(Copy of a letter written to the BBB and State of Georgia Consumer Affairs Office)

I would like to lodge a complaint against a business here in the state of Georgia. Currently I am in the process of relocating from Texas to Georgia and I applied for housing with the Rutherford Glen Apartments in Norcross. The Focus Group Management Company of Atlanta manages this particular property. After how I was treated I would like to file a complaint with your office to make this management company aware of the rules governing consumer agreements.

Basically I was to move into an apartment at Rutherford Glen on Sunday, February 8, 2004. I completed my application on Monday, February 2 and was approved for an apartment on Tuesday February 3. When I scheduled my move along with utility transfers, I did not know the office could not accommodate a key pickup on Sunday because the office is closed. I spoke to ------, the Property Manager and there was no way to accommodate the request without fully charging me for days that I would not be in the apartment because the move was on a Sunday. When I requested the corporate office number she did give me the information and told me if I did chose not to move in I should have no problem picking up my deposit. This was a huge inconvenience for me because I scheduled my utilities to be turned on and had to cancel those requests. Not to mention, look for another apartment when Rutherford had already checked my credit report, so their inquiry will remain on my report for a few months.

I left a message for The Focus Group and received a call ----------------. She is the VP of Management for the company. I did not appreciate her tone during our brief conversation especially when she informed me, 'you will lose your deposit if you don't move in'. When I informed her that her Property Manager already assured me I would receive my deposit back, she stated, 'Well I'm HER boss!' I politely told Ms. ------- that I would not debate this with her especially since as a consumer I have 72 hours to cancel any contract and I was well within my right to receive my deposit back and if she cashed my check I would take her to court. I consequently picked up my check shortly after my conversation with her.

I am not sure how many consumers have been treated like this with The Focus Group or how many people may have been defrauded out of their deposits because of misinformation but I wanted your office to record this complaint for future references so that consumers can be aware of this when dealing with this company.

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