American Utility Management (AUM) -
AUM is the current metering and billing firm for our Nautilus Cove Condo water and sewer usage here at NCC. Residents have noticed on the last monthly bill that they were to send their payments to the Nautilus Cove office rather than the usual address in Carol Stream, Ill.
Whether it is just a payment address change or if AUM is totally out remains to be seen and the office will make that notification shortly.
The best news would be that they are totally gone and a new firm would take over the billing. AUM has a poor track record, at last count they had 61 complaints (mostly billing issues) with the BBB for this rather small firm who only joined the BBB about 22 months ago.
In my own case I found that AUM were billing me MORE for those months that I was absent from the condo (ie: zero water usage) than for the months where I was here and actually using water. I ended up with 2 credits for about $150 in all.
The office was helpful in dealing with this problem.So hopefully they will get the boot totally, we should know soon.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Nikki L. Russ vs. American Utility Management, Inc
5 additional pages of this suit have been added on 2/22/13
For larger image right click and open in new window:
For larger image right click and open in new window:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Another AUM oddity FYI!
Once I finally got an initial bill to the 'correct' address I was able to go to the AUM web site (https://www.aum-inc.com/myaum/contact) and pick up the other 14 monthly statements.
Of course I found the expected series of $7 late fees, which were eventually credited back to me, but I also found that 6 of the 15 months showed I owed extra, above the monthly 3,000 gallons usage that I pay $14.12 a month for (whether I use it or not!).
So what is the matter with that?
Well, take for instance Feb 2008. It showed I used 700 or so gallons over the normal base of 3,000 and thus another charge for using this additional water. I was not at the condo a single day in Feburary, other months when I was in fact there never got over the base charge. So in effect by not being there and not using ANY water I was billed more than those months I was there and using water.
My complaint was sent to the engineering department (3 people) and by looking at the last 3 months (as far as they can go back in daily usage detail) they could see no one was using any water at all, also by contacting the management of the complex they verified that I was seldom there. So I got back $50+ which should never have been charged, and the earlier reversal of $85 at least gets me back to close to where I should be.
So do I think that AUM no longer SUCKS? Hell NO!
What I learned is that there are a lot of other people out there who also think AUM sucks and that you have to keep watching this bunch of morons. To get any results at all you have to in some way get past the initial bunch of screw ups who answer the phones. They are just 'customer non-service' and that is even up to the supervisor level at 'Customer non-service' you won't get any worth while help.
Perhaps you need to start your own blog site or file a BBB complaint?
Of course I found the expected series of $7 late fees, which were eventually credited back to me, but I also found that 6 of the 15 months showed I owed extra, above the monthly 3,000 gallons usage that I pay $14.12 a month for (whether I use it or not!).
So what is the matter with that?
Well, take for instance Feb 2008. It showed I used 700 or so gallons over the normal base of 3,000 and thus another charge for using this additional water. I was not at the condo a single day in Feburary, other months when I was in fact there never got over the base charge. So in effect by not being there and not using ANY water I was billed more than those months I was there and using water.
My complaint was sent to the engineering department (3 people) and by looking at the last 3 months (as far as they can go back in daily usage detail) they could see no one was using any water at all, also by contacting the management of the complex they verified that I was seldom there. So I got back $50+ which should never have been charged, and the earlier reversal of $85 at least gets me back to close to where I should be.
So do I think that AUM no longer SUCKS? Hell NO!
What I learned is that there are a lot of other people out there who also think AUM sucks and that you have to keep watching this bunch of morons. To get any results at all you have to in some way get past the initial bunch of screw ups who answer the phones. They are just 'customer non-service' and that is even up to the supervisor level at 'Customer non-service' you won't get any worth while help.
Perhaps you need to start your own blog site or file a BBB complaint?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A Victory over a pig headed company that took 8 months and YES - AUM Still Sucks!
BBB Processing
08/04/2008 lla BBB Complaint Received by BBB
08/04/2008 lla BBB Member or MIP Complaint Validated by BBB Operator
08/04/2008 Otto EMAIL Send Acknowledgement to Consumer
08/04/2008 Otto EMAIL Inform MIP Member of Complaint
08/14/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVE BUSINESS RESPONSE :
August 14, 2008
I am in receipt of the resident's complaint regarding changing his mailing address and would like to address the complaint against us at this time.
It is AUM's policy to change a mailing address only after the address as been verified to be a deliverable address by the United States Postal Service. As we have explained several times to him, we could not verify the address he had provided as a deliverable address. Therefore, we could not use the address as provided because the information he provided to us had been misspelled. Once the resident confirmed the correct spelling of the address and it was verified by the United States Postal Service, the mailing address was changed.
I hope this information answers your inquiry completely. At this point there is nothing further AUM can do to satisfy this resident. We do hope that you close this complaint at this time.
Sincerely,
Michele Smurzynski
Paralegal
08/14/2008 OttO EMAIL Forward Business Response to Consumer
08/14/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVED CONSUMER REBUTTAL :
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Only partly resolved. While I have verified that the address is now - after 7 months and 12 contacts - changed, the response from the company does NOT address the other element of the complaint which is that the bogus late fees be waived/recinded since the lack of bills reaching me were entirely due to their incompetence in not having changed the address in March.
When the late charges are reversed then the matter is CLOSED. I have sent them a check for $156.13 which seems to be the amount due less the bogus late fees.
08/18/2008 ntt EMAIL Forward Consumer Rebuttal to Business
08/29/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVED BUSINESS' RESPONSE TO REBUTTAL :
August 29, 2008
I am in receipt of the resident's rebuttal regarding his late fees and would like to address his concerns at this time.
After reviewing his request for waiving the late fees, AUM has granted that request and issued a credit of $42.00 to his account on August 28, 2008. His current account balance shows a credit of $85.00.
At this time AUM considers this matter resolved.
Sincerely,
Michele Smurzynski
Paralegal
09/03/2008 ntt EMAIL Send Business' Response to Rebuttal
09/03/2008 WEB BBB CONSUMER SATISFIED- WITH LETTER :
(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
08/04/2008 lla BBB Complaint Received by BBB
08/04/2008 lla BBB Member or MIP Complaint Validated by BBB Operator
08/04/2008 Otto EMAIL Send Acknowledgement to Consumer
08/04/2008 Otto EMAIL Inform MIP Member of Complaint
08/14/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVE BUSINESS RESPONSE :
August 14, 2008
I am in receipt of the resident's complaint regarding changing his mailing address and would like to address the complaint against us at this time.
It is AUM's policy to change a mailing address only after the address as been verified to be a deliverable address by the United States Postal Service. As we have explained several times to him, we could not verify the address he had provided as a deliverable address. Therefore, we could not use the address as provided because the information he provided to us had been misspelled. Once the resident confirmed the correct spelling of the address and it was verified by the United States Postal Service, the mailing address was changed.
I hope this information answers your inquiry completely. At this point there is nothing further AUM can do to satisfy this resident. We do hope that you close this complaint at this time.
Sincerely,
Michele Smurzynski
Paralegal
08/14/2008 OttO EMAIL Forward Business Response to Consumer
08/14/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVED CONSUMER REBUTTAL :
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Only partly resolved. While I have verified that the address is now - after 7 months and 12 contacts - changed, the response from the company does NOT address the other element of the complaint which is that the bogus late fees be waived/recinded since the lack of bills reaching me were entirely due to their incompetence in not having changed the address in March.
When the late charges are reversed then the matter is CLOSED. I have sent them a check for $156.13 which seems to be the amount due less the bogus late fees.
08/18/2008 ntt EMAIL Forward Consumer Rebuttal to Business
08/29/2008 WEB BBB RECEIVED BUSINESS' RESPONSE TO REBUTTAL :
August 29, 2008
I am in receipt of the resident's rebuttal regarding his late fees and would like to address his concerns at this time.
After reviewing his request for waiving the late fees, AUM has granted that request and issued a credit of $42.00 to his account on August 28, 2008. His current account balance shows a credit of $85.00.
At this time AUM considers this matter resolved.
Sincerely,
Michele Smurzynski
Paralegal
09/03/2008 ntt EMAIL Send Business' Response to Rebuttal
09/03/2008 WEB BBB CONSUMER SATISFIED- WITH LETTER :
(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
AUM Run by Chimps????
Post cards and T-shirts now available and are being sent out to Hillside and Oakbrook firms daily
Just so you don't think I am the only one who thinks that AUM SUCKS take a look at the last item in the blog:
Others also think that AUM Sucks!
Darlington Apartments, 2025 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30309
RE: AUM
Just so you don't think I am the only one who thinks that AUM SUCKS take a look at the last item in the blog:
Others also think that AUM Sucks!
Darlington Apartments, 2025 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30309
RE: AUM
Friday, August 8, 2008
They just don't get it -
Clearly they know my correct address, they are just too stupid to simply change it!
Double click for larger views:
Double click for larger views:
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Why A. U. M. Sucks!
In Feburary I decided to use a mail service to handle my Florida mail as I was only at my condo about half the year. So I notified about 20 firms of the new address, some by mail and some by phone. Only one firm screwed up - AUM.
AUM is one that I called on the phone with the updated address. They took the info and I assumed that the bills would then go to me via the mail service. About 2 months later I was on the property and happened to open the mail box. There was only 1 item, it was a monthly bill from AUM. I phoned their customer non-service and asked:
1) why no address change, and
2) if they were not going to change it why didn't they let me know?
No satisfactory reply, just BS about how they could not 'verify the address', this from the initial clerk and also what passes for a 'supervisor' at this third rate firm. They still refused to make the change. I wrote to the President of the company, it was passed to a VP and I got a 3 page back saying that I had misspelled the street name by having one to many 'n's in the name. This rocket scientist even enclosed a MAP showing the location of the mail service. This guy is just as stupid as the rest of the fools that work for the firm. Did he bother to change the address since he clearly knew the correct spelling? Of course not. Anyone with connected brain cells would simply have made the change, but that is expecting far to much from a 'lawyer' VP of this company.
I see from my research that in just 19 months of membership in the Chicago BBB this firm has racked up 61 complaints. That is not a lot for Wal Mart but for a little jerk water utility billing firm I would think it should be enough to get them booted out of the BBB. I guess that if you keep paying your monthly BBB dues you can stay a member until Hell freezes over.
I am putting this blog up on the internet so that the various 'spyders' and 'crawlers' will find my blog about this third rate company and when some puts into one of the search engines: American Utility Management, A.U.M., AUM or A. U. M., this blog will pop up on their screen and they will see just what a screwed up company American Utility Management is.
AUM is one that I called on the phone with the updated address. They took the info and I assumed that the bills would then go to me via the mail service. About 2 months later I was on the property and happened to open the mail box. There was only 1 item, it was a monthly bill from AUM. I phoned their customer non-service and asked:
1) why no address change, and
2) if they were not going to change it why didn't they let me know?
No satisfactory reply, just BS about how they could not 'verify the address', this from the initial clerk and also what passes for a 'supervisor' at this third rate firm. They still refused to make the change. I wrote to the President of the company, it was passed to a VP and I got a 3 page back saying that I had misspelled the street name by having one to many 'n's in the name. This rocket scientist even enclosed a MAP showing the location of the mail service. This guy is just as stupid as the rest of the fools that work for the firm. Did he bother to change the address since he clearly knew the correct spelling? Of course not. Anyone with connected brain cells would simply have made the change, but that is expecting far to much from a 'lawyer' VP of this company.
I see from my research that in just 19 months of membership in the Chicago BBB this firm has racked up 61 complaints. That is not a lot for Wal Mart but for a little jerk water utility billing firm I would think it should be enough to get them booted out of the BBB. I guess that if you keep paying your monthly BBB dues you can stay a member until Hell freezes over.
I am putting this blog up on the internet so that the various 'spyders' and 'crawlers' will find my blog about this third rate company and when some puts into one of the search engines: American Utility Management, A.U.M., AUM or A. U. M., this blog will pop up on their screen and they will see just what a screwed up company American Utility Management is.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
They don't hire rocket scientists as VP's at AUM
Double click on any image to increase its size.
Jeff was admitted to the Illinois Bar5-6-04 and is already a "Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Thursday, May 22, 2008
AUM Corporate Report
5/22/08
5/20/08
Others also think that AUM Sucks!
Darlington Apartments
RE: AUMFrom: LegalDiva326
http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/GA-Atlanta-Darlington-Apartments.html
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19435
5/20/08
Others also think that AUM Sucks!
Darlington Apartments
RE: AUMFrom: LegalDiva326
Date posted: 3/28/2008
Darlington Apartments
2025 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta
GA 30309
For as long as I've been a tenant here (almost three years), the water bill has been paid with the rent. The rent is due on the 1st, with a grace period until the 5th. If you did not pay your water bill with the rent, your rent check would not be accepted - Fine by me, however...I never liked the fact that this building does business with AUM (American Utility Management in IL), a company that is notorious for inflating water usage charges and charging outrageous fees. They charge us $3.50 a month simply for the privilege of having them bill us - I always thought that management should be paying this bill, since they are contracting with this company to provide utility billing - I didn't ask them to bill me, THEY DID.
Anyways, the building recently changed the policies so that we are to pay AUM directly, rather than submitting the water payment with the rent. I'm guessing that the monthly $3.50 "Admin" fee has been the source of resistance and many arguments, so they had to come up with a way to justify it. Due to this change, our hands are now tied and we are being subjected to AUM's outrageous fees.
We no longer have a grace period, as AUM demands payment by the 1st, or else you are charged a $10 late fee. They also want you to allow 5-7 business days for payment. You just know they are going to claim you were late and find a way to charge you. If you go online to make a payment, you are charged a $7.50 "Convenience" Fee. (Please tell me how this is "convenient.")
Considering that we have a large number of elderly, fixed-income, and some low-income tenants, this is totally inconsiderate and unfair. But honestly, with the new management team, they are doing a lot of new, unscrupulous (and potentially ILLEGAL) things to the tenants. They just attempted to run a scam on me, but I'm too intelligent for it (future lawyer), and they're messing with the wrong one. They're about to see how "thorough" I really am.There are a million reasons why no one should move to this building, and in a few more months, I intend to tell ALL. Stay posted.
UPDATE:
I just received my most recent water bill. I am now being charged a $10 late fee for a payment that I mailed to them well in advance, in more than enough time to make it to them by their deadline of the 1st.
I believe that I was correct in my assumption that this would be the new scam. I believe that both the bogus utility company and management will be taking a cut from these ill-gotten "profits" taken at the expense of their residents. Geez, isn't scamming with exorbitant rental increases enough' Greedy - just plain greedy....
===========================
User Responses
From: Ulexus
Date: 01/29/2008
As a resident since 2001, I remember the days before they had this water scam. The have steadily increased the pain of this more and more. They used to include the water in your rent. That is, there was no separate water bill. A few years ago, they started this insane scheme to come with some sort of way to rook everyone. They have done so. Right after I finally acceded to the bill, they pull something like this. First, I would _love_ to see the comparisons of what we are billed for just the raw water usage (outside of superfluous fees) and the real water bill. Secondly, the fees are nothing short of highway robbery. Then to make you send this piddling bill out of state to the same rip-off artist is just arrogance put forth into malice. I have put up good posts about the Darlington in the past, and I have defended it, but with this practice, as well as a number of other ones (such as price adaptations based on what the prospects look like...can we say racism, sexism?), this new "management" team is set out to destroy any remaining value that the Darlington has. We are on a month-to-month, now, and we are looking to buy somewhere else. All I can say is woe be to those who stay. They are asking to be raped, pillaged, and otherwise taken gross advantage of.
------------------------------------------
From: Anonymous
Date: 01/30/2008
I agree, this water bill thing is out of line, I can't wait to see these crooks exposed. I have a problem with them raising the rent each year I renew my lease, most leasing companies raise every 2-3 years. Darlington needs major meaia coverage for ripping us off, and that shifty AUM as well.
-------------------------------------------------
From: sunnyc02
Date: 04/29/2008
I have lived in Travis county in 3 different apt complexes, and it is always the same story. There is a complete lack of enforcement and/or support for individual tenants and it is frighteningly apparent when dealing with office management. They seem aware of that which makes them very brazen and unintimidated, with slum lord-like behavior. This also makes them dangerous, risking the health and well being of each and every tenant. Until changes are made we can all be expected to live in fear and just plain take it! As a result I have planned to move to another county when my lease is up, I am told that Williamson might be a better fit for those who are aware of their own rights, but who knows. I guess ignorance is bliss after all.
--------------------------------------------
From: AUMSucks
Date: 08/19/2008
I have a major problem with American Utility Management and have set up my own blog to complain about them. Take a look at: http://aumsucks.blogspot.com I have written to various local firms in Oakbrook and Hillside, Illinois sending them magnets and post cards with my blog name on it. I will be adding this web site to my blog complete with your comments. Now anytime someone puts into their search engine AUM or American Utility Management among the other references will be my blog.
--------------------------------------------------
See also: Darlington Apartments
2025 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta
GA 30309
For as long as I've been a tenant here (almost three years), the water bill has been paid with the rent. The rent is due on the 1st, with a grace period until the 5th. If you did not pay your water bill with the rent, your rent check would not be accepted - Fine by me, however...I never liked the fact that this building does business with AUM (American Utility Management in IL), a company that is notorious for inflating water usage charges and charging outrageous fees. They charge us $3.50 a month simply for the privilege of having them bill us - I always thought that management should be paying this bill, since they are contracting with this company to provide utility billing - I didn't ask them to bill me, THEY DID.
Anyways, the building recently changed the policies so that we are to pay AUM directly, rather than submitting the water payment with the rent. I'm guessing that the monthly $3.50 "Admin" fee has been the source of resistance and many arguments, so they had to come up with a way to justify it. Due to this change, our hands are now tied and we are being subjected to AUM's outrageous fees.
We no longer have a grace period, as AUM demands payment by the 1st, or else you are charged a $10 late fee. They also want you to allow 5-7 business days for payment. You just know they are going to claim you were late and find a way to charge you. If you go online to make a payment, you are charged a $7.50 "Convenience" Fee. (Please tell me how this is "convenient.")
Considering that we have a large number of elderly, fixed-income, and some low-income tenants, this is totally inconsiderate and unfair. But honestly, with the new management team, they are doing a lot of new, unscrupulous (and potentially ILLEGAL) things to the tenants. They just attempted to run a scam on me, but I'm too intelligent for it (future lawyer), and they're messing with the wrong one. They're about to see how "thorough" I really am.There are a million reasons why no one should move to this building, and in a few more months, I intend to tell ALL. Stay posted.
UPDATE:
I just received my most recent water bill. I am now being charged a $10 late fee for a payment that I mailed to them well in advance, in more than enough time to make it to them by their deadline of the 1st.
I believe that I was correct in my assumption that this would be the new scam. I believe that both the bogus utility company and management will be taking a cut from these ill-gotten "profits" taken at the expense of their residents. Geez, isn't scamming with exorbitant rental increases enough' Greedy - just plain greedy....
===========================
User Responses
From: Ulexus
Date: 01/29/2008
As a resident since 2001, I remember the days before they had this water scam. The have steadily increased the pain of this more and more. They used to include the water in your rent. That is, there was no separate water bill. A few years ago, they started this insane scheme to come with some sort of way to rook everyone. They have done so. Right after I finally acceded to the bill, they pull something like this. First, I would _love_ to see the comparisons of what we are billed for just the raw water usage (outside of superfluous fees) and the real water bill. Secondly, the fees are nothing short of highway robbery. Then to make you send this piddling bill out of state to the same rip-off artist is just arrogance put forth into malice. I have put up good posts about the Darlington in the past, and I have defended it, but with this practice, as well as a number of other ones (such as price adaptations based on what the prospects look like...can we say racism, sexism?), this new "management" team is set out to destroy any remaining value that the Darlington has. We are on a month-to-month, now, and we are looking to buy somewhere else. All I can say is woe be to those who stay. They are asking to be raped, pillaged, and otherwise taken gross advantage of.
------------------------------------------
From: Anonymous
Date: 01/30/2008
I agree, this water bill thing is out of line, I can't wait to see these crooks exposed. I have a problem with them raising the rent each year I renew my lease, most leasing companies raise every 2-3 years. Darlington needs major meaia coverage for ripping us off, and that shifty AUM as well.
-------------------------------------------------
From: sunnyc02
Date: 04/29/2008
I have lived in Travis county in 3 different apt complexes, and it is always the same story. There is a complete lack of enforcement and/or support for individual tenants and it is frighteningly apparent when dealing with office management. They seem aware of that which makes them very brazen and unintimidated, with slum lord-like behavior. This also makes them dangerous, risking the health and well being of each and every tenant. Until changes are made we can all be expected to live in fear and just plain take it! As a result I have planned to move to another county when my lease is up, I am told that Williamson might be a better fit for those who are aware of their own rights, but who knows. I guess ignorance is bliss after all.
--------------------------------------------
From: AUMSucks
Date: 08/19/2008
I have a major problem with American Utility Management and have set up my own blog to complain about them. Take a look at: http://aumsucks.blogspot.com I have written to various local firms in Oakbrook and Hillside, Illinois sending them magnets and post cards with my blog name on it. I will be adding this web site to my blog complete with your comments. Now anytime someone puts into their search engine AUM or American Utility Management among the other references will be my blog.
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/GA-Atlanta-Darlington-Apartments.html
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19435
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