I lived in the BRE properties apartment complex in Los Angeles for a little over one year. Just like April from Colorado I found that Bre Properties - it does not matter which complex - is only looking out for number one: THEMSELVES.
They outright lie even though the evident that they are lying. They change your move out date because it wasn't given exactly 30 days prior to the end of the contract in writing. Then they lie about what day you did move out so that they can supposedly charge you back rent. Then they lie that there are damages to the apartments.
We cleaned, patched and washed the walls. We left the apartment clean. We paid for an expensive carpet cleaner to clean the carpets. Nothing was right according to the bill that they sent us one month later.
I was contacted about three days after we moved out and told that the carpets were urine stained - we did have a puppy but she was paper trained. The carpets were showing normal wear and tear. The complex management insited that I was responsible for the carpet. That was the only thing they complained about. I was even told that was the only problem.
If I had known that it was their normal practice (not legal practice but their practice) for them to charge everyone a cleaning charge and painting charge I would have left the apartment a mess. I am an honest person and responsible for any damages and problems that I cause - I assumed that the company was the same.
So, back to the bill. The complex management falsified the date of move out to the end of the month. I left in the middle of the month after my contract had completed. They want to charge me back rent. They are charging me to replace the carpet, clean the apartment, and paint the apartment.
When I got the bill I called Cynthia Wolf who is the corporate manager of outstanding bills. When I told her I was disputing the charges she told me that it had to be in writing before they would investigate and that I should pay the amount that was not in dispute.
I reviewed the ledger page they sent me and I found the above erroneous charges. I wrote the email she requested and in great detail explained that in all reality they owed me over $500 not that I still owed them the $500 more that they were trying to charge me.
I was sent a scathing email response from Cynthia Wolf.in short she stated nothing would be investigated until I paid the amount demanded and if I didn't pay the amount then I would be sent to collections. She was very careful not use the exact words of calling us deadbeats but the underlying message was there. I was not going to send them more money after they were obviously trumping up the charges.
Sure enough, true to her word, Cynthia sent the bill to collections who now threatens ruined credit and more charges. Of course no investigation is going on and will never occur because there is no motivation for them to give good and honest service.
Their rentals are down for the last two years if you look at their web site and see the investment pages. Why? Enough of us ex-tenants have been burned that they are running out of patsies. Why do they charge excessive rent and deem themselves "luxury apartment homes"? Because they hope to attract people who have good credit, good jobs, and work hard for their money because they are the ones who are more willing to fold to their blackmail scheme of "Pay or we will ruin your credit".
The corporation is running out of money and is willing to try any, and all, method available in order to get money. They are like the drowning victims that lifeguards dread. They will climb on top of the very person that is there to save them. They bully and intimidate the very person who they should appreciate and please so that the person either stays in the apartment longer or recommends the apartments to others.in their panic to money grab they are drowning their rescuer.
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