Elite Member- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
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Well if you've been around here for a couple months you probably remember me posting about moving to a new house and having issues with my old landlord.
After I was all moved out and whatnot, I get a letter in the mail a couple weeks later with a long list of charges totaling $1300! I told her she is crazy and she needs to take me to court if she wants the money... Well she did exactly that. I got an order to appear in court a month or two back and today was my court date to appear in small claims court.
I had 3 witness's to come testify on my behalf but they weren't needed. They have the option of going into a private room to talk it out with a Mediator and if you cannot work out an agreement/settlement in there then you have to go see the judge. So I agreed to talk it out with a mediator 1st. The room only had 5 chairs so I could only take one of my witness's in there with me. I took my daughter's mom because she was there every weekend picking up or dropping off her daughter.
Anyways, things got pretty ugly in that room. We sit down and the guy tells us that he will give one side the option to talk while the other side is to remain silent and not interrupt. Then the other side will get the chance to talk and the other side will be silent.
The landlord and her property manager were up 1st. They described there side of the story and presented all of their receipts/invoices for the work that needed to be done. They had pictures but they burned them on to a CD so that wasnt able to be viewed. I assume they thought the court would have a computer or a dvd player to use or something.
Anyways I remained silent the whole time they said their side of the story. Then when it was my and my witness's turn to talk, the bitchy property manager kept interrupting and calling me a liar and what not. The mediator LET HER DO IT! So I was pretty outraged that she was not doing as she was told and it was fine. But I continued trying to give my side as he told her to quiet down when it got out of hand. I admit that I could have been more cool and collected though and I should have avoided saying things out of frustration. I remember using sentences like Slum lords , taking advantage of me , trying to fix up their property at the expense of others , getting revenge because they were mad they lost a good tenant , money grubbing etc etc.. But I got through my side and then it was time to start negotiating.
I offered to pay half of the amount she is claiming as I was not 100% innocent but I was not $1300 guilty either. They would not have that. They said lets go through each item on the list and talk it out to see whats fair. Well that ended up in arguments and the mediator mentioned that we were moving backwards instead of forwards. The owner offered that I pay 2/3rds of the amount they are claiming. The mediator advised that I take up that offer as their case is strong enough to hold up in court and he said that he is sure that she will probably get the full claim. As she has a bunch of invoices and I just have my word and the words of close friends/family. So I took it and I have to pay $100 a month until its paid off.
I suppose knocking 1/3rd of the amount off instead of being forced to pay the full amount is some what of an accomplishment
I wished I didn't have to pay anything.
I'd be happy if they just kept my deposit and be done with me.
After I was all moved out and whatnot, I get a letter in the mail a couple weeks later with a long list of charges totaling $1300! I told her she is crazy and she needs to take me to court if she wants the money... Well she did exactly that. I got an order to appear in court a month or two back and today was my court date to appear in small claims court.
I had 3 witness's to come testify on my behalf but they weren't needed. They have the option of going into a private room to talk it out with a Mediator and if you cannot work out an agreement/settlement in there then you have to go see the judge. So I agreed to talk it out with a mediator 1st. The room only had 5 chairs so I could only take one of my witness's in there with me. I took my daughter's mom because she was there every weekend picking up or dropping off her daughter.
Anyways, things got pretty ugly in that room. We sit down and the guy tells us that he will give one side the option to talk while the other side is to remain silent and not interrupt. Then the other side will get the chance to talk and the other side will be silent.
The landlord and her property manager were up 1st. They described there side of the story and presented all of their receipts/invoices for the work that needed to be done. They had pictures but they burned them on to a CD so that wasnt able to be viewed. I assume they thought the court would have a computer or a dvd player to use or something.
Anyways I remained silent the whole time they said their side of the story. Then when it was my and my witness's turn to talk, the bitchy property manager kept interrupting and calling me a liar and what not. The mediator LET HER DO IT! So I was pretty outraged that she was not doing as she was told and it was fine. But I continued trying to give my side as he told her to quiet down when it got out of hand. I admit that I could have been more cool and collected though and I should have avoided saying things out of frustration. I remember using sentences like Slum lords , taking advantage of me , trying to fix up their property at the expense of others , getting revenge because they were mad they lost a good tenant , money grubbing etc etc.. But I got through my side and then it was time to start negotiating.
I offered to pay half of the amount she is claiming as I was not 100% innocent but I was not $1300 guilty either. They would not have that. They said lets go through each item on the list and talk it out to see whats fair. Well that ended up in arguments and the mediator mentioned that we were moving backwards instead of forwards. The owner offered that I pay 2/3rds of the amount they are claiming. The mediator advised that I take up that offer as their case is strong enough to hold up in court and he said that he is sure that she will probably get the full claim. As she has a bunch of invoices and I just have my word and the words of close friends/family. So I took it and I have to pay $100 a month until its paid off.
I suppose knocking 1/3rd of the amount off instead of being forced to pay the full amount is some what of an accomplishment
I wished I didn't have to pay anything.
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