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So happy to see an article about this issue... A few months ago, while apartment hunting, I was thinking to myself, why are people accepting this? Several apar

So happy to see an article about this issue... A few months ago, while apartment hunting, I was thinking to myself, why are people accepting this? Several apartments here in Austin, TX do this. In my search, I found the biggest offenders were Greystar and Camden properties. They lock you in to these silly "Entertainment" packages. Exclusively Time Warner, Grande, or AT&T depending on the property. If you're already in a contract with a provider, you'd have to break your contract just to move in? That's ridiculous. It's really unfortunate, as some of these properties are located in very desirable locations. I couldn't come to terms with being forced to use a certain provider. So I found a property in a less desirable location that offered full competition among utilities.

heydonovan 10y ago
I've experienced the same. As a consumer, what can we do? Complain on Twitter? Leave one star reviews?
- antif 10y ago
  I sent a referral in to the California Department of Justice/Antitrust Division when I ran into this at an Archstone (now Equity) property in Los Angeles. Didn't do me any good at the time, but hopefully they'll start investigating and prosecuting if people demand it. The company that was given exclusive rights to provide service was plainly advertising a kickback program on their website before, but it looks like they've cleaned that up since. Compare this `live` page: https://www.consolidatedsmart.com/commercial-services https://www.consolidatedsmart.com/commercial-services With this, from 2004: https://web.archive.org/web/20041206091748/http://consolidatedsmart.com/property-owners.html https://web.archive.org/web/20041206091748/http://consolidat... """ As property owners, managers and business people, you have a captive audience of resident consumers... we consider it our mission to continue to offer more profitable ways to maximize ancillary income from your residents and customers. Consolidated is your proven resource to increase ancillary profit with: - Coin Laundry Systems - Smart Card Systems - Satellite Television - High Speed Internet - Domestic Appliances """ Turning customers into captives? Kickbacks? Sounds like the kind of work that would violate Sherman Antitrust or RICO Act provisions.

heydonovan 10y ago

I've experienced the same. As a consumer, what can we do? Complain on Twitter? Leave one star reviews?

antif 10y ago
I sent a referral in to the California Department of Justice/Antitrust Division when I ran into this at an Archstone (now Equity) property in Los Angeles. Didn't do me any good at the time, but hopefully they'll start investigating and prosecuting if people demand it. The company that was given exclusive rights to provide service was plainly advertising a kickback program on their website before, but it looks like they've cleaned that up since. Compare this `live` page: https://www.consolidatedsmart.com/commercial-services https://www.consolidatedsmart.com/commercial-services With this, from 2004: https://web.archive.org/web/20041206091748/http://consolidatedsmart.com/property-owners.html https://web.archive.org/web/20041206091748/http://consolidat... """ As property owners, managers and business people, you have a captive audience of resident consumers... we consider it our mission to continue to offer more profitable ways to maximize ancillary income from your residents and customers. Consolidated is your proven resource to increase ancillary profit with: - Coin Laundry Systems - Smart Card Systems - Satellite Television - High Speed Internet - Domestic Appliances """ Turning customers into captives? Kickbacks? Sounds like the kind of work that would violate Sherman Antitrust or RICO Act provisions.