Where do I begin...I moved in on November 24, 2001. I applied over a month earlier, but was told that all apartments must be painted and have new carpeting prior to move in. I thought this was great! So, I move in a month later, no new paint, clearly no new carpets! In fact, it took a team of three of my friends and myself to clean this apartment! What did I have to wait a month for' The bathroom and kitchen floors were so filthy, I needed to buy a new mop just to get the dirt off. There are stains and scuff marks everywhere. When I mop the floors, you could never ever tell, unless you actually watched me do it. This was all noted on my move-in checklist. This check list also mentioned numerous holes and paint peels, the bath tub wall (Plastic) has a hole in it (you don't even want to see the mildew garden growing in there!) and I had 2 screens, both with holes in them and the frames are disfigured. When I handed in the checklist, the girl, won't mention any names, just signed it and that was it! So, being November, I never mentioned anything more about needing the screens. I waited until about mid-February, when the weather was going to getting warmer. I was told the property was under new management and they were ordering new screens for the entire complex. WOW, I thought, this is great! (even though I felt a letter to tell us there was new management should have been sent). So, March came and went, then April came, I called and asked again about the screens, since by this time it was nice outside. I was told there are no screens and whomever told me this was misinformed. The new management wasn't going to buy new screens. Well, I suggested that maybe they could take some out of a vacant apt. She said this couldn't be done because the new tenants wouldn't have screens. Umm, neither do I. So, I call again in May, the screens are in the process of being made, I will have them shortly. Apparently the same screens that the owner wasn't paying for. OK. May goes by and June comes, it's hot out! I am already paying over $100 a month for electricity in this tiny one bedroom apartment, I can't have the air on all summer to compensate not having screens. I call again, and I was told the screens are in the process of being made. Hmm, weren't they being made over 2 months ago' I'm not a carpenter or anything, but aren't screens simply just a frame and a screen' Doesn't seem too difficult to make. I am now disgusted, I call again about these screens and no one has a record of me even asking about screens!! WHAT!'! I ask to speak with the manager and I was told, "She doesn't get on the phone, you'll have to just speak with me." I say, "The manager doesn't talk to the people who rent from her'" "That's right," she said, "she wants me to handle all calls." I can understand this, but if you are unable to help me, at least provide me with an answer, how can you help me' I wasn't having this, I expressed my anger and after being put on hold for about 20 minutes, she told me that the manager would call me back, she was in a meeting. Three days went by until I finally got a hold of her. She said it would take 1 week for me to get the screens. Well, 1 week later and no screens! I call again, and after being on hold for 1/2 hour, the manager gets on the phone and is all of the sudden forgetful! She swears I will get all new screens in within the hour! Screens from a vacant apt. Now, didn't I already suggest this a couple months ago' She calls me back after 4 hours and said they only had 2 screens and the rest will come shortly. I got 2 distorted screens, so needless to say, my problem wasn't solved. I went to the office today, July 22, 2002, and was told the screens are going to be installed in every apt. tomorrow. I asked why no one told me, and the service manager said, that no one would enter my apt. they would do it from the outside. Well, we will see what happens tomorrow, July 23rd, 2002. Now, let's go back a few months...I woke up to a gurgling sound in my bathroom, startled, I go to see what's going on. There are suds oozing out of my toilet! What the heck! I spent 2 hours cleaning up this mess! Then I went back to sleep. In the morning I called about this and was brushed off. The same issue happened 4 more times until someone actually came out to see what the problem was. They wanted to blame me and said I must have clogged it. Uhh, I clogged it with soap suds' I think not! The maintenance guy thought maybe the people above me have a full size washer and the force of it makes the water come out my toilet. OK I guess, I am a single woman, what do I know' Finally, they have a real plumber come out to resolve this issue, he had tools and all! The pipes were exposed outside the building and leaves and trash have collected into it. The water from the people upstairs had no where to go. Amazing! Next issue...Since I have no screens in my windows, I have to have the central air on. Well, I used it for over a month until my friend's son was being curious and wanted to know what was in the HVAC closet. I told him nothing, but he opened the door anyway. Darn good thing he did, my AC was leaking all over the floor! Now this had to of been leaking all this time for over a month! I called about this and got the answering service, no one came out, called again, he's on his way, yadda yadda yadda, well by 11:30 pm, I had to go to bed. I called the next day, and they said someone will be out. He comes out and says its leaking. Gee, really' Are you gonna fix it' Nope! So I finally get them to get a guy to come out, I made sure he was there when I was there. He said he wasn't the HVAC guy, I'm like, then why are you here' He decides to look at it anyway, well, this guy must have pulled out 2 pounds of dirt and muck! That solved that problem! Now let's see, what else in this apt. could possibly leak' The dishwasher. The dishwasher leaked everytime I used it. I thought maybe it was something I was doing. But it wasn't. So I call, mind you all I have to say is my first name only, they know exactly who I am. So the guy comes out, I'm at work. I come home to a note stating: Tenant is using too much soap. What' OK maybe I could have been, so I run it empty-no dishes, no soap. It leaks! What the hell! So, I call again. The guy comes out with me there so I can clearly show him what I did, and it leaked. So he looked around and said, must be a bad rubber something or other, he fixed it, and no more leaks! I wish I had his name, he fixed my AC too, he's great! Well, when I called about the dishwasher and AC I spoke to the Leasing Director and mentioned with all this leaking I'm bound to get bugs. She asked if I wanted to have an exterminator come out. I told her no, I want you to fix the problems I have before I have a million different people coming in and out of my apartment! One day I come home to find all of my closet doors open, my toilet seat up, and my panties that I washed before I left, on the floor! What the hell! I was freaked out! What do I do' I call my brother, the only other person to have my key. He was still at work, I asked if he came over at all, he said "no." I went into the apt and checked to make sure no one was there. I checked to make sure nothing was missing. Nothing was. I called the office and asked if anyone was in my apt. She was clueless. She said, nothing was scheduled. OK, I'm freaking out now, I told her I was going to call the Police and before I hung up, I thought about the exterminator, and asked if she was sure one didn't come out. She said "OH YEAH, I did see a slip about that." This is a real quote. I said.."What' You just said no, I am freaking the F**K out over here!!!" She flipped on me, "Who do you think you are cursing at me, I get done work at 5:00 and I am still here trying to help you!" OK chickie, it's 5:15, nice customer service, if you didn't keep me on hold for over 20 mins you could have been out of there! And another thing, I didn't curse at you I just cursed! I am a single girl and you just let someone in my apt without my authorization' She said "I didn't do anything" OK chickie, get me the manager. I'm hold for another 15 mins, and they all play dumb. They said, that I told the Leasing Director to schedule me an appointment for this. I told her I wanted the AC and dishwasher fixed, where from that did you get "Schedule me an exterminator"' No one had any explanation. I pointed out that they breached their own contract, Item 15, no one shall enter the premises without written or verbal approval from resident, unless there is a major emergency. These people are ridiculous! The manager said "I'm sorry." I think she only said that because she knew they were wrong. So, I called the Police and had them come out so I could make a formal report. The big 4th of July weekend is upon us, and I have 6 days off and head to the shore. Once home, I figured since I am all calm and relaxed from vacation, I will check my e-mail. When all of the sudden...I hear some noise coming from the area of my washer. I open the closet and what do I see' Water, water everywhere! I look up, talk to the Lord, and ask Him why is this happening to me' As I am looking up, I see my ceiling bubbling, about to cave in! I call the office, closed now, speak to the answering service, clearly express the amount of water everywhere and that my ceiling is about to collapse, they say someone will be out very quickly. I run upstairs and let the tenants know what is going on. These a**holes don't even open the door, this is another issue, so I won't get into that. Their pipes are too delicate for the huge washer they have, so it was leaking in their apt and flooding mine. A 1/2 hour passes, no one shows. I call again. They say they will try calling the service man again. 18 mins pass, they said he is getting on bus now and will be right out. WHAT' What happened to the ON SITE MAINTENANCE guy who lives here' Anyway, after 2 1/2 hours, 5 double rolls of Bounty paper towels, 6 regular towels, and 3 bowls to catch the water dripping from my ceiling, he shows up. He comes in, I begin to tell him what had happened, he ignores me, goes to the closet, looks up, looks down, says, "They must have a big washer, let me go talk to them, I'll be right back." He goes upstairs, never comes back. I am serious, he never came back! No one called me the next day, nothing! What the hell! I spent 5 hours cleaning this mess. I had a presentation due for work the next day, think I got that done' So, I call and the chickie from before gives me an attitude and tells me she has no respect for me. Like I give a crap! Just get the manager. After 20 minutes of being on hold, some other lady talks to me. She said someone will be out tomorrow to look at it. I had my brother hang out for the day since I have to work. Well, he was there all day and no one showed up. So I call, was placed on hold for 15 mins. and they were like, did you set up an appointment' What' You said you would have someone come out! Does your office own a pen' So, they make another attempt to "help" me. The service people will call you tomorrow to set up a date/time. OK. Tomorrow comes and no call, of course. I call, chickie answers, as usual, but this time pretends she doesn't know me and when I give my name she is all "And you are calling from where'" Please! So I say my address, she had the nerve to say "Don't give me an attitude" I began talking and she yelled "Hold on." As you can guess, was on hold for 15 mins until someone came on the line, Oh let's see, I will have the maintenance people call you on Friday to set something up for late next week. (Mind you, this is Wednesday) I asked her what will they be doing when they come out, She said, "They will fix your leak." My leak' This wasn't my leak! "They will dry up all the water add a sealer and paint the ceiling." I asked her if she truly believed that water would still be there sopping after two weeks' She was speechless, of course. I told her to write the following down and make sure everyone knows: "I do NOT want anyone in my apt ever unless I personally request it or the place is on fire, no other reason is allowed. No matter what!" She wanted to know why wouldn't I want the ceiling painted, it must look horrible. I told her this whole place is horrible! Supposedly, you took over a month to paint this place before I moved in and if this is what you call a fresh paint job then why are you concerned about a stain on the ceiling' Paint it when I move out. She said OK. What else could she say' I called the office today, July 22, 2002, and asked for the phone # to the exterminator they let in my apt. After being on hold, this time only 10 mins. I was told they cannot give me the #. Why, I asked' She said "I was told it is our policy." What' Who told you this' She said the service manager. I asked to talk to him and she said he was in a meeting and he just shut the door. I said, fine, I'll be right there and I will wait for him. Now, from the time I hung up to the time I got there, it was all of 3 minutes. Amazingly, he was out of the meeting! I wish my job held 3 minute meetings! So we talked and he said it's not policy to give out their #, but he will have them call me. Yeah OK, I don't believe any promises made by St. Ives. I said, you do understand I can get the # from the Yellow Pages, right' He said, yeah. OK dude, it's not policy to give out their # but it is acceptable to let them come into my apt without authorization, spray chemicals that you don't know if I am even allergic to, and go through my panties' He said HE didn't do anything, OK not you moron, your company allowed this. I asked for a copy of the work performed by the exterminators and a copy of the authorization I "supposedly" gave to allow them to enter my apt. He gave me a copy of the work order and a letter saying Carol authorized the transaction, not saying I authorized it, but she did. Now, I guess they must think I am a dummy, the work order has the phone # on it, and they took a marker and crossed it out. Duh! I can clearly see it! Hint: Cross it out and then copy it! I will call the exterminator tomorrow and see what exactly they did while here. I have more bugs in my apt now then before they came out!
Well, this should be everything up to date, but I am stuck in this lease until November. There isn't much more that can leak, so I hope everything is OK. My tip to all you renters out there, get renters insurance! And if you must rent from St. Ives, my apartment is almost up to par, so try to get this one. It should be almost completed by the time I move out. This place used to be a Section 8 complex about 12 years ago, it was burned down, and about 7 yrs ago, it was refurbished and made into this hell hole. The maintenance people will agree. Some of the buildings literally have cracks from the 2nd floor down to the foundation, you can see this if you drive by. The place is a dump, nothing works. Please don't even think about renting from this place. I am soooo sorry I ever did.
A copy of this letter will be passed on the owners at Brandywine Construction & Management, Inc. Oh, St. Ives wouldn't give me their phone # either.

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