Pizza Tuesday

The meeting with Manager went okay; that is after she first tried to convince me the problem was at my bank …… "the bank paid with a card, rather than your account, you should contact the bank".

That was too ridiculous to even consider.

When she failed to convince me of that, she then offered to give me the telephone number of that third party vendor so I could work it out with them.

You push us into signing up for this crap, but then you want to wash your hands when there’s a problem with the crap you pushed on us?

Nope. I don't think so.

She yesterday indicated she’d find the problem, work me through the system, so that’s what we did.

It took half an hour — with my opening up my Rent Café account on her computer, her searching, finding where it had been set to card, removed and reset to bank account.

Setting to card might have been my mistake, but maybe not, because Manager tells me I’m not the only one to get charged $29.14 — could have been a glitch in the system that sent it to cards.

Manager said one resident stormed into her office highly irate. When Manager gave her the same spiel she tried to give me, "I told her to contact her bank or the third party", it further infuriated the resident. She yelled, screamed, stormed out, according to Manager.

Wish I knew who this Resident is, and I won’t be surprised if others come forward, as Manager said some didn't pay rent.

Did they not pay rent OR did they sign up for Rent Café and are caught in the glitch …… it didn't go through?

That nearly happened to me …… when I checked my account May 2, saw nothing withdrawn May 1 for Rent Café, I went into the portal, manually pushed buttons to make it go through.

There's the possibility others don't yet know, haven't checked their account.

Manager seemed unusually pleased with herself, when she said rent was considered late on the 5th, and some didn't pay. She actually shrugged her shoulders, and had a smurk on her face.

As to yelling, screaming …… you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I got Manager to solve the problem, and she did it willingly, nicely, after we got past the blame game.

Before leaving Manager’s office, I made one more pitch for return of the Rent Drop Box.

Manager says she was just as surprised as we were when the order came down from Corporate to get rid of the box. Evidently, there’d been a thieving incident at one of the other properties that was "really bad" involving a rent box being broken into to steal cash and someone being hurt.

"There’s no cash in the drop box", said I.

"Criminals don’t know that and besides, they want checks to whitewash, fill in, steal people’s identities. It’s a safety and security issue, for the protection of residents and us (office staff)".

Whatever.

That done, I popped into the Community Room as I’d seen "Mother’s Day Crafts" on the calendar.

Folks were just lining up for pizzas, so learning it would be half an hour before crafts began, I left, came back at the appointed time.

I’d barely sat down when I became aware the Other Wheelchair Lady was going off about someone she "couldn’t stand". I didn’t focus on what or who she was complaining about, but as she went on and on and on and on, it began to amuse me.

I started laughing, looked up from what I was doing, and she said, "I’m talking about you-know-who …… Manager".

So, just as I had experienced a session with Manager showing her good side, here Other Wheelchair Lady is bashing her to high hell.

I thought, Is this the one that yelled at Manager over Rent Café?.

I asked, "Are you pissed off about the Rent Café fee?"

"No", said she. It was something about an event I’d not attended. Manager made the residents line up outside while the room was being prepped. When the door was opened, Manager stood by the door as residents entered and "Didn’t say anything to any of us, no hello, no nothing as we passed by. And then, when she finds out we don’t like her, she starts crying".

Oh well.

Today’s Mother's Day craft was using modge podge to glue tiny little delicate flowers and greenery to glass vases/jars/photo frames.

Made by Greedy Grabby

Made by Hell on Wheels

Made by Jo, New Resident

Made by Me

Made by Talker
used too much glue but will dry clear

While we crafted, Name Dropper popped in to tell her friends in the room that she’s packing, her last day here is coming up.

"You’re moving?" asked I.

She answered in the affirmative.

"Where to …… back to Palm Springs?".

"No, Arizona".

"What’s in Arizona?".

She skillfully changed the subject, didn’t answer.

Hmmmmm?

Name Dropper lasted one year here, and it must have been a hard year, because she looks terrible. Aged considerably.

I’m guessing the loneliness and the drinking.

After returning to my unit, I got online, saw a reader — SoCalFifi, had commented to yesterday’s post …… "According to Mr. Google 'California Civil Code § 1947.3: prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to pay rent only by electronic means.' Maybe corporate needs to be reminded".

Holy Crapola! I took a look at the Code, saw it read "a landlord or a landlord's agent shall allow a tenant to pay rent and deposit of security by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer".

Technically speaking, the fact that the office is still allowing residents to walk their payments into the office, might be considered the one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic transfer. On the other hand, if the end goal is electronic funds transfer … Rent Café for all — like only electronic at Scary Mary's complex, the code says they can’t do that. They have to give us another option.

I began planning how I could surreptitiously get this information to Manager and Corporate — send copies of the code, making sure to leave no fingerprints, change my handwriting on the envelope, leave no DNA by licking the stamp, drive to a post office out of the area to drop the envelopes off.

But then I thought "screw it" and sent an email to Manager that Corporate will see.

"Thanks for your help this morning with Rent Café. I appreciate that removal of the rent drop box is for reasons of safety and security, but I’m wondering if this falls under a Civil Code which was just brought to my attention …… California Code, Civil Code - CIV § 1947.3, which indicates a landlord or a landlord's agent shall allow a tenant to pay rent and deposit of security by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer. This might be something Corporate might want to look into and reconsider removing drop boxes. Thanks!"

Manager will see it first thing tomorrow morning, then we lay low and wait.

I’ll also make sure others are aware of this code.

Thanks again, SoCalFifi.