S C I Gateway At Columbia Fund

Upon moving in to an apartment at Gateway at Columbia August 2010, I found dirty carpets with stains which were not treated, trash was found in bathroom drawers, dust was everywhere, and the TV had a hanger tied to the back of it. I filled out an inventory sheet stating the way I found the apartment. In October I requested maintenance to repair light in the parking lot due to lack of visibility and safety at night. Nothing happened so in November I called them again. Light was not fixed until after February or March. Upon moving out, I cleaned the entire side of my apartment in order to avoid unnecessary charges. 08/27/11 I received my "final" bill, total was $232.67, (40.00 for carpet cleaning, 90.00 for cleaning bedroom, bathroom, partial common area, 22.67 for "other", and 80.00 for painting). On 8/29/11 called leasing office with questions, manager (___) wasn't in, left message for her to call me back, SHE NEVER DID. Called again on Tuesday, 8/30/11, spoke with rep, asked about charges, she said I was incorrect and that my bill is $102.67. I asked her if she mailed this "new" bill, she said no, but that if I would like a copy she can mail it to me... In other words, if I wouldn't have called and just paid the first bill, I would have over paid, and I doubt that they would ever have told me or credit back the excess amount. I spoke to my roommate that same day, roommate advises me that manager (____) spoke with her in person and told her that they're not supposed to charge for painting. I called office again on 8/31/11, someone at the office said rep was on the other line and transferred me to her voicemail. I left a message for rep at 4:30PM on Wednesday. It is now 9/2/11, rep has still not returned my call. I called her office today, rep answered, said she can't talk right now, took my number AGAIN, said will call back. I asked when I should expect a call back, said sometime today.
As a customer who paid rent for 12months at $439.00 a month, I believe I deserve to be treated with more respect than how the employees at Gateway treat me. Not only did I move into an apartment that was filthy, I was never told of how I would be responsible to pay for painting or cleaning or carpet cleaning when I moved out. When the lease manager was going over the lease before we moved in, she managed to skip over chapters and just say "Oh this is not important," and would just "summarize" parts of the lease.

My complaint with Gateway is that they are unprofessional, they disrespect and ignore customers and former customers, they charge for cleaning and painting but are not specific as to what the actual charges are for. I will pay for the carpet cleaning, but I left that apartment cleaner than how I found it when I first moved in, therefore the rest of the charges need to be dropped or discussed. However, manager is rude every time I try to contact her and I don't know what else to do. When looking at other's reviews of Gateway at Columbia, there are so many others who have experienced the same treatment as me, I believe it's time that Revdex.com investigates the way Gateway at Columbia conducts business.

This was my first time as a renter, and I feel as though Gateway has ruined this experience, they have made me regret ever moving in to their complex. They have completely tarnished my first year of living in an apartment complex and I feel as though they took advantage of me and my roommates. Just because we are college students it does not mean that we deserve to be treated like trash. I am very upset and hurt at the way Gateway conducts business.