I was a resident at Park Place for 2 years. In that time, there were at least 4 or 5 different property managers. When I moved out, my security deposit was not returned although I left the unit in great condition and ALWAYS paid my rent on time. They
didn't return my phone calls and when I met with the property manager (who I had never seen before because she had just started there), she was very rude. I even called the corporate office in Atlanta and they never called me back. Finally, I took them to Jefferson County Court and filed a claim. They never answered the claim and didn't show up for court so I received a default judgement against them. Over 4 months after I've moved out I'm still trying to collect my security deposit because they won't return my phone calls even with a court order!
I know my way around the legal system and it probablly cost me more in time (not to mention coming back and forth from Atlanta to Birmingham to go to court) than the actual value of the security deposit, but I pursued this because of principle. Park Place houses a lot of low income families. If they will do this to someone who has the resources and education to fight them, imagine what illegal and underhanded things they will probably do to the disadvantaged. There are plenty of nice places to rent downtown Birmingham. This is not one of them. They defy the legal system and do not respect their tenants, especially those tenants who have been respectful to the property and followed all community rules and guidelines.
I rented from fall '05 through fall '07.
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