Ask Me Help Desk - Apartment complex stole our deposit

Back in may of 07 our apartment complex did their yearly inspection and noted that we have a cat. They had posted a notice on our door stating we owed them a $150 fee for an unauthorized pet and $400 for a pet deposit. We paid the deposit and renewed our lease in October of 07. They just did another yearly inspection and are saying we have unauthorized pets and that now they want a $150 fee and $800 in pet deposits when I have already paid. I went down to the office and ask the lady behind the desk, she refused to assist in figuring this out. The only thing she did was show me that their ledger does not show the payment and show me the archive of notes posted to my door which magically the specific notice had disappeared. I asked to speak to her supervisor and gave my number, he never called. The next day I went back into the office to get a copy of my lease. My lease on page 6 from 10/07 states I have a cat in my apartment. She also stated that her supervisor would not speak to me about this without a receipt, so I asked for the corporate phone number to which I was told they do not give it out. I then asked for a copy of the last inspection so I can prove they marked us down as having a cat, I was told that these are confidential and they are only stored at the corporate office. I looked up the corporate number on line and have called and left messages about 6 times now and not a single call back. What do I have to do to get this information from them to prove that I already paid? I am in Kent, Wa. The name of the complex is Silver Springs.

It shure looks like your apartment management are crooks, sorry but if they will not give you contact info for the management, will not look it up.
Do you have check receipt, payment receipt or something

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nateinkent

Back in may of 07 our apartment complex did their yearly inspection and noted that we have a cat. They had posted a notice on our door stating we owed them a $150 fee for an unauthorized pet and $400 for a pet deposit. We payed the deposit and renewed our lease in October of 07. They just did another yearly inspection and are saying we have unauthorized pets and that now they want a $150 fee and $800 in pet deposits when I have already paid. I went down to the office and ask the lady behind the desk, she refused to assist in figuring this out. The only thing she did was show me that their ledger does not show the payment and show me the archive of notes posted to my door which magically the specific notice had disappeared. I asked to speak to her supervisor and gave my number, he never called. The next day I went back into the office to get a copy of my lease. My lease on page 6 from 10/07 states I have a cat in my apartment. She also stated that her supervisor would not speak to me about this without a receipt, so I asked for the corporate phone number to which I was told they do not give it out. I then asked for a copy of the last inspection so I can prove they marked us down as having a cat, I was told that these are confidential and they are only stored at the corporate office. I looked up the corporate number on line and have called and left messages about 6 times now and not a single call back. What do I have to do to get this information from them to prove that I already payed? I am in Kent, Wa. the name of the complex is Silver Springs.

You prove that you paid by showing your receipt - otherwise it's your word against theirs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nateinkent

Back in may of 07 our apartment complex did their yearly inspection and noted that we have a cat. They had posted a notice on our door stating we owed them a $150 fee for an unauthorized pet and $400 for a pet deposit. We payed the deposit and renewed our lease in October of 07. They just did another yearly inspection and are saying we have unauthorized pets and that now they want a $150 fee and $800 in pet deposits when I have already paid. I went down to the office and ask the lady behind the desk, she refused to assist in figuring this out. The only thing she did was show me that their ledger does not show the payment and show me the archive of notes posted to my door which magically the specific notice had disappeared. I asked to speak to her supervisor and gave my number, he never called. The next day I went back into the office to get a copy of my lease. My lease on page 6 from 10/07 states I have a cat in my apartment. She also stated that her supervisor would not speak to me about this without a receipt, so I asked for the corporate phone number to which I was told they do not give it out. I then asked for a copy of the last inspection so I can prove they marked us down as having a cat, I was told that these are confidential and they are only stored at the corporate office. I looked up the corporate number on line and have called and left messages about 6 times now and not a single call back. What do I have to do to get this information from them to prove that I already payed? I am in Kent, Wa. the name of the complex is Silver Springs.

I paid by money order a year ago so I do not have a receipt but that inspection check list they will not let me access will prove that they we aware and that I had already received notice and obviously paid it if I am still living there.

Unfortunately in this for you when it comes to the Law there is no "obviously." The argument from the other side can be - and usually is - "we made a mistake. You have the burden of proof."

I understand what you are saying but you have no proof you paid and if they think they can collect from you twice, they may just refuse to turn anything over, say they don't have anything... and collect from you twice.

I have already contacted the attorney general and filed a complaint about this. My intention is to get a court order to force them to reveal those records.

STOP MAKING PHONE CALLS. Start writing letters and sending one copy by regular mail and one copy by certified mail, return receipt requested. Send them to the rental office, the supervisor and the corporate office. Tell them that it is impossible for you to have an unauthorized pet in your apartment since page 6 of your 2007 lease states that there is an authorized pet in your apartment. Tell them that you already paid the fee and you will not pay it twice. Put everything in writing.

Forget about a court order to reveal records. It's a waste of time. Just start creating paper so that when this eventually goes to court you will have something to show a judge.