Missed one month rent and court fee

[anything]

We never receive any rent bill ever since we moved in our apartment, and as a result, we missed one rent payment on Feb after we moved in for more than one year. :(

And then, we made the payment of both Feb and Mar on the 2nd of March right after we received the notice. Depsite that, the management office filed a lowsuit for the late payment on March 9th (after they received the check and deposited it). And now we are asked to pay the court fee even if the case is cancelled. :( I tried the reasoning with them, but this lady at the management office got this attitude that like I personally offended her or what... jeez...

Does anyone know whether there is anything we can do about it? thanks.

[PHXguy]

I would refer back to the leasing agreement and find out what your responsibilities are as respects late payment. If you find something not according to what the management is currently demanding, you may argue. Otherwise, just follow what has been agreed to.

[LostinLaMancha]

I think you should be responsible for a late fee ( usually between 25-75, 25 at my old place, 75 at Avalon). If you haven't paid the rent on time, you should receive a notice ( The management at Avalon for certain reasons did not have our first months rent in record, so they sent us a notice, nothing like a court case or anything, when we showed them a copy of the cheque, they just applied it towards my rent)

Read your lease. You shouldn't be responsible for the court fee.

And i suppose you should be more careful with the rent. I mean, its another thing to miss the 5 days/ first week deadline. but to not pay at all it simply negligence.

[yankees400]

We never receive any rent bill ever since we moved in our apartment, and as a result, we missed one rent payment on Feb after we moved in for more than one year. :(

You know you have to pay rent each month, so you should have been more responsible and proactive when you didn't get the bill. Did you even try calling anyone within the first couple days after you didn't get the bill? I hate to say it but I think this one is your fault.

[Lala]

Though it was your fault not paying the rent on time, it's still nasty of them to file a lawsuit after receiving your payment. You should try to speak with the manager in person. She might give you a break. How much was the court fee anyway?

[anything]

The court fee is around $120.
Is there any specific person in the management office that we should contact? I tried to call the office today and it seems that they are not giving much room to talk about it. Someone even directly hang up on me... :confused:

[wishiwas]

Who receives monthly rent bills?

We don't at the Marbella.

And there is a 10% late fee. Thankfully, I've never paid late.

[bonacera]

It is very nasty of them to file a suit without trying to resolve the problem by talking to you first. :eek:

I had a similar experience that they did not send me any bill, then I went to the management office and dropped my cheque.

Whenever I told the management that I did not receive the bill, they responded as if it was not their problem and they acted as if they did not understand why I complained since I could drop the cheque in the office. It happened to me many months even after several complaints. Such a bad management. VERY BAD!!!!!

[LostinLaMancha]

Whenever I told the management that I did not receive the bill, they responded as if it was not their problem and they acted as if they did not understand why I complained since I could drop the cheque in the office. It happened to me many months even after several complaints. Such a bad management. VERY BAD!!!!!


But if one knows that the rent is due at the beginning of the month, and you can just drop the cheque at the management office, why not do that? Why wait for the bill ? i dont see the point. you know you have to pay the rent. why not drop the cheque anyway.

[bonacera]

It is because I don't want to go to the management office. I have to put extra effort to go there. Mailing a cheque is so much easier. Besides, why do they bill at all then? Why does RCN bill every month? RCN charge me the same amount of money all the time.

While it's true that we have the obligation to pay, why are you making excuses for management NOT to do their job?

Besides, don't you live in Marbella? I don't know whether Marbella management send you a bill every month, and I don't know whether you are suppose to drop the cheque in the office in Marbella.

However, things are different in TOA. TOA management always has been sending bills to all the tenants every month, and the tenants are suppose to mail the cheque. I had never dropped the cheque in the office for more than a year before they did not send me a bill.

Also, I must point out that there was a month my bill showed "0" balance because of a free month promotion, and there were months that the amount of the rent was different due to my special arrangement with the office. When they did not send me a bill was one of those months that I actually had to check with the management office how much money I actually had to pay. See? It is not as simple as you think, is it? Do you see the point now? ;)

[zipbow]

...

However, things are different in TOA. TOA management always has been sending bills to all the tenants every month, and the tenants are suppose to mail the cheque. I had never dropped the cheque in the office for more than a year before they did not send me a bill.

...

Is that for real? I didn't know we were supposed to mail the cheque...
I've been dropping my check off at the management office ever since I moved in last year! :eek:

It's definitely a lot easier if I could just mail it... although that means I'll have to buy stamps every now and then... (yes I'm THAT lazy :cool: )

[LostinLaMancha]

It is because I don't want to go to the management office. I have to put extra effort to go there. Mailing a cheque is so much easier. Besides, why do they bill at all then? Why does RCN bill every month? RCN charge me the same amount of money all the time.

While it's true that we have the obligation to pay, why are you making excuses for management NOT to do their job?

Besides, don't you live in Marbella? I don't know whether Marbella management send you a bill every month, and I don't know whether you are suppose to drop the cheque in the office in Marbella.

However, things are different in TOA. TOA management always has been sending bills to all the tenants every month, and the tenants are suppose to mail the cheque. I had never dropped the cheque in the office for more than a year before they did not send me a bill.



The point is not whether the management sent you the bill or not. The point is, you are responsible for the payment of rent on time. Non receipt of the bill would not be a reason, for if it were, people would say that they never received their bills and wouldn't have to pay the fines. For if that were the case, all the bills would've been sent with Certified Post.

Anyhow, i see your reasons, just don't understand how someone could forget to pay the rent for an entire month. Doesn't it show up in your bank account?

[Joe]

To Anything,
This management office is notoriously eager to steal your money any which way they can. I won't admonish you for not paying your rent because I can relate. As for the legal fee... unfortunately you will have to pay it. There is no getting around it. I have gotten it twice. The first time, my mistake. So I paid it.

The second time, their mistake. I called the office and asked how much rent was due (mine changes because I pay a little more each time for those that want to jump down my throat for not knowing my rent). The lady said their systems were down and to call back on Monday. I specifically told her I would send my check in on Monday and not to file legal action (same "canine" you got that has an attitude). She said she would make a note of it.

On the Tuesday, I gave my check in to the management office. 2 days later I got a letter for legal action dated the 1st of the month. They had FILED the paper ON the day it was due. Why would you think they did that? So they can have steady income for their lawyers and find unique ways of taking as much money as they can by providing as little service they can.

I would move if I could find a place more convenient to the city. But since I can't, I stay here. Worthless management and all.

[tjmax]

On the Tuesday, I gave my check in to the management office. 2 days later I got a letter for legal action dated the 1st of the month. They had FILED the paper ON the day it was due. Why would you think they did that? So they can have steady income for their lawyers and find unique ways of taking as much money as they can by providing as little service they can.


They did that on the 1st? Are you sure? I usually leave my rent check with my doorman on the 1st or 2nd... so far no problems, but if what you say is true, then I might need to start paying more attention to this.

Thankfully, I shall be moving out soon without completing my lease term - I really think the management office people need some classes on polite behavior and customer service. My wife went to complain abt roaches in our apartment yesterday and the woman at the mgmt office was extremely rude. :mad:

[bonacera]

Is that for real? I didn't know we were supposed to mail the cheque...
I've been dropping my check off at the management office ever since I moved in last year! :eek:

It's definitely a lot easier if I could just mail it... although that means I'll have to buy stamps every now and then... (yes I'm THAT lazy :cool: )
Yes, it is real. When the management gives you the bill each month, it also includes a return envelop on which there is Hartford, CT address. And the bill says, "Please remember to remit your rent in the envelop provided. Also include the bottom portion of your rent statement."

Here is my tip that will able you to mail a cheque without buying a stamp.

I use Citibank's online bill payment. Each month, I go online and authorize the amount of payment for each payee on a certain date. (In other words, I have a control over what date the bank should send a cheque.) Then the bank sends a cheque to a payee on the date I specified.

Anyway, I found it very convenient. It is almost as if you have a personal secretary who writes a cheque and mails it for you.

I believe almost every bank has this kind of service, not just Citibank; so try it.

Oh, once in the beginning, you have to add a payee though, and you need the name and the address of the payee.
:)