Essex Park Apts AKA AimCo refused to pay deposit and then charged me for extra rent! Columbia South Carolina

As the end of my lease with Essex Park was nearing, I began a search for new lodging, having been rather unsatisfied with the service I had recieved @ Essex Park. My new landlord called the Apartment office to enquire about my current lease, to make sure I didn't pay late and such, and was told by the leasing office that my lease wasn't up for until the end of August. Not true, the paper copy plainly states June 30, but this had been entered in the computer system incorrectly. I alerted Essex Park to this inconsistency and asked them to correct it.

So I phoned them and asked that they fax my lease agreement (public legal agreement) to my new landlord, as I was moving out and my new leaser needed a copy of my old lease for thier files, to prove the actual date. They refused. I had to leave work early to make it to the apt. office before they closed (at the time they were only open until 5:30) and get a copy of my lease. I again pointed out the discrepancy in dates, was told it would be changed, adn enquired about anything else that would need to be done before I moved out. Their words "We'll take care of it." Time passes and I move into my new home, having turned in my keys, gate passes and new forwarding address to the office, via the rent drop box.

30 days after the end of my lease, I fax Essex Park to ask about my deposit ($300). (by SC law, they have 30 days or I can sue for 3 times the amount.) They tell me that I still live at Essex Park, and am in fact late in my rent and water bill. We voice mail back and forth a couple weeks until I finally receive a bill for over $1700 in uncollected rent and water bills.

Long story short, after many phone calls about dates in the computer, dates on paper, keys, and addresses; I have the power company fax the Essex Park office my cut off date, showing that after June 21, there was NO POWER going to this apartment. I was obviously not living without power for THREE MONTHS!

The office manager says that he will work on it. At this time, I get my family and the family lawyer involved. After 2 or 3 phone calls, the manager begins to never be available when we call, always having "just stepped away for a minute." These phone calls have yet to be returned.

We have filed a complaint with the city BBB and have notified both the apartment manager and his immediate supervisor that this will be resolved by the end of the week or we will resolve this matter in court. Update to come next week.

Anonymous at this time
Columbia, South Carolina