Monday, March 31, 2008

Man dying of cancer not allowed out of his apartment lease

This is just wrong. Had to share my outrage...

Here's his story & the video from the local TV station...

MCKINNEY, Texas -- Matt Budge worries his time is short. A month ago the 36 year-old found out he was dying of a rare form of cancer. He’s scrambling to move his family with relatives in Utah.

But when he tried to break his lease at his McKinney apartment, four months early, he says the complex told him he would owe thousands in fees and rent. “For an apartment complex like this, $9,000 is not a whole lot of money. But for us that's a huge amount of money,” said Budge.

Included in that $9,000 bill: $3200, two months in future rent, and then thousands more in fees. And even items, like re-imbursing the complex for a $75 credit given after a water leak.

He says his numerous appeals remain unanswered.

“We had the bishop of our congregation contact them and try to appeal to their sense of compassion and explain the situation, nothing there. It’s like talking to a wall. They express sympathy and say there's nothing we can do,” said Steve Buys, friend of the family.

The complex is holding them to the letter of the contract, and not doing much talking about it.

The Budge’s are trying to focus on Matt’s health. For now they’re relying on friends, and their faith.

“Our future is in the hands of the Lord, not in a lease. But we would like to see them do the right thing,” said Crystal Budge.

Video = http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/032908kvuecancerapartment-mm.12598a49.html#

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