Wheres my rent check!?! Updated Daily!

[SagaLore]

Like everyone already said, don't send another check.

Maybe you shouldn't send these as early as you are, if you're going to just postdate it.


Way back in college, my girlfriend at the time also had a flaky landlord. Her other roommates also had problems with the landlord saying they didn't pay, so they would have to waste time proving they did. With my girlfriend it got really messy once - the landlord was just hoarding the checks in her desk and tried to cash them all at once after about 6 months. Since she wasn't very good at keeping an exact account balance yet, a bunch of them bounced.

 

[LookBehindYou]

That's a horse of a different color.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Log into your bank stuff and take a screenshot of his signature on the check, and email that to him.

I did all of that already. He admits that it is his signature and his account number. He still claims that its not in any of his accounts.

Tell him you talked to your bank but they said the check cleared and they've already transferred the money to his bank so he needs to talk to his bank to see where it went on their end.

I called and spoke to the bank already and they said I have to go to the branch to get it straightened out.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Like everyone already said, don't send another check.

Maybe you shouldn't send these as early as you are, if you're going to just postdate it.

I'm not sending anything. I told him I'll go to the bank at my convenience and then to the police station. If there are any fees associated with it he already said he will pay them. Its just a big waste of time to do this.

I'm going to tell him I'm not mailing the checks anymore. He can come here on a day that we schedule each month and pick up the rent.

 

[gorcorps]

For rent this is still really common. Why would this even be a question?

Because a lot of business use online payments of some type or another. The last 2 apartments I've had are online payments, and my buddy rents a house from a guy and pays w/ paypal.

 

[mvbighead]

If he is denying he received the check, given these facts, then yeah I think he's lying. Time to either get a new LL or at least start paying in cash.

Yeah... that sounds like a great idea...

You - Hey LL, I gave you cash.
LL - No you didn't.
You - Uh, yes, I did.
LL - Proof?

I suppose you could hand deliver cash, and get a written receipt, but that would be one helluva inconvenience.

My brother has a tenant, and I believe he had something setup so they could simply direct deposit the payment into his account (a separate account just for the rent checks). Then just transfer the money to a primary account. Not sure if it's worth looking into from the OP.

In any case, probably don't want to go making any ultimatums with the LL unless you have a backup plan for a place to live. Not to say they have all the power, but piss the guy off and chances are he'll do what he can to encourage you to leave.

 

[LurkerPrime]

You have proof that he cashed the check and you sent that too him. If he keeps bothering you, just text him that he can feel free to come over and discuss the issue with you and the police.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Yeah... that sounds like a great idea...

You - Hey LL, I gave you cash.
LL - No you didn't.
You - Uh, yes, I did.
LL - Proof?

I'd pay with a cashier's or bank check. Theres no way I'd ever pay cash

 

[theevilsharpie]

I did all of that already. He admits that it is his signature and his account number. He still claims that its not in any of his accounts.

Wow.

 

[manimal]

Start mailing him the check via certified mail or like mentioned earlier fed ex.

 

[Pantoot]

I told him I'll go to the bank at my convenience and then to the police station.

I really am interested to see how you think the visit to the police station would go down. Best case, what action do you see the police taking?

 

[Ketchup]

Yeah... that sounds like a great idea...

You - Hey LL, I gave you cash.
LL - No you didn't.
You - Uh, yes, I did.
LL - Proof?

Sorry I didn't spell it out, but yeah, a figured a receipt was implied when paying with cash. When mailing a check, no receipt. Cash would be inconvenient, but it would keep stuff like this from happening.

 

[TangoJuliet]

I really am interested to see how you think the visit to the police station would go down. Best case, what action do you see the police taking?

There is some sort of fraud going on. Really my end of this transaction is done as far as I'm concerned. It was mailed early, the LL admitted to trying to cash it, the check is signed and has his account # on it.

I'll assist the police in finding who deposited this check. Not sure how it could have been deposited to any place other then the account number on the check.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

There is some sort of fraud going on. Really my end of this transaction is done as far as I'm concerned. It was mailed early, the LL admitted to trying to cash it, the check is signed and has his account # on it.

I'll assist the police in finding who deposited this check. Not sure how it could have been deposited to any place other then the account number on the check.

It sort of sounds to me like his wife got a hold of the check and tried to cash it, and he's passing that blame onto you. In a sense he may be correct..... If the check was stolen out of his box and cashed by a thief you would have to go through your bank to recoup anything.

 

[Modelworks]

The first tip off for me that someone was not being truthful is the bank refusing to cash a check with the wrong date. You can put 2013 for the year on a check and the banks will still cash it as the date has no effect on whether the check is valid, the scanners that process checks don't even check it. They check account number, signature, payee that is it. Postdating of checks to prevent early cashing died out long ago.

 

[TangoJuliet]

It sort of sounds to me like his wife got a hold of the check and tried to cash it, and he's passing that blame onto you. In a sense he may be correct..... If the check was stolen out of his box and cashed by a thief you would have to go through your bank to recoup anything.

Here's the thing...he sent me the first message a couple days ago saying he never got it. Then today tells me his wife tried to cash it 2/29. Obviously he was in possession of it prior to the 29th because it has HIS signature on it.

If it was stolen then that's something he would need to take care of and not me

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Here's the thing...he sent me the first message a couple days ago saying he never got it. Then today tells me his wife tried to cash it 2/29. Obviously he was in possession of it prior to the 29th because it has HIS signature on it.

If it was stolen then that's something he would need to take care of and not me

I mean stolen by his wife.. She pulls the check from box and doesn't tell him. She tries to cash it and doesn't tell him.

He goes to you because he never saw it, and tells you so... Then finds out through wifey that she tried to cash it and she tells him it didn't work because of the date, meanwhile she's on a shopping spree with your rent check.

That signature is just a couple scribbles, it's very possible it's something she did. If you're a good tenant it's unlikely that he's trying to screw you.

 

[TangoJuliet]

That signature is just a couple scribbles, it's very possible it's something she did. If you're a good tenant it's unlikely that he's trying to screw you.

Thats his signature though. I have about 10 examples of his signature and they are all the same. If his wife cashed it and didn't tell him then thats his problem and not mine. Like I said as far as I'm concerned I am done with this. If he needs help from the police I can assist him.

My rent check was admitted that it was in his or her possession on 2/29. The check was cleared on 3/6. Both dates are prior to when my rent check would be considered late 3/10.

 

[darkxshade]

He admits he had the check
You have proof it's been cleared with his sig
Where the money is at this point is moot because if it's lost/stolen, he let it happen with your check that he had in his posession so it's his problem now. And considering what a douche he was about it, mention you charge an inconvenience fee if you have to even lift a finger to help resolve this issue by going to your branch.

 

[sourceninja]

I did all of that already. He admits that it is his signature and his account number. He still claims that its not in any of his accounts.

At this point it is no longer your problem. It's his bank's problem. You paid, the deal is done.

 

[kranky]

I did all of that already. He admits that it is his signature and his account number. He still claims that its not in any of his accounts.

I know I'm repeating what's already been said but this is easy. He signed the check, it cleared your bank, explain that there is not a single thing YOU can do about it. YOUR bank can't possibly tell you what happened at HIS bank. Email him pix of both sides of the check, so he can go to HIS bank and have them investigate. Say that if his bank needs you to be involved, you will assist. That's all you can do.

If it turns out the check went into a different account at his bank then they can address it and they won't need you to do anything.

If it turns out that his bank says the check was never deposited there then you can see what your bank can find out.

 

[Phoenix86]

Where the money goes after he cashed the check is not your responsibility.

I have no idea why you are doing anything for this tard beyond verifying he cashed the check. Provide him the copy of the signed check and tell him to pound sand.

 

[TangoJuliet]

I know I'm repeating what's already been said but this is easy. He signed the check, it cleared your bank, explain that there is not a single thing YOU can do about it. YOUR bank can't possibly tell you what happened at HIS bank. Email him pix of both sides of the check, so he can go to HIS bank and have them investigate. Say that if his bank needs you to be involved, you will assist. That's all you can do.

If it turns out the check went into a different account at his bank then they can address it and they won't need you to do anything.

If it turns out that his bank says the check was never deposited there then you can see what your bank can find out.

This is what he messaged to me

"According to my bank, your bank holds all of the ability to do anything. They can see where it was deposited and into what account and get it back. Once we find out who deposited the check we can talk about pressing charges if the bank doesnt do it automatically.
Being in banking for 5 years I would guess they would and just assume let them deal with all that."

I told him I'll call my bank tomorrow to see where it was deposited to. Thats pretty much as far as I'm going. I told him in the future he can make arrangements to come to the house to get his rent. He tells me he's coming the 1st of every month. I said no, we'll make an arrangement for a date between the 1st and 10th of each month.

He then sends me this

"Well be up there Sunday to see the progress of the house (they are buying a new house in the area). I can pickup march check then."

I replied

"No, I'm not giving you another check until this is straightened out. I dont have another $2500 to pay".

Seriously its been 9 months of shit like this over and over. We haven't told him but we are in the process of buying a house. I can't wait to see the look on his face when we say PEACE OUT. We retained a lawyer and have enough information to break the lease.

 

[xBiffx]

I doubt the police will do much for you as far as the LL goes. This sounds like a civil matter and nothing criminal can be proven as far as the LL goes, yet. As far as the police and the bank, yes that's another matter. They will investigate the fraud issue but I doubt they will get involved with the back and forth with your LL. Main point, don't rely on the police to get you out of this.

I know I wouldn't treat my tenants this way and if there were any issues they could also come to me and we would be open about it. Be sure of one thing, go over your lease with a fine tooth comb and make sure you are following it from your end. Also, make sure the LL is following it from his end too. When it comes down to it, that document is the biggest protection either of you have when shit hits the fan.

Good luck and congrats on the house.

 

[Slew Foot]

Sounds like you need to pour some concrete down the toilet when you leave.