Anon
Columbus,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, November 13, 2007
I worked there for years. It was the most ridiculous place to work with some really horrible co-workers. I don't agree with the whole government theory, that's out there. But I can tell you that the company owns the utility companies and they do read the meters themselves, those employees work right there in the office. For some reason they are listed through another county in Ohio. I would guess that's so they don't have to follow Franklin County guidelines. Yes, of course they add their own fees like anyone starting up a utility company. However I do think it is double dipping and they should not be allowed to evict someone for not paying their electric or water bill when it's that company who is determining the amount of the bill. Some idiot could read your meter wrong and you will be stuck with the bill, when you call to complain you are talking to someone in Westerville sitting 10 feet from the folks handing out evictions. For the record, a majority of the rental properties were built YEARS ago. No one is letting them have just one meter, whoever owned the utility company prior to them purchasing it did that. I think some of the properties do have different meters for each unit. I'm sure if you own the utility company you can choose to bill however you want to. I witnessed the police being called on several occasions when previous tenants demanded their deposit back and wouldn't leave the office. On a personal note, I don't know anyone who has ever gotten their deposit back even people that work for that company. I hope I'm wrong on that but it's unlikely. The name change doesn't have anything to do with anything. It was a new idiot in charge trying make himself feel important, nothing more. There is a new idiot in charge every week. They could care less about their reputation, they have plenty of money. There are so many more affiliate companies you haven't even scratched the surface. They have country clubs, golf courses and every single location is a totally separate LLC or Corp. They have a condo division different name- with properties all over Columbus. The owner's worthless retarded kid also has a management company in the same building and he also builds crappy condos, he actually works out of Ardent's office if you call from noon to three working hours. There is not enough time in the day to tell you all the messed up stuff related to that company. But, read your lease about the utilities, on move in day take pictures using that days newspaper so you have the date, if something is broke or wrong in your place bug the crap out of them. Send letters, faxes, etc. so you have records when you go to court. Be prepared to have a week or two before you have to move out of your old place just in case. You should ALWAYS walk the apartment 24 hours before you sign your lease and if it's not up to par don't move in. If you're in a bind and have to move in ask for a reduced deposit or rental rate. They'll probably laugh at you but it's worth a try and if the leasing agent wants their commission they'll deal with their manager.