Ginger le Geis / Rose Seigel / "Providence Luxury Rentals" fraud?

Submitted by mostly_moths t3_y40do8 in providence

I've read a few things on here about this property management company that I wish I had found before we applied for an apartment from Rose--but basically there were very few places available that accept large dogs, so we were considering just biting the bullet and paying a ridiculous amount for a 7-month lease on the west side while we figured out a better option. We viewed and applied for an apartment from Rose--which required a deposit check of one month's rent that we assumed would only be cashed if we signed a lease--and she CASHED OUR DEPOSIT CHECK for $2,750 (!!!!) after we turned down the lease!

She pointed out that there was a clause buried in a paragraph of fine print in the application that said we only had 24 hours to withdraw--even though we weren't approved for two days after submitting, and told her within a few hours of being approved that we had decided not to take the apartment. She was incredibly rude and unprofessional in her texts with me--like way beyond anything I've ever experienced in a rental situation. She also said several outright lies during our conversation that were just bizarre, like that all management companies require you to submit 2 months of rent with your application that they just keep (??) if you're denied. Like what the hell is she even talking about? She said it like I should feel lucky she was only keeping thousands of dollars just for showing us the apartment.

Is there anything that can be done about this? I don't think I could get my money back since I did sign that incredibly shady application contract (in a hurry--she made it sound like she had multiple other people lined up to take the apartment). I just really, really want to make sure no one else has to go through what we went through, and I know she rents dozens of places all over the west side.

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DuePlatypus7760 t1_isbhaj4 wrote

That can't be legal - I'd talk to a lawyer ASAP.

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m1327 t1_isbik65 wrote

Get. A. Lawyer.

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bpear t1_isbl1qw wrote

Nooo! I hope you get this sorted out. I almost rented one of her over priced apartments as well. Glad I never went through with it.

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canibringmydog t1_isbl29z wrote

Dang. Like everyone said, lawyer. None of that sounds right (except pet fees, I think that is legal). I know you gave the money willingly but I would still reach out to your bank as well. Maybe there’s something they can do.

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ugottabjokin t1_isbq80c wrote

Contact the RI Dept of Business Regulations, Bill DeLuca and also the attorney General's office. I guarantee a swift response. Have a very detailed paper trail, emails, texts, copy of check, etc.

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mostly_moths OP t1_isbqlbf wrote

Replying to canibringmydog (#104,129)

Yeah I just looked it up and you're right, pet rent is legal (I don't know why the broker told me that? All of this is so crazy).

I think I will try to consult a lawyer, and possibly take it to small claims court--I looked over the contract again and I don't think she was in a position to cash that check, even within the stipulations of her own shady contract. Thanks to you (and everyone else) for the encouragement!

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buffchix13 t1_isbzanu wrote

I had this lady as a landlord for one year. The apartment was infested with mice and we kept it squeaky clean and she still blamed us for the infestation and wouldn’t help us. She was terrible.

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GroundbreakingGoat65 t1_isckq9s wrote

This exact thing happened to us a year and half ago with Rose! We were promised a fenced in back yard when we toured the apartment, as well as the apartment being pet friendly. When we showed up to sign the actual lease, she informed us that the backyard wouldn’t be fenced in for at least four months, if not longer, and that every time our dog peed in the yard would be a $50 fine. I’ve signed many leases and this was the craziest one by far - it required that we personally re-seal the countertops every six months, specified the brand of cleaning products to use, and had fines for every possible situation. We ended up not signing the lease and - like you - also lost our money. We ended up not pursuing anything but we were appalled by her behavior!

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DisastrousFudge3593 t1_iscnw37 wrote

It is illegal to get anything more then first months rent and security deposit from a tenant in rhode island and I would be it’s illegal for her to keep that money regardless of that contract bc I think it was illegal for her to take it before you accepted the lease anyways

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2you_msRobinson t1_isct647 wrote

I ran into that same deal. At first they would not even tell me the address of the apt. until I submitted my deposit, and I had to submit in order to even see the apt. I sensed there was something wrong so I didn’t submit, and unsubscribed from the scammer’s other properties. I am so sorry this happened to you. But remember the pattern - can’t see the apt unless you give them the deposit, and they won’t even tell you where it us!

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_isczr1o wrote

Replying to mostly_moths (#104,434)

Pet rent isn’t legal. Where are you seeing it is? Security deposits are limited to the equivalent of one months rent and no more so there can’t be extra money as a deposit when signing a lease. I’m curious where you found that?

for pets.

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weednpornnpolitics t1_isd0lf5 wrote

She's a certified slumlord. Those leases on the fed hill properties are JOINTLY and SEVERALLY. Meaning one roommate flakes, bounces, messes the place up etc she can, and absolutely will, come after everybody together and individually.

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flossboss2 t1_isd973s wrote

ROSE IS IMMORAL. She bought the house we rented our apartment out of in 2018 and it was the worst experience. I literally have thought of her every couple of days since and can’t let it go because of how she treated my husband and I 🥲

Random examples- She made me scrub the grout in our kitchen floor to the point it disintegrated and then said it didn’t matter because she’d be replacing it all - but it needed to BE CLEAN to replace 😅 she kept our security deposit and said we’d need to get it back from the previous landlord. Had random laborers coming to “renovate” inside the apartment without 24 hour notice. Took our doors off the hinges to replace appliances while we weren’t there even though we had a dog. Just straight up outrageous shit that was obviously illegal. Gave the entire building notice to leave in 30 days and we had no time, experience or extra money to do anything legally.

I hope you get your money back.

This had become part of our lexicon.

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KeepYrGlitterDry t1_isdl58g wrote

She's the kind of person who writes emails using CAPS to HIGHLIGHT HOW AGGRAVATED she is, and she'll do different colors and strikethroughs to show her displeasure.

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mostly_moths OP t1_isdmsa9 wrote

Replying to Status_Silver_5114 (#106,707)

From here: https://wrgri.com/2017/06/06/are-pet-deposits-allowed-in-rhode-island/

"While you can’t charge more than a month’s rent in a security deposit, the law does not appear to prohibit pet premium, or an increase in your rent to cover the pet(s) and any damage."

It also says that even though you can't charge more than a month's rent as a deposit, you can try to charge a separate "pet deposit" and see if the tenant challenges it in court...so awful and sketchy.

Rose charges a $150 fee up front and $15/mo. "pet rent"--it doesn't say deposit, just "fee," which seems worse because you can't expect to get it back like a deposit (although I guess most people don't get their deposits back from her anyway!)

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mostly_moths OP t1_isdoe85 wrote

Replying to flossboss2 (#107,156)

I'm so sorry you went through all of that! I've also found myself thinking about her involuntarily since all this happened. I feel like I'm haunted now by how intentionally cruel she was in her texts to me, while also taking all of my money. The gaslighting was intense--she was trying very hard to make me feel like what is happening is my fault, and kept talking about how I had "harmed" her by making her think I might rent her apartment for less than 48 hours.

In addition to trying to get my money back, I'm definitely reporting her to the Department of Business Regulations and the Attorney General. This has to stop! It's crazy to think of how many people this has happened to for years and years.

Also woah that sticker--I'm not totally sure, but I feel like I used to see that phrase written places when I lived in the Olneyville area (2004-2009) and didn't know what it meant. Do you know where/when that photo was taken?

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gooberhoover85 t1_isdro5f wrote

Small claims court. There is no way this would be enforced.

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pvdjay t1_isdvdc3 wrote

First off, contact your bank ASAP to see if you can put a stop payment on the check. Even though the check was already deposited they might be able to claw back the funds. Tell your bank that she defrauded you.

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werewolfmanjack t1_isdzuku wrote

I rented from Rose back in the day and I had nothing but great experiences with her. That said, she was a real stickler for procedure. I remember signing any document with her was like diffusing a bomb. She never did anything shady, just had zero flexibility with her rules. The lease said absolutely no smoking - and when she smelled it (we were) we got that ALL CAPS letter. What was it that you were waiting to be “approved” on?

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_isegars wrote

Replying to mostly_moths (#107,731)

To quote that link “While you can’t charge more than a month’s rent in a security deposit, the law does not appear to prohibit a pet premium, or an increase in your rent to cover the pet(s) and any damage.

We have been experimenting with a $35 per month pet premium”

As a landlord I’m not going to rely on an experiment but instead follow the law (which does in fact state a limit on the amount of money I can ask from a tenant). That’s not statute that’s an experiment.

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ProvBroker t1_iseu80p wrote

Replying to Status_Silver_5114 (#109,560)

It’s completely legal to make an increase to the base rent amount for pets.

You can’t demand a refundable holding deposit above and beyond the one months periodic rent, which is why ‘pet deposits’ are illegal. There is only one exception to this one months periodic rent rule, and that is for furnished apartments that meet certain criteria.

Source: am expert

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Hamsnacks t1_isewptx wrote

Replying to flossboss2 (#107,156)

I had her as a landlord as well! There is no way those "renevators" were licensed in any way. One time, when they assumed no one was home, one of the repairmen brought their wife, and she was just snooping around. What a nightmare. I have so. Many. Stories.

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Krose96 t1_isf35pk wrote

Yup, she is a scammer. I’ve gotten in huge fights with her as a previous tenant on Ring St. no working heat most of our time living there, repairs were never done, there ended up being an electrical fire which gutted the back hallway which fire Marshall deemed, she said it was from cigarettes lol. I called the code office because it was left exposed in December to the elements, both our doors were melted and broken without good working heat and they condemned our entire apartment building. Saw that it’s now being rented again. Do not rent from her.

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-Interzone-Agent- t1_isfm2bt wrote

Replying to Krose96 (#110,144)

Came here to say this. I was in this same house on a different floor. I had to get in contact with a lawyer to get out of the lease when there was snow blowing into our apartment after the fire. She tried to make us sign a document basically saying that we wouldn't go after her for damages and when I refused to sign it, she tried to charge us around $6000 dollars for moving out. The apartment was unlivable and we had to find other lodgings, which she should have paid for, according to the law. The thing that was my saving grace in this situation was having renter's insurance.

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mostly_moths OP t1_isfnfws wrote

Replying to GroundbreakingGoat65 (#105,971)

Wow, those are truly the craziest lease provisions I've ever heard of!! And I bet she didn't show you the lease until after the 24-hour window had closed for you to withdraw your application--so that she could keep your money.

Rhode Island Legal Services says here that if you were to pursue this in small claims court (which you don't need a lawyer for) you can ask for up to twice the amount of your deposit in damages, in addition to the deposit itself. It only costs $75 to file a claim, so depending on how much time/effort you feel like putting into something like this, it could end up being pretty worthwhile. I personally am planning on filing a claim against her.

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mostly_moths OP t1_isgkkz6 wrote

Replying to -Interzone-Agent- (#111,090)

Woah!! That is so awful--I can't believe she tried to charge you 6k to move out of a severely damaged apartment. Sorry this happened to you, and I'm glad you had renter's insurance (also, a good reminder for me to sign up for that right now!)

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flossboss2 t1_iskh2u6 wrote

Replying to mostly_moths (#107,797)

Oh I cannot with the gaslighting and claims of harm. So true to form. Sounds like we could all start a support group!

And as far as the sticker goes, I can’t remember where we got it! I think maybe Armageddon records a couple of years ago? We stuck it to our speakers so pic is taken at home.

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marissadijoy t1_it4lsqr wrote

I too have personally been victimized by Rose. 🙋‍♀️ I rented from her for around 5 years, and was a model tenant. Every time one of my roommates left, they would hire a professional cleaner, and when Rose would inspect the apartment, she’d claim it was “FILTHY,” and that she’d have to take the money out of their deposit in order to hire a proper cleaner.

Being that I was a model tenant for so long, and had a rapport with her despite her antics, I really didn’t believe she would do that to me as well when I left. Adding to the egregiousness, when I left, 2 of my roommates had blocked me on everything, and stuck me with the final bills. They never hired cleaners, and people had already moved into their rooms. (One of them actually works for the RI government. JAY GORMAN WEGIMONT, IF YOU’RE READING THIS, YOU’RE A DOUCHE.)

I hired a cleaner to clean my room and the common areas. I knew she nitpicked about the blinds and ceiling fans, so I ensured mine were clean. Rose ended up sending me photos of the dirty fans in Jay and the other roommate’s rooms and told me either they had to come back and clean, which I had no way of contacting them, or have my cleaner come back and clean those rooms as well, even though they didn’t contribute to the cleaner, and more rooms would have cost me more. AND they were already being occupied by new people.

To add insult to injury, Rose ended up taking more out of my deposit than my roommates.’

She did it just to beat us from getting our deposits back, even though I never did any damage to the apartment over the years.

She did it to my sister and her husband as well. She wouldn’t give their deposit back, claiming they had to go to their former landlord, nor their pet deposit back, claiming there was dog hair “EVERYWHERE” and the place “STANK” - the dog doesn’t shed, and my sister is a clean freak. Just blatant, outrageous untruths. Don’t rent from this woman.

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