Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  06/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My partner and I had a lease with Barkley Apartments (BA) from April 10, 2021 to April 9, 2022. We turned the keys in on April 7, 2022, during which time BA did not walk through the unit with us. On April 11, 2022 BA sent us the *** ****** document showing that we owe $268.50 in utilities, $200 for animal/unit sanitization (US), $741 for carpet replace-partial (**), and $20 for drip pans. The reason listed for the ** was heavy pet smell. We reported mold as our reason for move out, which we believe is the reason for **. There was no response to our mold report. On April 21, 2022 we began an email chain with BA disputing the **. In this email chain BA only provided the est move out charges document and withheld information and invoices so we pressed for a supervisor on April 22, 2022. On May 2, 2022 when we had not received any correspondence, we reached out.On May 3, 2022 the supervisor reached out and provided us with the invoices for the April 2022 ** and US. BA said that the $741 was prorated to the lifespan of the carpet and "As a courtesy for patience will we reviewed the matter, we can offer you a courtesy credit of $50 off the cleaning charges." Upon reviewing the invoices, we noticed that we were being overcharged by BA for both the ** and US; $741 for ** which was actually $657.11, and $200 for US that was actually $150 and regular required unit cleaning, not a deep clean. We replied on May 3, 2022 noting that we were being overcharged and that the invoices were provided 24 days after move out and per RCW 59.18.280 which concerns deposits/move out charges, a full and specific statement/invoices for the charges are required within 21 days of move out and estimated charges are not sufficient. All invoices were dated within the 21-day period and could have been provided. After this, BA ceased communication with us and sent this to debt collections. We had attempted multiple times to pay BA $268.50 for the utilities, but they keep returning it to us.

  Business response

  07/27/2022

  We understand their frustration.  We billed the household consistent with our companies policies and the actual expenses.  **************** is unhappy with the results of our investigation, however evidence provided that states otherwise.  We offered **************** a payment plan and he declined. 

  Customer response

  07/28/2022

   
  Complaint: **449**9
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Barkley H323**630303633323632H is fraudulently overcharging ** and billing us for work required of them by state law at unit turnover. The invoices attached with this complaint clearly show that, and is described in detail in this formal complaint we have written against Barkley H323**630303633323632H.

   

  Complaint against and explanation of fraudulent charges by:
  H323**539353034323938H
  3126 *********
  ********** ** 98226

  My partner and I had a lease with Barkley H323**630303633323632H from ***** **, 2021 to ***** 9,
  2022. When we moved in, we were charged a $400 administrative cleaning fee
  (non-refundable, for general maintenance/unit turn over at the lease end). Barkley
  H323**630303633323632H did not ask us for a deposit, as they had that $400 administrative cleaning
  fee in place. We turned the keys in on ***** 7, 2022, during which time Barkley
  H323**630303633323632H did not walk through the unit with us (see est move out charges, paragraph
  2 highlighted). At this point, Barkley H323**630303633323632H had accepted the unit as-is in good
  faith from us.
  

  On ***** 11, 2022 Barkley H323**630303633323632H sent us (see Email #1 and FAS ******) the FAS
  ****** document showing that we owe $268.50 in utilities, $200 for animal/unit
  sanitization, $741 for carpet replace-partial, and $20 for drip pans. The reason listed for
  the carpet replacement was heavy pet smell, and on top of the $400 administrative
  cleaning fee we paid when we moved in, we were now being charged an additional
  $200 for regular unit cleaning (see FAS ******).
  

  We had reported mold as our reason for moving out (see intent to vacate), which we
  believe is the reason for the carpet replacement, rather than heavy pet smell. There was
  no response from Barkley H323**630303633323632H regarding our mold report, no inspections were
  done and no mold mitigation/remediation was contacted. There have been other reports
  of mold at Barkley H323**630303633323632H over the years, and when a mold problem was reported
  by one tenant, Barkley H323**630303633323632H immediately relocated them and brought in mold
  remediation (see Review #1). So after having reported mold, and having received no
  response from Barkley, and seeing that there is a history of mold issues, we believe that
  Barkley H323**630303633323632H is fully aware that they have a mold problem, but refuses to
  acknowledge it, or the health effects it has on their tenants, in order to avoid the cost of
  mold mitigation and remediation.
  

  On ***** 21, 2022 we began an email chain with Barkley H323**630303633323632H disputing the
  carpet replacement charge (see Email #2). In this email chain Barkley H323**630303633323632H only
  provided us with the est move out charges document as a reason for the charges (see
  Email #3 through Email #9, and est move out charges), so we pressed for a supervisor
  on ***** 22, 2022 (see Email #** through Email #**). On May 2, 2022 when we had not
  received any correspondence, we reached out to Barkley H323**630303633323632H again asking for a
  supervisor (see Email #** and Email #**). As we had stated in our email (#**), we did
  take a payment of $268.50 into the Barkley H323**630303633323632H office on May 3, 2022 at
  11:39am with a letter regarding the other charges on our account (see Barkley FAS
  Letter).
  

  On May 3, 2022 the Barkley H323**630303633323632H supervisor reached out right as we were
  purchasing the $268.50 money order (see money order receipt, timestamp circled, &
  Email #*********************) and provided us with the invoices for the ***** 2022
  carpet replacement and unit sanitization (see Email #**, March 2020 Replace, *****
  2022 Replace, **** Barkley 4_21_22, Barkley #***, and REVISED FAS ******).
  Barkley H323**630303633323632H supervisor said that the $741 was pro-rated to the lifespan of the
  carpet and "As a courtesy for patience will we reviewed the matter, we can offer you a
  courtesy credit of $50 off the cleaning charges." (see Email #**)
  

  However, upon reviewing the invoices, we noticed that we were being overcharged by
  Barkley H323**630303633323632H for both the carpet replacement and unit sanitization; $741 for
  carpet replacement which Barkley H323**630303633323632H paid $657.11 for (see ***** 2022
  Replace, highlighted portions and notes), and $200 for unit sanitization which Barkley
  H323**630303633323632H paid $**0 for and was listed as regular required unit cleaning, not a deep
  clean (see **** Barkley 4_21_22, highlighted portions). Barkley H323**630303633323632H is illegally
  charging us more than they paid for cleaning/repair services, and trying to charge us for
  cleaning required of them by state law.
  

  Barkley H323**630303633323632H has a history of false charges as well (see Review #2 through
  Review #5). Review #2 shows a similar situation to the $200 animal/unit sanitization
  fees, where Barkley H323**630303633323632H charged the tenant an additional $120 for light
  sanitizing when they already had $**0 non-refundable for that purpose. Review #3 and
  Review #5 show that Barkley H323**630303633323632H is more than willing to make up and lie about
  charges, even when tenants have proof otherwise. Review #4 shows more odd
  charges, such as being charged for a dead fly, and a similar situation to us. The
  situation where when we turned the keys in, Barkley H323**630303633323632H brushed us off and
  opted not to complete a unit walkthrough, thus accepting the unit as-is in good faith from
  the tenant.
  

  We replied to the supervisor on May 3, 2022 noting these discrepancies where we were
  being overcharged and that the invoices were provided 24 days after move out (see
  Email #**). We cited the court case called Goodeill ** ******************* and RCW
  59.18.280 which concerns deposits/move out charges stating: a full and specific
  statement/invoices for the charges are required within 21 days of move out and
  estimated charges are not sufficient. ***** 30, 2022 is 21 days after our lease ended on
  ***** 9, 2022, and all invoices were dated within this 21-day period and could have been
  provided by Barkley H323**630303633323632H prior to May 3, 2022. After we sent this email, Barkley
  H323**630303633323632H ceased communication with us and sent our account to ******** for
  collections.
  

  On May 7, 2022 we received via **** the $268.50 money order and letters that we
  had taken into the Barkley H323**630303633323632H offices on May 3, 2022, included with this was a
  short letter from Barkley H323**630303633323632H (see Return Letter). On May **, 2022 we mailed
  the $268.50 money order and a letter to the Barkley H323**630303633323632H supervisor (see Barkley
  Letter #2). We received this letter and money order back yet again on May 21, 2022,
  this time with no note and it was exactly as we had mailed it to Barkley H323**630303633323632H,
  except that the return address was Barkley H323**630303633323632H and not the supervisors. Prior
  to this going to collections, we had attempted multiple times to pay Barkley H323**630303633323632H
  $268.50 for the utilities, but they kept returning it to us and will not communicate further.
  

  The $200 for animal/unit sanitization, $741 for carpet replace-partial, and $20 for drip
  pans are fraudulent charges that we do not owe as Barkley H323**630303633323632H failed to provide
  anything more than estimated charges within the 21-day period outlined in RCW
  59.18.280. Additionally, the invoices and documentation provided after the 21-day
  period show that Barkley H323**630303633323632H is overcharging us more than what they paid for
  the work done, and fraudulently charging us for work that is required of them as
  property managers in order to turn over units to new tenants.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

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