MBS Property Problems

**Samovila** · 12-01-2005, 07:23 PM

I never realized that the problems with MBS are so widespread and IDENTICAL no matter which property it is!
I live at the Colonnade Apts in San Antonio (only until the end of the month, thank God!) and it used to rank as one of the nicer properties in town while it was under Sentinel. Last year, MBS took over and the property has completely gone to $h**. We had the same problem with trash pick-up and overflow, our gates never work properly, our fitness center-- which used to be really good-- no longer has a TV, a water cooler, not even a clock; AND one treadmill has been out of order for nearly a year. Over the summer, our pool was green for weeks ("We ran out of chemicals..." What?!? How does a complex of 300+ apartments simply run out of chemicals? Don't you keep stock of the items necessary to run your property??) And, most recently, our lawn went uncut for over a month. Yep, we had 10 inch grass in front of our building. Oh wait-- they cut the grass in front of the office and the model apartment, naturally! It's just the rest of the property that was surrounded in weeds. The explanation was a problem with the lawn care company. That company serviced this property for the 4 years I lived here BEFORE MBS came along. Funny how that company never gave problems to old mgmt, huh? Hmmm, what else... oh they tried billing us for water, saying we hadn't paid, so they wanted us to write a check to MBS... well our water bill goes directly to the utility company so I showed them my cancelled check saying I was all paid up and it turned into a "Oh the water company said you hadn't paid" Aah, but my check was cancelled almost 3 weeks before MBS said anything! Anyhow, this place SUCKS.
Funny thing is, we were out with friends one day and they just moved into a new home. They started talking about problems they had at their complex "The Mansions at Canyon Springs" (now The Retreat at Canyon Springs) which used to be the PREMIER complex in the city--- marble floors, etc., by far the cream of the apartment crop. Anyhow, we were comparing problems, and basically they were identical. Suddenly, the other couple said "Everything was great until MBS took over..." I nearly jumped out of my seat! "You're kidding?? MBS??! MBS manages our property too!!"

And, like mbssucks said, there are many other gorgeous properties turned to trash. Signature Ridge used to be very nice (I almost moved there when I came to SA but chose Colonnade instead). It's amazing how they acquired some of the nicest properties in the city and ruined them.

Staff? Hmmm... the office staff has rolled at least 3 times since MBS took over in 2004. The maintenance team has also gone to the property next door and now we are left with idiots who do nothing. (The old team was always doing something on property and they were always prompt and courteous to help any tennant even during off hours)

I'm flabbergasted how sooooo many people can compare MBS stories and they are all the SAME.... and you get one nutcase employee who has the nerve to defend them! I mean, all my neighbors think this place has gone ghetto... everyone here seems to have the same problems, same opinions, etc. If one person said something negative or if one person had a story... you could maybe dispute it... but when everyone tells IDENTICAL stories... c'mon!! Something has got to be wrong, and it certainly isn't a local problem when you have people from all parts sharing the same stories.

It's obvious the problem lies with MBS no matter what their own incompetent employees say.

**Thanks** · 12-02-2005, 01:32 AM

KNOWSMBS, Please pm me with the exact address as this isn't acceptable for the constable!

**mrfreeze** · 12-02-2005, 05:07 PM

I have sent the following information to KTVT, the fort worth star telegram and Dallas morning news. Let us see if any of them print / air this information:

It was a pleasure tallking with you today. As I mentioned to you, I lived at Bristol On Mayfield in
Grand Prairie. The address there is:

2901 Mayfield Road
Grand Prairie, TX

The property used to be owned by Lincoln Property.

It is currently owned by MBS companies. Their website:

www.mbscompanies.com

These guys own 17,445 apartment units totally. In Dallas-Fort Worth area, they own
about 2,712 apartment units.

As I mentioned, I moved out on June 11th, 2005. I had stayed at this property, unit 5108 for almost 3 years. From 19th August 2002. I had always paid my rent on time. When I moved out, I broke lease, and paid almost $1479 in penalties. They owed me a measely $285.

I first contacted the property
manager, Amy Shinsky on July 27th she gave me the number for their office in Metairie, Louisiana.
I was supposed to have talked with a Stacey Johnson in their Metarie office. I left several messages
to this person between 27th of July and 8th of August. On 8th of August, I sent her a fax, documenting
the facts. Please find a copy of this letter attached. I of course have the originals to provide as proof,
along with a fax confirmation. I also spoke with Ms. Johnson that afternoon, after I sent the fax. She said
that she would follow up with accounting to send me a check for $285.00

I never received this check, and I was travelling for my work all through Aug till now, every week. So,
in beginning of September I called Amy Shinsky at Bristol on Mayfield and she explained to me that
due to the Hurricane, the office was under water, and she did not know if they were going to get paid.

As a compassionate person, along with the rest of the nation, I have a lot of empathy for the people in
Louisiana. I decided to back off for a bit. Around October 20 I called and after getting bounced around
a good bit, I finally got hold of Stacey Johnson, who was now temporarily located in their Houston office.
She said that a check was issued in late August, but they did not know where it was.

She said that it would be reissued. I spoke with Amy Shinsky around the 1st of November, and she said
that someone had called, and asked her to fax all the details pertaining to my case. She also told me to
follow up with her if I did not get a check. This was a welcome change, since I had spoken to Amy in July,
and she had the tone of being exasperated then. She basically told me back in July that she could not
help me at all. If I chose to take them to court, I should. I had called and left another message for Amy around
the 21st of November. My queries were returned on 29th of November. She just said "You still have not
received the check?". I am yet to hear from her after that.

When I called Stacey Johnson this morning in Metarie office in Louisiana, she told me that Beth was the person
who sent the check. I had in the meantime tried calling people at the regional corporate office in Houston.
Rachel Crew is supposed to be the office manager there. After calling the Louisiana office about 3 times, and
twice to Houston I was finally able to get Beths' last name - Downey.

The pattern of not returning security deposits seems to be pretty prevelant with this company.

Here are some links:

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/about3983.html

Please note that there are 8 pages of griping at the above link

Here is another:

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...as-332717.html

From maintaining the properties to returning the tenants deposits, this company does not seem to have any
integrity. It would be of great service to the community if you would do a story about this property management
company.

Please let me know if I can be of any more help.

Sincerely

**spherexx.com** · 12-02-2005, 09:02 PM

12-1-05

I feel if I have a post I should also update it and surprisingly, MBS did provide payment in full after I took down their website. So I wanted to report I have been paid.

Regards,

Spherexx.com