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Belton couple fights legal battle over appliances tagged as unsafe

Paid deposit, rent before finding red tags
Posted at 3:18 PM, Feb 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-09 19:29:11-05
Samantha Boyd, her husband and her 16-month-old daughter, Cheyenne, are living in a Belton trailer park they were hoping to leave.
 
The family had planned on moving into the Belton Plaza Apartments.
 
"The first apartment we moved into was not ready," Samantha said, "The doors were not on the hinges, the carpet was not laid right, it was not painted," she said.
 
Samantha showed the 41 Action News Investigators a $600 deposit receipt and a $630 receipt for the first month's rent.
 
She said the manager wouldn't let the family look at the apartment without a deposit first because it wasn't ready to show.
 
After the first unit didn't work out, management moved the family into another apartment.
 
While moving in, a friend opened the utility closet doors and found red tags on both the water heater and furnace stating those appliances were unsafe.
 
"I find it very cruel and negligent to put my family in danger," Samantha said.
 
Frustrated, the Boyd's demanded their money back.
 
Samantha says apartment complex manager Chris McCowan said no.
 
The 41 Action News Investigators went to McCowan's office and asked him if it was his practice to rent out places with defective equipment.
 
He replied, "I actually have no idea what you're talking about."
 
The 41 Action News Investigators then showed McCowan pictures of the red tagged water heater and furnace.
 
"That could be from anywhere," McCowan said.
 
Samantha replied, "It has the address on it, Chris."
 
McCowan declined further comment and gave the 41 Action News Investigators a phone number to call the complex owner.
 
The voicemail says he's with an apartment complex in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
 
Multiple phone calls with messages left by the 41 Action News Investigators were not returned.
 
Now the Boyds are not only out their deposit and first month's rent, they've also paid to rent moving equipment twice and money to move back into their trailer park they wanted to leave.
 
"It's been a living nightmare and I wouldn't wish this on anybody," Samantha said.
 
The Better Business Bureau says when renting, always look at the actual unit you're going to move into before putting down a deposit, not a model.
 
The BBB also recommends not giving in to high pressure sales tactics.
 
The agency notes there are always other complexes renting.
 
The Boyd's have filed a complaint against the Belton Plaza Apartments in Cass County Small Claims Court.
 
The case is scheduled to be heard in March.

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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.

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