We try to keep costs down by living in the cargo trailer van for 3-4 days depending on how Becci feels and then regrouping for showers and air condition the rest of the week.
We had a donation from a client Becci helped when she was executive director of the British American Business council.
We were able to go from one hotel to the next and book a room for a week and take advantage of reduced rates.
B had a defibrillator implanted Monday May 6.
My good rugby buddy from South Africa, Mark Kedda booked us a room in a decent 3 star hotel near Methodist hospital with the points he had accumulated from his work.
Becci was able to recover in some semblance of cleanliness.
After a week we had to move and went back to a not-so-great motel Hometowne Studios on Hi 6 S.
It is a Red Roof Inn brand/property.
We booked for a week with the option of more should we need and got more donations.
We were fortunate to get a room that was wheelchair accessible. It did not have a roll- in shower but had a bench onto which I could transfer Becci and use a shower with handle.
It was cheap at $300 a week with all taxes.
When we arrived late on Friday afternoon I noticed quite a few things wrong.
I informed the manageress and she informed me there were no maintenance people on duty until Monday.
I wasn’t angry.
I could live with that.
The major things wrong were;
Shower not working.
Microwave rusted and dirty with organic matter in all the crevices.
Stove gave off an obnoxious smell with white smoke upon starting.
I was surprised they did not have any spare microwaves given the number of rooms.
There were other smaller issues.
It was dirty with fecal matter around the bottom of toilet and organic waste in numerous areas in cabinets and counter top.
The toilet leaked water which we could constantly hear it.
There was only a regular electrical socket near water. Building code requires a GFCI.
How do they get away with this?
Monday came and went with only a couple items sorted.
Becci needed a shower.
She had not been allowed one for the first 5 days after operation and was now ripe.
I was not impressed. The fixes were not major.
I complained to corporate via email.
The next day this young manageress of probably Indian descent came to door and demanded to see the problems. She was angry I had complained to corporate.
She said everything was just normal wear and tear. I pointed to a large mass of organic waste which she declared was rust.
I took a knife and scraped out this disgusting matter and that is when she told me I was disrespecting her and we had to go.
I told her this was not possible at such short notice. We were booked for at least a week and maybe more.
She saw Becci and I pointed out B was in no state for another move and really needed a shower.
She said she did not care and stormed off.
I once again wrote corporate. The next day an aggressive regional manager with caller ID of Hector Quesada (8322298313) called.
It was obvious he was not calling to help.
He also tried to make excuses for everything.
He said they had to send off for a part for the shower.
‘Nonsense” I said. This mechanism is in practically all homes in America and Home Depot was 2 mins away.
Thats when he also told us to get out.
We said we could not.
I wrote as many in the media I could find addresses.
But no one is interested in an old paralyzed woman getting thrown into the street.
They spend more time on dog stories.
Link to dog stories
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/393067645-video
We moved out that Friday as per when we could find an alternate.
From the Tuesday to the Friday they did not fix anything, nor did they even send housekeeping.
My wife could not take a shower.
We could not use the microwave or stove to cook.
We bought a $70 electric pressure cooker which is really good.
Spite and retaliation is not acceptable.
I would argue it is even more vile when this is directed toward a paralyzed old woman.
There should be no place in society for those who abuse the weak and elderly.
After we had found somewhere else to live I researched the organization and was directed to a CEO in Florida.
Thomas Gualano.
Upon calling the office it soon became obvious I was being blocked by a woman who argued Gualano did not take complaints only she did.
I was never given the correct email address.
After more investigation I found one of the head guys of the corporation that owns all these hotel brands.
Westmont Hospitality Group is a company nominally based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada which owns and manages hotels. It was founded by the Mangalji family. It is one of the biggest hospitality management companies. It currently is managed by Majid Mangalji. The total revenue for this company is $700 million.
Mr Moez Mangalji has a $10 million dollar home in the heart of Memorial.
I wrote him a letter and delivered it to his door and handed it to a maid.
https://kicked2curb.com/a-letter-to-mr-mangalji/
I figured this is bound to bring results.
Who could refuse to investigate such a terrible story.
AND we gave the letter during Ramadan.
He is a muslim and In Islam, all good deeds are more handsomely rewarded than in any other month of the year.
In fact the whole concept of fasting is an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God, and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.
Today is the last day of Ramadan and now a week later we have heard nothing.
I guess this man is just another religious hypocrite.
Sadly we have come across so many.
One doesn’t have to dig far to find a son of the original founder and brother Majid, steeped in privilege and wealth.
They obviously use the offshore banking rip off to ‘maximize’ tax ‘savings’
This family has sewn up so many of the well known hotel brands. See more about Mangalji family and interests. I now understand why Moez Mangalji could not give a damn about a 65 yr old American Christian.
I asked Chase Bank to charge back the money thinking this would be easy given the facts.
Not so.
They have a set of fixed and rigged questions.
If Hometowne Studios only provided a roof they were not in breach.
Surely if one is to live, one needs to keep clean and eat.?
But that does not matter according to credit card companies..
They refused to return our money.
It is quite obvious the credit card companies are closer to corporations than the consumer.
These questions were obviously the result of consultation with the industry.
The likes of Moez Mangali have rigged the system against ordinary Americans.
Read here about this Muslim family that owns hundreds of corporations many of whom are set up as foreign entities. No doubt to move US dollars out of the country.
This would not be the first time I have come across a foreigner who is over here only to extract the most dollar for the least return and effort.
I am no fan of Trump but he is right when he says foreigners have been taking advantage of Americans for decades.
As a Brit I have come across so many of my own countrymen over here talk bad of Americans.
I once tried to expose an Israeli who told me he was only here to make money and he had set up a system of plumbers ripping off the public. Read the story here.