So stressed! Renting Advice??
 

So after I graduated from UGA this May, I moved back in with my parents so I could save some money and pay off all the debt I have from school. The realty company I was renting my house from was a NIGHTMARE post move-out.
They charged us for regular cleaning of the house because it was a brand new house when we moved in and they wanted it to still be a brand new house when we moved out (even though we lived there for a year).
They had a checkout list and we did EVERYTHING on it and then they charged us for things that were not on it and took it out of our deposit. We stayed up until 4 am scrubbing the carpets and painting the walls so we could get the entire deposit back. Out of a $1050 deposit, they took about $300..but is not too bad, but it just on unfair terms.
Anyways..I finally got the check in the mail and I deposited it earlier this week. Well, I found out today that it bounced! :eek: :mad: :eek: So the bank charged me for the bad check and also for overdrafting. Also, I know I have something else going through tomorrow and I will get hit with another overdraft fee. Also, my bank acocunt is still connected to my parent's, so anytime I overdraft, it comes out of their account.
I am so sick from all of this! I am so worried they will not cover those charges or not give me another check. Im horrible with money and I am trying SO HARD to get all of my credit cards paid off and then this hits. I hate that it's Sunday, also because I have to wait around till tomorrow to do something about it!
I was going to just call, but I might just drive up there tomorrow (it's about 45 mins away) and talking to them. But that means I have to take off some hours from work. I still haven't told my parents, either..they will NOT be happy!
What would you do?? :confused: :confused:

I am so sorry that you are going thru this. I would call first and tell them the check bounced and have them cut you another one PLUS the overdraft charges. If that doesn't work them I would pay them a visit. Good luck

Definatley tell your parents they should be able to help with the bank and getting the overdraft charges written off and maybe cover the check until you can getit straightened out. Hopefully it was just an oversite on the realy companies banking. They should write a letter to your bank as well. I hope you get it straightened out tomorrow. I have a 22 yer old dtr and I would want to know.

I would be frustrated too!!! Recently, a similar situation happened to a friend of mine....I told her to go talk to her bank and they would probably removed the "bounced" check fees. (I once worked for a bank and I know we were always doing this for our valued customers but not the people that were always bouncing checks) Sure enough....my friend was able to get her bank to remove the bounce checked fees. Hopefully, they will do this for you.

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble!!!

Thanks guys! Im trying really hard to get a handle on my money and get everything paid off, but it seems like something unexpected always hits!

Sorry you're going through this. I would call the rental office, and ask them what's going on. I would make them give you a money order to replace the check, and I would definetly tell your parents rather then let them be surprised. I know I wouldn't want to be surprised like that.

For sure call the rental office and ask for another check. You can try to get your nsf fees paid by them also, though it might be hard. If your parents have been banking with your current bank long then have one of them go with you into the bank and explain the situation, a presonal banker can get auth from a supervisor to refund those nsf fees if the rental office does not come through. I would just call the rental office instead of driving there. See if you can take a long lunch if needed to sort all this out. I'm sorry it happened in the first place! Just think of all you accomplished you have a college degree! Yay!:D

I am sorry
 

I am sorry your going through this..it is hard when you just graduate from school and trying to get back on your feet..I think I would surely go after them for my money. If it is close to a University Campus..I would try to let others know what happened to you.. make it harder for them to get renters another year..this would go through a university or college to students really quick. Renters beware.
I know it is frustrating right now, but things will work out for you I am sure..I hope so anyway.
pooh's mum

Not fair!!!
 

this is so sad to hear. Especially since you are trying so hard to be responsible
and then the rental company goes and does this to you.
I am so sorry ... and such a bad time of the year for this to happen.
Good luck! Really, more college kids should be as responsible as you are ....

My son works at a bank as a teller and he says if you call the bank tommorow and explain very nicely and calmly what happened (and if your account doesn't overdraw usually) they will work with you and reverse the charges. And is one person doesn't help, call back and try with someone else.
I would call the realty company and demand a money order for the bounced check and all fees.

And until you get your finances back on track try using cash only.
Leave debit /credit cards and checks at home. Budget yourself a certain amount per week for gas, food and other necessary items. Hard to impulse buy if you don't have the money in your pocket to spend. My son and his friends are in college and working, and they have all gotten themselves out of debt by doing this.:)
Good luck.

Well that's very sweet of you to say and Im glad I give off that impression, but Im not responsible with my money AT ALL! haha :rolleyes: :p I admit it and I know I have gotten in way over my head..but I am trying. I may have slip ups here and there but TRYING is the key word! haha :)

But it is a HORRIBLE time for this to happen..Im hoping that they will be nice and understanding and not give me any trouble..well see!

Thanks so much..I am going to call the bank and realty place tomorrow and try to get it all ironed out.

My weakness is a good sale. If I find something on clearance at Target for $5, I have to have it..even if I dont NEED it! I tell myself, "It's ONLY $5..it won't hurt anything!" If I had saved all those $5, I wouldn't be in this hole right now!

I agree about calling the bank....it wasnt your fault - and if the bank does not remove the charge then the company needs to pay and fees that you have accrued - after all it is thier fault - Let us know who it turns out :) Dont stress out...

It is illegal for a deposit return check to bounce. That money is supposed to be held in an escrow account...yes, I know many landlords do not do that....but legally they are.

Write them a "nice"...if ya know what I mean... letter explaining...what they already know has happened...and tell them you want a CERTIFIED check or cash INCLUDING any fees you've been charged. Give them 10 days to do this....let them know if they don't comply within the allotted time period....you will take the necessary legal action to collect.

Really? I didn't know that! That's very interesting..

Im going to call in the morning and "nicely" tell them to give me my money back! Haha I am also going to write them a letter and fax it with a copy of my bank statement so I have a written record of it. I really really hope that they will be cooperative with me.

Oh I'm pretty certain they'll be "cooperative"....they have no choice. I own rental property...so I know what I'm talking about. Like I said...deposits are supposed to be held in escrow accounts and funds readily available. It's not considered THEIR money...it's yours they're holding for YOU...just in case.

Btw, it wasn't your responsibility to repaint either...that's considered reasonable wear and tear....and every time a tenant moves out...the landlord is supposed to paint the premises.

Instead of faxing the letter go the post office and certify it so they have to sign for it, it is less then a dollar to do that, keep the receipt and copy of letter. It will serve as proof you contacted them about the NSF Check and you may need the proof if you have to pursue legal action. Then they can't say they never received it.

good post that I am sure you have the background to give her good advice..glad of that. Hate to see some one scammed on renting too..pooh's mum

Oh that was advice I completely forgot to give you.

I am told that faxing something would hold up in court, but I've never tried that....

Personally I'd be concerned with them charging you for things that were not on the list. Can you expand on this please?

As another poster said, they CANNOT use bond money for anything else other than keeping in a trust account. I'd be contacting the rental board (or whatever it's called in Australia) to let them know that the cheque has bounced so they can investigate. The company could be fined for improper use of bond funds.

I hope you get this sorted out. Best of luck!

My parents rent out our old house, so I need to tell them this..is it for all rental properties? Or just rental companies that own property?

About repainting..I holes in the wall where I hung stuff up..they told me I was supposed to spackle them..fine I said..then they told me I had to paint over the holes..but the walls weren't white..they were an off-white. Luckily, the office had a small can of the paint they used, or else they were going to make me pay out of the deposit for it. So I painted..

If you have any problems with this rental company, I would consider calling an attorney for a consult and bringing in your rental contract and having him/her look it over. Sounds a bit off.
We also have a couple of commercial property rentals and other then having the clients leave the place clean and hauling away excessive trash we redo everything when the clients move out. I am curious about what your contract stated. Sounds like they are trying to take advantage of you because you are young.

Well, they told me that if their guys have to come in and do ANYTHING to the house to get the new renter in, we'd be responsible for it..as in, it would get taken out of our security deposit. I asked if anything was covered under normal wear and tear and they told me no because it is (was..we lived there for a year) a brand new house..

Some things off the top of my head that weren't on the list were wiping off the ceiling fan blades (even though our living room ceiling was at least 25 feet tall), wiping down the baseboards, cleaning behind the washer and dryer, etc. Basically, they wanted their old tenants to clean up everything for their new tenants. It was a load of BS, but I didn't know what to say to get around it..so I ignored it so I didn't have to deal with it anymore..

The only problem is, I don't know if it would be worth it to get an attorney involved because after fees, I would probably end up being out of money..

I looked back at the time, and the contract did state that no holes were to be put into the walls..

This was a neighborhood where most of the people by the houses sight unseen and then use this rental company to rent them out to college students..the person that owned the home I lived in is from California..

No every landlord is supposed to hold that deposit money in an escrow account...if your parents never have to worry how they would come up with the money to return someone's deposit...it's really a non issue...because no one will ever check unless a problem occurs.

Yes, you have to fill in the holes where you hung pictures....but NOT repaint. Matter of fact...know what works? Colgate paste toothpaste...really.

No, you shouldn't have had to paint those spots...they had YOU do their work.

You now have the upper hand...really. Worse case scenerio...you take them to small claims court. It'll cost you maybe 35 dollars to file....and that amount can be added to the amount you're awarded. Not if you are awarded...WHEN...because you would be. I highly doubt the rental company would even let it go that far....just the threat will be enough for them to correct this situation.

You don't need a lawyer...you can take them to small claims courts...that's for amounts under $1,500.

IF it goes that far....make sure you have all your documentation along with the letter you write to them.

Consults are normally at no charge. If the rental company is being dishonest and you can prove that , they could be liable for your attorney fees.
I would only resort to that if they drag their feet about reimbursing you.

Do you think there would be any way for me to get the initial monies they used from the deposit to get the house ready for the new tenants?

It's a small company..the lady that answers the phones and is in the office all day is also one of the owners, along with her husband. And I also think theyre fairly new around town..but they had A LOT of listings!

Get out your lease....read it and read it again. It should state specifically WHAT your responsibilities were as a tenant when you moved out.

Cleaning is fine...including the dusty ceiling fans blades, baseboards, spackling the holes, etc...but NOT painting.

They seemed to have forgotten it WAS a new house....now it is not....as long as you didn't do any structural damage....and cleaned it...you should've gotten your entire deposit back.

I realize you did what they said....so you would get your money back...some landlords pull that crap. Some also do whatever work themselves....not hire anyone to do anything...but charge you like they did any way.

I swear..the only thing wrong with that house were two spots on the carpet that we couldnt get out..we even magic erased the walls!

I would have been perfectly fine with all the cleaning..the baseboards, etc...if they had put it on the checklist! I thought that's what it was for..we did everything that was on it..and then they throw this other stuff that wasn't even on it at us!