Recently the apartment complex where I live painted every avalable curb and street in front of our garages a red fire zone. I understand that this is for fire and other safety issues but I believe many residents have been taken advantage of and ripped off by the unfair enforcment of this policy.
The parking situation where I live is very bad. If you do not park you car in the early afternoon or have a garage you must park outside our gated community on the street. This is not the safest neighborhood. Last summer there were 3 or 4 rapes just down the street of woman walking from their cars to their Apts. As a single Mother this has caused me concern.
Last week my sister and her family came from out of state to visit. As usual there were no available spaces for them to park. They parked directly in front of my garage, leaving plenty of room for other vechicles to get by. I told them that as soon as their luggage was unloaded they would have to move the car to the street. We took about 10 minutes unloading the car. When my brother in-law went to move it to the stree the car was gone.
It did not occur to me that the car was towed. The security company my complex uses told me it had most likely been stolen. I then reported the car stolen. A few hours later we found out the car had in fact been towed.
My sister's wallet with all their vacation money was in the car, her cell phone and both kids car seats were left. My
brother-in-law's anti seizure medication was also in the car. My garage was open and we were constantly moving back and forth from the house to the car unloading. We did not see or hear a thing. It was almost as if the car was deliberatly towed without a sound. Regardless we were only there for at the max 10 minutes!!!
If there had been a time limit loading/unloading zone we would have used it. There was not! And it would be extremely hard to have brought in their luggage if they had parked outside the gate on the street. They have 2 small children and as I said the street is not a safe place to park. However My brother-in-law was going to move the car to the street as soon as he unloaded the car and his family.
We were understandably upset about having our car towed. It was going to cost them $155.00 plus to claim their car which to us was basically stolen. I have never had any problems with my landlords before. I called them to let them know what had happened the night before fully expecting them to be understanding and reasonable. They were not!
Not only was I told that 35 cars are towed each month, I was told I was "Stupid" and had "No common sense." The manager was so rude and condesending to me He literally brought me to tears. He told me the law was on his side and he can tow any car any time if it is parked illegaly. I told him that just because he may or may not have the law on his side the act of towing a resident or visitor's car after only 10 minutes was flat out wrong. It just was not a very decent thing to do to someone.
I asked him where we should have parked to unload he said, "If you had used your common sense Allyson you would have known to put your hazards on or have someone stay with car." He was so rude and mean I felt threatened and intimadated by him.By the time I got off the phone I could not stop shaking or crying. I mean I know it sounds wimpy to react that way but I cannot put into words the horrible way I was treated. It was truly unbelieveable!
My sister seeing how upset I was and how the manager had treated me went to the office to work things out. She was met with the same lack of understanding I was. She lost her temper verbally.By that I mean she raised her voice but was not yelling in any way. She asked them how they would feel if someone called them names or said they were stupid. She said, "how would you feel if somone called you a *. She was trying to make a point and did not mean to offend them. Apparently they became so angry she asked them to call the police. An officer came out and things calmed down.
I wrote a letter the next day re-capping the situation. I explained how upset I was by my treatment but also said I hoped things would be peaceful between us. I also stated that if 35 cars are being towed a month at $155.00 and up! Someone must be making alot of money!!!
Today I spoke with the resident relations person, which brings me to the reason I am filing this complaint. Suzanne, the woman I spoke with was polite but she refused to listen to my side and told me that she believed the managers. She told me that my sister had walked in to the office throwing her keys (She wasn't even holding keys, the car had been towed! I was then told that she started throwing chairs and things around and said you better call the police. I was told she was there for 4 hours harrassing them and that no one came to check on her... This was such an outrageous lie!
My sister absolutely did nothig physical in any way shape or form. She was upset yes, who wouldn't be, but she definetly did nothing that could be considered harrassment. Their claim of her being their 4 hours is also a lie. As soon as she left me I called my Dad to come over. He lives 15 minutes away and immedietly came over. We were all waiting for my sister in my apt.
My brother-law went to check on her about 2 times. She was not in that office for longer than an hour. And this was because she was talking to the police officer she requested they call. My sister was upset her car had been towed, she was upset at how I had been treated but she was in no way out of line! The claims the managment are making are completely false. But how does someone defend themselves against liars?
Suzanne told me that because of the actions of my sister my lease would not be renewed and I would possibly be evicted. I told her California has a law against retalitory evictions (Cal. Civ Code 1942.5) but almost as soon as I said this, I realized why they were lying. They had to blow this way out of porportion and claim that they not us were the actual victims in order to get away with this unlawful eviction. After asking why I was being punished for what they "claimrd" she did, I was told that I am responsible for my guests actions. She told me they had already consulted with their legal department and there was nothing I could do. I realized talking with her was a waste of time and I hung up after getting the phone number of her boss.
I spent a couple thousand dollars on my move to Larkspur. It was my intention to remain her for several years. I have been a great resident and have never had any problems. I have not only paid my rent on time it is usually a few days early. The point is I strongly believe this non-renewal of my lease and/or eviction is retalitory. I have about 2 more months on my lease and do not want to move. I cannot afford to move and my son's school is close by. We are settled here and this is my home. But these men want to show their power and seek revenge on a single mother who has not done anything to them. At the risk of sounding wimpy again, I am honestly afraid of them and what they could do. I mean if they would lie so outragously what else will they do or lie about. I feel extremely vulnerable living here now, especially knowing these men have the key and can come in whenever they want. (legally with a 24 hours notice)
I have contacted a mediation organization to hopefully work out a solution but I do not think the managment would even attend. I am just a Mother and wonder how I can possibly go up against a huge organization like this. Is there anything I can do to keep living here (As long as I feel safe)? More importantly is there anything, anyway at all I can prove these men are lying and distorting the facts in order to get rid of me?
I would appreciate any advice or help you could give me.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this complaint!
Allyson
Sacramento, California
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