Last December, I lost my job in Florida. I was living in the Promenade and up until then, I loved the community. The office staff was nice enough. Grounds were taken care of. Everytime I needed the maintenance, they were there in a pinch. I am a young professional, and I knew other young pros lived in the community. It was a nice mesh of people.
Unfortunately, though, when the economy first turned down, I lost my job because the company I worked for went under. I notified the staff that I would have to cancel my lease due to my lack of income. First, they required that I pay for two more month's worth of rent because they have a policy of 60 day's notice. That's fine, but hey, when you are brought into your boss's office on Friday and told you wouldn't have a job on Monday, 60 days is a bit much. Then, there is an additional fee for breaking the lease that amounts to an additional two month's worth of rent. My lease would have been up in four months anyways, but alas, I had to get out of town. So instead of having human compassion, they made my life a living hell. They sold my "debt" to a debt collector, and of all places, he caught up with me in basic training for the Army. I had joined up without any other options available. I had to make ends meet, pay for my vehicle, other bills that stacked up while I was paying that first two month's rent. Their debt collector called my basic training unit and notified my chain of command. If you want an embarrassing moment, try answering that phone call in front of your Basic training First Sergeant. In the end, while I was trekking around carrying 40 pounds on my back, learning I would deploy, and under a considerable amount of stress, I also found out that every dime I earned in Basic training would go to my "debt." Believe me, when you wake up at five am, push yourself through all day long, march long distances, sleep outside, run miles every morning, eat in the span of two minutes, the last thing you want to find out is that your car might be repossessed because every cent you earn goes to some guy who works for an apartment complex who already got a few thousand dollars from you after you lost that last job.
Tough luck. But if I had the chance to do it over, I would never have lived there. It is extravagantly overpriced, and is run by a corporation without heart or face. I was doing what I could, trying to survive, and when I look back on it, it makes me sick to think that I will go to war so corporations like that can continue to treat people like trash when they find themselves out of luck.
So if you have no concerns about your future paychecks, the apartment community will be fine for you. But considering the current economy, I hope you consider my troubles before signing that contract.

User Responses
From: Cmftmfl	Date: 05/03/2009
Wah wah wah! Did you read the lease agreement?! Clearly states the terms. Do you know what a lease is? Not your fault though huh? Maybe next time try not having a car you can't afford. You probably have a nice HD tv you couldn't afford too. Live within your means idiot! The Promenade did nothing wrong, you did. Ever hear of having an emergency savings account in case things go wrong? Probably not if your only choice is the military:( You are just like all the other Gen Y'rs, living beyond your means, paycheck to paycheck and then you're astounded when you run outta of money. That's what happens when you spend spend spend. Learn from your mistake(s) and don't blame everyone else except you.
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/13/2009
Cmftmfl....that post is horrible!! and to anonymous I first want to thank you for your service....and secondly want to let you know that they broke FL law by charging you that much. The maximum they can charge is two months rent not a 60 day our and two months.
From: capechick1228	Date: 12/09/2009
cmftmfl - you're a cruel, heartless person. Your time will come when you face financial hardship - I hope your friends are just as compassionate as you appear to be.

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