So I checked my credit this past weekend and I have a collection from my previous apartment company for $875, I kepT the place in great condition and even one of the office personel who did a walk through with me said it looked great. I never received any deposit refund nor did I recieve any documentation of what or why there is a 875 dollar balance from said company. Come to find out the leasing company had 30 days to give me a deposit or documentation of how the deposit was used... its been over 6 months and I have never received anything. my main question is, can they send that bill off to collections without ever sending me any notice? they had my phone number, address and I even went in on a few occasions to pick up old mail... I believe that they are trying to scam me out of money!
Did you take pictures before and after? Did the walk through guy sign something saying that it was Tony the Tiger "I could eat my morning cereal off the floor" Greeeat? Maybe lesson learned. In court they'll say, I bet, that they tried to send you mail and follow the law, but you didn't leave a forwarding address. You see, they just tried and tried, but it's all your fault, pay them the $875, and interest, and legal fees, and anything else that the court feels is just. They can do anything they want. Whether or not the 'anything' is legal is another question. Can you prove they have your phone number and address? Can you prove you went in there on a few occasions to pick up old mail? Even if you did do that, how can you expect our receptionist to be up on what our collection department is doing? Expect crap like the above if they take you to court. Dumb Bob probably isn't smart enough to come up with all the stuff they will come up with. Expect it though. Be ready. What I think you should do is go to your library and get a book that deals with landlord and tenant law. You should also find the laws specifically for your state. Make sure that you frame your arguments such that they mesh with the laws of your state. Be prepared. You do seem to have noticed that there are requuirements for keeping someone's damage deposit. If those were not followed, find out what your rights are, if at all possible, soon.
