Legacy At Linden Park

Review: While attempting to pay a small debt (less than $250), the business stopped answering phone calls, and no longer returns voice messages left in at attempt to pay the remaining balance. A month passed with no contact due to their ignoring us. The debt was sent to a collection agency. They have handled this mater unprofessionally from the beginning.Desired Settlement: Waive the remaining balance. This should have been filed through their insurance, instead it was left for us to pay over $2,000. Waive or accept a reasonable payment plan.

Business

Response:

The two leaseholders moved out on September 10, 2011, and upon moving out they owed the following amount of $2,279.30 - $99 security deposit = $2,180.30. The $2,180.30 balance was for past due rent owed, water/sewer owed and damages caused by the negligence of a leaseholder hanging a piece of clothing on a hanger from the sprinkler head which set the sprinkler head off and caused water damage to the asset. We agreed with the leaseholders to allow them to make monthly payments until the debt was paid in full.The first leaseholder made payments to the account until February 4, 2014. The second leaseholder then started making payments. The Property Manager clearly stated to both the first and second leaseholder that the balance due was owed by both parties. The Property Manager called the first leaseholder on November 19, 2014 and requested payment, this leaseholder stated that she had completed her portion of the amount due and that the Property Manager would need to contact her roommate (the second lease holder). The Property Manager explained to the first leaseholder that both leaseholders are responsible for the balance owed. The Property Manager reached out to the second leaseholder several times with no response and then reached back out to the first leaseholder. The Property Manager asked for a phone number for the second leaseholder and the first leaseholder stated that she did not feel comfortable giving that number out. The first leaseholder stated that she would call the second leaseholder and have her return the call to the Property Manager. The Property Manager stated to the first leaseholder that if she did not receive payment every 30 days then she would have to turn the account over to collections. On November 20, 2014, the second leaseholder reached out to the Property Manager. The Property Manager explained to her that payments would need to be made every 30 days to avoid being sent to collections. The last payment that was received by the second leaseholder was on December 10, 2014.The Property Manager reached out to both leaseholders on January 11, 2015 and only received a response from the first leaseholder. She explained the balance owed at this date was $245.65 and both leaseholders were responsible for paying the debt off. Due to lack of payment by both leaseholders, the Property Manager sent their account to collections on February 3, 2015. The second leaseholder called the office on February 5, 2015 and left a voice mail stating that the reason she had missed the payment was because her post office caught on fire in her hometown. The Property Manager called the second leaseholder back on February 5, 2015 and got no answer. The first leaseholder called the office on February 6, 2015 and the Property Manager explained to her that the account was sent to collections because we had not received a payment for January 2015. The Property Manager also explained to her that she had reached out to both of them explaining the importance of making payments every 30 days, otherwise, it would be turned over to collections. The Property Manager has been very flexible in trying to assist these leaseholders in the repayment of their debt.[redacted]Regional ManagerBlue Ridge Companies

Consumer

Response:

The monthly payments were arranged to be set at

$50. On December 10th, 2014, the second leaseholder made a payment

of $100 to cover two payments, making the next payment due on February 10th.

The account was wrongfully sent to collections before the due date of February

10th. We have made payments on time since the beginning of this

account and have done everything they have asked.

Regards,

Business

Response:

The first payment made by the leaseholders was $25 on Oct. 7, 2011, which is not a $50 monthly payment. During 2014, they did not pay $50/month as a payment. They paid a total of $400 ¡n the year of 2014.The following payments were made during 2014:Jan 03, 2014 = $50Feb 04, 2014 = $50Mar 04, 2014= $50Mar 20, 2014 = $50Apr 09, 2014 = $100Dec 10, 2014 = $100lf they would have been paying $50/month as a payment, then the total balance paid would equal $600 for 2014. However, that is not what they paid, as you can see from above payment, they paid $400 in 2014.The Property Manager did explain to both leaseholders the importance of making payments every 30 days, otherwise, their account would be turned over to collections.Sincerely,[redacted]Regional Manager

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.The complaint I filed was made due to Legacy at Linden Park apartment management sending our account to collections before the 30 day period of being past due. The last $100 payment was to cover the account until February 10th. The account was sent to collections on February 3rd. We are reporting this as a misconduct and unethical business practices.

Regards,

Review: It is with great disappointment that I must report this complaint about the lack of organization & professional managerial services at the Legacy at Linden Park Apartments. I was mislead from the start about the apartment that I would be moving into. They showed me the Phase 2 apartments & said that I would be moving into the same one. When I came to sign the lease & pick up keys to move-in, I was given a Phase 1 apartment which was not nearly as nice as the Phase 2 model.I lived in their apartments for a little over a year & moved out when my lease was up. I was again disheartned throughout my tenure to find out that the "luxury" apartments are very cheaply built & poor in quality. Upon move-in my carpets were in horrible shape & had already been claimed to be professionally cleaned. We had to ask the property management to please have them cleaned again before we moved in. They had the carpets re-cleaned by professionals & the carpets were still dark & dingy with stains. There was also a strange smell & odor. When issues arose in the apartment that required maintenance fixing. I called several times about different appliances needing fixed & it took them an extremely long time to get back to me if they even bothered to come around. I never got a follow-up about any of these issues.Upon move-out I asked several times if I needed to set up a time to do a walk-thru with management & was told that was not necessary & to just drop my key off in the dropbox by midnight the day my lease ended. I was also told that I'd receive my security deposit within 10 days of move-out. I did as followed & never received my security deposit so I called them. I was then told I had a balance of around $1,549 for carpet replacement in the apartment. I told them there must be some mistake & that I had not done any carpet damage. I have proof from move-in check list & documentation of the condition of the carpets. They have now falsely charged me & the balance is reflecting on my credit report! Worst rental ever!Desired Settlement: I would like for this reflection to come off of my roomates and myself's credit report because these charges are falsely reported as a rental balance instead of additional charges. Also, the $200 non-refunable fee that we paid prior to move-in and/or the security deposit of $250 covers the restoration and cleaning of carpets and repainting upon move-out. Since I was never refunded my security deposit, I should have never been charged & the carpets were already in horrible condition upon move in

Business

Response:

After researching, we would like to share the following findings about this consumer complaint. The consumer and her roommates moved out on Aug. 26, 2014. Upon reaching out to the consumer on December 12, 2014, we charged the consumer for the following: $480.06 for the labor to replace carpet + $30 for 3 blinds that were broken + $10 for what appears to be pet scratches at one of the bedroom doors + $20 for two shower rods that were missing + $139.13 for water and sewer (from May 1, 2014 – Aug. 26, 2014) + $33.77 in late charges = $712.96 - $250 security deposit = $462.96. The consumer was not satisfied with the revised amount charged for the labor of replacing carpet on December 12, 2014, however, she did state that she would be willing to pay for the rest of the charges. On December 15, 2015, we revised the consumer’s account yet again, even though we believe that the consumer had an unauthorized pet that caused the carpet damage and the door damage. The Property Manager called the consumer to let the consumer know about the revision, however, she was not able to reach her and left her a message on December 15, 2014. The revised account statement shows the following charges: $30 for 3 blinds that were broken + $10 for what appears to be pet scratches at one of the bedroom doors + $20 for two shower rods that were missing + $139.13 for water and sewer (from May 1, 2014 – Aug. 26, 2014) + $33.77 in late charges = $232.90 - $250 sec. deposit = $17.10 to be refunded to the consumer. The consumer and the Property Manager have not been able to reach each other via phone this week. The Property Manager has attempted to call the consumer four times this week and left a message each time. As of December 19, 2014, she has not yet reached the consumer. The Property Manager has not reported this account to collections. [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have also tried contacting the business several times to return their calls. I have left my name, number, and reason for calling with the gentleman who is the newer rental office associate who told me he would pass on the message to the property manager. In addition, I have tried contacting the property manager's direct office phone line and have only been able to get a busy signal.

Since then, I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,