Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  09/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My landlord neglected the heating system and ignored maintenance requests to fix it. She contracted a property management group, TerraVestra last year to oversee the property. TerraVestra ignored all maintenance requests to fix the heat as well. After several emails, calls, neglected service calls, I contacted NJ housing. We were without heat until late November 2023. I reported to TerraVestra images of the temperatures, which ranged from 55°F-63°F after they claimed the heat was fixed. On Thursday, November 30, 2023, a service call was completed and our heat finally worked. I was accused of making a false claim regarding the temperature, although I have images that show the temperatures before and after the call. Furthermore, it is evident that the service call was needed and I made no more complaints after the heat was finally fixed after over a year of communications with the landlord, the former property management group and the current group, TerraVestra. In what I see as retaliation for reporting the inaction to the department of Housing, TerraVestra placed a $285 charge on my account to cover the required service call. The amount was placed on my account in January 2024. I pay my rent on time and have resided here since May 2012. I paid September 2024 rent, in full, on or about August 19,2024. A few days later, I began to receive automated messages from TerraVestra stating my rent was not paid in full. Upon review, TerraVestra misappropriated my rental payment and diverted it to pay the retaliatory charge of $285. I contacted the landlord, Eileen R. on several occasions but to no avail. I contacted TerraVestra as well and after 3 weeks April Porras responded that they took my rent money $1,057 and paid off the $285. Now, it appears my September rent is late plus a $50 fee resulting in $335 charge. I do not owe the money and TerraVestra and by extension, the landlord are making efforts that could negatively impact my credit and housing stability.

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