I was a tenant at the Inglewood facility for almost two years. I went into delinquincy, and finally lien status after an extended period of unemployment (following a surgery).
I was advertised to sell in th March 14th auction, however I was in constant contact with staff and management regarding my status.
I just did not have the money. As the auction date neared, I asked the manager Patricia Sorrells, if she could give me a move out deal. I was anxious to vacate BEFORE rent assessed an additional month associated fees.
This is fairly standard in the industry. We agreed to an amount, & I came to the site Februrary 28th 2006 to vacate. I had been verbally notified earlier in the month by Ms Sorrells that my lock was to be cut. This is also standard prior to advertisement for auction.
I was not prepared however, for what I found. I had been on the property last in November searching for Christmas ornaments, & items i was giving away to lighten my load as I anticipated vacating soon.
I KNOW I left a mess. I had taken a boxcutter, and opened nearly every box searching for particulars. When Ms Sorrells assistant removed A American's lock, I saw an extremely clean, and much reduced space.
Everything had been handled, and centered in the space. Unit looked swept, and there was rat poison in a corner. While I could not say at first glance WHAT was missing, clearly - this is not what I left in November.
I immediately went to speak with the site manager. She told me that at A American, they regularly opened boxes to photograph contents. (NOT standard) I asked her if she could pull my file, I would like to see these photos.
She responded that she did not have access to them. This would be the area manager (or someone else's domain/responsibility) I adamently explained to her that my property had been handled, she responded that of course, A American managers had the right to handle delinqent property.
In fact, I was "LUCKY" my things were still in unit C766 because it is also their (A American's) protocal to RELOCATE delinquent items based on size of space and amount of contents. (???)
If this had ocurred she continued, she would have vacated me from the system. I asked her if she could double check, PERHAPS that is what occurred as so many items were missing? Could she check her company space please? Oh no, came her emphatic response - at that point she says " I would be involved, and I would know".
I told Ms Sorrells that I was not happy with this, and that I would be contacting her corporate office. I needed to continue my move, but I would stop by to ask for those phone numbers and contact names.
When I entered the office at 4:30 to ask for the information, I was told that the manager was at lunch.
Using my own resourses, I contacted corporate office for A American on March 1st 2006. I told the entire story to a young woman named Dorothy. I asked her who the DTM (Delinquent tenant Manager) was; she told me Cindy Weening. But she said I would need to speak to the area manager Blaine White. I left messages for both parties.
March 2nd end of day I called back, and repeated the entire story to a young woman named Larada. Again left messages for both parties.
It is interesting to note, that at the corporate level, no one identifies themselves - you must ask whom you are speaking with.
On March 3rd, Pat answered, asked me to hold, then shortly transferred me to someone named Claudio. Weary to repeat the whole story AGAIN, I asked Claudio his last name - Flores, and his position with A American. Mr Flores responded that he was the vice president.
OK! I reiterated EVERY detail (except that I asked Ms Sorrells to loan me a lock, as it took two trips to move out - she declined, stating the the lock loan would make A American responsible for my unit!) I was a little emotional, and omitted that detail in the re-telling.
Mr Flores was very courteous, and professional, he assured me that the area manager would be in touch with me asap. Within twenty minutes, Blaine White did return my call. I went through the report again. At this point Mr White asked me if he could get back to me on Monday, as the 3rd was a Friday.
I had no problem with that. As I have stated, I never call until almost end of business on a given day. If mr White did go to the property today as he promised, to do his investigation, he has not told me. I am posting this entry at 3:00 on Monday, March 6.
Among my missing items were - boxed sets of matching books, bags of linen and clothes, an armless chair (that needed to be re upholstered) dishes, Christmas decorations, and one photo album that was a compilation of all items pertaining to my toddler daughter's funeral. Also, my sofa was present, but not the cushions. (???!)
It is my position that whether someone was stealing, (dubious) or more likely, considered my items to be trash, they had no right to handle, clean, or dispose og my property.
The law is clear on this point.in my discussion with Mr white, he did not dispute this, despite his manager's assertions that A American could develope, and follow their own protocal.
Foul!!! I came with Cash two weeks prior to the auction, and these were the results. It is sad to have trust abused like this, followed by a formidable lack of contact. Why is A American so hard to reach?
Why, when you do reach them at corporate do they not identify themselves? Why in All of the site mailings, late notice, last chance notice, or any of the property stationary is the site's phone number not displayed?
I hope this will help get their attention, also potential renters, this was an abysmal experiance - and is NOT resolved to date. Ps I did not submit before 3:30 3/6/06
0 comments