The Connor Group / Glenmuir Apartments New Management Puts $$$ First; Lesses Second! Naperville Illinois

Allow me to first provide some background: I am a longterm resident of the Glenmuir Apartments, having resided at this location on four separate occassions, for a total of 7 years. I have referred several friends & family and clearly, I have enjoyed my experience or I would not have kept coming back. In my time as a lessee, I have seen 3 different management companies run this property (Alara, RMK & currently, the Connor Group) and have never felt compelled to write a complaint. Nor have I EVER written a formal complaint against any business or debtor. I'm not a hothead & believe that through reasonable negotiation & perhaps a little EMPATHY, most disputes can be resolved amicably. There is no possibilty of this in dealing with The Connor Group!

The Connor Group took over the property from RMK (whom I originally signed my lease with) and literally from the day they arrived, my neighbors began warning me that "the new management company sucks" and to check out their reputation online. I didn't, as I place little stock in gossip and figured that having seen two prior managment changes, "how bad could the new company be?" I quickly learned. My gripes against the managment are numrous, but the straw that broke the camel's back was the leasing office charging me a $125 late fee, for paying my $1449 rent check ONE DAY late!

I am a travelling professional, spending nearly half the year on the road. On August 1st, I returned home late from one such trip, having been delayed 6 hours in an airport due to weather. Despite the late hour, I intended to drop off my rent check, however I had a question about my utility bill I wanted to address. Note: as other posters have commented, The Connor Group refuses to accept the rent payment unless payment to their utility company, "First Billing Services" (a complete ripoff, btw) is made at the same time. It seemed reasonable to me that I would make my payment the following business day. 

Imagine my surprise when I dropped off the rent on August 2nd, less than 24 hours late, and was informed I had to pay an additional $125 fee!!! Nearly 10% of my rent! My jaw hit the floor! To be sure I understood correctly, I asked the leasing agent Diane (apparently the only person here with any sense of compassion) if she meant to tell me that The Connor Group really had a ZERO GRACE PERIOD policy, and she replied yes. It was impossible for her to hide the embarassment & discomfort in her voice... having to enforce such a BS policy. 

I have literally lived all around the world... and have never witnessed such a blatant, strongarm tactic from a landlord to snatch cash, as I have experienced with The Connor Group. I have never dealt with ANY creditor, whether it be paying a credit card, car payment, phone, mortgage, whatever...that has a ZERO grace period policy. I'm furious, and advised management that not only would I be filing this complaint on The Ripoff Report (I'm a man of my word) and that I will NEVER renew again. If it were possible, I would have broken my lease same day (I asked) but I'm handcuffed for another 10 months, as I recently renewed. It isn't about the money for me... it's about the principal. SHAME ON YOU, Connor Group!!!