I am surprised that there are not more entries for this horrible, horrible company. I will make sure to get the word out to other consumer web sites to post here.
I have had the misfortune of renting from Archstone Mission Valley beginning in July. As soon as I was handed my keys the management began treating me like a transaction instead of a customer. They have terrible attitudes and seem to forget that without the tenants, they don't have salaries.
Anyway... It all began the very next month when rent was due. My check had cleared the bank but my boyfriend said that after 15 days the check had not gone through. He wanted to make sure that rent was paid in full so he went to the bank and withrew a money order for his amount of the rent. He went to the leasing office and spoke to the accountant, Nicole, who told him that the payment had been received and everything was fine. He offered her the money order just in case and she said that it was not necessary.
Then a couple of days later, I got a nasty phone call from the same accountant who said that his check had bounced. She seemed to have forgotten all about the money order that was offered to her. My boyfriend immediately paid the rent and the late fee, even though it really wasn't fair. Nicole assured him that there would be no mark on my record about this. Then, I went on vacation and had to deposit my rent in the "secure" drop box since I was leaving at 5 am on the 1st. I enclosed a check from my checking account and a money order for my boyfriend's portion. I was on a cruise and did not have access to phone.
When I got back to land I checked my messages and there was a message from Nicole but nothing about what it was all about. I called and got voicemail. I called the next day and got vm; then finally she called back and said half of my rent payment was missing. I had to cancel a check and write a new one—and was assured that this would not go on my record, because THEY lost my check! I mean, why would I deposit HALF of the rent? I didn't think they would notice?
Then, my boyfriend went on a business trip and his checkcard was stolen. I had given him my half of the rent, since the office recommended paying with one method of payment. He had written the rent check from his account and since he was robbed, his account was drained. The bank agreed to refund the money, but that took two weeks. Of course rent bounced. This was not Archstone's fault and we agreed to pay the late fee and NSF fee; however it still would have been a nice gester to pardon us since it was not our fault. We had to proof to show that he had in fact been robbed. But again, Nicole said it was no big deal.
But then I got a letter stating that we would have to pay by money order from there on out. This was totally unfair, especially given the fact that they are known for losing payments; and that Nicole had said the previous incidents would not affect our standing. Well, she is a liar. She refused to hear my appeal and so I approached the COO of the company. I was then granted with the privaledge to pay by check again after a two month period. I agreed. Then, the office lost April's rent! And it was a money order to boot. Luckily it was drawn on my bank and I could cancel it and have a new one issued.
After all this nonsense I was going to renew for an additional six months as we are planning to move out of state in six months and it is difficult to get a six month lease; and Archstone has properties in Texas. Also, I am going to be travelling extensively in June and July (my lease is up in July) and I do not have time to move, nor do I want to pay double rent or a break lease fee.
When I went in to renew I was told my account is on nonrenew status! It was three days before the manager called me with a reason. He stated that his decision was based on my payment history and I had 5 months of late or NSF marks on my account! He even said I was late on months where no incident occured and I received no late notice letter or paid any late fee! He totally fabricated everything in order to get rid of me because I complained to the COO about the horrendous way I was treated and he got into trouble! So... Never, ever, live in an Archstone Community. It will be the worst thing you ever do—that is unless you like your apartment to swarm with ants and you like shoddy construction in your unit and soulless management.
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