my foundation and my bad experience with TRCC. I will assure you that I have been working on my foundation problem bringing in numerous engineers and I have spent lots of money with no results. TRCC failed to do anything for me.  With this said I don't think it is in your best interest to attack participates on your show with cheap shots, as this will certainly tarnish your image.

Sincrely, Rodney Washington
 
 
 

He did the same thing to someone I know. Started to berate her on the air after she hung up.
He looses credibility by doing that. Why not address it on the air? Let people hear the truth, what they may be headed for down the road.  ??? ???

Please read my communication with Mr. Yates below this message.  It is my opinion Mr. Yates is extremely unprofessional and exhibits total disregard and disrespect for the home buyer.

I was hung up on twice today.  The first time the person screening the calls asked me if this was a "good" or "bad" call about the TRCC.  I asked her for what reason she was asking the questions and the reply was that they were going to have to balance them out as they were coming in one-sided. Gee....I wonder why no "good" calls were coming in?!?!

Perhaps we should all call the main station general manager and voice our complaints.  I feel that the Mr. Yates is contributing to totally misleading the general public in what the TRCC is all about! 

We knew after our experience that the caller by the name of "Rodney" was also hung up on after connecting and they attempted to make it appear that it was a mishap. 

Please note the long Strayhorn name Mr. Yates used below which appears to be used for the purpose of discrediting Strayhorn.  Sorry, Mr. Yates!  Smear tactics especially don't work on those of us educated on the Texas Residential Construction Commission.
Sherry

Sherry,
Thank you for your email.  I have read candidate-for-governor Carole Keeton McClennan Rylander Strayhorn's report and comments and am saddened that instead of working to make productive changes to the TRCC she instead used the topic for political attention and then discarded it as a topic.  I was just on her campaign website and missed her plan to make the system better (or any mention of it for that mater).

I'm not sure how my "condoning and promoting this agency on your radio show is completely and intentionally misleading the public."  I may not like the system, but it is the system we have until it's made better by our elected officials.
David

On 8/5/06, Dan and Sherry Freeland < dsfreeland@aircanopy.net> wrote:
Mr. David Yates,
I am a recent victim of a homebuilder and educated myself to the functions and purpose of the Texas Residential Construction Commission prior to filing the SIRP.

Our home closed in February of this year.  Our home is NOT sellable and our builder has chosen not to honor our warranty.

I suggest you read Carole Keeton Strayhorn's report in regard to the TRCC.  She stated in a letter to Representative Todd Smith: "In a homeowner survey conducted by my office, I found that 86 percent of homeowners who responded said their builder failedto fix construction defects in their homes.  And that was after going through the mandated State Sponsored Inspection and Dispute Resolution process that verified the defects.....After reviewing the TRCC and its enabling statute, it is clear that the
agency functions as a builder protection agency."

It is my feeling that your condoning and promoting this agency on your radio show is completely and intentionally misleading the public.

In addition, I felt you were quite rude to a caller by the name of Rodney when he called to state the true facts in regard to this agency.

I agree with Carole Keeton Strayhorn when she stated "If it were up to me personally, I would blast this TRCC builder-protection agency off the bureaucratic books."
Sherry Freeland

I called in to a radio consumer show once, too, and my experience was a lot like all of you describe.  The host talked over me, was insulting, and seemed to automatically take the side of home builders.  That kind of radio show host will get no respect from anyone with a consumer problem.  it's just a disguised ad for the companies they are protecting.

I agree with you Sherry. We cannot compete with his air time but we can continue to be vocal. To say this is a good process because it is all we have is ridiculous. If some of his listeners are gullible enough to believe that then they unfortunately will have to learn  the hard way IMO.
It is too bad I did not hear a show like today. I heard Janet speaking and thinking if I heard her say that a few years ago I would have walked away.
Hopefully people will go to the HOBB site and see for themselves. Unfortunately, the hadd message board is down because that would have sent a message as well.

08/12/06

I called in to the David Yates show on WBAP 820 Dallas,Tx. Radio “The Home Show” the screener answering the call and asked who I was and I told her that I had talked to David Yates the week before and wanted to talk to him again about my ten year worthless warranty “Home Of Texas” warranty company that I have and TRCC issues. I was on hold for about 15 minutes the first time then I was hung up on. Then 35 minutes the second time hung up on. I then called back and told her that I did not appreciate them hanging up on me and that I would be calling back in on Monday morning talking to David’s superiors and told her thank you for your time and I hung up this time. After hanging up I then heard David say that he had lost my call on the air so I called back again telling the screener that I wanted to talk to him again, this time while I was on hold I heard him say that he was done covering the TRCC for the day with Janet Ahmad and he was not going to take any more phone calls on the air about the TRCC. I think that if he has a radio talk show inviting the public to come on and speak whatever they want to speak about, he should allow anyone to do that and not screen and pick and choose who and what  he wants on the air ways. WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?????????

I contacted the assistant program director of WBAP 820 radio and complained about David Yates. If anyone else was victomized by David Yates please call David Allen at 817-695-0874. I can tell you that Mr. Allen was not happy at all about the way David Yates handled the callers Sat. 12th.........

Rodney and Sherry.  I have contacted David Yates regarding this matter (Tuesday @ 3:15) and as soon as I hear back from him, I will contact either or both of you (if Sherry will talk to me)  Let it be known that the radio station takes this very seriously and we always follow through on all comments made to the station regarding programming.
Thank you

OK

In regards to Mr. Allen's post -oh really! :'(

Did anyone listen to David Yates radio show this past Satuday August 19th ??????????????????? If so did he cover TRCC or any polititical issues???????????????

This is a good case of "it all starts at the top".  I feel the behavior of management to be unprofessional and childish.  Perhaps this is why Mr. Yates appears to be without discipline. 

We need to continue educating the public on the TRCC.  Each day I find more and more people are aware of the true facts.  The word is getting out, thanks to HOBB and thousands of Texan home buyers who have been victimized and have taken the time to educate themselves on the TRCC.

I feel Mr. Yates' attitude and lack of concern for the victims is typical of homebuilders.  As is, builders are allowed to destroy the lives of home buyers and appear to have no remorse for doing so!

Mr. Yates wrote  "...I may not like the system, but it is the system we have until it's made better by our elected officials." If you don't like the system, then why are you promoting, pushing, and advertising what many feel to be a  one-sided, unjust builder protection agency?  ???