Most ridiculous rental apartment security deposit chargeback

[Nate tha' Great]

I got dinged for the battery in my smoke detector being dead. I didn't even know that I had a smoke detector.

[Freakin]

How much did they charge you?

Freakin

[MoreWineII]

That happened to me once too. But I had actually ripped the wiring out of the [censored] thing one late drunken night when it started beeping for no apparent reason...so I really couldn't complain.

[ChicagoTroy]

The battery was low /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Nate tha' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
How much did they charge you?

Freakin

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know just yet. They asked for my new address and said they'll send me the balance of my security depsoit in "four to six weeks", which sounds pretty shady. I'm guessing it'll be like $25 bucks, when a Duracell would have cost $2. That's a higher ROI even than Party Poker.

My new apartment is really, really cool though, probably even cooler than Dynasty's. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[MikeL05]

Break [censored] at your old place until you make up the difference.

[astroglide]

just buy a condo dude

[Your Mom]

Tried to charge me 3 bucks for a lightbulb and 10 bucks for "trash removal" even though the place was empty. My dad called and said "I assume this is a joke; otherwise, you will hear from our lawyer (we don't have a lawyer)." We never heard from them again.

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]

My new apartment is really, really cool though, probably even cooler than Dynasty's. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you a half mile from the Las Vegas Strip? Have you got a mirror above your kitchen sink?

Didn't think so.

[somethingstupid]

Try drinking more

[casinogosain]

[ QUOTE ]
I didn't even know that I had a smoke detector.

[/ QUOTE ]

is a good reason not to do this:

[ QUOTE ]
just buy a condo dude

[/ QUOTE ]

-ash

[LargeCents]

[ QUOTE ]
I got dinged for the battery in my smoke detector being dead. I didn't even know that I had a smoke detector.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like my scumlords from college.

Here's what happened to me 10 years ago: I left the apartment in pristine condition, and even wanted an inspection to ensure full recovery of my deposit, which was a big chunk of change for me at the time. I even went to their office to turn in the key and get the security deposit right there. Their "policy" was to send a check in the mail, which I somehow accepted, being extremely naive. They also assured me that I would get my full deposit back, when I voiced my urgent concerns. Months go by, with weekly phonecalls by me requesting the whereabouts of my deposit check, with responses that the "check is in the mail". Finally, after 3 months, I make a personal visit to the office, which is 3 hours away from my new residence, BTW. I am VERY angry, obviously, and the manager tries to explain "the check is in the mail" to me with me standing right there! I said, I want it NOW, I've been waiting 3 months, and need the money. She grudgingly writes a check to me, for $17.50, or some insanely pathetic number. I go ape, and she explains that there was extensive damage and cleaning necessary, etc. I am just floored. I obviously argue, but she must've been trained/experienced in this type of thing because she had an answer for everything, it seemed. Somehow I got her to admit that my apartment was not damaged or needed extensive cleaning, and she said she'd send me a check for the rest. I don't know why, but I had enough for the bs and walked out. I continued to make weekly phone calls, and about a month later got a check for something like $37. I gave up after that.

Every residence after that point, I have been almost lawyerish from beginning to ending of the lease agreement, and now REQUIRE that my security deposit be applied towards my last month's rent. I have this put into the contract before I even agree to the lease. Usually at this point, there is more "compliance" it seems. Don't give them a dime without something in writing, that works in your favor. It seems like one needs a strong understanding of law/negotiation tactics to not get continuously financially raped in modern times.

[liquidboss]

I had a 93 year old landlord in college that told my roommate and I he was taking half the deposit because we didn't clean everything we should have. I expected it because we didn't clean very good so I was fine with him paying someone to do it. When we met for the last time he gave me a check for 1 1/2 times the deposit instead of 1/2 of it. We cashed the check and never heard from him again...

[Randy_Refeld]

I once had someone say I hand't cleaned the oven. THe only catch was I was a single guy living in Vegas; I never opened the oven.