I am writing this on behalf of my girlfriend (who was robbed for over $2000 by Babcock and Brown)
When we originally visited the apartment we found the grounds to be well kept. That was about the only good thing because shortly after the robbery began.
Here is the story.
The staff will act very friendly, but they are professional CON PEOPLE. Don't tell them how long you intend to stay ask them to tell you what the prices are based on duration of stay first (BEFORE ANYTHING!!, you'll see what I mean) They play dumb but are really trying to trick you!
This complex is in the Durham School District near Briar Creek Mall, busy area but a lot of break-ins into vehicles.
My girlfriend is a minority so when we visited and saw a lot of black kids hanging out by the pool we were like "ok, cool, this place is probably alright" and yes, there are a lot of black people living there so if you are colored, you should feel pretty comfortable there, but watch your pocket, not from the neighbors, but the leasing company and their staff of properly trained, criminal, sales people.
First off, she wanted to sign for 1 year but was conned into signing for 14 months (and promised a lower rate) when she got the papers they put 15 months (so much for a break) But she thought "ok, what is one month", she had explained there was an urgency to move in because her old lease was expiring, and so they capitalized on that.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
Your stuff will be stolen from your terrace.
While living there her car was broken into, only had some change stolen, but still, that sucks.
She couldn't use the washers and dryers because they don't work well, clothes are too wet from the washer and the dryer needs about 2 hours and still won't dry properly, so every sunday she drove 30 mins to a laundromat because there are none in the neighborhood.
The heating system in the apartment was poor (and expensive, $90 per month).
EACH APARTMENT HAS THE GENERATORS LOCATED RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM WINDOW!!! (keep an eye out if viewing an apartment) BE PREPARED TO WAKE UP AT ODD HOURS EVERY NIGHT!! AND EXPERIENCE FATIGUE FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR LEASE.
The business center was broken into and the computers and business machines were stolen (you can see the police report)
The door to the right of the leasing office is very easy to break into because the locks are poorly secured, that was one reason why she never used the gym, the other reasons were because she saw some kids smoking pot out by the pool (who didn't even live there) AND some of the gym equipment was broken (for the entire year she lived there)
One time the staff had to go to everyone's apartments' and change security codes because somehow or another all of the security codes were compromised.
The pool is always filthy and full of people, usually guys (that don't live there) gawking at girls like perverts (according to some of the girls living there) and blasting music from their cars while rolling up blunts (pot).
The gated entrances are always breaking. When the last person issued a complaint the response from management was. "well residents shouldn't let people follow them into the complex, that's the problem" THEY BLAMED THE RESIDENTS... First off, let's examine this statement so we can discover how extremely stupid they are. If there is a "bad guy" following my girlfriend into the complex what is she supposed to do' get out and confront him' SECOND... Are criminals dumb' if they want in, all they have to do is walk in, go over to the exit side stand in front of the gate, it will open automatically, then drive in. Those gates are USELESS! and blaming the residents for criminal activity is just pathetic, how about some cameras'' TOO MUCH MONEY, RIGHT'!'!
MOVING OUT:
After months of sleepless nights, driving miles and miles to wash her clothes, being afraid of being home alone and getting laid off from her job my girlfriend decided to leave the apartment. She had a few months left on the lease so decided to go inquire about breaking the lease. I went with her. All of the sudden the fake "nice" was gone. When she asked the agent she got a blunt answer, "YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE REMAINING MONTHS" --- This was actually false information but the agent was trying to intimidate her into just paying. There was actually a clause (not included in the lease, that did mention early termination and the conditions required) The agents played dumb when asked about it and began making up answers, all of which were attempts to get more money. You would think the agents owned part of the company the way they were getting on for the money, perhaps they make a commission or something, but man they was hungry!
The battle went on an on and finally after having to complain and visit the office many times and showing them their own contracts, my girlfriend was able to get them to sign to their own termination agreement, HOWEVER, Babcock and Brown still did not give back any money. She was basically asked to leave the premises 4 months early but pay for the four months in advance, then promised that if someone rented the apartment that she would get 1 month rent back. WOW! what a deal, but still no deal, We moved from the area but had a friend go by the complex to see if anyone had moved into the apartment, the apartment is occupied but she has not received her refund, she has also not received her security deposit. Babcock and Brown knew that she was leaving the area and figured that it would cost her more money to go back and fight for her money, so they believe that they got away scotch clean. On top of all of this they charged her $50 for a little plastic pool pass which they originally claimed on paper would cost $10 to replace if lost, then when she lost it was told it would be $25, only to be charged $50 in addition to another $2400 they took for the last 4 months of rent.
It doesn't end there, this is how we really got a sense of the kind of people they are there. Upon moving out she was made to wait an hour for inspection. We had the place professionally cleaned, expecting to be conned. After inspection the maintenance guy commented to management, and I quote "I couldn't find anything". I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING!!! so basically they were looking for things to try and weasel more money from her. DISGUSTING!! ALAS! they did finally find something. They charged her to replace the silver aluminum discs under the stove ranges...'!'!' In my 20 years of renting I have never heard of such a thing.
So to finally sum this all up. Babcock and Brown, along with their criminal staff made a conscious decision to steal money from my girlfriend because she is a soft spoken, innocent girl, like they have probably done many, many times before, I noticed that most of the comments by others on this website are referencing lying and stealing as well.
Babcock and Brown probably figured that she will never come back to the area.... They were right, she won't be in the area. But what they didn't figure was that her boyfriend was a short tempered, Harlem raised SOB and that I WILL BE IN THE AREA VERY SOON!!!
TAKE THIS HOW EVER YOU WANT TO, CALL THE AUTHORITIES, DO WHATEVER, I SIMPLY DON'T CARE!! I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS INCIDENT COSTS BABCOCK & BROWN and those S**T employees 100 TIMES MORE THAT THEY STOLE FROM HER.... THIS IS A $%#*$ PROMISE!
IN CONCLUSION:
I ask that any residents reading this tell the new residents of apt 815 to contact me by email mosaicflight at gmail dot com. I would like any of you who have had problems with babcock and brown to also email me with your stories.
I will be posting to all of Babcock and Brown properties and starting a blog about criminal property management companies (I am a web developer and SEO expert, so we'll do well). I will also be distributing ads for the blog to other apartment complex residents so that they can contribute and therefore make the blog a valid source of bad apartment leasing experiences FEATURING BABCOCK AND BROWN and THE STAFF OF BRIDGES AT WIND RIVER.
I am thinking various news agencies might like a quirky story of how a troubled economy causes companies to lie and steal.
TO SUM IT ALL UP:
I am CONSCIOUSLY PISSED OFF! --- not one of those i'll cool off after a drink, or with a good night of rest. My entire ride to Charlotte and then Durham will be consumed with the thought of those C***S stealing money from my girlfriend.
They don't get off that easy, revenge may be costly to me, but it is justified, and I don't have much going on right now anyway.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/22/2009
Are you a racist? According to your story I would have to agree they are lying people. However, what is with comment about black kids and 'colored" people slurr? What the hell does that have to do with anything. You girlfriend is minority hispanic, asian, or what. Obviously she is not a woman of "color" as you nicely put it. Color skin nothing with the wrong doings in this particular situation. Are you white-italian, white-european, or of a minority race yourself. Believe or not I have visited to that apartment community before and they were always nice, but that's anywhere until the money exchanges hands and your name is signed on something. That's business. It is not professional, but that is how most of the rich become wealthy. That is how America was built on the backs of the people and the middle class. That is why America is going through the HELL it is enduring at this very moment. I did not appreciate the racial comment, but I do appreciate you standing up for your girlfriend no matter race she maybe and the wrong doings she encountered.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/25/2009
umm... rage much???

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