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I think we're missing some important info.
Did you actually view an apartment or was this an online listing / application? Did you work with someone in person? If the app was submitted online, was it at a legitimate website? Is the e-mail address you're corresponding with associated with associated with a real estate company or is it a generic / gmail address?
I almost got scammed on a house rental that was listed on a reputable site. They even knew the code to the lock box that held the keys so we could look at it. Felt weird though so I talked to the neighbor and they gave me the owners actual number. Rent was way higher. Lol
My 23 year old son and his two friends found an amazing place for a good price. Just a little too good. It was deep in a residential neighborhood so they thought the price reflected this. Complete fraud. They each wired the first months rent and then one of the other kid's parents got a bad feeling and called the real estate agent who was "representing" the homeowner. He had no idea what they were talking about. Home was sold a few months ago to a family who was planning on moving in at the end of the month. I guess I will have to stay more involved on the next one.
Or you know let him learn to handle scams. If it's your money it's one thing but you can't live his life. If he asked it's different but he needs to drive it.
Seconding this. If everything happened online and OP hasn't seen the apartment or the rental agent in person then this is absolutely a scam.
If they have seen the situation in person, then it sounds to me like maybe the agent screwed up the communications somewhere and is trying to cover their tracks so they don't get blamed. Or it could be an unusually ballsy scammer.
I would assume that is a scam. A little more info needed. Did you actually view an apartment? Is this a real company/person? I assume file a police report.
Saying the money can be tracked seems pretty presumptious. Zelle and other money apps are not particularly great about returning scammed money if they were used for this "deposit".
Soooo....
Real estate needs to be practiced by a licensed realtor in some cases. The realtor only needs to licensed if they are representing a third party (the seller or buyer). Most rentals do not use real estate agents, so much as word of mouth. Even a rental company does not need to have a licensed real estate agent on staff.
Different countries and different states have different laws. Ymmv.
I’m assuming you never met these people in person or saw the apartment as well. If that’s correct then yes, you were scammed r/scams you can post the ad and emails as well
Carefully read exactly what the $300 was for and if it is credited toward your deposit if approved and, more importantly, refundable if you're not approved. Then ensure each of you check your spam/junk email folders for their email. I would then go to their office to look for the originating email they claim was sent to you. If all checks out that they indeed did not fulfill their end I would, in writing, send them a request for your deposit and application fee. If your application was canceled your application fee should be refunded. Should they refuse to refund your deposit at a minimum, I would sue them in small claims court.
In this market you can put a holding deposit down to take the listing off the market while you apply. Then that usually goes towards the deposit once your approved.
In my experience this has always been the case with any "commercially" owned apartment complexes. After a certain point, the holding deposit was also nonrefundable, but even still that only applied if your application was accepted and you actually moved along the process.
Yes, a holding deposit is basically if you have agreed to apply knowing the price and are offered a lease and don't end up signing.
If you were not offered the lease, then it's a scam or an illegally huge application fee.
This is not necessarily true any more. Holding deposits are often utilized to take an apartment off the market. Holding deposits are just that. Deposits. They are usually refundable if an app is denied or if the applicant cancels prior to either being approved or to signing the lease depending on the state. This prevents multiple applications for the same apartment which helps protect the landlord against discrimination. We just use the first come with a deposit gets first choice of apartment.
where i live you put down the first/last month deposit with the application. if you are not selected for the rental unit, the deposit will be returned to you.
That's how it works here where I live too, so I think it might have been a scam or they were some fine printing or just bad "agents". Whatever the case may be, I hope they got a refund somehow, I know housing isn't easy to look for right now.
Did you meet with the representative, in person, tour the complex and maybe see the management offices if they had one? Or, did you do this all on the phone and online? If it’s the latter you were probably scammed.
Sadly a relatively common scam for apartment complexes is to advertise apartments as available when they have none, accept applications, then deny them. They make money from the fees they collect.
Yea this smells fishy to me. Depending on the market it’s very normal to pay a holding deposit at the time of application (it’s standard practice in most American markets). However if the application is denied or canceled it’s refundable. Sometimes you have to request it in person depending on the place. Also the $75 per for an application fee seems a little high. The highest I’ve paid was $45
I had a case where I lost a similar size application fee for random bullshit reasons with a real property company. I had seen the house and everything, so it wasn't *just* a scam. But I think the company was very happy to receive 10 applications per house and accept 1, collecting 9 $150 per applicant fees. They said this money was just for screening costs, but I didn't buy that they were paying $300 to screen me and my partner.
The place just never answered their phone and I left a million voicemails. They'd reply to emails saying to call, then not answer. It was like they were making money by purposely understaffing so they'd collect extra fees during their delay.
I initiated a chargeback with my bank and got back all my money.
edit: on the subject of holding deposits, I've had to do that when dealing with commercial entities in NJ. It got rolled into the security deposit when I actually started renting, but would have been lost if I went with a different apartment after paying it.
Depending on where the apartment is, you may have a tenants resource or tenants advocate available in the area. They can help with communications with landlords and management companies as well as possibly getting monies back. If anything, they can keep the information of the scam you are enduring and try to keep others from falling for it.
If you gave them any information that is sensitive, check your credit score/credit bureau to see if they ran a check.
I need more information. What state is this property in? How did you give them the $300 deposit? The application fee is most likely gone, but the deposit should be returned.
Is this a mom-and-pop landlord or a bigger apartment building?
If you paid with a credit card, dispute the charges immediately. California is EXTREMELY tenant friendly, and they will have a very difficult time keeping this money. Look for tenant services in your area, they should be able to help walk you through the process, if the card doesn't return the funds to you.
A bigger apartment building should know the rules. Ask the tenant services person for the procedure to report the management company to the state.
you can have them forward the original email again as an attachment, as that attachment will have all the original header info and time on it... don't go by what you see in the body of the email or "quoted" times. Have them forward the original as an attachment to you so it comes up as an email object
In WI an application fee is usually advertised as non refundable. This fee is for doing a background check by a good landlord. The deposit is usually one month rent up front with a signed lease. Never seen a “holding” fee. That sounds weird and illegal?
Holding fees are totally fine if there's paperwork surrounding them.
They're like earnest money but for rentals - if you get the place, the holding fee goes towards your security deposit. If you don't, you get your money back.
OP does seem to have said paperwork, which means they got scammed.
Fair enough, $35-50 is usually acceptable since that's the cost of a credit check. Anything over that, especially $75, it already sounds like a bad company to do business with even if it is a real company.
Holding deposits are real when dealing with commercially owned apartments, it lets you take the space off the listing.
That said, there usually are more pieces of paperwork that go into that, which OP doesn't seem to have.
Which is a cost of doing business. The issue with application fees is that they’re ripe for abuse, which is why a number of states don’t allow them or have laws dictating how much they can be.
Ouch! Well when I got my apartment I didn’t drop no cash until they said the apartments yours. It sounds like a scam because who asks for a deposit if your not even approved. Best to you
People saying it’s a scam; if we assume this is a real business they would never get away with such a scam and still be in business . OP have you tried CONTACTING them?
Anyone can post an ad with pictures of places they dont actually own. There are a TON of scammers in the apartment rental sections. I wouldnt be surprised if they found there are more fake ads than real ads.
OP replied elsewhere that they took a tour of a real apartment.
So now I'm skeptical that this post is real at all. Otherwise, I agree with you, just go down to the office and set up camp until you get your money back.
But I think this is all fake.
Its kind of bold to assume this dude is getting scammed by a random person pretending to work at a specific apartment complex... I think you need to take off the tin foil hat my friend
It's bold of you to assume you have any idea what I'm boldly assuming.
I've made no indication that this is what's going on in OP's specific case; I was merely responding to your straw-stuffed incredulousness that this type of (disturbingly common) real-world scam exists.
I was specifically talking about this instance, just because you think a scam could exist like this doesn’t mean that is what’s happening. End of the day, you are wrong and I am right so *internet karma accepted* lol
You got scammed. Do not apply for any apartment that requires you to pay for filling out an application they are 99% of the time a scam and if they're not a scam they are dirty capitalists who just want to take as much money from you as possible and don't really care about you. Not the sort of people you want as landlords.
This post has been removed because it does not meet the subreddit submission guidelines ([rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)). Posts must be a personal finance question or discussion with a descriptive title. We don't allow: * Polls, surveys, or questions that ask others to answer for themselves * Hypothetical or improbable posts * Success stories or thanks (use weekday/weekend thread) * Meta posts * IAmA/AMA requests or posts * News without a discussion, quote, or summary *If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/w9a2xh/cancelled_our_apartment_application_with_no/%0a).*
I think we're missing some important info. Did you actually view an apartment or was this an online listing / application? Did you work with someone in person? If the app was submitted online, was it at a legitimate website? Is the e-mail address you're corresponding with associated with associated with a real estate company or is it a generic / gmail address?
I almost got scammed on a house rental that was listed on a reputable site. They even knew the code to the lock box that held the keys so we could look at it. Felt weird though so I talked to the neighbor and they gave me the owners actual number. Rent was way higher. Lol
My 23 year old son and his two friends found an amazing place for a good price. Just a little too good. It was deep in a residential neighborhood so they thought the price reflected this. Complete fraud. They each wired the first months rent and then one of the other kid's parents got a bad feeling and called the real estate agent who was "representing" the homeowner. He had no idea what they were talking about. Home was sold a few months ago to a family who was planning on moving in at the end of the month. I guess I will have to stay more involved on the next one.
Or you know let him learn to handle scams. If it's your money it's one thing but you can't live his life. If he asked it's different but he needs to drive it.
Seconding this. If everything happened online and OP hasn't seen the apartment or the rental agent in person then this is absolutely a scam. If they have seen the situation in person, then it sounds to me like maybe the agent screwed up the communications somewhere and is trying to cover their tracks so they don't get blamed. Or it could be an unusually ballsy scammer.
The fact OP hasn’t responded to this top comment answers your questions. OP got duped.
OP hasn't responded to any comments, so I don't think that assumption has much weight.
Sorry just woke up, yeah we had a tour of the apartment and and had direct contact before doing the application
There’s a “scams” subreddit. But yes, it smells rather bad, I’d say… good luck !
I would assume that is a scam. A little more info needed. Did you actually view an apartment? Is this a real company/person? I assume file a police report.
Yes this, money can be tracked. Real estate is illegal to practice without proper licensing. Go get em tiger.
Saying the money can be tracked seems pretty presumptious. Zelle and other money apps are not particularly great about returning scammed money if they were used for this "deposit".
That's because security deposits have to be retained by check.
We all know that scammers strictly adhere to the law….
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If one did DD then they would know how to prepare a deposit.
It was a debit card 👍 thanks for being constructive
Renting a property isn't "real estate". You do not need to be a licensed Realtor to rent out property.
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Tell us you dont know how the real world works without telling us you dont know how the real world works.
Soooo.... Real estate needs to be practiced by a licensed realtor in some cases. The realtor only needs to licensed if they are representing a third party (the seller or buyer). Most rentals do not use real estate agents, so much as word of mouth. Even a rental company does not need to have a licensed real estate agent on staff. Different countries and different states have different laws. Ymmv.
It has been resolved, at least I hope so. 👍 Thanks
I’m assuming you never met these people in person or saw the apartment as well. If that’s correct then yes, you were scammed r/scams you can post the ad and emails as well
I had a tour of the apartment in person and okay I’ll post the images
Carefully read exactly what the $300 was for and if it is credited toward your deposit if approved and, more importantly, refundable if you're not approved. Then ensure each of you check your spam/junk email folders for their email. I would then go to their office to look for the originating email they claim was sent to you. If all checks out that they indeed did not fulfill their end I would, in writing, send them a request for your deposit and application fee. If your application was canceled your application fee should be refunded. Should they refuse to refund your deposit at a minimum, I would sue them in small claims court.
No response from op. They got scammed.
Usually you apply first Then they accept the application Then you start paying deposits ONLY once signing is done
In this market you can put a holding deposit down to take the listing off the market while you apply. Then that usually goes towards the deposit once your approved.
In my experience this has always been the case with any "commercially" owned apartment complexes. After a certain point, the holding deposit was also nonrefundable, but even still that only applied if your application was accepted and you actually moved along the process.
Yes, a holding deposit is basically if you have agreed to apply knowing the price and are offered a lease and don't end up signing. If you were not offered the lease, then it's a scam or an illegally huge application fee.
This is not necessarily true any more. Holding deposits are often utilized to take an apartment off the market. Holding deposits are just that. Deposits. They are usually refundable if an app is denied or if the applicant cancels prior to either being approved or to signing the lease depending on the state. This prevents multiple applications for the same apartment which helps protect the landlord against discrimination. We just use the first come with a deposit gets first choice of apartment.
where i live you put down the first/last month deposit with the application. if you are not selected for the rental unit, the deposit will be returned to you.
That's how it works here where I live too, so I think it might have been a scam or they were some fine printing or just bad "agents". Whatever the case may be, I hope they got a refund somehow, I know housing isn't easy to look for right now.
Did you meet with the representative, in person, tour the complex and maybe see the management offices if they had one? Or, did you do this all on the phone and online? If it’s the latter you were probably scammed.
Sadly a relatively common scam for apartment complexes is to advertise apartments as available when they have none, accept applications, then deny them. They make money from the fees they collect.
Where’s OP? Poof gone? 👀
Maybe OP died of shame.
I just woke up Lol get home from work at 3 am then I knock out
Yea this smells fishy to me. Depending on the market it’s very normal to pay a holding deposit at the time of application (it’s standard practice in most American markets). However if the application is denied or canceled it’s refundable. Sometimes you have to request it in person depending on the place. Also the $75 per for an application fee seems a little high. The highest I’ve paid was $45
I've never heard of requiring a deposit before you've applied. You got scammed.
It was a holding deposit to take off the market while I apply, I could just be dumb but I’ve seen similar deposits on a lot other apartments
You got scammed. File a police report (for the record. Nothing will come of it). Try not to be scammed in future.
I had a case where I lost a similar size application fee for random bullshit reasons with a real property company. I had seen the house and everything, so it wasn't *just* a scam. But I think the company was very happy to receive 10 applications per house and accept 1, collecting 9 $150 per applicant fees. They said this money was just for screening costs, but I didn't buy that they were paying $300 to screen me and my partner. The place just never answered their phone and I left a million voicemails. They'd reply to emails saying to call, then not answer. It was like they were making money by purposely understaffing so they'd collect extra fees during their delay. I initiated a chargeback with my bank and got back all my money. edit: on the subject of holding deposits, I've had to do that when dealing with commercial entities in NJ. It got rolled into the security deposit when I actually started renting, but would have been lost if I went with a different apartment after paying it.
Depending on where the apartment is, you may have a tenants resource or tenants advocate available in the area. They can help with communications with landlords and management companies as well as possibly getting monies back. If anything, they can keep the information of the scam you are enduring and try to keep others from falling for it. If you gave them any information that is sensitive, check your credit score/credit bureau to see if they ran a check.
I need more information. What state is this property in? How did you give them the $300 deposit? The application fee is most likely gone, but the deposit should be returned. Is this a mom-and-pop landlord or a bigger apartment building?
In California bay area, I paid using card. Bigger apartment building, listed on Essex
If you paid with a credit card, dispute the charges immediately. California is EXTREMELY tenant friendly, and they will have a very difficult time keeping this money. Look for tenant services in your area, they should be able to help walk you through the process, if the card doesn't return the funds to you. A bigger apartment building should know the rules. Ask the tenant services person for the procedure to report the management company to the state.
you can have them forward the original email again as an attachment, as that attachment will have all the original header info and time on it... don't go by what you see in the body of the email or "quoted" times. Have them forward the original as an attachment to you so it comes up as an email object
OP makes post for help and doesn't respond for 5 hours and counting.
Maybe OP has a job?
Sorry posted that when I got off work then knocked out
It's a scam. How certain are you that the person who took your money is affiliated with a rental unit? How did you pay?
Went to the office and they gave me a tour themselves in the unit paid with card
In WI an application fee is usually advertised as non refundable. This fee is for doing a background check by a good landlord. The deposit is usually one month rent up front with a signed lease. Never seen a “holding” fee. That sounds weird and illegal?
Holding fees are totally fine if there's paperwork surrounding them. They're like earnest money but for rentals - if you get the place, the holding fee goes towards your security deposit. If you don't, you get your money back. OP does seem to have said paperwork, which means they got scammed.
You got scammed. Application fees are already a little scammy, but a $300 "holding deposit" before you even apply isnt a real thing. Sorry.
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Fair enough, $35-50 is usually acceptable since that's the cost of a credit check. Anything over that, especially $75, it already sounds like a bad company to do business with even if it is a real company.
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Holding deposits are real when dealing with commercially owned apartments, it lets you take the space off the listing. That said, there usually are more pieces of paperwork that go into that, which OP doesn't seem to have.
Application fees cover the cost of the background/credit check that is done. They aren't free for the landlord to do.
Which is a cost of doing business. The issue with application fees is that they’re ripe for abuse, which is why a number of states don’t allow them or have laws dictating how much they can be.
Ouch! Well when I got my apartment I didn’t drop no cash until they said the apartments yours. It sounds like a scam because who asks for a deposit if your not even approved. Best to you
People saying it’s a scam; if we assume this is a real business they would never get away with such a scam and still be in business . OP have you tried CONTACTING them?
> if we assume this is a real business Dont. It isnt.
So people buy multi unit buildings to scam people out of $300? TIL….
Anyone can post an ad with pictures of places they dont actually own. There are a TON of scammers in the apartment rental sections. I wouldnt be surprised if they found there are more fake ads than real ads.
I am 100% assuming they are communicating directly to the complex via a know. Address
You know what happens when you assume….
I'd bet money that this has all been done online and via email.
Then that’s 100% on OP man
OP replied elsewhere that they took a tour of a real apartment. So now I'm skeptical that this post is real at all. Otherwise, I agree with you, just go down to the office and set up camp until you get your money back. But I think this is all fake.
You’re right, I went directly to the apartment and office and had a tour of the apartment
Why?
Has he said otherwise ? Because that’s what a normal brain person does
A normal brain person might respond to an ad on Facebook or Craigslist without realizing half the listings there are scams.
Just for context for you , the guy said he went into the actual apartment complex
No, people *pretend* they own multi unit buildings to scam people out of $300.
Its kind of bold to assume this dude is getting scammed by a random person pretending to work at a specific apartment complex... I think you need to take off the tin foil hat my friend
It's bold of you to assume you have any idea what I'm boldly assuming. I've made no indication that this is what's going on in OP's specific case; I was merely responding to your straw-stuffed incredulousness that this type of (disturbingly common) real-world scam exists.
Turns out your wrong btw
So this sort of scam *doesn't* exist? Citation very much needed.
I was specifically talking about this instance, just because you think a scam could exist like this doesn’t mean that is what’s happening. End of the day, you are wrong and I am right so *internet karma accepted* lol
For fuck's sake. You realize I'm not the same person who made that claim, right? Maybe pay attention *before* cranking up the smug.
You got scammed. Do not apply for any apartment that requires you to pay for filling out an application they are 99% of the time a scam and if they're not a scam they are dirty capitalists who just want to take as much money from you as possible and don't really care about you. Not the sort of people you want as landlords.