Hello,
I'm having a problem with my former landlord. In late June, I informed him that I would be leaving August 15. I had a $825 security deposit (a full month's rent) that was to be returned to me. My landlord recently moved out of the country and has had some delays in getting the money to me. He said the apartment was fine and he would be mailing the check - in September, October and now November. He is always very cordial on the phone and a very laid-back guy, but I have a thousand things that I would like to do with the money right now and I'm not sure how to best follow up.
He is building his own resort in Mexico and has sporadic access to phone and e-mail. I'm not aware of an executor in the States that he handling his other properties for him.
How do you recommend that I proceed?
2006-11-15 01:54:35 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
It depends on where you were living, if it was an apartment then there should be a manager taking care of the rents and repairs that you can talk to. If it was a house that you were renting you may have more of a problem and if you file a civil suit you may be wasting your money since it will be hard to serve him with the papers. Was it his personal property that you were renting or something owned by his business, it is was company property there will be a registered agent who can accept service for him. You can find out who this is through the Secretary of States office in your state. If it was his personal property then I would suggest looking at your lease, was it drawn up by an attorney, it is possible that he could be on a retainer and you could have him served. The only other way you could have him served would be with a foreign process server and some courts wont accept this. Check the magistrate or municipal court in your city to see if this is ok. Ask the court clerk how you can get him served, they are not supposed to give legal advice but they are usually friendly.
You might also send him an email threatening to file a civil suit and see if he responds to that. And if you do manage to get him served and get a judgment then I would suggest filing a lien against the home to protect your interests, that way he cant sell it without paying you.
2006-11-15 02:11:59 · answer #1 · answered by brendagho 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him to small claims court. Usually theres a $25 filing fee - once he's notified - he'll perk right up
2006-11-15 12:27:22 · answer #2 · answered by Cheryl S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
File a civil suite.
2006-11-15 10:02:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hire a lawyer, file a complaint with the www.bbb.org (better business bureau).
2006-11-15 10:02:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋