AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sanford Garrett is a 59-year-old visually impaired veteran who lives off of what he calls a “broke income,” but he makes it work.
“Every dollar and cent counts,” Garrett explained. He has lived in the same two-bedroom apartment for the past 13 years, and has seen his complex change ownership multiple times.
Since the pandemic, though, he has noticed an increase in junk fees added on to his monthly rent payment. Things like valet trash and pest control fees. It used to be he had to work directly with the cable company if he wanted that service, now it’s a mandatory fee he has to pay to the apartment complex, even if he does not want cable.
Garrett lives less just steps from the dumpsters where the trash is thrown. He would rather walk his trash to the dumpster than pay $25 a month on valet trash. He also does not understand why he’s paying for pest control every month when he only uses the service a few times a year.
“Don’t be charging people for that service when they’re not using it,” Garrett said.