'Too busy': BC realtor makes excuses to delay disciplinary hearing
A BC realtor who was found to have committed professional misconduct by loaning a buyer $50,000, tried to delay her disciplinary hearing over the matter saying she was "too busy" that month.
According to a June 7 BC Financial Services Authority decision, when the regulator ruled that being "too busy" wasn't a good enough excuse, realtor Wei (Vicky) Wang then tried to adjourn again saying she needed more time to find a lawyer.
However, the Financial Services Authority didn't buy it.
"I am of the view that Ms. Wang is simply seeking to delay the hearing of this matter," the regulator ruled.
In May, Wei (Vicky) Wang was found to have committed professional misconduct by lending a client $50,000 for a deposit so they could afford to buy a $1.7 million Vancouver property.
The realtor who owes Vicky Wang Personal Real Estate Corporation was found to have been in a conflict of interest over the loan.
READ MORE: Tardy BC realtor on the hook for another $10K
While the ruling on the conflict of interest loan took place last month, the BC Financial Services Authority has now released two earlier decisions showing how Wang tried to delay the hearing.
In her first application to adjourn, dated Feb 23, Wang argued she had an out-of-town buyer coming in and she needed to show them properties so she couldn't continue with the disciplinary hearing that was scheduled to resume 10 days later.
She also argued she had potential buyers from China who would be arriving in March and she'd be "very busy" that month.
The regulator dismissed the argument but stopped short of saying she was just trying to delay the hearing.
However, she filed another adjournment application the next day saying she needed time to find a lawyer.
READ MORE: B.C. mortgage broker fined $50,000 for walking out of meeting
This time, the regulator wasn't so understanding.
"Ms. Wang has had ample notice of the nature of the allegations against her and ample time to seek legal advice or legal counsel. In my view, the fact that she has chosen not to do so at any point prior to February 2023, and in fact, on her own submissions, has taken no actual steps to do so even now, demonstrates that rather than an actual desire to obtain counsel, Ms. Wang is looking to create a reason to delay the scheduled hearing," the Financial Services Authority ruled.
The regulator said the matter dates back to 2016 and the hearing was originally scheduled for 2019.
While the pandemic likely delayed things, the decision says Wang has requested multiple adjournments over the years.
Her last-minute request that she now needed a lawyer didn't sit well with the regulator.
"Ms. Wang has indicated, only at the last moment, that she wishes to seek legal advice. I do not consider that Ms. Wang’s sudden indication that she wishes to seek legal advice constitutes an appropriate ground for granting an adjournment," the regulator ruled.
The decision shows that Wang was unrepresented when the hearing went ahead.
READ MORE: B.C. realtor fined $35K for not disclosing $2M in strata building maintenance
What sanctions she'll face for the $50,000 loan will be decided at a later date.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
