First, let me start with my POSITIVE note for the day: It is Friday! YAY! Now, that doesn't mean as much to me as it does to you employed folks, but I'm happy all the same. I love having weekends with my husband.
Now, for my RANT!
I will try to keep this as brief as possible but some of it is just too good to leave out!
If you've seen my FB in the last two days you'll know we've been having issues with our rental office. Sadly, this is not a new thing. But my dealing with it is new. Previously Pat dealt with them because he didn't want me to get too angry (and possibly get arrested). But since we've not had hot water in over 36 hrs and no heat for over 24 hours I decided to take matters in my own hands. I have not been able to reach the office by phone for two days. I keep getting an answering service. Some of the kind folks at the answering service didn't even know The Avant (my apartment complex) was one of the clients they were answering the phone for. Does that seem odd to anyone but me? Actually, before getting the answering service I actually pressed O to leave a message. I got Ishmael's voice mail. I left a very nice message just letting them know the issues. Trust me, it was nice. I know this because I felt like I was in a sugar coma after leaving it.
Well, after calling today but getting the answering service I bundled up and walk to the office IN THE SNOW, on a broken foot no less. When I got there I was greeted by Matt, AN ASSISTANT manager. I thought I'd give him a chance. He had NO answers for my questions which were 1) Why were they using an answering service that didn't even know they were a client? 2) Why could I never reach a person when I called, regardless of when I called (i.e. in good weather, etc)? 3) Who was Ishmael whom I'd left my nice message for yesterday 4) Why were they not communicating with the residents better to let us know the situation with our heat/water? 5) What is the number to the corporate office?
Well, Matt really couldn't answer the questions at all except to say: 1) The answering service has a lot of clients. (Well duh...but shouldn't it come up on the phone or computer as to WHO the caller is trying to reach?) 2) No answer for this at all. 3) Ishmael was no longer with them. (Uh, ok...why do I get transferred to his voice mail if he isn't here any longer?! He did not like it when I asked if they purposely forwarded calls to a dead mailbox so they wouldn't have to get the messages.) 4) No answer again and 5) Whew...He did NOT like me asking for corporate. It was actually quite funny! When I asked he said if I was dissatisfied with his handling of the situation I was to speak to his boss, that was protocol. Oh please. Protocol, schmotocol. He said he wasn't afraid to have me talk to corporate but it wasn't protocol. I said fine, I'll talk to your boss but she's useless as we have dealt with her before. As he was going to see if she was available I asked if the office building was heated and if my dogs, my husband and myself could camp out in the lobby. He got so mad! It was awesome! He yelled "You are not allowed in the office after hours." I said, not IN the office, just in the lobby. HE yelled again "you can not stay in the office! We have personal files in here!!" Geesh, can't take a joke. After about 15 minutes he came back with the head of Maintenance to have him explain the heat/water situation. I said I don't need to hear it from him, I want to speak to Lisa, the manager, to get corporate's #. Man did that make him angry again! After giving in and letting Mr. Maintenance explain for the third time what the situation was, I said I was ready to see Lisa. Matt explained she wasn't available. I simply said, "Ok, is she in a meeting? On the phone? I can wait. How long will she be?" He YELLED again that "She is not available. She is not meeting with residents today." Of course she isn't. She'd rather let her assistants take all the crap. So I thanked him for his time, left my number for Lisa to call me TODAY and left. I ran into two other residents in the lobby and advised the place sucked and good luck getting any help. I told them Matt refused to give me corporate's # but that I could find it. One of the other residents told me the name of the corporate office. Stellar Management. I found their number, address, etc within 2 minutes of walking in my door. I'm giving Lisa until 5pm today to call. First thing Monday, I'm calling Stellar.
(Oh, and as I walked out the door I heard the guy who told me to look up Stellar Management tell Matt he had been without heat and hot water for 2 days. I have a feeling Matt was having a very bad day. I almost feel bad for him. Almost.)
I do so love a good fight. I should have been an attorney. Too bad I can't control my temper.
