Ok, so I am looking online to look at some apartments to move to and i come across The Phoenix. The website is nice the apartment looked nice, I really like what I saw. So I decided to go and apply. One Saturday, (July 25, 2009), I go and apply. I took a tour of the apartment with the leasing consultant Melissa who seemed real nice, at the time. I brought with me my $40 application fee and $100 holding fee, (which is supposed to be refunded upon disapproval), anyways, I didn't get approved. I was told by Melisaa, that that wasn't my only option. I had two other choices, either pay $395 for a credit program, if the property manager approves that or, get a co-signer. She said more than likely, the property manager would approve me for the credit program because my credit didn't look too bad. I took her word for it, why' because she is a leasing professional, and she seemed real cool, and somewhat honest, so I had no reason not to believe her. So she said, if the property manager doesn't call you Monday morning, then call me back and I'll tell her the situation etc. So, I was like "thanks", she was like sure, no problem. I was like "I really liked the apt. and she said, "There shouldn't be a problem, basically I should be approved someway." So I left, thinking I was going to get it, planning what I was going to do next etc. Just left happy. Then Monday comes. I didnt receive a phone call from the property manager so I decided to call friendly ol' Melissa. So I call her, I was told she was at lunch and that she would call me back. The day passed, I received no call from anyone. So then I called on Tuesday, I spoke with someone named Ray, he said Melissa was out and to call tomorrow. I call the next day, Ray said, Melissa had a family emergency and she would be out until Friday. So at that time, I asked Ray if he could assist me. I told him the situation and what was told to me. He put me on hold. He came back on the phone and said that he could not locate my folder and that I need to speak with Melissa and that she wouldn't be back until Friday. (July 31,2009). He said that he would leave her my number and she should call me back. So Friday comes, and I did not call at all, I just waited to see if she would call and she didn't. Then Saturday comes, so I called on Saturday. I call, ask to speak with Melissa, I was told by Toni, that she was unavailable and to call back in 10 minutes. So a hour goes pass and I call back, Finally, I get to speak to Melissa. So I'm like, hey this Ms. T, I'm trying to check the status of my application, did the property manager look at it, make a decision, etc. She said "Oh, she hasn't called you yet'", I was like no, she said "Hold on, Im'a call her now". So I hold, then she comes back on the phone and says "She said you weren't approved for the credit program because the credit files on the report are current" So I say ok, cool. She said you can come with a co-signer, and by this time, after all this, I don't want the apt. any more, just my money back. So I asked her, could I come pick up my $100' She said "Sure, but we close at 5 today." (It was like 4:30 on Sat)She said, we are open tomorrow from 12-5pm and I'll be here. I say ok cool. I'll come pick it up tomorrow. So, Sunday comes, I get there around 2:30 p.m. I wait while she goes and looks for the money order. I wait about 5 or 10 minutes for her to come back out to tell me that my info is probably locked up in the managers office and she doesn't have the key and she can't get it, I would have to come back tomorrow. I work in DC and I take metro to work, I don't get off until 5 so by the time I got down there, they would be close, she was like, well, I'll stay here until 6:30. I'm like what, you knew I was coming, why would you tell me to come down here if you didn't have it. Why would it be locked up in the property managers desk, if I wasn't approved. It was just so many why's but, there was nothing that could be done that day, so I left. I had a copy of the money order and the place I purchased it from was right across the street from the Phoenix, 7 day beers. They said, that I would need the original money order for them to refund me my money. So I just sat that for a minute in the car. I was like desperate times, call for desperate measures, I decide to call back, I'm calling, calling, calling, from my phone and she is not answering. She was the only one in there on Sunday that I saw, so I know she is in there. I decide to call from my boyfriends phone, so on the first ring, she picks up. So in my mind, I'm like WOW....you're just ignoring my phone calls on purpose. WOW!!! I'm getting treated like this and I am not even a tenant. Its crazy. So anyways, I am on the phone with her and I was like does the person with the key live around, so I don't have to come back out here tomorrow, I'll even go get them. She's like naw, they live in Upper Marlboro, but they wouldn't come to work on a Sunday anyways. I say ok. She said again, I will wait for you tomorrow until 6:30 so I said ok, there is nothing else I can do today. I made plans to go out there the next day, (Monday) I really just wanted to be done with the Phoenix. So I've seen a pattern on how they go, they'll say they'll call you back but they don't so I decided to call her (Melissa) and let her know, I would be coming today from work and to please wait (which she said she would) to give me my money order. She said ok, then I said, could you make sure you have it before I get off the phone please and she said sure, hold on. She placed me on hold for about 5 minutes, came back on the phone and was like, Toni is looking through all the money orders and I will have her call you when she gets to yours. I was like, well how long will that take, she said 10 minutes. I said ok. So 1 hour passes, I get a phone call I was like OMG, They actually called me back. So it's Toni, she says that your money order went to your account and could we get an address to forward you a check. I was like WHAT!!!! What account, I was not approved, so that holding fee should have never been touched. I became so heated with that -------- that they just told me. I'm not good enough to lease an apartment from ya'll but ya'll good enough to cash my money orders, now I have to wait for the corporate office to cut me a check and who knows how long that is going to take. I have been getting the run around from these people for somedays now. And I am not even a tenant!! To me, it seems like this is something that occurs on a regular basis and needs to be stopped. After all that, I didn't want to have any more communication with them and thought after today, I wouldn't. $100 may not be a lot to some and really, that is pointless, it could have been $1, my thing is, it should have never been deposited into nothing, I shouldn't have no type of account with them because I was never approved. So I believe everything happens for a reason, I learned my lesson, just at the wrong time, I'm just short $100. I never got to speak with the property manager. Those people in there are snakes, except for the guy Ray, he sounded like he understood, but that could just be there whole little scheme. Melissa, man she fooled me, I thought she was cool, and as soon as all this BS started to transpired, she got ghost,she was not trying to be the one to deliver the bad news. She tried to get Toni and Ray to do her dirty work when it was all her fault to begin with. Its cool, cause what goes around comes around. This is a crazy experience that I do not wish on anyone.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/03/2009
I am a resident at The Phoenix and that seems like a personal issue..Now had you have gotten the apartment which from what i can see Melissa tried every possible way to get you approved, you would have never posted anything on here. I go on this site just to laugh at the stupid ---- people say when things don't go their way.lol...suck it up
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/03/2009
I was a resident a few months ago and let met tell you. I had a similar experience except I was actually approved for the apartment. Lucky for me I found a better place and thank my stars I moved on. This place sucks rocks and you should be happy you were not approved because their rental facilities are terrible. Don't even listen to the previous person because its probably melissa or somone in the rental office trying to cover up. This place is a roach, rat infested mess. Be lucky that you never moved in.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/25/2009
To the resident that responded saying that this is a personal issue just show how conniving, ignorant and very sad indiviauls in society can be . I am presently a resident at these apartments and just as the lady said in her complaint these people in this rental office are some snakes. If you can't really understand what this person went through then, i guess your really one of the people that work there. I wish i had not gotten approved just like the first person as from the manager straight down to their maintenance staff sucks and no matter how many request you make to have something done it never gets done. So for you to come on this site just to laugh at others who may experience the hell truly dont say much about yourself. Point blank the Donaldson Group should be ashamed with the manner in which these apartment complex is run. I am sorry to the person who did not get approve and all the crap you had to go through, however on the bright side you should take that as a blessing in disguise.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/26/2009
Thank you to the last response!! Eventhough I did like the way the apartments looked, I think it was a blessing in disguise. I did receive my money back, but I think that is only because of the statement I wrote on here and what I sent via email to the Donaldson Group. But with all that being said, I came on here to share an experience that I had dealing with the leasing "professionals" at the Phoenix. I still think the manner in which the situation was handled was poor. Maybe they need some classes on customer service is all I am saying. They need to learn that you can't put every individual in the same category or treat everybody the same because everybody is different. You should handle each individual individually and with respect. And they need to learn how to be responsive and consistent because if I wasn't continuosly avoided and rushed off the phone, then this situation probably would have never occured. I was not rude to no one, so it was no need for no one to be rude to me. I didnt come on here to bash any one, I told the truth about what happened and keep in mind, that is a summary of the events that took place. But with all that being said, I do look at it as a blessing in disguise. The Phoenix wasn't for me but I did find a place that is!! Read more: http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/MD-Bladensburg-The-Phoenix-formerly-Park-Place-Towers-961183.html#ixzz0PIzctCP9 To the second person, thanks. This happened to you too? So did you ever get your money back? I just really believe that this doesn't need to happen to anyone else. That's all. Everything happens for a reason and it wasn't for me!! Its good to know there people still out there with some sense. So thanks again!! Good look!!

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