After returning from a combat tour in Iraq, I signed a 14 month lease in March of 2006 and lived in building 9 for the duration of the lease. As the end date approached, my wife and I began looking for a house. With commitments at work, school, and the stress of buying our first house, I didn't think that i needed to review the lease with a fine tooth comb. Boy was i wrong.....

30 days before my lease expired, i entered the office to inquire about move out procedures. I was informed that a 60 day notice is required for moving out EVEN IF YOUR LEASE IS EXPIRING ANYWAY. This means that I am responsible for yet another month's rent beyond the original 14 month agreement.

Of course i argued with them, told them it was unreasonable, that i have been a good tenant and enjoyed Broad River Trace up to this point. The only rejoinder they had was to throw the fine print in my face and show me my signature from over a year ago.

The management says that this extra charge is necessary, giving them time to find a new tenant. If they are having trouble filling their vacancies, that is their problem,not mine. It gets even more stupid....I am able to turn in my keys 25 days before my lease expires, as my house is ready for move in. But still, they won't budge.

I feel that this inflexiblity is entirely unethical. The manager told me "How can it be unethical when you are the one who signed the papers." This is complete nonsense...

So, in short, Broad River Trace is good for college students with their daddy's bank account, but not good for the young couple trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck.

Perhaps subversive profit making tactics, hidden behind a veil of legailty (i.e. "you signed the papers") is the norm in the apartment industry, but in the real business world customer satisfaction comes first.

I am a customer, shelling out over 10,000 in rent since my stay began, and i am UNSATISFIED.

User Responses
From: ericmckeehan	Date: 03/27/2007
Very foolish response. As long as i've lived here you people have been rude, arrogant, and unconcerned about tenents (rent paying customers). The only "end of the bargain" that the staff is holding up is making our lives miserable by their petty sqabbling (parking nazis) and predatory leasing. Read the other reviews !!!! You're having troublie filling your vacancies because you people piss off the tenants. Maybe they didn't teach you this in school, but in the real world strentgh of character and integrity are much more important than taking your job way too seriously and brown-nosing the Fogelman Group
From: just4daisy	Date: 03/28/2007
Given your background in the military you should be aware that policy, rules, and regulations are meant to be followed and in which compliance is agreed upon. The management appears to be doing their job and holding up their end of the bargain, why shouldn't you be expected to do the same. Remember, we all answer to a higher power. Hey guy, I don't work for them; I was just reading some Columbia reviews. Good luck with the house-sounds like that's more your style. By the way, in YOUR review you stated you "enjoyed" the place up til now.........fool?

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates