- Report: #149550
Complaint Review: Grand Central Apartments - Boston Massachusetts
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Grand Central Apartments
101 Federal Street, Suite 1900 Boston, 02110 Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Phone:
617-3427118
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Grand Central Apartments Scam! Ripoff Didn't provide the service advertised and is refusing a refund! Boston Massachusetts
During my first phone conversation with Matt Leary of Grand Central Apartments, I was assured that they had many apartments in their database that filled my criteria. I met with Mr. Leary on April 1, 2005, and we went over the terms of their contract. He was still quite confident that they would be able to find something in my price range and with the amenities that I wanted. I specifically asked Mr. Leary if finding an apartment on my own through a landlord was terms for a refund; he stated that it was.
After a few weeks of receiving listings that were inappropriate due to their location and their quality, I sent Mr. Leary an email stating that I was dissatisfied with Grand Central Apartments and would like a refund; I received no response from him. On April 11, 2005 I found an apartment on Craigslist.org and contacted the landlord, Mr. Joe Plunkett. I have an email dated April 12, 2005 that references our phone conversation on the 11th. On April 13, Grand Central Apartments sent me a listing for one of Mr. Plunkett's apartments, though not the one that we ended up taking. We signed the lease for the apartment in mid-April, but received NO assistance from Grand Central Apartments; at this point, I had already spoken with Chris O'Brien regarding the refund process, and did not feel comfortable utilizing their services.
I followed Grand Central Apartment's procedure for obtaining a refund and spoke with Mr. O'Brien personally about the timing of my first conversation with the landlord; I included both the email to this landlord and the listing from Grand Central in my refund request. After the three-week processing period passed, I called Mr. O'Brien on Thursday, July 7; he stated that he had personally delivered my letter to the president, and that everything looked good. The next day, Friday, July 8, I received a letter from Mr. O'Brien stating that my request for a refund had been denied because the same apartment had been listed at the same time on their website. The emails that I attached to my complaint clearly show that this was not the case.
When I called Grand Central to dispute their refusal to give a refund, I was first put on the phone with a girl that claimed that Mr. Plunkett's information was already on their website when I contacted him, and that is why I was refused a refund. When I explained that I had proof that this was not the case, she became very flustered, put me on hold repeatedly, and finally put me through to the president. This gentleman used completely irrational arguments to try to prove his point, and after I continued to argue with him, he became extremely condescending, stating: "I don't need to rent an apartment, and I certainly don't need to worry about $265; you do the math." If this is an attempt on his part to shame me out of seeking a refund that I am clearly entitled to, he is wrong.
In conclusion, I believe that Grand Central Apartments is misleading and a scam. They did not fulfill their contractual obligation to send me quality apartments; in fact, I probably only received about 7 listings in all. Since I was assured by Mr. Leary that finding an apartment on my own through a landlord was grounds for a refund, and this is what I in fact did, I believe I am entitled to a refund of $265.
Kate
South Boston, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
After a few weeks of receiving listings that were inappropriate due to their location and their quality, I sent Mr. Leary an email stating that I was dissatisfied with Grand Central Apartments and would like a refund; I received no response from him. On April 11, 2005 I found an apartment on Craigslist.org and contacted the landlord, Mr. Joe Plunkett. I have an email dated April 12, 2005 that references our phone conversation on the 11th. On April 13, Grand Central Apartments sent me a listing for one of Mr. Plunkett's apartments, though not the one that we ended up taking. We signed the lease for the apartment in mid-April, but received NO assistance from Grand Central Apartments; at this point, I had already spoken with Chris O'Brien regarding the refund process, and did not feel comfortable utilizing their services.
I followed Grand Central Apartment's procedure for obtaining a refund and spoke with Mr. O'Brien personally about the timing of my first conversation with the landlord; I included both the email to this landlord and the listing from Grand Central in my refund request. After the three-week processing period passed, I called Mr. O'Brien on Thursday, July 7; he stated that he had personally delivered my letter to the president, and that everything looked good. The next day, Friday, July 8, I received a letter from Mr. O'Brien stating that my request for a refund had been denied because the same apartment had been listed at the same time on their website. The emails that I attached to my complaint clearly show that this was not the case.
When I called Grand Central to dispute their refusal to give a refund, I was first put on the phone with a girl that claimed that Mr. Plunkett's information was already on their website when I contacted him, and that is why I was refused a refund. When I explained that I had proof that this was not the case, she became very flustered, put me on hold repeatedly, and finally put me through to the president. This gentleman used completely irrational arguments to try to prove his point, and after I continued to argue with him, he became extremely condescending, stating: "I don't need to rent an apartment, and I certainly don't need to worry about $265; you do the math." If this is an attempt on his part to shame me out of seeking a refund that I am clearly entitled to, he is wrong.
In conclusion, I believe that Grand Central Apartments is misleading and a scam. They did not fulfill their contractual obligation to send me quality apartments; in fact, I probably only received about 7 listings in all. Since I was assured by Mr. Leary that finding an apartment on my own through a landlord was grounds for a refund, and this is what I in fact did, I believe I am entitled to a refund of $265.
Kate
South Boston, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Kate
South Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Do NOT Use this Service
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, July 28, 2005
From the Original Poster... The person from Grand Central Apartments who posted the rebuttal to my original report is the man that I spoke with regarding my refund. Just like that day, he is choosing to ignore the facts- the apartment that I ended up renting was NOT on their website, bottom line. I found an apartment on my own through a landlord, bottom line. Therefore, according to their own sales person, these people owe me $265. I hope that, because this is now the third item to be shown after a Google search for "Grand Central Apartments," no one else will fall for this scam. They don't deserve 2 dollars for the useless information they gave me, and have further proven themselves to be a shady operation since I began pursuing a refund. Please avoid these people at all costs, and if someone else that has been victimized by these people is reading this, please email me at [email protected]; I'd be interested in talking to you regarding possible legal action.
Ishay
Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
GCA Terms and Conditions, Clear and Fair
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 21, 2005
Unfortunately, because Kate rented an apartment that is listed on our website we were unable to honor her request for a refund. Joe Plunkett (the landlord of the apartment she ultimately rented) has been listing his apartments on our website for over a year. Multiple apartments meeting Ms. Kate's criteria were active on our website at the time she was searching. Our clients sign a binding agreement entitling them to sixty days of service with Grand Central Apartments and we follow that agreement verbatim. As it states in our Terms and Conditions, Refund requests can only be made after GrandCentralApartments.com has attempted to assist you for the full term of your search and failed to locate housing within your specified criterion. However, it is clear that we have not failed, considering that the contact for Joe Plunkett was found on our site. Therefore all of Ms. Kate's attempts at arguing this case are irrelevant. In light of this we were unable to offer Ms. Leary a refund of her service charge. We are enclosing a copy of our guarantee for your review. GUARANTEE At GrandCentralApartments.com we are here for you seven days a week to ensure you find an apartment. Please contact GrandCentralApartments.com Customer Service promptly in the event you experience any difficulties with our service. GrandCentralApartments.com guarantees to find you an apartment in your specified criteria during the term of your search (from the day you sign up with GrandCentralApartments.com to the day you specified as your moving date when you signed up). If GrandCentralApartments.com fails to locate you an apartment during this time period, you have the right to request a refund of your service charge. From your service charge we will deduct a $30 credit processing fee. To receive your refund please sends us a letter, certified return receipt requested, briefly detailing your apartment search. Please enclose a copy of your lease agreement and a copy of your new utility bill. Please allow six to eight weeks to process your refund. Refund requests can only be made after GrandCentralApartments.com has attempted to assist you for the full term of your search and failed to locate housing within your specified criterion. We reserve the right to determine whether we have failed. Finding an apartment through a real estate agency not related to GrandCentralApartments.com before your move-in date is not a condition for a refund. Finding an apartment in a different criterion than what was specified to GrandCentralApartments.com at the time of registration is not a condition for a refund. By submitting this form you agree that you are moving. Your decision not to move is not a condition for a refund; however, in compensation, your account will be reactivated the next time you move. Failure to communicate difficulties with your service during your search period may interfere with and/or delay your refund.
