Life in the Slow Lane

Life in the Slow Lane

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Cranky McGrumperson

Ok, I know I have been really shit about updating my blog but the fact is that this week I have been very grumpy. I didn’t want to bum y’all out by bitching on my blog. Then I started to think that maybe it might help to vent on the internet. Kranki is my name so…here goes.

I really thought that when I moved into this brand new pad of mine in a real building with real apartments and real property managers I would be leaving behind all the issues of the old caretaker, The Reign of Terry.

Well, not so much. I am finding myself in the predicament where the building property manager is basically blowing me off over some problems I am having with my suite. I HATE having to be the problem tenant who is FORCED into emailing strongly worded reminders every few weeks just to get basic stuff done. I hate having to be the grumpy ass. Why can’t stuff just get done?

You may remember that I was without a phone for two weeks when I first moved in. I notified the property manager that the phone company could not get my line to connect properly and would have to come to see if it was a building problem or a phone company problem. At that time I was told, “We will reimburse you for that as you should have a working phone line upon move-in.” Well, $80 later when I hand in my receipt for reimbursements I get told, “Good luck getting that paid for.” Seriously. That is what the property manager said to my face. I have yet to see my money.

In addition to that there is a leak from the cement ceiling directly over my car when I park in my underground spot. I have asked to either have the leak fixed or assigned a new spot as the water dripping is staining my windshield and paint job. I guess it is filled with lime and is making a huge mess. Now I have to drape a tarp over my car and carefully take it off when I drive off as it is all covered in this murky liquid. The water gets all over me and I have to cart around this drippy filthy tarp so I can put it on again when I get home. I have been completely ignored about this problem and I am shelling out $80 over and above my rent for the privilege to park under that fucking drip. It is not rocket science PEOPLE!!!! Just fix it or move me.

The latest incident that is really starting to make me feel picked on is that there was a pipe burst in the basement and all my belongings in my storage locker got soaked with water. Fortunately I have most of my stuff is in plastic bins but a couple very sentimental things were destroyed. One thing that I am very upset about is that I had my father’s old vintage leather suitcase (the one he immigrated to Canada with) filled with my art work and photographs from art school. Lots of portfolio work and such. Well, that is all wrecked now. Even the suitcase. In addition to that I had a framed limited edition print that was a gift from my aunt who died of breast cancer and who I was very close to that was destroyed. I have tried to find the replacement value online with no luck. It is out of print now. It was probably worth a few hundred dollars. That was just all I could see offhand. I still have to pull out everything and check it all out. More work for me!

I am really pissed off about this. It just seems never ending. I am out some money I can ill afford to lose, my car is getting shat on by the ceiling and I am paying for that as well and then my stuff gets pissed on and ruined. Then to add insult to injury I am getting ignored on top of it all.

See!? I am one grumpy ass. Beware my wrath.

16 comments:

Madame D said...

OO! Bastards! I hate shit like that.
I'd volunteer to help you write a strongly worded email, or, y'know, buy a tire iron to assist in getting the message across, but I think an international incident is probably not the best way to go.
Still. I'd even pull out my big girl words for that.

eclectic said...

Grrrrrrrrr. Tell them if they mess with Kranki, they're biting into a scrap with a good portion of the internet. Like Mme. DeBarge, I'd even break out my "big girl words". (Which, BTW, should win an award for my favorite new phrase -- cracked me right up, it did.) Hope the situation gets satisfactorily resolved SOON!

Anonymous said...

Give me your apartment manager's phone number. I ASSURE you shit will start getting done.
>:(

Circe said...

And you have EVERY right to be cranky, Kranki! What a bunch of hooey to have to go through. Surely this nonsense will get resolved but I understand your disposition in the meantime. Wish there was something I could do to help....

hugs,
circe

LadyBug said...

Oh, honey, that totally sucks. Hey, I've been pretty bitchy, too. Want me to come kick the guy's ass for you?

Squirl said...

I think there are enough disgruntled bloggers in this group that your management wouldn't stand a chance were they all unleashed upon it.

That sucks! I wouldn't just be cranky, I'd be livid, especially about the sentimental stuff getting wrecked. Sounds like they need a good lawsuit or something.

Go do something to make yourself feel better, like crushing your cat's head. :)

Anonymous said...

That sucks. Hope you get it all resolved.
Maybe a letter from a lawyer would help. Or a pretend letter from a lawyer..

Anonymous said...

Document it all and seek out advice from your local tenant's rights association (which you should be able to easily find by Googling). It's best to have a strong aresnal in case they don't intend on holding up their end in any of these situations...be as Kranki as you wanna be!

Anonymous said...

Grrrrr . . . stuff like this makes my blood pressure rise. That shit ain't right! Totally takes all the fun out of your new place.

I like the idea of the documenting. Can you write a letter and send it over your property manager's head?

JP said...

Yeah I have had long runs of irritating things like that too. It takes a lot of things to send me over the edge, but when I go, I go big!!

That tenant thing is totally WRONG!! That really pisses me off. I'd be talking to that Dude's boss or filing a lawsuit claim.

alan said...

I don't know how things work there, but here I have a certain amount of "free legal" through my union; sometimes all it takes is a phone call from someone there to resolve things...

alan

Anonymous said...

This makes me grumpy just reading it. I think Torrie should call pretending to be your attorney. That would rock.

Anonymous said...

I am so pissed!

I agree maybe you should let Torrie make some calls on your behalf!

If that doesn't work maybe Team Kranki should begin an assault.

Closet Metro said...

Tell them that The Internet is angry with them. That'll learn 'em.

Philosophical Karen said...

Can't you withhold any money they owe you from your rent, or is it all paid in advance? I'd at least try withholding the parking money if you can. Oh, and make sure you get lots of photos (if you haven't already) of your car, the tarp, the drip, and all the damage to your belongings in the storage locker. Strongly worded e-mails are one thing, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

Anonymous said...

yep, contact the tenants rights association should be in the blue pages...also, east side tenants association has great resources and helpful advice for folks in vancouver..and they don't just help out on the east side either. Your $80 can be taken to arbitration. Fight the power!

Mrs. B