Visit China

Question:

I don’t know if there is a more apropriate newsgroup for this – My apartment complex is partically built and they have chronic parking problems.  Every time I come home after 11PM or so there are *no* free parking spaces at all. On Sunday I parked my car near the Fire lane about 7AM and about 4:30PM I get a knock on the door – a neighbor tells me – "they are towing your car away". I say "what??", walk outside and see a tow truck getting ready to pull out. I run towards them and they explain to me that they are towing it because it is parked near the fire lane. Then I say, release the car and the man tells me there is a $67.88 charge for releasing it and if I don’t pay, it will later cost me $200 to get the car back. He tells me that since he came here, he has to charge me the money.  The towing person asks to see my driver’s license, registration, writes down vehicle VIN, takes my money, releases the car and drives away. Then I walk to the apartment complex, this was Sunday but they were open anyway. I talk to the sales drones and they were all repeating the same thing. I ask them, why didn’t you call me, didn’t you think that this car belonged to one of the residents? What they said amounted to "We didn’t know whose car it was and had no way to find out".  I said, what do you mean you didn’t know, you made me write the licence plate number and the color/make/model on the contract, what purpose did that serve?  Why did you not call me before resorting to such action??? And got their "We don’t know… we don’t know… there is no way we can find out…"  I said, you could have done more before calling the tow truck if your claim that you care about tenants is true.  That cost me $67.88 and almost turned into $200. Then they get out the contract and show me the line where it says "The vehicle parked by the fire lane will be towed immediately" and I said thank you for clarifying this, I will have a talk with your manager about this tomorrow. So that’s the situation. The apartment complex is semi-built, most of the buildings are finished, but some are not and there is a lot of construction going on.  That’s what one of the office people explained to me, and she said that because of that, there are not enough parking spaces available.  They said that this problem should be fixed once the other building(s) are completed. Personally, I don’t know if that’s true, and in any case, it is their problem, not mine.  I just want my goddamn parking space. If I come home after 11-12PM, there is *no place to park*, by any building. The parking spaces are not assigned except for garages ($200/month) and "carpool" spaces that cost $30/month. I said, then what do I do if I cannot park – they told me I could park right by the office in spaces designated as "Future Resident Parking" which is about 1/4 mile away away from the door (could be more, could be less). In any case, it is highly inconvenient, especially if you have to carry 5 bags of groceries that far. And something else I have noticed. The more you pay apartment complexes in general the more insolent and arrogant they are, and the worse they treat you. Archstone is *not* an inexpensive apartment complex, I have never paid as much as I pay now for a tiny one bedroom and their attitude is proportional to montly rent.  I could elaborate on their attitude, but I won’t.  The tenants that warned me about the tow truck and they had the same complaint about parking problems and more. This puts their  claims about caring about the  tenants, customer satisfaction in a very interesting light. Their legal department is *very* aggressive. I saw their contract and my gut feeling was not to sign it. It was huge, far bigger than anything I’ve seen, pages and pages of lawyerspeak.  The clause that got me was this: If you violate the contract and we sue you, you are liable for our lawyer’s fees". (Paraphrased).  This reminds me, it is sort of like in Communist China, when they shot a person, they billed his relatives for the bullet.  I find it completely ridiculous.  Never have I seen anything like that. Getting sued and having to pay for their lawyers. I told them that I wanted to strike out that clause but they were very inflexible, and said that the contract has to be signed the way it is, or not at all. These multiple pages of lawyerspeak should have been a major red flag and I should have walked away right there but I didn’t and now I have to deal with this further. I will file a complaint with the apartment manager tomorrow and demand the $67.88 back, but I think I will get the same excuses from them as well, "you violated parking rules by parking near the fire lane…. As for not being able to park anywhere near.. Well, sorry. You will just have to park on the hill". Actually, they did tell me something else – you can get a "carport" for $30/month, or $360/year (a nice chunk of change I could put too a much better use)… Isn’t that cute?  I thought parking was free, but I got a nice reality check. Parking, according to them is "first come, first serve" and if you don’t come first, say you come last, you are screwed, plainly put.  Too few parking spaces and too many residents plus their guests equals…..  Now, let’s put 2 and 2 together, shall we? Let’s think for a second why the parking spaces are not numbered and assigned. This just pisses me off. Almost every  tenant I have talked to has been pissed off for some reason also. I am going to move out when my lease ends. What I need to know now is this — What are the consumer/tenant groups in Seattle and how do I contact them?  The Better Business Bureau? What government agency is responsible for this? I need to talk to a good attorney in Bothell that can write them a nice letter. Anywhere else I can complain about the parking issue and their utter incompetency? Anything else I can do to motivate them to compensate that $67.88 and number their parking spaces? I really need some help regarding this parking situation (lack of it), it pisses me off. Though we have many valleys to travel and mountains to climb, by nature we are inclined to fear the unknown. Life rewards  those of us who accept the call to go where we have never been even when we, seemingly, have to go there alone.

Response:

> Actually, they did tell me something else – you can get a "carport" for > $30/month, or $360/year (a nice chunk of change I could put too a much better > use)… Isn’t that cute?  I thought parking was free, but I got a nice reality > check.

Sure there’s free parking.  You even indicated that four blocks away, there’s plenty of free parking. If you don’t want to walk four blocks, then pay the $30 per month or whatever and get a space.  You  have a car, you don’t whine about paying insurance or gas or repairs, so why do you expect unlimited convenient parking to be free? Welcome to the big city. The tow truck guys were actually a lot nicer than in other cities, though — some places say once the tow truck is there, the car gets towed, period.

Response:

>I don’t know if there is a more apropriate newsgroup for this – >My apartment complex is partically built and they have chronic parking >problems.  Every time I come home after 11PM or so there are *no* free parking >spaces at all. On Sunday I parked my car near the Fire lane about 7AM and >about 4:30PM I get a knock on the door – a neighbor tells me – "they are >towing your car away". I say "what??", walk outside and see a tow truck

You park in a firelane and then are upset about it. Come on. There is a reason it marked as a firelane. Your parking issue doesnt matter. >Then I walk to the apartment complex, this was Sunday but they were open >anyway. I talk to the sales drones and they were all repeating the same thing. >I ask them, why didn’t you call me, didn’t you think that this car belonged to >one of the residents? What they said amounted to "We didn’t know whose car it

Why would it matter who called. You were parked illegal. >And something else I have noticed. The more you pay apartment complexes in >general the more insolent and arrogant they are, and the worse they treat >you. Archstone is *not* an inexpensive apartment complex, I have never paid as

So dont move into one anymore. Find a small run down apartment with plenty of parking if this is your main goal. >Their legal department is *very* aggressive. I saw their contract and my gut >feeling was not to sign it. It was huge, far bigger than anything I’ve seen,

So why did you? You want to live at this place or you wouldnt not of signed thats why. >I will file a complaint with the apartment manager tomorrow and demand the >$67.88 back, but I think I will get the same excuses from them as well, "you

Good luck, I know what I would do if I was your manager. FILE 13. >What are the consumer/tenant groups in Seattle and how do I contact them?  The >Better Business Bureau? What government agency is responsible for this?

Seems to me there is no problem execpt the fact that you want to violate the rules. >I need to talk to a good attorney in Bothell that can write them a nice >letter.

I am sure they will talk to you, but if $200 towing fee is going to bother you then the lawyers fee will really piss you off. —

Response:

>I don’t know if there is a more apropriate newsgroup for this –

Don’t park illegally, and bad things won’t happen to your car. Don’t rent an apartment in a complex that doesn’t meet your requirements for parking, then you won’t have to park illegally. Personal responsibility can solve all sorts of problems, if you let it.

Response:

I’ve read a lot of replies to this thread, but what I don’t understand is everybody is saying "Don’t park illegally" In the original message it was stated twice: "I run towards them and they explain to me that they are towing it because it is parked near the fire lane." and "The vehicle parked by the fire lane will be towed immediately" Nowhere does it say he was parked "in" the firelane. Am I missing something? –Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I don’t know if there is a more apropriate newsgroup for this – >Don’t park illegally, and bad things won’t happen to your car. >Don’t rent an apartment in a complex that doesn’t meet your >requirements for parking, then you won’t have to park illegally. >Personal responsibility can solve all sorts of problems, if you >let it.

Response:

> I’ve read a lot of replies to this thread, but what I don’t understand > is everybody is saying "Don’t park illegally" In the original message > it was stated twice: > "I run towards them and they explain to me that they > are towing it because it is parked near the fire lane." > and > "The vehicle parked by the fire lane will be > towed immediately" > Nowhere does it say he was parked "in" the firelane. > Am I missing something?

I can’t read minds, but in the context used, it’s reasonable to interpret "near the fire lane" to mean he was actually in the fire lane. If he wasn’t in a firelane, why would he have mentioned a firelane? If he was near it, but not in it, I think he should have emphasized the distinction, showing there was no cause to tow him. Don K.

Response:

Your either in a legal parking spot or not. Near or in a firelane isnt the issue, its you not parking in a legal spot that is the issue.  >I’ve read a lot of replies to this thread, but what I don’t understand  >is everybody is saying "Don’t park illegally" In the original message  >it was stated twice:  >"I run towards them and they explain to me that they  >are towing it because it is parked near the fire lane."  >and —

Response:

>spaces at all. On Sunday I parked my car near the Fire lane about 7AM and >about 4:30PM I get a knock on the door – a neighbor tells me – "they are >towing your car away".

I think you could have writing at this point.   There’s a lesson in all this: Don’t park in a fire lane. —        The above guarantee does not cover shark bite,        bear attack, or children under the age of five.

Response:

>            <snip> >"The vehicle parked by the fire lane will be >towed immediately" >Nowhere does it say he was parked "in" the firelane. >Am I missing something? >–Jim

======            Depends what dictionary you read the definition of "in" in.                 =;-0                 Harry in (or by) Ocala, Florida

Response:

LOL your response was on target.  Tell me what do you expect of a real estate agent?  i am compiling information from consumers so that I can improve my services. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I don’t know if there is a more apropriate newsgroup for this – >My apartment complex is partically built and they have chronic parking >problems.  Every time I come home after 11PM or so there are *no* free parking >spaces at all. On Sunday I parked my car near the Fire lane about 7AM and >about 4:30PM I get a knock on the door – a neighbor tells me – "they are >towing your car away". I say "what??", walk outside and see a tow truck > You park in a firelane and then are upset about it. Come on. There is a reason > it marked as a firelane. Your parking issue doesnt matter. >Then I walk to the apartment complex, this was Sunday but they were open >anyway. I talk to the sales drones and they were all repeating the same thing. >I ask them, why didn’t you call me, didn’t you think that this car belonged to >one of the residents? What they said amounted to "We didn’t know whose car it > Why would it matter who called. You were parked illegal. >And something else I have noticed. The more you pay apartment complexes in >general the more insolent and arrogant they are, and the worse they treat >you. Archstone is *not* an inexpensive apartment complex, I have never paid as > So dont move into one anymore. Find a small run down apartment with plenty > of parking if this is your main goal. >Their legal department is *very* aggressive. I saw their contract and my gut >feeling was not to sign it. It was huge, far bigger than anything I’ve seen, > So why did you? You want to live at this place or you wouldnt not of signed > thats why. >I will file a complaint with the apartment manager tomorrow and demand the >$67.88 back, but I think I will get the same excuses from them as well, "you > Good luck, I know what I would do if I was your manager. FILE 13. >What are the consumer/tenant groups in Seattle and how do I contact them?  The >Better Business Bureau? What government agency is responsible for this? > Seems to me there is no problem execpt the fact that you want to violate > the rules. >I need to talk to a good attorney in Bothell that can write them a nice >letter. > I am sure they will talk to you, but if $200 towing fee is going to bother you > then the lawyers fee will really piss you off. > —

Response:

>My apartment complex is partically built and they have chronic parking >problems.  Every time I come home after 11PM or so there are *no* free parking >spaces at all. On Sunday I parked my car near the Fire lane about 7AM and

and about 4:30PM I get a knock on the door – a neighbor tells me – "they are – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->towing your car away". [snip] >Then I walk to the apartment complex, this was Sunday but they were open >anyway. I talk to the sales drones and they were all repeating the same thing. >I ask them, why didn’t you call me, didn’t you think that this car belonged to >one of the residents? What they said amounted to "We didn’t know whose car it >was and had no way to find out".  I said, what do you mean you didn’t know, >you made me write the licence plate number and the color/make/model on the >contract, what purpose did that serve?  Why did you not call me before >resorting to such action??? And got their "We don’t know… we don’t know… >there is no way we can find out…"  I said, you could have done more before >calling the tow truck if your claim that you care about tenants is true.

That They probably said "we don’t know. . ." because they were too polite to tell you where to go.  I bet if your car were broken into or something like that, they would be more than willing to look up in their records to find out which tenant owned that car.  But I don’t blame them for not wanting to bother with that courtesy for someone who parked illegally, and in so doing endangered the lives of others.  (Hint: fire lanes are for fire trucks in case of fire.) >So that’s the situation. The apartment complex is semi-built, most of the >buildings are finished, but some are not and there is a lot of construction >going on.  That’s what one of the office people explained to me, and she said >that because of that, there are not enough parking spaces available.  They >said that this problem should be fixed once the other building(s) are >completed. Personally, I don’t know if that’s true, and in any case, it is >their problem, not mine.  I just want my goddamn parking space. If I come

home You sound so mature. >after 11-12PM, there is *no place to park*, by any building. The parking >spaces are not assigned except for garages ($200/month) and "carpool" spaces >that cost $30/month. I said, then what do I do if I cannot park – they told me >I could park right by the office in spaces designated as "Future Resident >Parking" which is about 1/4 mile away away from the door (could be more, could >be less). In any case, it is highly inconvenient, especially if you have to >carry 5 bags of groceries that far.

Yeah, so?  That excuse doesn’t explain why you parked in a fire lane ALL DAY. >And something else I have noticed. The more you pay apartment complexes in >general the more insolent and arrogant they are, and the worse they treat >you. Archstone is *not* an inexpensive apartment complex, I have never paid as >much as I pay now for a tiny one bedroom and their attitude is proportional to >montly rent.  I could elaborate on their attitude, but I won’t.

I bet they could elaborate on yours, too. >The tenants >that warned me about the tow truck and they had the same complaint about >parking problems and more.

And you moved in knowing this.  They were not shady with you.  They told you there was a temporary parking problem, you could pay for a reserved spot, or park 1/4 mile away.  You chose to do neither, park illegally, and now you whine at the consequences. >This puts their  claims about caring about the  tenants, customer satisfaction >in a very interesting light.

As a tenant, I would have greater satisfaction knowing that fire trucks can get through when it’s a matter of life or death, than knowing that the likes of you can get their "goddamn parking space."

Response: