Weidner lawsuit update - KTVA

Since we first aired the story about the Weidner Class Action lawsuit we have been flooded with phone calls from current and former tenants of Weidner Properties.

[Tina]

I've called Weidner this morning, and the woman who answered, told me that the information that was mentioned on last nights news, was not correct, and that its already too late to give my name and address to them to receive the refund.. so, they didn't see the need to take my name and number.. Now I dont know where else to go with this... Any ideas on what my next step would be?? or is it really too late? I never knew this was happening until i saw it on last nights news...~Tina

[Wendy Smith]

Looks like you need to contact Ryan Fortson, an attorney with Northern Justice Project, the civil rights group that brought the class action suit. Probably what they will do is give you contact information as to who Weidner's attorneys are, and tell them your name, address, telephone number, and briefly how you are owed part of the settlement.

[Tina]

hmmm, I have no clue how to contact him... Plus, it'll be hard to get a hold of an attorney... running into walls w/all this...

[cthomas]

I returned to Anchorage from Tennessee on April 29 for summer employment. When I heard on the news a few days later that Weidner was issuing refunds, I called Weidner and was told by the legal representative that May 1st was the cut off date and that the books had been closed. I explained that I was unaware of a possible refund until I had returned to Anchorage from Chattanooga. I asked if my name were on the list for a refund. She said it was not. I told her I thought it should be since I had paid a late fee. She said her list was only for people who had responded to the mailing. I told her I had not received a mailing and knew nothing about a mailing. She said it was advertised on the television, in the paper, and on the internet. I told her that since I had moved from Anchorage to Chattanooga, I had no idea I should even be checking the Anchorage news for a possible refund. Her response was "We have done all the courts have mandated that we do." Every question I asked got the same response. It was as if I were speaking to a tape recorder. I don't begrudge charitable organizations getting my money. I just don't think they made every possible effort.

[CMills]

That is really funny! I called late April and they told me I had missed it by a week! And now they are telling you that it was May 1st!?!? Sounds like Weidner might be pissed off that they got caught up. They are an awful rental company anyway! I would NEVER rent from them again! If they didn't own HALF of the rental properties in Anchorage they wouldn't be around as long as they have. Bad business practices GALORE!! AND to boot ... the woman who answered the phone was all chipper and happy until I told her what I was talking about! Her tone changed drastically to one of almost disgust! It was as if she couldn't WAIT to get off the phone with me. Didn't even say goodbye. I said ok thank you and SHE hung up...Just like that!! I guess it ISN'T such "a beautiful day at weidner properties" lol

cthomas wrote:

I returned to Anchorage from Tennessee on April 29 for summer employment. When I heard on the news a few days later that Weidner was issuing refunds, I called Weidner and was told by the legal representative that May 1st was the cut off date and that the books had been closed. I explained that I was unaware of a possible refund until I had returned to Anchorage from Chattanooga. I asked if my name were on the list for a refund. She said it was not. I told her I thought it should be since I had paid a late fee. She said her list was only for people who had responded to the mailing. I told her I had not received a mailing and knew nothing about a mailing. She said it was advertised on the television, in the paper, and on the internet. I told her that since I had moved from Anchorage to Chattanooga, I had no idea I should even be checking the Anchorage news for a possible refund. Her response was "We have done all the courts have mandated that we do." Every question I asked got the same response. It was as if I were speaking to a tape recorder. I don't begrudge charitable organizations getting my money. I just don't think they made every possible effort.

[jen]

weidner SUCKS!!if you ar renting from them you need to move and if you are not renting from them then keep it that way. they are SLUMLORDS who are SCAMMERS. they don't like to take responsibility for anything that happens on their property but they will be paying me 10 grand soon.

[Don]

I've lived in the same apartment for over 7 years. They have not cleaned the carpet or painted for the entire time. My rent has nearly doubled in 7 years. My foot got stuck in a crack on the sidewalk in front of my apartment and broke my leg in several places requiring two surgeries. I turned it over to a lawyer and now I get harassed by having notices frequently taped to the door. See you in court, Weidner.

[Kay]

my family is still living here... our wall outlets do not hold any plugs, people who run up and down the staircase knock the plugs outta the wall, my pictures fall off the wall cuz of the stomping that is constant with all the neighbors (but apparently thats apt living...*rolls eyes*) constantly complaining that my apt needs work, my bedroom window pane falls out of the window, i have one element working on my stove, took 3months for them to come "look" at it, AND when i called the cops on the neighbors partying until 5am, they told me its a "he said she said" and there is nothing they can do.. because i didnt get a case number from the police officers, so they wont talk to them. we are packing our stuff up and leaving, and we were told that it'll take up to 6 months for our deposit to be returned to us, i was told from someone else that it should only take a couple days and that if i do not recieve my deposit in a timly fashion, i need to contact the people investigating weidner.. 4 months ago, our rent was 775, they raised it to 800, June, they come and tape a letter to our door stating that lease agreements from 10mo = 875, 11mo = 875, 12mo = 875, and month to month for a ONE bedroom apt is 960 a month. Does this sound odd to anyone? please help, we are at the end of our rope, and no where else to go.

[stuck with Weidner]

Kay wrote:

my family is still living here... our wall outlets do not hold any plugs, people who run up and down the staircase knock the plugs outta the wall, my pictures fall off the wall cuz of the stomping that is constant with all the neighbors (but apparently thats apt living...*rolls eyes*) constantly complaining that my apt needs work, my bedroom window pane falls out of the window, i have one element working on my stove, took 3months for them to come "look" at it, AND when i called the cops on the neighbors partying until 5am, they told me its a "he said she said" and there is nothing they can do.. because i didnt get a case number from the police officers, so they wont talk to them. we are packing our stuff up and leaving, and we were told that it'll take up to 6 months for our deposit to be returned to us, i was told from someone else that it should only take a couple days and that if i do not recieve my deposit in a timly fashion, i need to contact the people investigating weidner.. 4 months ago, our rent was 775, they raised it to 800, June, they come and tape a letter to our door stating that lease agreements from 10mo = 875, 11mo = 875, 12mo = 875, and month to month for a ONE bedroom apt is 960 a month. Does this sound odd to anyone? please help, we are at the end of our rope, and no where else to go.

There is no regulation of landlords in Anchorage, they can practically do whatever they want, particularly Weidner. There may be good landlords in Anchorage, but I haven't found one yet. I live in a Weidner property and am trying to get out, but find it's more difficult than one would imagine. Try to find a decent apartment in this town - you cannot touch a 2-bdrm under $1000 and more like $1200 to $1400 - who can afford that? Who wants to afford that? Rent poor will never a homeowner be.

This is the first I heard of a refund for anything...Weidner loves to nickel and dime you.

[victims of neglect]

Don wrote:

I've lived in the same apartment for over 7 years. They have not cleaned the carpet or painted for the entire time. My rent has nearly doubled in 7 years. My foot got stuck in a crack on the sidewalk in front of my apartment and broke my leg in several places requiring two surgeries. I turned it over to a lawyer and now I get harassed by having notices frequently taped to the door. See you in court, Weidner.

They didn't clean mine before I moved in. The guy that rented it to me said "huh, the maid must have missed this one. We have had a lot of turnovers lately." I believe that. As I moved my stuff in I found more things wrong with the apt and reported it to the site manager and he said "oh, don't worry, I'll remember that the blind was cracked." He doesn't work there anymore. <nice weidner>

[Fed Up]

I am getting ready to move out of my Weidner apartment after living here 4 years. They are saying that I have to have the carpets cleaned before I move out, and that we may be charged for painting the apartment. I contacted a friend, who is an attorney here in Anchorage, and he says that is not legal. Why is this being allowed to continue, and why will I eventually end up fighting these jerks in court?

[Sick of the legal system]

The legal system just turns away from this happening. They keep seeing it in the courts and they still ignore it. Why doesn't someone SHUT DOWN wIEDNER!!!!!???? It is hard enough for people to find a half way descent place to live without people like these corrupt worms tearing us down even more and empting our pockets of the little money we have!!!! IT IS TIME THE COURTS STOP WIEDNER FROM RENTING IN OUR STATE!!!!!!!!!!

[Weidner is the worst]

I needed a place to stay just while working in town here in Anchorage. and I've found Weidner as a group to be the worst slumlords ever. I looked at a studio and rented it but when I moved in, I realized the door did not lock properly. I then called to get it fixed and had the worst handiman repair work ever. It should be illegal to try to rent an apartment that doesn't even lock.

[Lori]

Contact your local, state, and federal representatives with these issues. This company must be stopped. Pray in unity for divine intervention from Almighty God to stop these people!


http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

[AK Girl]

I agree with everyone I just had to move out of my apartment due to personal emergencies and the company tried to make me pay the rest of my lease $ amount. It was ridiculous! They are still making us pay right now each month

[Jenni]

AK Girl wrote:

I agree with everyone I just had to move out of my apartment due to personal emergencies and the company tried to make me pay the rest of my lease $ amount. It was ridiculous! They are still making us pay right now each month

If you sign a lease and move out before the end of the lease, you have breached your lease contract and are responsible for any remaining lease payments. For example, if you sign a 12-month lease at $1000 per month and you move out after 3 months, you still have to pay the remaining $9000. If you have to break your lease, you need to coordinate with the lease property owner IN ADVANCE before you just pack up and move out and MAYBE they can work something out but they are under no legal obligation to do so. One exception is the "military escape clause" which allows military tenants to break their lease agreement in the event they receive reassignment orders.