moved out of an apartment complex about 2 years ago
stayed in the apartment two days past the move out date
apartment workman said i needed to clean the tub really well or i'd get charged for resurfacing, so i went and bought some tub cleaner and scouring pads and worked on it for at least an hour. this same workman was usually in charge of inspections and told me they didn't expect it to be perfect, just cleaned (which i intended to do anyway)
a month later i received a letter demanding i pay for the extra two days and tub resurfacing. i sent a check and a letter explaining i was gladly paying for the two extra days but i would never pay for the tub resurfacing as i had made a best effort to clean it and i had left everything well maintained and clean
a couple months after that, i received a call from a bill collector demanding payment. i explained the entire situation to him and indicated i would not be paying anything as i had left the tub as clean as humanly possible. he indicated that this could go on my credit report. i responded that i wouldn't be threatened into paying money i didnt own. he was very polite but said it wasnt his decision
i checked my credit a few months later and nothing had shown up, but i found out recently that there is indeed now a claim on my credit for the resurfacing fee.
i don't want to settle (even that will show up on my credit). i want it gone. it should never have been there in the first place. this is basically a case of my word versus theirs. what recourse do i have in this situation? if i send letters to the credit reporting institutions, whose word do they believe? it seems unfair if the consumer is assumed to be in the wrong.
i don't think i have a copy of the original letter i was sent nor the letter that i sent in response... i do, strangely, still have a copy of the receipt showing my purchase of cleaning supplies the day i moved out. in contrast, they probably have a copy of the resurfacing bill. again, my word vs. theirs.
my feeling is that they probably pay to have the tubs and counters resurfaced after every tenant moves out, and they try to pass that cost on to the tenant as a policy to save money, assuming that most will cave and pay. im willing to spend a few hours to get this removed from my credit. beyond that, ill just leave it there. i will never pay them. what options do i have?
stayed in the apartment two days past the move out date
apartment workman said i needed to clean the tub really well or i'd get charged for resurfacing, so i went and bought some tub cleaner and scouring pads and worked on it for at least an hour. this same workman was usually in charge of inspections and told me they didn't expect it to be perfect, just cleaned (which i intended to do anyway)
a month later i received a letter demanding i pay for the extra two days and tub resurfacing. i sent a check and a letter explaining i was gladly paying for the two extra days but i would never pay for the tub resurfacing as i had made a best effort to clean it and i had left everything well maintained and clean
a couple months after that, i received a call from a bill collector demanding payment. i explained the entire situation to him and indicated i would not be paying anything as i had left the tub as clean as humanly possible. he indicated that this could go on my credit report. i responded that i wouldn't be threatened into paying money i didnt own. he was very polite but said it wasnt his decision
i checked my credit a few months later and nothing had shown up, but i found out recently that there is indeed now a claim on my credit for the resurfacing fee.
i don't want to settle (even that will show up on my credit). i want it gone. it should never have been there in the first place. this is basically a case of my word versus theirs. what recourse do i have in this situation? if i send letters to the credit reporting institutions, whose word do they believe? it seems unfair if the consumer is assumed to be in the wrong.
i don't think i have a copy of the original letter i was sent nor the letter that i sent in response... i do, strangely, still have a copy of the receipt showing my purchase of cleaning supplies the day i moved out. in contrast, they probably have a copy of the resurfacing bill. again, my word vs. theirs.
my feeling is that they probably pay to have the tubs and counters resurfaced after every tenant moves out, and they try to pass that cost on to the tenant as a policy to save money, assuming that most will cave and pay. im willing to spend a few hours to get this removed from my credit. beyond that, ill just leave it there. i will never pay them. what options do i have?
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