ComplaintsforMillennium Management

• Initial Complaint

  02/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  This company kept my security deposit upon vacating the premises due to smoke & soot damages. I was permitted to smoke in my apartment. Management refused to perform a walk thru so that any repairs could be made by my son in law such as painting. They claimed that I burned candles which caused soot. I never burned candles here. There furnace caused the soot and they refused to make proper repairs.

• Initial Complaint

  09/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I applied for an apartment got denied was entitled to my money back I paid them in June they said they mail me the check on July 18 2023 here it is September and I still don’t have my check They said I need to pay them 35 pillars if I want them to reissue it because they have to void that check out

  Business response

  09/26/2023

  I am General Counsel for ******* **********. The above-referenced complaint has been referred to me for response. The facts are as follows: On June 14, 2023, ********** ***** applied for residency at ******* **********. On June 17, 2023, Ms. ***** was advised she did not meet *******'s rental guidelines and she had not been approved for residency. On June 20, 2023, ******* began contacting Ms. ***** to request a forwarding address to which her deposit should be sent. On June 28, 2023, Ms. ***** finally provided a forwarding address. On July 18, 2023, ******* mailed Ms. ***** her refund check. On August 3, 2023, Ms. ***** called asking when the refund check was mailed to her and she was advised it was mailed on July 18th. On August 15, 2023, Ms. ***** called to state she had still not received the refund check. *******'s representative advised her of the address to which the check had been mailed and she confirmed that was the correct address. Ms. ***** was then advised that the check had not been returned by the post office so the only thing that could be done was to stop payment on the check and issue a new check to her. She was further advised that *******'s bank would charge a $35.00 fee to stop payment on the check and that amount would be deducted from the refund due to her. Ms. ***** refused to agree to
  the $35.00 deduction.
  ******* stands ready, willing and able to mail a new refund check as soon as Ms. ***** agrees to the $35.00 deduction.
  I trust this fully responds to Ms. *****'s complaint. Should you have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact me.
  Very truly your
  Fred *. C*****

  Customer response

  09/27/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ********** *****
  
  I reject this response because I should not be penalize for something that I had nothing to do with the problem if the check has not been cashed or returned then that means the check is still out there somewhere I gave them 299 dollars and I should get what I gave plus how do I know that they mailed it out also how do I know that they dont't have the check I am the one that should not be losing anything they have more money then I do  I just want what is due to me 299 dollars
  
  
   

  Business response

  10/02/2023

  I have reviewed ********** *****'s response to *******'s answer to her complaint. Essentially, her response is, "why should I have to pay to stop payment on a check I never received." The simple answer is, items placed in the U.S. mail that are not returned to sender are presumed delivered. The check sent to Ms. ***** was not returned. As such, the presumption is, it was delivered. Although, Ms. ***** will respond: "how do I know they put it in the mail?" ******* has documents showing the check was mailed. While this answer will not satisfy Ms. *****, there is nothing more ******* can add.
  Very truly y
  Fred *. C*****

  Customer response

  10/07/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ********** *****
  
  What  is ******* I applied for ****** apartment if the company haven't received the check back then it must still be out there because I never received it to cash and the company knows that it hasn't been cash because it would have been cash through their bank. I feel like the company never sent the check out and that is what the post office is saying midland don't want to pay for a voided check that is on their part I don't have anything to do with the check being deliver or not I am a client that gave midland 299.00 dollars in cash and I should get my 299.00 back. Im trying not to go to court for 299.00 but I will if that what it takes 
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  08/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid a security deposit to this company for residence and was charged an additional $1000 after moving out for damages from cat urine in the carpet. I didn't pay it as these charges are grossly inflated, maliciously so in my opinion, and they have now sent me to collections to hurt my credit. I believe this is a scam being run by the company. I know it doesn't cost anywhere near $1000 to recarpet an apartment and I shouldn't be additionally charged outside of the security deposit. That's what the security deposit is for, to cover damages.

  Business response

  09/06/2023

  Dear Ms. *****:
  
  I am General Counsel for Oakwood Apartments. The above-referenced complaint has been referred to me for response. The facts are as follows: Mr. ***** leased an apartment at Oakwood for the term June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023. Pursuant to the terms of Mr. *****'s lease, he was required to give a 30-day written notice if he did not intend to renew his lease. On May 9, 2023, Mr. ***** provided a notice of his intent to vacate. Although the notice was dated April 14, 2023, it was not delivered until May 9th, less than 30 days before the end of his lease. Per the terms of the lease, because Mr. ***** did not provide the required notice, he was responsible for rent for the month of June 2023 which he did not pay. A copy of Mr. *****'s Notification Of Intent To Vacate is attached.
  
  At the end of Mr. *****'s tenancy, his apartment was inspected by Oakwood's Property Manager and by Best Karpet Clean, a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company. Both concluded that the carpet was urine-stained, could not be adequately cleaned and had to be replaced. Attached are a copy of the Best Karpet Clean assessment of the carpet in Mr. *****'s apartment and three photocopies of the back of Mr. *****'s carpet showing that there was so much urine in the carpet it permeated through the fibers and stained the backing. The carpet was replaced and Mr. ***** was charged a prorated amount reflecting the usable life of the carpet that was lost as a result of the damage caused during his tenancy. Attached for your reference are copies of the bill to replace the carpet and the carpet proration worksheet.
  
  Because Mr. ***** obviously had maintained a pet in his apartment that he did not report, thus violating the terms of his lease, he was also charged the non-refundable pet fee and pet rent he would have been required to pay had he reported he had a pet in his apartment.
  
  While Mr. ***** claims the charges against his security deposit are a "scam" being run by Oakwood, the only scam here is Mr. *****'s failure to report he was housing a cat during the term of his lease and to pay the required fees for having a pet. Mr. *****'s complaint has no merit.
  
  I trust this fully responds to Mr. *****'s complaint. Should you have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact me.
  
  Very truly yours,
  Fred *. C*****

  Customer response

  09/06/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  The cat in question was not my cat but my rommate's cat that he did not give me any warning of before bringing in the apartment. Furthermore, the security deposit was $500 from each of us totaling in $1000 which would have covered the majority of the exorbitant price to replace your carpets. That's what a security deposit is for, after all. To cover damages. There was no notice that additional charges would be placed on me outside of the security deposit to cover damages, I would say it was intentionally hidden from me as this is entirely outside the norm for renting. This is a dishonest business practice. If I did this kind of thing in my line of work I'd never get hired again. I only ask the charges be placed fully on the owner of the cat who damaged your carpet. You have all of his information to do so, kindly leave my good name out of the messes he made, which were PLENTY more until I decided to come back and check the apartment and clean it top to bottom before leaving because I thought it was the respectable thing to do, despite myself not being the one who made these messes. Had I known there was cat pee I would have cleaned it too. The apartment was left in FAR WORSE condition by him, and I took responsibility for it anyways. The fact that I was charged extra outside of the security deposit in the face of my efforts to clean the apartment to the best of my awareness is dishonest, sneaky, and deceitful. To be sent to collections over it like I'm some freeloader is an insult on my name.

  
  Regards,
  
  ******* *****
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This compliant is regarding deceptive bait and switch tactics. On March 23, 2022, Milllennium Mgmt. property Oakwood Apartments ***** ******* ****** ******* ********* ** ***** -three office staff employees lied to me about receiving my $50 application fee and $299 holding fee back if I cancelled my application. Employee Lakwana H****** took my application. She and two other employees assured me I would receive my money back if I cancelled. I called and cancelled on 3-24-22. I was told I would get a check in the mail. Later, that day Lakwana called me back and said her boss Brian R*** said I could not get my money back. This was written in the small print per Katelyn C******, property mgr.. I was never informed in any way that my application had been accepted and processed. I was only shown the model. The office employees lied to me. These are classic bait and switch tactics. Unfair. Deceptive. And operating in bad faith. I wrote to Katelyn C****** and spoke with Brian R***. Neither one had any concern about their employees downright lying to me! My money should be refunded to me simply on the basis of bad business tactics and good faith if nothing else.

  Business response

  04/26/2022

  FRED N. C*****, ESQ. 
  27800 Cedar Road • Beachwood, Ohio 44122 • (216) 831-1400 
  April 26, 2022 
  VIA EMAIL 
  kristie@cleveland.bbb.org 
  Kristie Angel Dispute Resolution Specialist Better Business Bureau 200 Treeworth Blvd. Broadview Heights, Ohio 44122 
  Re: ******* *****/Oakwood Apartments; ID ********* 
  Dear Ms. Angel: 
  I am General Counsel for Oakwood Apartments. The above-referenced complaint has been referred to me for response. The facts are as follows: On March 22, 2022, Ms. ***** applied for residency at Oakwood Apartments and paid a $50.00 non-refundable application fee and a $299.00 deposit to hold the apartment for which she was applying. On that same date, Ms. *****'s application was processed and she was accepted for residency. The Application which Ms. ***** signed clearly states the application fee is non-refundable. That fee is paid to the third-party vendor which runs the credit and criminal background checks on applicants. Pursuant to the terms of the Application, once an applicant is accepted for residency, if the applicant subsequently declines to go forward and sign a lease, the $299.00 deposit is retained as liquidated damages. The rationale for retaining the deposit is that the desired apartment was removed from the rental market thereby depriving Oakwood of the opportunity to rent it. 
  On the morning of March 23, 2022, the morning after she made application for residency, Ms. ***** called Oakwood to state she had changed her mind and no longer wanted to rent the apartment for which she had made application. Ms. ***** was advised that pursuant to the specific terms of the Application, her deposit would be retained as liquidated damages. Ms. ***** was understandably unhappy and stated no one had explained to her that she would not be able to obtain return of her application fee and deposit if she cancelled. She was advised that these facts were clearly stated in the Application. 
  While Oakwood's Management Team correctly applied and explained the terms contained in the Application, the consequences in this case were unusually harsh. Because the apartment for which Ms. ***** applied was only off the market for a matter of hours, Oakwood has decided it will make a one-time exception and refund her deposit. As previously explained, the application fee cannot be refunded because it was paid to the vendor that ran the credit and background check on Ms. *****. I have reached out to Ms. ***** to explain the policy and Oakwood's decision to refund her deposit.  Should you have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact me.

  Fred N C*****

  Customer response

  05/02/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your assistance in getting my refund from Oakwood Apartments.  In an unfair, and unjust world, you helped me get justice for a very grave injustice done to me.  You have given me renewed hope and truly lifted my spirits.

  My attempt to find a new home has been filled with a very treacherous real estate market - full of frauds and scams.  In a world of people who do not take pride in their work, or helping people or just basically doing their jobs- thank you for being excellent at yours!

  Thank you for your attention and diligence to my case.  Please be sure to share this letter with your superiors.  :-)  May you be blessed and prosperous in all your endeavors.  Much success to you, and thank you again.
  

  
  

  --
  

  TRUST IN GOD!

  ******* *****

   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I applied for rental assistance on 1/5/2022/ THROUGH **** ******* . **** ******* COMMUNICATED WITH DONNA S***** 1/24/2022 DONNA AGREED TO ACCEPT PAYMENT 1/25/2022 AND PAYMENT WAS SENT TO THE PROPERTY 1/28/2022. BY LAW WHEN THE PROPERTY AGREED TO ACCEPT PAYMENT THE EVICTION WAS LEGALLY SUPPOSED TO BE STOPPED. THE PROPERTY MANAGER PROCEEDED WITH THE EVICTION COURT WAS SCHEDULED 1/9/2022, MY MOVE OUT DATE IS 1/18/2022 I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WITH NO WHERE TO GO, I SENT ALL DOCUMENTATION TO THE PROPERTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME USING **** ******* WITH THIS PROPERTY THE PREVIOUS MANAGER HALTED THE EVICTION UNTIL PAYMENT WAS RECEIVED THIS PROPERTY MANAGER LACKS EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE RENTAL PROCESS WHEN YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT PAYMENT AND TO BE SO CRUEL AND PROCEED ANYWAY! I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE OFFICE THAT DONNA IS THE PERSON THAT WAS COMMUNICATING WITH **** ******* AND SHE WAS ON VACATION. DONNA S***** DID NOT DO HER JOB AND FORWARD THE INFO TO THE PROPERTY AND NOW MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH. I ALSO HAVE AN EVICTION ON MY RECORD BECAUSE OF DONNA WHEN THE BALIFF SITS MY THINGS OUT I WILL BE CALLING 19 action news and filing A complaint with landlord and tenants rights!

  Business response

  02/22/2022

  FRED N. C*****, ESQ. 
  27800 Cedar Road • Beachwood, Ohio 44122 • (216) 831-1400 
  February 22, 2022 
  VIA EMAIL 
  kristie@cleveland.bbb.org 
  Kristie Angel Dispute Resolution Specialist Better Business Bureau 200 Treeworth Blvd. Broadview Heights, Ohio 44122 
  Re: ******** ******/Oakwood Apartments; ID #******** 
  Dear Ms. Angel: 
  I am General Counsel for Oakwood Apartments. The above-referenced complaint has been referred to me for response. The facts are as follows: Pursuant to Ms. ****** Apartment Lease, rent is due on the first and late after the third day of the month. Oakwood's procedure is to send 3-day notices to vacate if rent is not timely received. When the 3-day notice expires, if rent has not been paid or the resident has not vacated, an eviction action is filed. 
  When residents apply for housing aid, Oakwood's policy is that the normal procedure is followed until there is confirmation from the agency providing rental assistance that a request for rental assistance has been approved. Once a request has been approved, even if funds are not immediately forthcoming, Oakwood will not file an eviction or, if an eviction has already been filed, it will be dismissed. 
  Ms. ****** did not timely pay her rent for January or February 2022. Oakwood followed its normal procedure and, on January 4, 2022, delivered a 3-day notice to Ms. ******. When, by January 11, 2022, Ms. ****** had neither paid her rent nor vacated her apartment, Oakwood filed an eviction action. According to Ms. ****** complaint, on January 5, 2022, unbeknownst to Oakwood, she applied for rental assistance with **** *******. 
  On January 24, 2022, **** *******, contacted the Oakwood representative responsible for handling rental assistance requests. **** *******'s representative advised Oakwood's representative that Ms. ******' application for assistance had been received and was in process. Later, Oakwood was advised that payment had been made on January 28, 2022 but no payment was ever received. Over the course of the next few weeks, Oakwood's representative attempted, on multiple occasions to speak with Ms. ****** and **** ******* to confirm Ms. ****** application for rental assistance had been approved, the amount of the rental assistance approved and what had become of the payment that was made on January 28, 2022. **** ******* steadfastly refused to return calls or provide information. Prior to the eviction hearing, I personally attempted to contact Ms. ****** to see if the two of us could call **** ******* together. I left my personal cell phone number on Ms. ******' answering machine and asked her to call me. She never did. 
  Oakwood is still awaiting confirmation of the amount for which Ms. ****** was approved and what happened to the first payment. I recognize this is an unfortunate situation for Ms. ****** and that **** *******'s failure to communicate with Oakwood has put her in a difficult position. That said, Oakwood has attempted to work with Ms. ****** and **** ******* to resolve this issue but has not had much cooperation. 
  I hope this fully responds to the issues raised in Ms. ****** complaint. Should you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me. 
  
  Fred N. C***** 
  FNC/lrk 
  
  

  Customer response

  02/28/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ******** ******

• Initial Complaint

  12/16/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 12/8/2021 we applied for an apartment lease at Oakwood Apartments ***** ******* ***** ******* ********* **** *****. They required a $300 deposit and $50 application fee ($150 total) for myself, my wife, and son. On 12/11/2021 we never heard back from them and we called. We were told that a letter will arrive in the mail with further details. On 12/16/2021 a generic statement arrived with a check stating that reason for leaving: Credit Rejected. There was no other reason or explanation on why we were denied. I contact the office and spoke to Brandolyn, and they told me that they don't know why we were denied, and that we need to call **** **** ********* at ************. I contacted **** **** ********* and sat on hold for 30 minutes just for the lady to tell me that they do not make the decisions on the acceptance or denial of applications, then told me that I need to refer back to Oakwood Apartments. I'm getting a complete run-a-round! Even though we were denied based on credit I have no proof that they even ran a credit report and the reason why we were declined. Oakwood Apartments is managed by Millennium Management Inc 27800 Cedar Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122. The FTC states... If you reject an applicant, increase the rent or deposit, require a co-signer, or take any other adverse action based partly or completely on information in a consumer report, you must give the applicant or tenant a notice of that fact – orally, in writing, or electronically. We were not given any.

  Business response

  02/17/2022

  FRED N. C*****, ESQ. 
  27800 Cedar Road • Beachwood, Ohio 44122 • (216) 831-1400 
  February 17, 2022 
  VIA EMAIL 
  kristie@clevelandbbb.org 
  Kristie Angel Dispute Resolution Specialist Better Business Bureau 200 Treeworth Blvd. Broadview Heights, Ohio 44122 
  Re: *** ********/Oakwood Apartments; ID #******** 
  Dear Ms. Angel: 
  I am General Counsel for Oakwood Apartments. The above-referenced complaint has been referred to me for response. The facts are as follows. On December 6, 2021, ***, ****** and ********* ******** completed an online application for residency at Oakwood Apartments. The Applications, copies of which is attached for your reference, specifically state that to be considered for residency, each prospective resident is required to pay a Fifty Dollar ($50.00) non-refundable application fee. The ********s paid a total of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in non-refundable application fees. Additionally, the Application requires the payment of a Two Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollar ($299.99) deposit which is returned to an applicant if he or she is not accepted for residency. The ********s paid the deposit. 
  Oakwood Apartments uses **** **** *********, a third-party screening service, to conduct criminal and credit background checks on all prospective residents. Oakwood and **** **** have jointly adopted industry-accepted guidelines regarding credit standards and whether applicants qualify for residency. Based upon Oakwood's guidelines, **** **** processes applicants and renders rental decisions. In the present case, **** **** processed the ********s' Application and determined they did not meet Oakwood's rental guidelines. Accordingly, the ********s were provided a determination letter, which they have admitted to receiving, advising them their Application for residency had been declined for credit reasons. Apparently, the ********s wanted a more specific reason why they did not qualify for residency. That is not legally required and, in fact, Oakwood could not provide a further explanation because when **** **** processes an application, the only decision rendered is accept or decline. 
  The ********s' Two Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollar ($299.99) deposit was returned to them. The only amount retained by Oakwood was the One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in non-refundable application fees. 

  If the ********s want further information they can contact any of the credit reporting agencies which work with individuals to explain their credit scores.

  I trust this fully responds to the ********s' complaint. Should you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me.

  Very truly yours,

  Fred N. C*****

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩