Moving. Ugh!

We're moving into a two bedroom apartment this week and...well...just read below what I had to send to the company this morning:

I have had nothing but problems since I first decided to rent this apartment from DEBCO.

First, the manager of the apartment told us the deposit was $150 and the first month’s rent would be free if we signed the lease right then. We thought the apartment was just what we wanted and signed, writing a $150 check in the process. Then, we get to the DEBCO offices the lady there tells us that actually the deposit is $250 and the first month’s rent isn’t free because we are moving in more than two weeks. We explained to her what the manager said and her response was, “I’m sorry that’s what she told you, but this is how it is.” I was flabbergasted, but we forked over the money anyway because we really want the apartment.

Forward on to this week…move in week. I arrive at the apartment yesterday and the air conditioner doesn’t work. It was 91 degrees in the apartment. The sink in the main bathroom doesn’t work and the refrigerator doesn’t cool properly. Also, the manager said they would provide us a microwave. No microwave is to be found in the apartment.

I have called maintenance and they are supposed to be fixing the repair issues today. I have an 8 week old baby. I really hope it is fixed today because I cannot safely have an 8 week old baby in a 91 degree apartment! I am still infuriated about the bait and switch that was pulled on me about the deposit and first month’s non-free rent, and now I am paying rent for an apartment that is unlivable because of the heat. I still want this apartment because the location, size, and rental price are exactly what I want, but I have a really bad taste in my mouth about DEBCO properties because of all this.

I am writing to see what you can do about any of these issues. I would like the air conditioner to be fixed and some sort of restitution for the problems I have had so far with this apartment. I would like to start off my rental relationship with DEBCO on a better foot, but I will be contacting the Better Business Bureau if these problems aren’t amended.

I've actually received a reply already:

The air conditioning people will be their today, the refrigerator also, and the sink and microwave. I'll look into the other issue our policy is always if we hold over 2 weeks not to do the move in special. But I will look into this and reply.

I'm going to ignore her grammar and be nice and for now just be happy I received a reply that at least the repairs are going to be made and I don't have to buy a microwave. I can't help but be irritated, though. Maybe I've been sheltered...ok, more spoiled, but I've never had these types of issues before with any business (execpt with my health insurance and Cox, but that's different...those people are just evil). I feel like an idiot for not getting the deals in writing in the first place and for not checking the air conditioning when we did the first walkthrough of the apartment. I guess I just expected too much.

I don't know if I should still fight for the first month's rent or just leave well enough alone as long as they actually fix everything today. Ugh...this is way too complicated.

Anyway, lesson learned: Buyer beware!

I'll keep you updated.

Update: I replied.

Thank you for getting back to me. That is wonderful that the repair people will be there today! Thank you!

As far as the other issue goes, I understand now that that is your policy; however, I was not aware of that at the time I agreed to take the apartment. I feel that I was told one thing so I would take the apartment right then even if it wasn’t true. Basically, I feel lied to and that is an unfair business practice. It may simply have been the fault of the manager and not the company, but at that time she was acting as a representative of DEBCO and thus the fault also lies with DEBCO as a whole. The manager knew exactly when we would be moving into the apartment, so she should have told us the first month’s rent was not free and that the deposit was $250 instead of telling us “first month’s rent free and $150 deposit,” but that’s not what happened.

I look forward to hearing your conclusions on this matter.

Yeah, the more I think about all this the angrier I get, but I can't just reply, "Bitch, give me my money!" Well, I guess I could, but I doubt that would work any better.