Need advice about rental application process?

[hampton83]

If you think that's bad, I applied for an apartment (not this one) 5 weeks ago. I had given my 30 day notice 4 days after applying since I knew I had no evictions and met all the other requirements. I was told it would take 1 wk (2 max) for approval. I called at 1/2 wks to see how it was going. No call back. Called at 2 wks, no call back. Called 2 1/2 weeks later got a call that they needed a fax number so I called back & of course got an answering machine. I left my name, number and the fax # they needed. 3 wks go by & I called, no calls back. 3 1/2 weeks (getting nervous due to 30 days being almost up) & left a message stating I was getting nervous. Got a call 2 days later & she tells me they needed the fax number (the only thing holding the app up) & she denied getting my message. I gave the fax then called the company to ask them to fill it out asap. Turned out they couldn't so I called Property management back & she told me to talk my paperwork to apt manager & have her fax. I called (due to it being 40 mins away & she's not always there) & no answer but left a message. No call back. Ended up faxing the paperwork myself costing $14. Two days pass & I heard nothing so I called. Amazingly got a hold of her & she said they got it, she's sending it for approval by her manager & that was all that was left. Mind you this was only 5 days from when I was to be out of my place. Called 2 days from move out- left message w/o a call back. Called 1 day until move out--left message w/ no call back. Went to apartment complex that Monday (day after I was to be moved out) & is shocked that I haven't heard anything. She tried calling but no answer so she said she would email them. I told her I needed to know something by the end of that day because I had no idea what to tell my apartment manager & I had to pay by that day or I was going to be charged a late fee. Nothing, so I called at 3pm and again at 4:30pm. I ended up going to my manager & explained what was going on. Paid for 8 days rent but she said they have someone set to move in by the 15th and the needed time to get it ready for the new tenants. Today I tried calling the possible new manager, no answer so I called the property management company & left a message. Still no call back. I have to be out of here in 3 days. I feel like they are so unprofessional and I've now lost money because of it. It's too late to find another place within 3 days plus it's more $ for application fees. I lost money on a uhaul cancellation fee. I don't know if I should put my furniture into storage (about $90) or wait until Friday. If I stay here, I risk negative referral from my apt manager. This makes it hard on deciding when to get utilities shut off here. Plus I'm sure I'll be without utilities if I get the new place by Friday. It's been over 5 wks now since I applied for the new place. All my problems because the property management company failed to follow through on the fax number I gave them & even if they never got my message, they never bothered to follow up on getting it. And they are horrible about returning calls or answering the phone. It also seems funny that they have 2 apts available but when I showed interest in the downstairs one she stated they had another one that was always ready for move-in. I'm the 1st on the list but it seems like they are holding the one for someone else and dragging my application out until the other apt is ready. I lost the 2 people who were going to help me move due to this dragging out, leaving me with just one person and my back won't tolerate moving heavy furniture up the stairs so I don't even know if I can move in if they only give me the upstairs.
Can they be held accountable for they conduct?

[archy]

Based on your experience with the property management company it may be in your best interests to consider your application fee a lost cause and move on.

You could report them the local division of real estate or go after a small claims suit but it's not likely to be worth your time or effort.

[dana]

They finally called today and said I can move in. I caught them in a lie. Monday she showed me a townhouse saying it was ready and the upstairs would be soon but didn't seem to want to rent it to me the townhouse. Today ((3 days later) tells me I'll be moving in the upstairs apt.

[jarel]

When I ask her about the townhouse, she said it wasn't ready than tells me that the lady next to it has noisy kids. I said, I have a child than she said, banging on walls noisy. It just make me more suspicious that I was bumped & the townhouse was promised to someone else. Horrible professionalism.

[aldric13]

At least this move is only temporary until get established into my new career.