This complaint has to do with Diamonte on Bell Apartments formerly Bell Lakes Apartments. My husband and I have lived for almost two years and never been late on rent.
Recently when the new management company took over the complex, we started noticing things going wrong. The refuse to deal with the problem kids by our apartment. We complained on 6 different occasions. Then we started noticing a lot of vandalism as they spend thousands of dollars on renovations and refuse to keep the gates closed. The night security never properly walks the apartments to be sure of safety.
On April 20th our apartment was broken into.
On May 25th, my car was severely broken into and my radio was stolen. When I called the front office to file a complaint, the lady said that it was my fault for not taking the face plate off of my radio everynight.
One week ago on June 30th My husbands car, amongst other cars on the rear portion of the complex, were severely vandalised with egss and shaving cream. Egg shells were shoved down the gas tank. The next night July 1st, my car was broken into a second time because I can't lock or unlock my driver side door. More items were taken from my car and my car was vandalised as well.
We filed this with our insurance company and had to pay deductibles to get both of our cars fixed costing us $1500. At that point I called the front office to let them know that we just shelled a lot of money to get our cars fixed and we would not have money for rent until the following Friday July 6th. I spoke with Katherine. She told me that we could not make payment arrangements and we would have to pay the rent in full by the 3rd or we would be charged late fees and by the 5th we would be served an eviction notice.
One July 2nd I went to the front office in person to complain about the workers doing renovation blocking me from getting out of my parking space each morning before I go to work. I have asked these workers to move their trucks and they refuse to because they are "busy". When I sat down with Sherry and told her everything that is going on and asked how we could get out of our lease because we are very unhappy with the conditions that we have been living in, she stated that it would cost us $1700 to buy out our lease. I got my husband on the phone and he spoke with Sherry. After the conversation Sherry asked that we both come in person to meet with the Manager Dave to have something worked to be sure that we are happy. Thursday came and we couldn't make it because we both had to work and the office is only open until 5:30.
Friday July 6th I came across pay check errors and my company had not paid me the full amount of what I was owed for the hours worked. I called the front office of Diamonte on Bell Apartments and this time spoke with Vanessa. I'm in tears trying to explain that we are unable to pay the rent on the 6th, today, but I am working with my Director to get the issue resolved in due time but that I would probably not recieve a retro check until next week. Vanessa put me hold and came back to ask why I had not originally made payment arrangements atleast. I explained to her that I had attempted to but was told that I could not do this. She then changed and agreed with this statement and said I would need to come in today to prevent getting the 5 day warning notice on our door. Otherwise at five days they would file with the court and have a court date set up.
A few hours later my Director came to me with a retro check in hand. I immediately asked my director if I could go pay my rent since I live a mile down the road. I took time out of work to go pay the rent and I was turned away by both Vanessa and Katherine because I did not have a Money Order. I was there ready and willing with a check and they would not allow me to pay the rent until next Monday when I can get to my bank to get a money order and pay more fees.
We have made calls to the management company but none have been returned.

User Responses
From: kdsexton00	Date: 07/06/2007
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I recently vacated the property and am still dealing with the BS that they've been putting me and my best friend through since we moved in. When I went to the office to turn in my keys after I left, I was told that my final "statement" would be sent to my new address. I asked what the statement was for and (I don't know names of people there) one of the women informed me that it was in case they were going to charge me fees. I asked what kind of fees there could possibly be since we paid a $500 security deposit, (it was technically $700 because we overpaid and they never gave it back), and (by law) after one year if a resident moves out they are required to replace the carpet with no charge to the previous resident. She informed me that it was for the appliances, and I asked her, "You mean all the appliances that broke one week-one month after I moved in over a year ago? The appliances that I've been calling about for the past year, none of which ever got fixed??" (True story; I posted a review regarding it shortly before I moved). I told you this story to try and, (hopefully), give you an edge over them. When our appliances started breaking directly after we moved in, my instinct told me that i needed to keep an eye on this place, so I created a type of journal. Anytime something broke, I recorded it in my notebook, including time, date, and other details I felt necessary. I also recorded when I called on such things, how often, date and time, etc. We eventually started having so many problems that I wrote them all down in my notebook and I now have a half-full of complaints notebook. Aside from that being incredibly absurd, I got in contact with a lawyer who agreed to help if the complex tried to charge me more money, agreeing that they had indeed been screwing me and my roommate. My advice: Don't break your lease because then they can charge you however they want. We tried doing that and the total came out to be $3000 (They say 1700, but just wait until they add up all the "extra, required" charges). Wait it out. Start keeping a notebook regarding everything and anything they screw you on, believe me, it adds up and creates quite the nice little lawsuit. Good luck.
From: azprincess21	Date: 07/06/2007
Hey darlin... I am still stuck here. =( I hate it here too. The new management is even worse than the last. It took them a week to remove the beehive that was in my air conditioning unit, with several phone calls every day. I had to have my kids wait outside every day while I ran around with a broom to kill the bees inside my home, getting stung several times. My vacuum cleaner even clogged itself to death on the dead bee bodies. It was gross, as well as unsafe. I finally had enough and contacted corporate, threatening to sue and break my lease for landlord not maintaining safe and fit premises. I have dead bees in all of my light fixtures and where they tried to squeeze their bodies through the vents that I kept closed during this ordeal. I have had enough of cleaning dead bees. About a month before that, they sent me a letter in the mail stating they would not accept my rent any further unless I had an extra $100 month to month fee and would be charging me back rent as well, for not renewing my January 07 lease. I was so flipping angry, and they were not answering their phones (some service in California was), I stormed down to the office and had to shove in some b*tch's face my copy of the lease. I then told all the people that were in there to never move into a hellhole like this and to leave immediately while they still had the chance. Some of them laughed. I don't care how hillbilly I looked. "Luxury apartment homes" my @$$!
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/24/2007
It is not the fault of the office staff that they have to comply with corporate regulations. The majority of the people in that office are pleasant people who will do everything that is in their power to help you. In regards to your late rent, there is information in lease that says after you are so late, you have to pay with a money order. It's not like they changed it just for you. If you had read your lease, you would have known that. At the point where your rent is more that three days late, they can't accept your check. It's not their fault, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with them "not letting you." I know for a fact that if you go into the office and speak to the staff PRIOR to the third of the month, they would be more than happy to make arragements with you. Somehow I doubt that you even brought the issue to their attention until after then. Exaggerating your story for effect doesn't really help anyone to make an informed decision about moving into Diamonte. You just look rather ignorant for not reading your lease. Also, people are a lot easier to work with if you can remain relatively respectful and civil towards them. Aside from the manager, the office staff does not have the authority to make or break rules for you. Perhaps if next time you read your lease BEFORE signing it, you'll be happier. It might also help if you were such an ignorant, raging -----. Just so everyone reading this knows, I live at this complex and I have minimal problems and found the staff pleasant and knowledgable. This lady just wants exceptions made for her. Everyone is responsible for paying their own rent and paying it on time. You're not special because you have a little financial hardship, because we all do sometimes. Welcome to the real world, it does not revolve around you.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/11/2007
Usually, I am on the tenant's side, but... ihatebelllakes, most of this drama is YOUR fault! You sound immature and extremely irresponsible. When someone breaks into your car, once - why would you leave more personal items in your car for people to steal? And, if your car door doesn't lock and you don't bother to get it fixed, who is to blame if your things get stolen, AGAIN? Obviously, you are aware that you live in a crime ridden complex; you need to LEARN HOW TO BE more proactive, instead of so reactive! If people are vandalizing your property, call the police, not the leasing office! If this pattern of property damage continues, you may be able to break your lease because of unsafe conditions. But, you need a police report to prove it. Calling the leasing office about your vandalized car is like complaining to the phone company about a toothache! ihatebelllakes, some of the things you said don't add up; which makes me think you are lying. You claim that your director gave you your PAY CHECK in the nick of time. So, you rushed over to your complex to pay your rent, but they would not accept your payment because it had to be in a money order OR A CASHIER'S CHECK, and instead of going to get a money order, YOU OPTED TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY? Now, if I am not mistaken, there are 24 hour check cahsing places All OVER ARIZONA!!!! If paying your rent ON TIME WAS SO IMPORTANT, you would have RAN to the nearest check cashing station and got a money order! But, nooooooooooo... you decide to cry about and wait until Monday! Nuts! ihatebelllakes, instead of running around making poor decisions, you might want to spend some time reading your lease. ANYONE WHO LIVES IN AN APARTMENT should know that when your rent is late, it has to be paid by cashier's check or money order! For your own sake, GROW UP!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/12/2007
Both anonymous post were created by management or suck-ups, really? Even this one: "From: Anonymous Date: 08/11/2007 Both anonymous posts were either put up by management or sucks up getting three free months in rent." Don't be such and overly emotional fool. Everyone that disagrees with a complaining tenant, is not on the side of management. Number one: I do not live in this complex. Number two: I don't even know where it is! As a renter, I am extremely sensitive to other tenants' concerns. Believe you me, I have had my share of fights with STUPID property managers, but let's be real here. ihatebelllakes' story is full of holes and opportinites for ihatebelllakes to see where she went wrong. She is not without blame. She played a part in this drama, too. And, until she accepts here responsibility for what happened here, she will always have these types of problems in her life.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/13/2007
I was the one that put up the third anonymous post on 08/11/2007. As for you, Anonymous #4 on 08/12/2007, all I can say is that I now own my own house that's all paid for. I no longer have to deal with the drama of having to answer to nasty apartment managers and backstabbing leasing consultants. If you want to pay rent to greedy property managers who get rich off of you, knock yourself out. I'm just glad I don't have to answer to stupid apartment employees anymore.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/26/2007
I posted the first anonymous post. I'm not associated with the management of Bell Lakes/Diamonte, but I do live here. It is terribly ignorant for you to assume that I am because I happened to point out how ridiculous the original poster is. That being said, calling out office staff BY NAME is excessive and rude, in my opinion. If you would like to call out Dave, the manager, go right ahead. However, it is not the fault of the leasing agents that they have to comply with corporate rules. PAY YOUR RENT or pursue the appropriate avenues for making arrangements. People who complain about policies that are specifically outlined in their leases just look dumb. Try actually reading your lease, it will make you life easier. Just as a side note, I wish "sucking up" resulted in free rent, but it does not. I'm just trying to provide a point of view that isn't tainted by ignorance and deadbeats who can't pay their rent.
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/21/2008
I???m sure this place hates you too

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