ComplaintsforCornell & Associates Inc

• Initial Complaint

  08/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I moved out of an apartment building managed by Cornell in FEBRUARY. Within the allotted 30 days to receive my security deposit, I received an invoice for final utility payment in Feb AND March rent, which was an error. Since then, I have contacted them NUMEROUS times by phone, email, even text. I have yet to have anyone get back to me, nor correct the error and send my security deposit. My next stop is small claims court.

  Business response

  08/20/2024

  Hello,

  We have reviewed this file and found that the bookkeeper made an error on the account, the refund will be sent today.

   

  ****

• Initial Complaint

  09/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This phone number ************ has called on several different days over the last several weeks stating that "legal documents would be served within a couple of hours". Would not identify the company name, the person's name, what it is in regard to. I did a reverse search and found that it belonged to CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES and called them directly. Again, no information given by them, no issuer name, nothing. Now, they did NOT ask for any personal information so not sure if it is a scam or not. Haven't been served anything and know of NOTHING that could be related to service documents.

  Business response

  09/24/2023

  Hello,

  We have received over 50 calls and have already responded to the BBB on this issue. 

  This is a company out of ********** with our same name and has nothing to do with Cornell and Associates, **** of *******, **.

  Thank you and we apologize for any inconvenience as it is one to ** as well.

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

• Initial Complaint

  08/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Received a call from this organization this morning regarding a 22-year-old car possession. Spoke to two individuals who refused to provide their name and detail but stated wife and I would be served to appear in court. Conversation was very harassing, and it took a lot of back and forth for 2nd rep to provide details that the call was in reference to GMAC repossession from ****. My wife and I received nothing by mail and are concerned this is a scam call.

  Business response

  08/03/2023

  Hello,

  There is a legal company in ********** also named **** Cornell and Associates but has not relation to us. This is the 4th person in less than 24 hours that has contacted ** about this same complaint. Calls from *******, ******, and *****. I called the company to find out that they have been calling server people who owe past debts. I explained that they needed to identify them as they are from ********** as I am getting calls regarding their calls and people are concerned this is a scam.

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

   

• Initial Complaint

  07/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I moved into the Northgate View apartments leased and managed by Cornell and Associates in July 2020. For the past three years Ive had no problems renewing my 12 month lease without rent increases. On June 12th, 2023 I reached out to the property manager asking for my new lease since I had not heard from them. On June 19th, 2023 I received a response back with the lease term and the rent was increased by $25. I asked for a copy of the notice letter stating there was going to be a rent increase. June 20th, 2023 they responded saying they was no letter for me to have for my records and that the new amount was what I had to agree to for a 12 month lease. Respectfully I declined because they couldnt provide proof that they gave me the proper 180 days notice of a rent increase. I have yet to see a adjusted copy of my lease with the current rate for me to sign. I have emailed a few times without response. Today I got a text from the property manager saying my rent is late and asking when I was planning to pay. I replied less than 15 minutes later say that I had not gotten a lease to sign and I didnt feel comfortable giving them money without a legal document with clear agreed upon terms. I have yet to hear back. This is gross negligence on their part and I would like to be issued a proper lease without the illegal rent increase.

  Business response

  07/06/2023

  Hello,

  Please see below for the response from the property manager.

   

  "Hi ****,
  
  This tenant has a month-to-month lease at the same rent and is welcome to stay month-to-month as long as they would like. They are not being required to sign a new lease. The lease has a holdover clause that automatically converts to a month-to-month lease at the end of the initial term. This tenant is attempting to negatively negotiate with the landlord by withholding July rent unless we allow them to sign a new year lease at their current rate. We have informed them that we do plan to raise rents, so we are not offering a year renewal at this time, but that when they receive their rent increase they may negotiate a lease renewal at the new rate. At this time they are month-to-month and their rent is the same rate. But, they are violating their month-to-month lease agreement by not paying July rent at their current rate. The Landlord again recommends they fulfill their lease obligations by paying rent. "

• Initial Complaint

  03/02/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I vacated my apartment located at *************************************************** in January 2022. The move out report indicated repair of blinds, cleaning of blinds, resurfacing bathtub and cleaning fee. The whole of my security deposit was taken. There is an outstanding amount of around $210 according to Cornell and Associates. I disputed this charge with the property manager, *********************. I advised that since there was only one blind that was damaged the cost for replacement seemed exorbitant. Also, there was no record of a cleaning fee of $150 being taken out, which I understand should be stipulated at the time of signing the lease if this is the intention at the end of the tenancy. Mr ****** asserted I had blinds repaired before at no cost. I explained I had previous blinds repaired because my apartment was robbed not because I damaged them myself and there had never been any improvement in safety in the building after this incident. Further, there is also a cleaning fee being charged for blinds of $14.35 but if the blinds were replaced then why would I be charged for cleaning?I received no further correspondence from Cornell and Associates after our email exchange until this week being the week of March 1, 2022 more than 13 months after I moved out that the amount went to debt collections. I do not believe this is ethical to contact someone some 13 months after the fact and not advise it was being sent to collections. If there was opportunity for me to resolve the issue then this should have been handled just after I moved out. I have no issue with my security deposit being taken but I am not paying any additional monies as I do not believe the repair cost and the cleaning cost to be accurate and due to the time that has passed. I request this debt be dismissed and debt collection advised of such.

  Business response

  03/16/2023

  Please see our reply from the Property Manager.

   

  The tenants blinds were damaged all but one blind.   She was charged for actual cost of the blind replacement.    We have invoice on file.  We had previously replaced all of the tenants blinds that were damaged during her tenancy. This was not due to being broken into it was from her cats.  All of the damaged blinds are her responsibility.  ****** was sent move out report in February of 2022.   The tenant was also notified that she would be charged for blinds on the walk through of the apartment when she moved out.  This is signed by the tenant acknowledging the damage.

  Customer response

  03/16/2023

   
  Complaint: 19527957
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Your response does not clearly indicate a reply to the charge for cleaning blinds which were replaced and a cleaning fee which was not stipulated in the initial signing of the lease.Where does it stipulate $150 for cleaning on exiting the tenancy? there is no such charge indicated. I guarantee that replacing blinds in one room does not cost close to $800. Also, there's no such report about previous blinds being replaced because of my cats, if this was the case where is this in writing? I also paid the ******************* which I have a receipt for. Your reply is unprofessional and so has every interaction been with the company. 

  I emailed immediately after I exited the unit and received NO response for 13 months, is this acceptable for a business? NO it is not.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

  Business response

  03/27/2023

  Please see below additional response from the Property Manager as well as the attached billing.

  
  "The previous response did address the replacement of your damaged blinds.  The lease states that you will be responsible for delivering the unit to the condition you received it when you moved in. If not clean you will be charged for cleaning and any other damages.  Your blinds were replaced twice.  The first time was ******* 2020.  You moved in in 2017.   At that time we did not charge you for those blinds.  I have attached copies of the paid invoices for you.  I have also attached a copy of the closing bill from ***** showing your balance at the time of move out.  

  Customer response

  04/03/2023

   
  Complaint: 19527957
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

  Customer response

  04/10/2023

  I'm rejecting the response because I have two attachments which show the apartment was robbed in December 2019 so the blinds were replaced because of this and not as alleged. The second attachment is the disclosure form and there is no cleaning fee charged, which should be stipulated on the agreement as a nonrefundable fee. Also, there's no other indication as previously suggested of me saying it would be left in condition it was. I do have photos of how it was left and it was in the same condition as entered. If it wasn't it would have been noted on the report.Additionally, there was a charge for cleaning the blinds of $14.35. If the blinds were replaced why would I be charged such a random amount for cleaning? 

• Initial Complaint

  01/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I moved in the ***************************************************************************** about a year and maybe 8 months ago. I signed the lease but didn't get a copy of my unit 401 lease. He worked for Cornell and Associates. The manager was ***********************. He also did not go through the lease with me and never told me that I couldn't move in until I provide proof of rental insurance. The lease said in bold letters that I had to show a rental insurance proof before I move in the unit . Months later I had a grease fire that caused damage to my unit and others. Most of the damage was all water because of the fire sprinkles. The building's manager got fired the next day because he wasn't asking any tenants for rental insurance. His boss ***************************** from the property management company got fired from managing the property. So later on they told me I had to pay the insurance deduction $10,000. I refused to pay because *************************, the new Cornell and associates property manager refused to give me a sign document saying that the $10,000 was going to be all I had to pay but ************************* refused to do so. I didn't pay because of that. Every month I got a bill saying I owed them $10,000 for the damages. Now in the beginning of January I got an email from ****** saying he was sending my bill to collection. I said I would pay the $10,000 with the condition of having a signed document that the $10,000 was the end of it but ******* sent a document about our deal but did not sign it. Days later I got a bill that the damaged bill was $20,000. I have the invoices to prove it before and after.My complaint is that Cornell and associates are acting dishonestly with me. I believe the new invoice was not to be sent to me until I paid the $10,000 in full and then they would try to get more and more from me. Please look at all the complaints and lawsuits against Cornell and Associates. This company has been in business for a long time praying on people and getting away with that

  Business response

  02/09/2023

  Please note that this is a duplicate complaint, and we answered the first one and it was dismissed.

  Please let me know what else you need.

• Initial Complaint

  06/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Upon moving out, I illegally had part of my security deposit withheld. The **** detailed $345 in damages despite the apartment being deep-cleaned as per the move-out checklist with photos/videos being sent to them. Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 59.18.130 and RCW 59.18.280), I was obligated to return "restore the premises to their initial condition except for reasonable wear and tear." Landlords are not allowed to charge for reasonable wear and tear, yet it seems Cornell does not allow tenants to be present for the move-out and then charges them excessive damages to cover their costs of restoring basic wear and tear.I received the letter on May 19th and immediately asked them for documentation of damages and associated receipts. I followed up on May 28th. They did not respond. I wrote them today (June 11th) to ask them again to resolve the situation. I also asked them for a copy of my move-in checklist, which to the best of my knowledge I never filled out and signed. As per RCW 59.18.260, the landlord cannot withhold any of the deposit without the move-in checklist signed by both parties. And the tenant has a right to request a copy. As a result, not only are they ignoring my requests for proper justification for the charges, they are illegally holding my deposit.

  Customer response

  06/14/2022

  I submitted a complaint (ID:17415008). The company has reached out to me and we have reached a resolution.
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On (and possibly prior to) Apr 23nd, 2022, the building manager, ***************************, excluded me from the rental by: locking me out With no communication from the property manager, and without my firm confirmation on move-out notice, *************************** illegally removed my personal possessions and exchanged all locks to exclude me from entering, under the law, my lawful apartment, which I am paying for. While trying to understand the situation, *************************** displayed concerning behaviors which contain aggressive and excessive verbal assaults, racial/gender specific hateful languages, and toxic/hateful emotions (witnesses available), and further refused to communicate and refused to answer the phone, making it impossible to communicate and understand the situation further. Her extremely unprofessional behaviors cause huge discomfort to the lawful resident of your building.

  Business response

  04/28/2022

  Hello,

  Please see below our response to this complaint and the email trail as to such.

   

  Below is the notice from ******************* stating she will be out completely out on 4/16/22.
  
  
  
  On Friday, April 15, 2022, 6:01 PM, ******************* <***********************>wrote:
  Hi,
  This is a courtesy notice to let you know that I will be completely moved out this Saturday.
  
  1. The Galleon will be responsible for paying the utilities on April 16, 2022 and forward.
  2. It's your responsibility to communicate clearly on the move-out procedure and the remaining financial responsibility. Failure to do so will cause delay and your property is the one responsible for the operational and financial loss. 
  3. The apartment will receive a move-out cleaning service from professionals on this Saturday. If The Galleon were to decide to proceed with additional cleaning services, detailed billing information is required to provide to the tenant with clear explanations on the reason of choosing such service.
  
  Thank you.
  Tenant 502
  
  Below is Denises timeline of correspondence with the tenant:
  
  
  April 1st I received notice from tenant in 502 at the Galleon that she was moving out April 30, 2022.
  I responded with a Cornell Intent to vacate notice for tenant to fill out and return to me.
  Tenant emailed this back to me.
  On April 15th 2022 tenant emailed me saying she would be fully moved out on April 16th 2022 and was also having cleaners come in to clean on April 16th 2022.
  On April 19th 2022 I went up to unit 502 to check on progress of move out because I had not heard back from tenant. The door was unlocked and unit was vacant except some trash and a vacuum, I have submitted pictures of the vacant unit.
  I contacted our cleaners and locksmith to get unit ready for new tenant moving in on May 10th 2022.
  In the evening on April 23rd I received a phone call from unit ************************************************************************************************************** so I hung up, this happened 3 times at which I stopped answering my phone and text the tenant explaining that she gave notice and the place was unlocked and empty.
  I proceeded with the unit turnover so that the unit would be ready for the incoming tenant.
   The tenant was breaking her lease because she stated she was buying a home I immediately started showing the unit to get it rented to save the tenant from having to pay all of May and June rent due to her lease not ending until the end of June 2022.
  
  Below is Denises email to ******************* letting her know that the new keys will be on the kitchen counter:  The unit was left unlocked (because it was unlocked already *see above email*).
  
  From: *************************** <********************>
  Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2022 2:52 PM
  To: ******************* <***********************>;******************* <********************************>
  Subject: Move out
  
  Hello, 
  On April 15th you emailed me saying you were moving out,that you would be completely moved out April16th, 2022
  I tried to contact you on April 17th and April 18th with no return response from you.
  On April 19th I went up to unit 502 to see if you were still there, the door was unlocked and all your belongings except a vacuum and some trash were left inside the unit.
  I proceeded with having the locksmith out to change the locks and our cleaners come in to clean the unit.
  I will put the news keys back inside the unit on the kitchen counter along with your vacuum when I get home tonite. This will allow you to have continued access to the the unit thru the end of day April 30th 2022.
  My apologies for the mix up. The unit was empty and I was only going off of the email you sent me saying youd be fully moved out on April16th 2022.
  I will email you again as soon as the keys are in the unit.They will be on the kitchen counter.
  On or before April 30, ********************************** so I can get the keys back from you.
  
  Thank you
  ***************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  In April 2021, I paid Cornell & Associates $300 for a deposit on a micro-studio with a 6 month lease. I ended up leaving the unit one month early because of a failed window and Cornell returned $250 of my deposit, claiming that a "desk chair" was missing. The "chair" in question is actually a folding chair valued either at $22 or $27. I had placed said chair into the shared kitchen/lounge closet because it was not comfortable. I asked Cornell & Associates via email Mon Oct 18, 2021 and then again Thur Oct 21, 2021 to check said closet for the chair and return the $50. I have yet to receive a response. I would like the $50 returned to me.

  Business response

  11/08/2021

  At the time of the move out report and charge we were notified that the chair in question was located outside of the unit.  Since then it has been located and the $50 reimbursement has made to the previous tenant, check number **** on 11/1/21.

  Customer response

  11/09/2021

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *******

*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. ↩