I do not know if Tracy has something against men, but she has likely has something against men.
Tracy tried to control things outside of mediation boundaries, saying that I need to pay pseudo realtor fees even though she was keeping the house and that I also need to pay pseudo mortgage cancellation fees even though my ex was keeping the mortgage. She would actively negotiate on my ex's behalf and not once did she do that for me. That I needed to start paying rent even though I was still paying the mortgage and had my name on the mortgage. I said, well I want half of equity in the home. She said I do not get that. I said, well my ex is getting half of it. She said there are realtor and cancellation fees. I said there are not, my ex even said she is keeping the house and not refinancing the mortgage. Tracy got angry and told me that I did not get to know that. I said I do know that, and my ex even said she was and clearly, we are not putting the house on the market.
During joint negotiations, Tracy would always argue for my Ex. I would say something like, "unfortunately I can't agree with that amount or with this or that" I would stop talking and shortly after Tracy would look to me and start arguing in favor of my ex. If my ex said she cannot do something, I would sit in silence but then Tracy would look to me and start to tell me how she really thinks that my ex really cannot. Every time my ex came back and turns out she could meet me near what I thought was fair. All joint mediation sessions were calm and polite language. I let my ex decided how to carve up the small assets, I said I didn't want to use my time off to help her when she has to work, despite that I gave a concession and allowed her to screw up the schedule and I'd use some of my days off during certain months to help her (I have amazing benefits but my ex makes 10k more a year than me) I said have given concession that I did not need to give, that I have been reasonable. Tracy agreed that I have made concession and was agreeable, and easy to work with on all other fronts.
I called her out on this bias by saying I do not feel heard because I have repeated my position consistently and numerous times. On the final draft, there was a $3600 mortgage cancellation fee, even though during our last joint session, we said it would be removed. I also said that she seems to get involved in the negotiations and argue in favor
of my Ex, constantly formulating arguments on her behalf and agreeing with her. Not once did she do this for me.
She snapped at it and became vociferous. Accused me of being the one that needs to bend. Reading online, I know she can drop us as a client without refund. I did not press it too hard and kept a calm composure. She then accused me of moving the goal post. After 6months of mediation, several thousand needed to be given as part of the gained equity. (It should not have taken 6 months but Tracy is not the best at communicating and planning out details, despite her claimed years of experience) I was still paying the mortgage and every month that meant I gained equity. She said I cannot keep asking for more money. I said I have consistently said half of the equity which changes month by month. She once again became angry and said that I need to start paying my ex-rent. I said no. After sitting in silence for a minute. I said, time is precious. I want to move on, and I do not want to go back to negotiations. Since there would be another month or two, I said I will stay there for free and she can pay the bills for two months, keep the cancellation fee on the draft and let's move on. She then started doing what Tracy does and started arguing. "Rent is very expensive!" I said go ask her if the term is acceptable. (like a damn mediator's job is) Besides, $1800 not what rent would have been worth, and I screwed myself over because I did not want to waste any more time waiting for her to edit drafts (which is slow) all because she cannot listen for crap and clearly holds resentment of some kind towards me. I had to do her job and propose a solution that she immediately started arguing against. My ex agreed but would tray be okay with that? Nope, sent me an email, saying verbatim, "unfortunately she has agreed to your offer." kind of whatever, I got screwed in negotiations because 2v1 and lost a couple grand because when people support your position, you are less likely to move from it. So, Tracy agrees with my ex and arguing in her favor made it exceedingly difficult to negotiate. Then I got screwed on paying the cancellation fee in exchange for "rent" because I just want my life to go on and not deal with these sloppy mistakes
She clearly broke the law and should have her mediation certificate stripped. When I went to called fairway's HQ the receptionist was her lawyer who refused to do anything but help Tracy. Imagine that. Looking at the email and knowing that what she did was illegal she then apologized and then lied about the excuse. She said it was because she was replying to my ex not signing the papers yet because that is what the purpose of the May 11th phone call was. I asked her when the phone call was where I was complaining about bias treatment. She refused to reply, and her Lawyer was CC'd on those emails, clearly giving counsel. At no point did I inquire if my ex had signed anything. I would have asked her myself if i really wanted to know, still living together and easily could text her on top of that. Completely lied. I am still thinking about taking her to court over the matter, extremely unhappy about it and I know she will do it to others, and I likely wasn’t the first.
May 10th final draft sent out to be signed, at 7pm, May 11th at 10am a phone call where I said I wasn't happy with her service, that the draft is wrong, that the joint session feels and seem like they really are 2v1. May 12th the email that said my ex has agreed to the terms of staying for "free" for two months and accepting the draft.
Tracy cares about Tracy and if you look at the people who complain about her, it's almost always men. I'm not saying she always does this kind of BS. Clearly some complimentary reviews out there, but especially if you are a man, stay the hell away if you don't want to roll the dice with someone who clearly wants to control the whole negotiation, dictate who gets what and do extremely unprofessional and even illegal BS to you.
I will be filling complaints with her designations and providing email evidence to them, regardless of if I take her to court or not.