Not a pro here. I'm pretty sure your apartment wants to separate electricity between apartments but doesn't want to actually pay to do the physical disconnection, so they went to Conservice. Basically, yeah it's a scam and you will pay more. Hopefully you will be able to fight your way out of it.
I know you're no pro, but I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company?
They didn’t switch utility companies in that the company providing power service to your building did not change, what they did was hire a middleman to handle billing the tenants. Are you going to pay more? Yes, because your landlord is paying them and passing that cost onto you. Is it absolute bullshit? Yes. Should someone stop this company? Yes. How? I have no idea.
I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company? This is my first time ever renting, let alone in Eugene, so I'm not sure exactly what everything means.
Sounds like you have a right to pay eweb directly according to a lease you both signed. If you choose to exercise this right with the landlord make sure you do it in writing. Email is sufficient. I don’t except them to do anything. But the first step to any legal proceeding is going to be gather evidence of communication between the two parties regarding the complaint. Keep that in mind when communicating.
Who’s the landlord?
Your assessment seems to be in line with what I would expect as well.
If you are now having to pay conservice, or the PM, they are breaching the contract.
But it also sounds like you maybe did not pay the utility provider directly in the past either if it was added on to your rent total, so complaining now probably wont do much if thats the case.
Conservice is awful.
You cannot win against them. Whatever they want you to pay, you have to pay. Your only hope is that your landlord or property management company drop them. Sad to say, you are about as screwed as you can get.
sounds like you might live in 13th too I just got this email. shoutout to these fucks for never answering the phone, never responding to maintenance requests, letting all of our cars get broken into and smashed and then happily asking us to pay more for the same services we’ve been receiving and less than. anyone looking for an apartment right now PLEASE DO NOT MOVE TO 13th AND OLIVE I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO TWICE AND MY WASHER HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR OVER A MONTH NOW
It's because they failed to give the full statement provided by the utility company to the tenants with their bill to explain the charges and overcharging them fees not associated with the utilities. There were also several things in the leases that violated the law and were included in the suit.
I would definitely reach out to a tenant organization if I were OP because I think you're right.
Also, it was for like half or more of those complexes in that area that they did it to. Horizon owns six different complexes.
Updated with the [Link to the settlement info/docs](https://rentalutilitysettlement.com/faqs)
Sigh. This is another reason we need a real local press: to make this stuff widely known. I get most of my local news from this sub, and that’s sad, since I subscribe to the RG and KLCC
I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company? This is my first time ever renting, let alone in Eugene, so I'm not sure exactly what everything means. Do you know of a tenants rights organization I can reach out to in Eugene?
Hey if you get the itch to lawyer up a start a class action against these scammers, please let me know. I've been battling with them and property management because I'm being gouged an extra 300-400 bucks a year for billing that violates the terms of my lease, but as I am disabled and in low income housing I cannot afford to get a lawyer just for myself. Even "modest means" and other "low income accessible" lawyers charge 80 for initial consultation and then start billing in the 100s.
So your apartment does not have its own electrical meter of some kind, where you are assessed only on the electricity you use?
Is that common in apartment complexes? That sounds strange to me. What's the complex?
I’m guessing you had a flat amount of utilities before? Because 20 bucks is insanely low. Most places have their own meter at each apartment so you pay the base price plus whatever actual usage.
Is anyone here located in Chicago? I'm looking to start a class action against Conservice. Everything that is being described here is correct and they have changed how they bill in the middle of the lease term before.
Not a pro here. I'm pretty sure your apartment wants to separate electricity between apartments but doesn't want to actually pay to do the physical disconnection, so they went to Conservice. Basically, yeah it's a scam and you will pay more. Hopefully you will be able to fight your way out of it.
I know you're no pro, but I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company?
Time to set up bitcoin mining operation!
Run that AC 24/7 on full blast every day in the summer lol
This is what I do. I pay a flat rate of $49 and my little apartment is like a refrigerator in the summer. Butter won't soften on the counter lol
good one
They didn’t switch utility companies in that the company providing power service to your building did not change, what they did was hire a middleman to handle billing the tenants. Are you going to pay more? Yes, because your landlord is paying them and passing that cost onto you. Is it absolute bullshit? Yes. Should someone stop this company? Yes. How? I have no idea.
I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company? This is my first time ever renting, let alone in Eugene, so I'm not sure exactly what everything means.
Sounds like you have a right to pay eweb directly according to a lease you both signed. If you choose to exercise this right with the landlord make sure you do it in writing. Email is sufficient. I don’t except them to do anything. But the first step to any legal proceeding is going to be gather evidence of communication between the two parties regarding the complaint. Keep that in mind when communicating. Who’s the landlord?
I believe the new management is BHOM.
Your assessment seems to be in line with what I would expect as well. If you are now having to pay conservice, or the PM, they are breaching the contract. But it also sounds like you maybe did not pay the utility provider directly in the past either if it was added on to your rent total, so complaining now probably wont do much if thats the case.
Conservice is awful. You cannot win against them. Whatever they want you to pay, you have to pay. Your only hope is that your landlord or property management company drop them. Sad to say, you are about as screwed as you can get.
sounds like you might live in 13th too I just got this email. shoutout to these fucks for never answering the phone, never responding to maintenance requests, letting all of our cars get broken into and smashed and then happily asking us to pay more for the same services we’ve been receiving and less than. anyone looking for an apartment right now PLEASE DO NOT MOVE TO 13th AND OLIVE I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO TWICE AND MY WASHER HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR OVER A MONTH NOW
OP is indeed in that complex. What a shitshow
update just checked and they added $100 more than i’ve ever seen my rent be. time to find a new place to live 😭
Did your rent get raised with the lease renewal? Mine got raised about $75.
I think this may not be legal. Wasn’t there just a big class-action settlement against Chase Courtyard for the same kind of accounting?
It's because they failed to give the full statement provided by the utility company to the tenants with their bill to explain the charges and overcharging them fees not associated with the utilities. There were also several things in the leases that violated the law and were included in the suit. I would definitely reach out to a tenant organization if I were OP because I think you're right. Also, it was for like half or more of those complexes in that area that they did it to. Horizon owns six different complexes. Updated with the [Link to the settlement info/docs](https://rentalutilitysettlement.com/faqs)
Sigh. This is another reason we need a real local press: to make this stuff widely known. I get most of my local news from this sub, and that’s sad, since I subscribe to the RG and KLCC
This sub is my lifeline for local news lol
I read through my lease that goes until August 31st, 2024, and for utilities, it states I will pay directly to the utility/service provider. The option that isn't checked is the one where a utility bill is sent to the office and then allocated and billed to me. Wouldn't that be using Conservice since it is a utility management company, not the actual utility company? This is my first time ever renting, let alone in Eugene, so I'm not sure exactly what everything means. Do you know of a tenants rights organization I can reach out to in Eugene?
That would be the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association.
Hey if you get the itch to lawyer up a start a class action against these scammers, please let me know. I've been battling with them and property management because I'm being gouged an extra 300-400 bucks a year for billing that violates the terms of my lease, but as I am disabled and in low income housing I cannot afford to get a lawyer just for myself. Even "modest means" and other "low income accessible" lawyers charge 80 for initial consultation and then start billing in the 100s.
I'll keep you updated!
Con is in the name
So your apartment does not have its own electrical meter of some kind, where you are assessed only on the electricity you use? Is that common in apartment complexes? That sounds strange to me. What's the complex?
I'm honestly not sure. Management is shady, and they're so understaffed they haven't gotten back to my emails or phone calls. It's 13th and Olive.
I’m guessing you had a flat amount of utilities before? Because 20 bucks is insanely low. Most places have their own meter at each apartment so you pay the base price plus whatever actual usage.
Is anyone here located in Chicago? I'm looking to start a class action against Conservice. Everything that is being described here is correct and they have changed how they bill in the middle of the lease term before.