Always Double Check Your Rent Bill

We had a new grift enter our lives.  My son's apartment complex was taken over by a new Private Equity firm. His existing lease was simply assumed. However, somehow in the transition, they slid in a "voluntary" program for tenants. By voluntary, they defaulted everyone into the "voluntary" program that cost an additional $8.95 a month on the rent bill. They then applied a lot of friction to get it canceled.  When he followed their instructions to cancel it in the email notice, it stated that an agent would contact him for the next steps.  This is what we found.

Homebody (a subsidiary of Entrata, the software used by apartment complexes) uses a classic retention and cross-selling script.

When you receive that callback, they will not just say "Okay, canceled." They are trained to hit him with three specific retention angles and upsells:

1. The "Credit Score Fear" Pitch: They will warn you that canceling will stop his credit reporting, potentially "lowering" your score or removing years of payment history from his Experian/TransUnion reports. (In reality, rent reporting is optional, costs money, and most traditional auto or mortgage lenders ignore rent trade lines anyway).
2. The Renters Insurance Upsell: Homebody's primary product is forced-place and add-on renters insurance. They will ask who his current renters insurance provider is, claim they can bundle or match it, or try to sell you liability protection through their portal.
3. "Resident Perks" & Security Deposit Alternatives: They will pitch ancillary services like cash-back rewards, deposit-replacement insurance, or flexible payment schedules.

How to Bypass the Call & Ensure It’s Canceled

You don't have to wait around for a retention representative to call and make the pitch. Take these steps to document and force the opt-out immediately:

1. Direct Email (Paper Trail): Send an email to service@homebody.com stating:

   "I am formally opting out of and canceling Homebody Rent Reporting effective immediately for [Apartment Name, Unit #]. Do not contact me regarding sales or upsells. Please confirm in writing that no further $8.95 monthly charges will be billed."

2. Direct Call: If you want it handled faster, call Homebody customer service directly at (877) 577-0850 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–8 PM ET), skip the online form, and tell the agent to immediately cancel the subscription without a sales pitch.
   
   
3. Notify Property Management: Give the front office a quick written note or email attaching your cancellation request. Under most property leases using Entrata/Homebody, residents are auto-enrolled by default but retain the legal right to un-enroll.

Once canceled, make sure to review the next month's ledger on the resident portal to ensure the $8.95 fee was removed completely before paying rent.

So, this is the world now. Always stay on your guard and never give out information such as account numbers, passwords, or your Social Security number. You should not have to provide information to avoid something.