u/precicestrider

I have lived in two apartments with Smile and noticed that every time I've signed they say that there's a mandatory carpet cleaning fee that automatically gets deducted from the security deposit upon move-out no matter what.

That by itself would be fair. But... every single time I have moved into a place, the carpets were filthy. I had been under the impression that you have to pay for the next tenant's carpet cleaning, but if that clearly isn't actually happening, where's the money actually going?

To be fair, the first time, I sent in a maintenance request and Smile sent someone for the carpet cleaning. But, I feel like I shouldn't even have to do this given that we are forced to agree to pay for carpet cleaning. I've heard that other people have also experienced this, and also that other companies have been doing this as well.

I would like to try to call to abolish the carpet cleaning fee or for better measures to ensure that they are actually cleaning the carpet if they choose to charge it. But... I don't know how much power we actually have to prevent the leasing companies from getting away with this.

There's a user u/smcfarland2510 who goes around asking to take people's subleases. This person goes by Shae/Shateshia McFarland.

I have a friend who is desperate to get out of one and this person contacted me. He was talking about being desperate for a place to stay and wanting to move in immediately. Unfortunately, I called the company that owned the building and they said my friend's prospective unit was so trashed that they were unwilling to let anyone move in, even "as-is".

Since we were desperate, I contacted this person again and asked how he was doing. Said he was doing horrible and had been sleeping in his car. I then suggested that we might be willing to pay for some nights at a hotel in exchange for making the move in payments and taking over the place. (I should have known that someone who seemed that desperate wouldn't be able to afford a place that nice).

He then asked me if he could pay in the portal. I then sent the login credentials and saw a payment go through. He then sent me a venmo request for the agreed amount. I kept getting errors and he immediately began accusing me of scamming him. I unfortunately was dumb and desperate enough to drive over and pay at the front desk with my credit card.

We talked for a while in person and asked him for a phone number. He gave me one, and I tried immediately calling it. I told him I called him and then he apologized and said that he messed up the last digit and I tried calling the number again and it went through. I am now wondering if this was intentional.

I also was unable to find him in the UIUC database despite him claiming to be a UIUC student/prospective student.

As of today, it appears that the payment has been reversed saying the account had insufficient balance. I don't know if this is a well-known scam, I had always been under the impression that the company only confirms your payment once they've already checked for this. Call me dumb if you wish. But the reason I made this post is that I want others to be aware of this individual and this scam. It's likely that he goes around and moves into apartments under the table for people who are desperate to get out under the guise of making payments for them only for the payments to bounce.

Shae, if you're reading this, I will take this post down IF AND ONLY IF you successfully fill out the application, make all move in payments, and do what you agreed to. If not, I may need to consider taking action against you.

I would like you to beware of a user u/smcfarland2510 who goes around asking to take people's subleases. This person goes by Shae/Shateshia McFarland.

I have a friend who is desperate to get out of one and this person contacted me. He was talking about being desperate for a place to stay and wanting to move in immediately. Unfortunately, I called the company that owned the building and they said my friend's prospective unit was so trashed that they were unwilling to let anyone move in, even "as-is".

Since we were desperate, I contacted this person again and asked how he was doing. Said he was doing horrible and had been sleeping in his car. I then suggested that we might be willing to pay for some nights at a hotel in exchange for making the move in payments and taking over the place. (I should have known that someone who seemed that desperate wouldn't be able to afford a place that nice).

He then asked me if he could pay in the portal. I then sent the login credentials and saw a payment go through. He then sent me a venmo request for the agreed amount. I kept getting errors and he immediately began accusing me of scamming him. I unfortunately was dumb and desperate enough to drive over and pay at the front desk with my credit card.

We talked for a while in person and asked him for a phone number. He gave me one, and I tried immediately calling it. I told him I called him and then he apologized and said that he messed up the last digit and I tried calling the number again with the new last digit and it went through. I am now wondering if this was intentional.

I also was unable to find him in the UIUC database despite him claiming to be a UIUC student/prospective student.

As of today, it appears that the payment has been reversed saying the account had insufficient balance. I don't know if this is a well-known scam, I had always been under the impression that the company only confirms your payment once they've already checked for this. Call me dumb if you wish. But the reason I made this post is that I want others to be aware of this individual and this scam. It's likely that he goes around and moves into apartments under the table for people who are desperate to get out under the guise of making payments for them only for the payments to bounce.

Shae, if you're reading this, I will take this post down IF AND ONLY IF you successfully fill out the application, make all move in payments, and do what you agreed to. If not, I may need to consider taking action against you.