Commons of McLean Apartments

Review: On 10/12/2013, I visited The Commons of McLean and found an apartment unit that fit my needs. I signed an "Apartment Reservation Agreement" with The Commons of McLean to reserve the apartment unit at [redacted] # * until my move-in date of 11/7/2013 (copies of signed agreement can be provided upon request). This agreement included a $75.00 application fee and a $100.00 reservation deposit, both of which I was told were required in order to reserve this unit. I set up renters insurance, internet service, and mail forwarding to this address to begin on the 11/7/2013 move-in date.

I was contacted by the leasing office on 10/19/2013 to inform me that the current resident of [redacted] # * had decided not to vacate the unit and that the apartment was no longer available, despite the verbiage in the Reservation Agreement stating that the deposit would hold this specific unit (address specified) off the market until 11/7/2013. The leasing office then offered me another apartment unit, a unit that did not meet the criteria I originally stated upon my initial visit. This unit was on the first floor of a building, which I cannot consider due to security concerns. I advised the leasing office that this remained the case, and was advised that no other available units met my price/features criteria.

I asked for a refund of the $175.00 since the service of reserving the unit had not been rendered and was advised on 10/21/2013 that the $100.00 portion could be refunded but the $75 application fee cannot. The reason for this dispute is that the entire balance of $175.00 was paid because, and only because, of the specific unit that was promised to me. No portion of the deposit or application fee would have been paid on 10/12/2013 had this unit not been available, as I would have moved to a different apartment community and paid that community's applicable fees instead.Desired Settlement: I am requesting a full refund of the $175.00 paid to date to The Commons of McLean for services that were not rendered. As stated in the summary above, if this unit had not been available, I would have moved to a different apartment community and paid that community's applicable fees instead. I would not have applied for or reserved any other apartment units in the community.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Business

Response:

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Dear [redacted],

Thank you for your recent letter to Commons of McLean dated November 4, 2013 regarding [redacted]'s complaint.

There must be a misunderstanding about this refund, according to our record Commons of Mclean never cashed the check in the amount of $175. It is unfortunate, she is writing to Revdex.com without checking her bank account.

Attached, please find the copy of the check written cancelled on it. Earlier today, I have left her a message and emailed her informing this also.

Commons of McLean is professionally managed by [redacted] and will never practice anything that isiillegal unethical.

If you haveany questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and, while there was actually no effort made by the business to contact me (I received neither the email nor phone call mentioned in the response letter provided by the business to the Revdex.com), I have just verified with the bank that the check was not processed.

The business should note that this complaint was submitted immediately after being told by a leasing agent that the apartment which I signed paperwork to reserve, and submitted payment for, would not longer be available to me. I was also told by the agent that the property manager informed her (agent) that only a portion of my payment would be returned. After having taken the steps to move in (entertainment utilities and renter's insurance were already ordered for the unit), I was understandably upset and disappointed. I felt the business had no right to keep any form of payment from me for a home that they did not provide. It is this that I found to be unacceptable. The business should be careful to only market truly available apartments to potential renters.

This complaint is resolved. Thank you very much for your assistance in this manner.

Regards,