Am I completely fucked?

[*~*stragi*~*]

As of July 31st I can no longer be a customer of cox for my internet and television services. My apt complex apparently sold the connection rights to some retarded company called Ygnition. Based off what I've ready on the internet about these retards, I am going to be privledged with the opportunity to pay in the area of 60 dollars a month for dial up speeds and the chance to be disconnected the first time I use BitTorrent. There are roughly 600 apartments in my complex and apparently they service complexes of that size with 1, maybe 2 T-1 connections. The phone is VOIP which also takes up bandwidth. The television seems to be one dish network sattelite for each building with an extra 20 dollar fee tacked on what it would cost me to just go get dish network myself.

I thought the FCC just had some ruling making it illegal for bullshit like this to go down? Can I break my lease over this? Do I have any other options?

Looking at qwest I can only get the 3mbps DSL package which is 42 dollars, not including the phone line I'd need. I pay 44 to cox for 12/1 right now.

I've already called the propery company (Westwood Residential) and complained to the director of my area. I've left the regional VP (hilariously named Chris Hansen) voice mails that haven't been returned.

This sucks pretty fucking hard.

[Winnow]

When's your lease up? Time to move.

Is there anything in the contract about changes of service allowing you to break the lease?

[*~*stragi*~*]

When's your lease up? Time to move.

Is there anything in the contract about changes of service allowing you to break the lease?

I moved here back in April so I've got quite a while. I've read over the lease 2 or 3 times and hardly any of it mentions anything current. Westwood just bought the complex from the last company and the lease is so old it still has provisions in it that violate the fair housing act that the apt manager just crossed out.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

When's your lease up? Time to move.

Is there anything in the contract about changes of service allowing you to break the lease?

I moved here back in April so I've got quite a while. I've read over the lease 2 or 3 times and hardly any of it mentions anything current. Westwood just bought the complex from the last company and the lease is so old it still has provisions in it that violate the fair housing act that the apt manager just crossed out.

Any half decent real estate atty will have you out of that lease in a day.

[*~*stragi*~*]

If I had the money for an attorney I'd have no problem shelling out the money for DSL.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

If I had the money for an attorney I'd have no problem shelling out the money for DSL.

Have any friends who are attorneys? Ask someone you work with if they do. A lease agreement that looks like that should be a quickie.

[*~*stragi*~*]

So it looks like when the rep on the phone told me we'd be getting offered a 4.5 mbps connection he really meant the entire fucking apartment complex shares a 4.5 mbps connection and it looks like the modems they force us to buy are limited to 1.1mbps. My apartment complex has ~800 apartments. HOW can this be legal?

[Winnow]

I can fake being your attorney. I'll act something like Ben Affleck did when he filled in for Matt Damon in the interview scene in Good Will Hunting or I can be like the lawyer in Caddyshack II. (Randy Quaid)

[*~*stragi*~*]

I got off the phone with qwest, aparently you don't need a phone line to get dsl anymore so I can just get it stand alone. But I can only get 3mbps/it is a mystery up.

[Tyek]

Have any friends who are attorneys?

I bet if you even had just a letter from an attorney you would be let our of your lease. Tell them you want out (if you do) and if they say "no you have a lease", then let them know you will be in touch with an attorney. I doubt they would fight hard.

Good luck.

[*~*stragi*~*]

I guess I'll look into it tomorrow. How much can you expect to pay for something like this? I imagine it's like an hour of their time max. A few hundred?

[Winnow]

Just make up a letter.

[Tyek]

My mom works for an attorney she said in So Cal it runs about 250 bucks. She said you might just tell them you are going to an attorney and they may back off. Another oprtion is to go to the Dept of Housing and employment and state your case. Last resort would be to go to a legal aide group. Sorry can't offer more.

I might be able to get you a letter, cheap or free from an attorney that specializes in this type property issues but he is in So Cal, so not sure how concerned the apartment owner would be.

[Tyek]

edit - gotta stop posting on this crappy work laptop.

[Tyek]

Ok I talked to the attorney...

He says their is an FCC rule that apartment complexes cannot sole source the contract. The terms of the contract also cannot change during your contract, so you can get out of it. So you can advise them they have violated the contract 2 ways and if you want out you can leave.

By law they HAVE to allow you the option to use your own cable and telephone services. Per the FCC.

If they did not have this agreement in place when you signed the agreement, then they have changed the terms and the lease is voidable.

Hope that helps.

[Tyek]

edit - Doh, sorry double post!!!

[miir]

Ok he talked to the attorney...

He says their is an FCC rule that apartment complexes cannot sole source the contract. The terms of the contract also cannot change during your contract, so you can get out of it. So you can advise them they have violated the contract 2 ways and if you want out you can leave.

By law they HAVE to allow you the option to use your own cable and telephone services. Per the FCC.

If they did not have this agreement in place when you signed the agreement, then they have changed the terms and the lease is voidable.

Hope that helps.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Ok he talked to the attorney...

He says their is an FCC rule that apartment complexes cannot sole source the contract. The terms of the contract also cannot change during your contract, so you can get out of it. So you can advise them they have violated the contract 2 ways and if you want out you can leave.

By law they HAVE to allow you the option to use your own cable and telephone services. Per the FCC.

If they did not have this agreement in place when you signed the agreement, then they have changed the terms and the lease is voidable.

Hope that helps.

Are you sure?

[*~*stragi*~*]

ygnition is a privately owned company and apparently doesn't have to listen to the fcc or something.

[Winnow]

What do the people in the leasing office look like? Do you think you can take them if it comes down to fisticuffs?

[*~*stragi*~*]

yes. can i move in with you when i break my lease?

[Winnow]

*crickets*

storage room B!

[*~*stragi*~*]

well it's still on for some reason i can't figure out.

i will miss this when it goes away

[Lynxe]

Explain the impact that provider switch will have on you and the other tenants. Point out that if the other tenants may not know about these issues just yet and that, as a good neighbor, you may feel it necessary to let them all know (while exploring options to get out of the lease with a lawyer ).

The provider switch might still happen but they might be willing to release you earlier if you don't get a ton of their tenants pissed off at them.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

[Soreali]

it scares me knowing you're that close to me

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

it scares me knowing you're that close to me

Let's meet up some time.

[*~*stragi*~*]

you should invest in a hacked modem and get free uninhibited cable from comcast

[*~*stragi*~*]

ygnition finally got their shit together and it got turned off last night. i have literally no alternative for internet right now. qwest demands i sign at least a 1 year contract and i'd be paying 59.99 for 3mbit dsl (it's more because they only give you the advertised price if you buy a land line. fucking faggots.) i was getting 30mbit cable for 44 from cox. :/

[Bubba Grizz]

Then to answer your question, "Am I completely fucked"?, I'd have to answer...Yes. Yes you are.

[Trias]

whenever you have that question the answer is always "yes".