Landlord trying to scam me or some sort of mistake

[Ksandra]

You said you have an image of your check available online? Double-check that image and make sure you wrote five hundred fifty (not forty) five on the write-out line.

Technically, the written-out portion of a check you issue is the legally binding amount, not the numerical amount you put on the check. Its entirely possible a new-guy bank teller somewhere didn't know any better and you actually do owe 10 bucks.

Otherwse, yeah, dunno where you'd owe ten bucks, though it seems to be a trivial amount. I understand the principle thing though - ask your landlord to tell you exactly where you'd owe this money as part of the terms of your lease.

I did this once on accident so ya check the past few months checks (they might not have caught it right away)

Very politely ask your landlord about it. 10 bucks isn't worth getting kicked out over.

Also this^ it could be something your forgetting and it might not be them trying to scam you. ask politely because they may not be trying to scam you, it could be just an accident.

[LinktheDeme]

Well the thing is the way this place operates I never mentioned too is that you pay rent 3 months in advance before you move into that apartment. So the apartment I live in with the same landlord is fully paid off already. The rent payment was essentially a pre-payment(Not considered that way for billing purposes) for next year's rent (I can move in the summer). It sucked last year because I had to pay two rents at once(because I had a different landlord) and getting by for those three months was not exactly fun.


edit: Thanks Jerhyn I didn't even think about that. The amount that was written on the line and the amount that was taken out was indeed $555.00


edit 2: My general plan was to go in politely say I think there has been some sort of mistake and explain the situation. I just wanted to cover my bases unless they weren't really cooperative and wanted to really press getting that $10.00. I really appreciate all the input thanks everyone.

[LinktheDeme]

Just thought I'd give an update, when I called they tried to attribute the $10 to me being $10 short on a $300 security deposit. I stated that it was on a check and the amount was for $300 and there was no logical reason for me to pay $10 less if I was issuing a check and stated that I see the check I wrote currently online (I really didn't though as it was over 5 months and chase doesn't let you go that far back, but I was 99.9% sure I paid it in full as its my parents money not mine <_<).

Then they went into the records and stated the check number and etc and then said it was a $10 application fee that was never paid for filling out the lease. Now Im pretty sure I paid that (again parent's money I'm a spoiled white kid) and I paid in cash because I remember not wanting to write a check for only $10. (My mistake)


At this point it isn't worth the hassle as I can't prove that I paid the $10 and any further inquiry isn't worth the effort of $10 as I've already spent way too much time on this issue for $10 than I should have.


Thank you again everyone for your input I really appreciate all the help everyone has offered

[Jeryhn]

Then they went into the records and stated the check number and etc and then said it was a $10 application fee that was never paid for filling out the lease. Now Im pretty sure I paid that (again parent's money I'm a spoiled white kid) and I paid in cash because I remember not wanting to write a check for only $10. (My mistake)

One of the first lessons in life you'll have the opportunity to experience:

When it comes to important contractual obligations like rent, security deposits or even application fees, DO NOT USE CASH.
Check or card is okay. You're also pretty lucky that it was only $10 you got called out for - a guy I know got scammed out of $75 application fees for his apartment when he was dumb enough to pay in cash.

Also, get those checks with the little carbon backings too. Sure, its annoying fitting it into your checkbook slots or whatever, but its infinitely more satisfying to produce an old checkbook that shows a guy that $10 check you wrote to a landlord to prove you don't owe the money.

[Valisk]

It's bullshit that they bring this up 5 months after the fact. And you not having a paper trail puts the burden on you. I'm assuming you didn't have them write you a receipt for the application fee? I wouldn't be surprised if they pull that scam on everyone who pays cash for something. Wait a few months then drop it on them. Them having 5 months to get the books straight and then "realize" that you didn't pay $10 five months ago seems shady. I know it's only $10 but if they pull that on every tenant at least once during the term of a lease, their looking at an extra 5-10 grand (depending on number of tenants) to line their pockets with. I guess that's where the Christmas bonuses come from...

[tyven]

yo i wish i had a 5 day grace period

i get paid on the 30th and its like BAM 1900 due on the first or the penalties start building. shit is not cash

[Jeryhn]

Well, for you, it is not cash.

I'm pretty sure your landlord is rolling in it though

[Serra]

I don't know where you live, and I might be assuming too much (so apologies if that's the case and this is all irrelevant), but based on the info you've provided, it sounds like you're a student in college. If so, you might want to mention this to your school's legal department. Apartment complexes that are typically targeted towards students are infamous for trying to exploit their inexperience (speaking from experience and the fact that there's a huge lawsuit against the big property management companies in the town I live in now). If they have screwed enough people over, student legal services might be able to do something about it.