Stiffed for Security Deposit
 

Hey, here's my situation. I had a security deposit of $2900 last year, and moved into an apartment in the same building with a deposit of only $2700.

When I left everything was clean, and the new tenants had the landlord paint and recarpet the entire apartment just to freshen things up.

Well After 1 month in the new apartment, our landlord sold the building and all the leases to a large realty company. I have still not received the difference of $200, and the new landlord says it's the old landlord's responsibility. The old landlord now claims we left a dirty apartment and she had to pay for a cleaning crew and for trash removal. This is not the case because I stayed up to 5AM with my friend cleaning the place so this wouldn't happen. Plus she never provided us with any receipt. On top of that, she abuses an old Polish couple to have them clean the building for extremely cheap (I'm sure off the records).

My time is pretty valuable to me but is there any way I can get this money without too much time and effort? Obviously if I hired a lawyer it wouldn't be economically sound.

-Rudey

I think you're gonna have to kiss that $200 goodbye, even though I know it hurts and it isn't fair.

Rudey,

Sorry to hear about the way you were treated! :( I don't know how much good it will do, but you can report the landlord to the Better Business Bureau. They'll keep your complaint on file along with any others, and can contact him about the problem. Sometimes, just being contacted by the BBB is enough to make a landlord "shape up." Good Luck! :)

I have no idea what the law/process is there, but here in Texas I used to work for a Justice of the Peace -- the lowest level judge in county court. In that court, you could file a Small Claims Suit against someone who owes you up to $5,000. It costs like $72 to file, and includes having the defendant served by a constable,which is required. If the plaintiff wins, usually the judge adds the $72 to the judgement. This is the lowest level of court and most people are not represented by a lawyer, so there is no need for you to get a lawyer.

Something like this is an option for you if your state has something similar. I would suggest calling up the local county or state court house to see if there is anything similar in your state.


edited to change "country court" to "county court"

dzrose, thanks for the tip. I filed a complaint with the BBB just now and maybe that will get somewhere.

SATX*APhi good to know about that. I wonder if anyone has any info on this from Chicago.

-Rudey
--On top of that, that jerk of a UPS guy gives a 4 hour interval when he might stop by and it's during lunch.

Students are often the victims of deposit scams. If my kids ever move into an apartment, I plan to take videos of the place as they move out. An apartment owner tried to cheat me out of my deposit at Auburn when I was a young professor and there was some state board in Montgomery I was able to report him to. Too bad for him.:D

I decided to do a little research for you. The process up there is about the same as here, except there, you would have to file in Pro-Se Court rather than Small Claims Court. I hope this helps!


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As a first step in resolving your consumer dispute, you should notify, in writing, the business and/or individual of the exact nature of your dispute. Your demand letter should request a refund and/or completion of the work within a reasonable time period of at least ten (10) days. Your demand letter (see sample demand letter) should be sent by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested. Please retain a copy of this letter for your own records along with your other important documents.

You may also consider filing your own lawsuit in Pro-Se or Small Claims Court to resolve your dispute in a quick and economical fashion. A lawyer is not required to litigate a claim in Pro-Se or Small Claims Court, and the procedural rules are less formal than in other courts. Pro-Se Court handles claims of $1,500.00 or less, and Small Claims Court specializes in claims of $1,000.00 to $5,000.00. There is fee for filing a complaint in these courts, but the cost of filing may be recovered in a judgment award. The current fee schedule and information about filing an action in Pro Se Court may be found at the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Every court district in Cook County maintains a Pro-Se and Small Claims Court.

· Chicago, District #1, (312) 603-5626 and (312) 603-5145

· Skokie, District #2, (847) 470-7250

· Rolling Meadows, District #3, (847) 818-2300

· Maywood, District #4, (708) 865-6045

· Bridgeview, District #5, (708) 974-6511 or (708) 974-6572

· Markham, District #6, (708) 210-4581

There is also some other useful information on the web site as well: http://www.statesattorney.org/aweb/confbbb.htm

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Here is a link to the Clerk of Circuit Court (Justice of the Peace is what we call it down here): http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/index.htm

Under filing fees, I found that it will only cost $46.00 for you to file in Pro Se Court, since all that is owed to you is $200.

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Here is a link to the Pro Se Court division: http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.or...o_se_count.htm

You know Carnation, that video thing isn't that bad of an idea! I will consider doing that myself before I leave.

Hootie

Take the landlord on Judge Judy!

Evrone thanks for you advice. If it doesn't work I will fax herr a photocopy of my ass many times over.

Are you still in school? Does your school have an on -campus lawyer that is paid through the student government? If yes then set up an appointment and go see him.