02 December 2012

This is going to be a rough war

Today's Sunday Stream of Consciousness prompt is Roughing it.

Yesterday in the mail, I received a notice from a collection agency.

First time in my life.

The move here to NYC was an abrupt one that only left me with 3 weeks in StL to gather things, finish things, and say goodbye to that sort of life.

From the first day I knew I was going to be moving, I started talking with the landlord of the apartment complex where I stayed.  I loved and still love that apartment and hoped that if I had to go back to live in that city, I would be welcome there.  I have never lived in such a clean, friendly, bright neighborhood.

I kept asking them what I needed to do before the move.  Even asked them if I needed to pay September rent since it was going to be in the middle of August when I left (I was trying to be helpful so they would want me back if necessary).

After 4 visits to the office, 5 phone calls, and a letter that I wrote to them, they kept giving me the same answer: We don't know what the protocol is for such an abrupt departure after you have lived in the complex less than 6 months. They mentioned that they would have to talk with their corporate people to find out.

They never got back to me.

I assumed things were good and I was free and clear.

Until yesterday.

Things are now rough.

It is not the apt complex telling me I owe money, it is a collection agency.  That is some big ish to me.  They say I owe over a thousand dollars.  The rent was not that high, and it is not two months rent, nor is it a month plus deposit.  I'm hella confused and super angry.

I need to make some phone calls tomorrow and I hope that I am more calm when I talk to them.  I couldn't even sleep last night imagining how the conversation is going to go.

I don't want this to get too rough, but I am ready to do what I need to get them off of me.

When I signed the lease, I gave them my phone number, email, my parent's information, and did the same in my letter that I was going to be moving.

They had ample information to get at me if they wanted some of my money.  At that point, I still had extra money in my savings that I would have happily given them.

The collection notice was sent to the former apartment - meaning they must still think I live there and am not paying rent?  That doesn't even make any sense.

This is now a war, and I intend to win.

You can see more 5 minute posts (mine went 3 minutes over with the linking and such) by going to Jana's Thinking Place.

14 comments:

  1. Oh sugar!!! So I would make some notes on a piece of paper that you need/want to cover because at some point your anger will rise and your patience shorten. that way you make sure to cover them all before you hang up. I always try to go in calm and listen at first acting very nice and see where it's going. As I've gotten older, I escalate a little faster than I used to and the results haven't been as good. Deep breathes now and before the call. Good luck!!!

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    1. That is a good plan. I will definitely do that. I thought about making the call during lunch, but might be too heated afterward. I'll wait until after school.

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  2. I hope you win. That does sound extreme. If you do have to pay anything make sure it is to the apartment complex. That sounds fishy. Someone may be trying to skim something off the top. Sorry you have to go to war. :-(

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    1. Thanks!

      Good advice. It does sound so strange to me, too!

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  3. The whole thing sounds flaky! I hope you kept copies of your correspondence. Make sure that going forward you put (or get) everything in writing.

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  4. Oh. I am so sorry. When I was much, much younger and stupid to the ways of the world. I left an apartment with a rental bed in there assuming the complex would open up the apartment for the rental company to get out the bed. Guess what? They did and that bed was mysteriously gone. I never paid the $600 the rental company said I owed. I was harassed by collection companies and because I was young and stupid and didn't deal with it, they messed up my credit for seven years. If I were you, I'd try to get to the bottom of the mess quickly.

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    1. That really sucks! I'm sure they sold it for a profit or something.

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  5. I hope you win. What a mess. I'm sorry you have to go through all that red tape.

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  6. Bummer! I got a collection notice from the library once. Turns out, my books didn't get checked back in when I returned them, because they were on the shelves. Scared me to death, though! I was shaking when I called them. I don't recommend going in all emotional...I hope you get things straightened out without too much hassle.

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    1. That sucks! I was very calm when I called them... can't say the same for the woman on the other side of the line. I had to ask her twice to calm down.

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  7. Oh, that sucks. I hope you get it all figured out! What a mess. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks. It was really a mess that could have been avoided had they given me information that was needed before the move - or even shortly after the move.

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