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Hello, I'm in Ohio. In apartment complex I have been shown apartment with different floor plan what I was going to rent, and payed $300 deposit to hold it for me over the phone, did not sign anything and did not get a receipt.
In 2 days I came in and they finally showed me same floor plan as I was renting and I didn't like it. So I payed deposit for UNSEEN apartment and want to cancel it but they say deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE. Can I just cancel transaction with no consequences? Remember I didn't sign anything just gave my card number over the phone.
The apartment will only be ready after repair in a week so its not like it was standing there all waiting for me and preventing others to buy it. In fact they just now called me and asked if I'm still cancelling because other people are looking to rent it.
...payed $300 (holding fee) to hold it for me
In 2 days... I didn't like it.
...want to cancel it but they say (holding fee) is NON-REFUNDABLE.
You asked them to do something for you.
You paid their charge to do that.
They did what you asked them to do and what you paid for.
Now you believe you are entitled to not have to pay for that.
Is that about it?
What would you say if they had not held the apartment for you?
They require to make a nonrefundable deposit for unseen apartment. It sounds illegal and even if its not and they are not restricted by law to do that, they should.
Doesn't it sounds like a scam??- "hey you cannot see what you will be renting yet but here is more expensive nice floor plan, if you like it make a non-refundable deposit"... There should be some law that would make them stop doing business like that. Fast good money, nothing else to add. Again, they still didn't give me a receipt or got my signature maybe for a reason that so I dont have evidence that this is how they run business and cannot sue them for taking peoples money.
Again, apartment was held for a couple of days and still will be ready only in a week. I can't name it "they held it for me for $300 for 2 days with no refund and its not a scam".
Doesn't it sounds like a scam??- "hey you cannot see what you will be renting yet but here is more expensive nice floor plan, if you like it make a non-refundable deposit"... There should be some law that would make them stop doing business like that.
There is actually a law about that. Its a common sense law. If they won't show you the actual unit, the correct response is "C-YA!!! BYE BYE!!!" instead of.. "oh yeah, here's $300 in cash, no, I don't need a receipt, thanks!"
I guess its true what they say.. there IS a sucker born every minute...
There is actually a law about that. Its a common sense law. If they won't show you the actual unit, the correct response is "C-YA!!! BYE BYE!!!" instead of.. "oh yeah, here's $300 in cash, no, I don't need a receipt, thanks!"
I guess its true what they say.. there IS a sucker born every minute...
Well I probably entitled to cancel transaction then, I was just wondering if I have anything to support legitimacy of such an action from customer perspective.
Would be awesome to sue them for taking advantage of naive citizens.
You didn't pay a security deposit. You paid a non refundable fee to hold a unit for you. That's what they did, they held the unit for you and now want to know if you're taking it or not.
Normally, if you choose to rent there the money goes towards the first months rent. If you choose not to rent, you lost the money. So, are you renting the unit or not? They need to know.
I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would do what you did. I really can't believe that people actually do this kind of stuff. I'm blown away, just literally blown away.
I really dont know any better and dont have a lot of experience in renting so dont know the standard practices. Im just surprised that with all crazy law in United States apartments as a business CAN require people to do that.
I greatly appreciate community for help!! Thank you all for advises.
I really dont know any better and dont have a lot of experience in renting so dont know the standard practices. Im just surprised that with all crazy law in United States apartments as a business CAN require people to do that.
I greatly appreciate community for help!! Thank you all for advises.
Nobody put a gun to your head and made you do it, or threatened to throw you in jail if you didn't.
You chose to do something foolish and you got burned. Learn from it and move on.
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Remember I didn't sign anything just gave my card number over the phone.
