On July 15 I completed a rental application and paid a $45.00 non-refundable processing fee, I was also asked to write a check for $300.00 for a security deposit while waiting to find out if I was approved to lease a 3 BR apartment with a move-in date of August 26. On July 19th I received a phone call stating that my application had been approved but I would be required to pay an additional $740.00 month rent upfront as well as the $740.00 monthly rent. I told the representative that I did not think that would be a problem and she stated we would be in touch before the move in date in August to sign the lease. On July 22, I informed her that my situation had changed and my income will be decreased before August 26th move-in date/lease signing and that unfortunately I would not be able to go through with signing the lease. I sent her a detailed e-mail and left a voice message. This gave AMPLE time of OVER 1 month's notice before the proposed move-in date. I asked for the deposit back since I had given ample notice and that I understood the application fee was not refundable. I also made it clear I was not requesting the $45.00 back. I only wanted my $300.00 refunded to me. She responded back with a voice mail stating that since I was "approved" for the application that there would not be any refund of my $300.00. Okay, the problem is this: Since I let her know that we would not be able to afford the apartment due to a DECREASE in income ahead of time, this all happened within a 7-day time frame that my family should not just LOSE $300.00. It is NOT fair, right or ethical to keep the $300.00 when she did not turn any other prospective applicants down in order to "hold" the place for my family. I sent an email stating this to her and that I believe this practice is the same as taking food from the mouths of my children and there has been NO reply. I want to know who I need to contact to find out what I can do about this situation. If the apartment had been held for me from July 15th up until August 26th and THEN I let them know I could not rent, then fine... That would be understandable. I think this is not only a gross injustice but someone needs to give me a better answer than "oh, you cannot have a refund because you were approved." I am a single working mother who does not receive the court ordered child support for my children and am doing the best that I can to provide suitable housing for my family. My $300.00 is not going to break that company, but I can tell you this, it sure HAS broken my finances. My children did not even get groceries this past week and I do not get paid for another 8 days. Tell that to my children when they ask "mom, why can't we have some food?"
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