Thiefs, Scammers, Extortionism & Monopolistic Behavior
About 7 months ago the apartment complex I live in changed hands. The new management company has thus far proven to be incompetent, disorganinzed and hostile to current tenants.
Other tenants I have talked to have said that they plan on moving out at the end of their leases. I wished I had known then what I know now.
The previous company would send out renewal notices about 75 days before your lease ended. You have to give 60 days notice if you are moving out. The new company allegedly sends the renewal notice out 65 days before your lease ends.
I say allegedly because I didn’t physically get it (on door & in email) until 53 days before my lease ends. I did manage to at least get an idea of what my rent would look like by going in person to the office at day 61. The reason given was that first, the manager was locked out of the computer system, then the weekend (office is closed on Sundays), then the office was getting new carpet installed so the manager couldn’t get to her computer or files. It was in the late afternoon by the time I got a verbal of what my rent would go up by ($100/month).
Today, I went in to talk to someone about getting my lease renewed. This was after replying to the email wanting to renew. Then a week later talking to someone in office, who simply wrote my request down on a piece of paper. Today, almost a week later I managed to talk to a leasing consultant. This is where I found out (it wasn’t as clear as it could have been in the notice) that I will have to pay a $500 deposit to use my current renters insurance policy with Progressive ($140/yr) or use their insurance company and pay $276/yr. For essentially the same coverage.
Pet Damage Liability Coverage of $500; I don’t have a pet and can’t get rid of that.
Identity Fraud Expense Coverage of $5,000; I’m already covered through other places and have my credit frozen. Do they plan on losing my identity?
Bed Bug Remediation Coverage of $1,000; whatever, I guess Ok.
Deductible of $500, that's what my current policy has already
For this, I get to pay twice as much as I am now.
This feels like a combination of extortion and monopolistic behavior. Combined with a dose of incompetence.
Unfortunately, living in Texas, there are few remedies for consumers.
So, I guess I’m going to have to cancel my Progressive policy and get their policy. Also, as a bonus, lose the bundle discount on my car.
This is the last year I am going to be here at this location.