Advice Requested: Shanghaied by Apartment

[ReddEye]

I'll try to keep this brief and the ranting to a minimum.

Background: I recently vacated an apartment to take a job in another state. Because of a tight timeline, I did not do a final "walkthrough" with a person from the leasing office. I just dropped off my keys and hit the road. I left the place in pretty good shape, so I figured cleaning would be covered by the security deposit and any remaining balance would be refunded.

You can probably see where this is going....yesterday I received a bill for nearly $300 for "damages an clean-up". Most of the items on the bill are ludicrous (e.g. $82 for bent/dusty blinds, $100 for a smoke detector I removed because they never fixed it properly) and includes pre-existing conditions/damages.

I clearly do not intend to pay this "bill". What would you do?

My plan is to write a detailed letter, commenting on each item and requesting receipts for the amounts billed. I will Cc the owner, property management company, and my attorney (well I really don't have an attorney, but will use Dad's or a friend's name, Esq.). Of course I will get a return receipt so they can't claim they never received the letter. I don't think contacting the leasing office via telephone would do much good, since they aren't the sharpest bunch and I'm not very good at being demanding and difficult over the phone. Besides, what incentive do they have to listen to me since I am no longer a customer.

Is there anyone else I can contact or complain to? Also, I'm having a hard time coming up with a nasty closer. I'm thinking something like "Please respond to the above issues in writing and provide a revised estimate. If I do not receive a written reply within 30 days I will consider this matter closed. Any attempt to collect on this invoice with out first contacting me ....." I'm lost for a closer. Legal action? Formal complaint to _____?

I value the advice of fellow actuaries on this board, so any input will be greatly appreciated.

[Griffin 6]

Originally Posted by ReddEye

I clearly do not intend to pay this "bill". What would you do?

Pay the $300 and consider it a moving expense.

[PK]

Originally Posted by ReddEye

... and includes pre-existing conditions/damages....

I assume you have already taken pictures of the new place you've moved into and will keep them to prove any per-existing stuff in the new place. Also assume that you have learned not to leave without an in-person walkthrough when you leave.

Your post is unclear. Is the $300 above and beyond the security deposit? Did you skip the last months rent, thinking that the security deposit would cover it? or...?

Out of curiosity, were the bent blinds part of the pre-existing stuff, something you damaged, or what?

On the smoke detector, is there any record of your having asked to have it fixed? If not, add that to the list of "lessons learned" if anything needs fixing int he new place.

[carrot]

[Rain in China][/Rain in China]

[GadgetGeek]

Originally Posted by Griffin 6

Pay the $300 and consider it a moving expense.

What he said.

[HangerAngler]

You might want to check your lease and see if there are any clauses in there that refer to this situation. They might have an explicit fee in there for removing fixtures or smoke detectors.

What kind of blinds were bent?

[silverfox]

Isn't there some law about not being able to represent someone as a lawyer if they aren't one? I'd be careful about giving them documentation of a false representation.

I've disputed with a landlord before, and it really didn't go anywhere until I talked to their lawyer. They were trying to pass off a mathematical error that calculated 8 months of rent where it should have been 12. The landlords wouldn't budge saying I owed 12 months. Talking to the lawyer, I was able to settle for 10.

[micaelagb]

I'd send a letter telling them precicely why you don't intend to pay a dime and for that matter demand your security deposit back because you left the apartment in good condition. There's usually renter's boards that outline the laws of how apartments are expected to be left--there is an expected amount of wear and tear that is NOT part of the security deposit. Read the laws for your township and quote them.

The same thing happened to me. I sent a letter back demanding my entire security deposit (about $2,500) after I got a bill for an additional $1,200. In fact, the bill itemized expenses that I know weren't incurred--a simple drive-by of the house could tell you they didn't do what they said they did. I didn't ever hear back. I didn't get my security deposit, but I didn't pay another cent, either. (except certified mail postage, I guess)

[Alto Reed on a Tenor Sax]

When I moved out of my first apartment, I got billed $300 for leaving a couch by the dumpster (which I knew I wasn't supposed to do). Being young and stupid, I chose to simply not pay it.

I never heard back from them, and it never showed up on my credit report as having gone to collections. I don't recommend you taking this gamble, I'm just saying.

[ReddEye]

shang·hai (shāng-hī', shāng'hī')
shang·haied, shang·hai·ing, shang·hais

To induce or compel (someone) to do something, especially by fraud or force: We were shanghaied into buying worthless securities.

I could simply pay the bill and be done with it. I'm not really affluent enough to worry about tax deductions. At the risk of sounding like an old man, "It's the principle of the matter".

Thanks for the advice so far. We're talking about plastic mini-blinds that go for around $8 at Home Depot. The deposit was only $60 and the $300-ish was on top of that.