Comments | nuos: "We regret to inform you of some very good news..."

nuos

"We regret to inform you of some very good news..."

Dec 02, 2007 11:54

Well, this is interesting. I just got home from my weekly hike with Dave. As I stepped out of the car, I mentioned possibly moving out of my apartment due to a potential rent increase. Well, I just checked the mail, and have now found myself in the sort of dilemma that only *I* ever end up in ( Read more... )

Comments 11

cirruspaxton December 3 2007, 03:55:37 UTC

Make a copy of this letter and file it away. Buy nice things.

nuos December 3 2007, 04:16:34 UTC

Yeah, that's what I'm leaning towards. My dad suggests having it notarized to try and seal the deal, but I'm afraid that will just draw suspicion (since it doesn't need notarized).

cirruspaxton December 3 2007, 11:31:34 UTC

Notarize something else that doesn't need notarized, then, and keep it in the same place. That will be the kind of pattern of evidence that will convince Judge Judy.

I'm kidding. You received a document that states that your rent went down. It's not insane to just think that you are being offered a good rate because you are a good tenant, haven't caused trouble, have paid on time, etc. Hell, it might even be true. More likely it's a mistake, but it's not completely unheard of.

nuos December 3 2007, 15:45:17 UTC

Well, I know it's a mistake because they have my current rent listed wrong. I think they have the rates for a one bedroom on there, but I'm a two bedroom. I was thinking of making a copy, signing both, and notarizing the copy, while sending in the original. I figure that should appease judge judy.

wurtlesworld December 3 2007, 12:44:51 UTC

I agree with everyone else. They sent you a document from them (I'm assuming it's on their letterhead or a form with their logo or something? Is it signed?). What they sent you is essentially a contract addendum for your lease. Sign it, make a copy, and send it back. If it's anything like the papers I've signed in the past to extend my leases, then it most likely has a year-long term, but even if they do catch their mistake and change it sooner than that, they shouldn't be able to charge you anything to make up for what you underpaid in the interim.

It's kind of like the difference between deliberately stealing cable or simply choosing not to tell the cable company that you've discovered that you're getting more channels than you're paying for.

nuos December 3 2007, 15:47:41 UTC

Yeah, it's in their letterhead and all, but it's not signed. It doesn't seem to be a yearly thing or anything, it just says, "We reserve the right to raise your rent whenever we see fit." So, whenever they do catch the mistake, they can just immediately raise it to what it's supposed to be. What I'm hoping is that it won't be retroactive, as you said (it shouldn't be, but I'm no lawyer, so who knows...)

wurtlesworld December 3 2007, 16:56:57 UTC

Maybe the safest bet would be to pay the new amount and put the difference in a savings account just in case. Then if they do realize their mistake and it is retroactive, you've got the money. But if you move out later and that money's still in the account, it would be yours.

Or, of course the honest thing would be to go ahead and tell them about their mistake, and might feel better than all of the wondering and waiting to see if they come after you retroactively (and do you think you would feel guilty in a situation like this?).

nuos December 4 2007, 03:44:30 UTC

Your first suggestion is what I'm starting to lean towards. I'd love to just throw that extra $100 at my school loan every month, but if they find a way to screw me over, I'll be in serious trouble if I have no money to my name. I'm thinking I can just save it up until I permanently part ways with them, and then throw the whole lump at some debt.

Your second suggestion is right out, as would it be with most ;) And to answer that last question: yes, I would feel guilty about it.... if it killed thousands of innocent people and made the planet smell like rotting bananas.

Thread 5

demonofelru December 4 2007, 00:55:51 UTC

They put it in writing, so you could fuck em pretty hard. It's possible that your new low rent check might set off some alarm bells when they receive it, and they will correct the mistakes. There's no way that they can legally come back on you for money later though. You've got nothing to lose really. Gratz.

nuos December 4 2007, 03:40:19 UTC

Yeah, I reread my lease when I got home from work, and I see nothing that would indicate that they could retrorape me on this latest mistake. There is a paragraph that seems to indicate that they could get me on the first mistake they made though (the one that I've been 'sploiting thus far). Hopefully they'll just never notice that one.