Post: #1

I left my hood apartment after my lease was up and moved to a better place with leads provided by el mechanico.

Now in the old apartment building, I found that my electric bill for the month of August was more than 200 dollars over my normal expenditure. My energy was the same or less as any other month and when I called TECO (Tampa Electric Company), they said the issue was due to faulty equipment (AC).

When I presented this to the housing management, the woman there feigned ignorance as usual. Following TECO's advice, I presented my monthly electric bills there from about Jan up to Aug to show my normal pattern of usage.

After speaking to the higher management, he said that there was a problem with the water heater and that the plumber stated I would have known this and that I would be taking the hit for the high electric bill.

I have submitted a complaint to freshfromflorida.com after not hearing back from the management company.

Question is, how do I get my money back for this incident that wasn't my fault?

Thanks,

Moma

Post: #2

Obvious solution is to send el mech after them.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #3

So basically you got stiffed on the electric bill because of leakage?

The problem is, how do you quantify this? How does the landlord know that this was a leakage problem, or you were just overloading that month mining bitcoins. This has to be proven somehow and until then the landlord will most likely not budge.

I am a landlord myself and often encounter these disputes. As a landlord I wouldn't budge on the utility bill unless there was a provision in the lease for leakages.

Your best bet would be to show the landlord your average utility bill over the course of the lease and request that he foot the bill for the over-run. If he refuses, then you are pretty much screwed.

One route would be a civil claim via the legal system. This will always result in a net loss of time and resources.

I'd suggest sinking the cost and moving on.

Post: #4

Forgive me if this comes across as overly blunt..BUT

Surely, the time you're spending trying to recover a measly 200 bucks would be better served earning more money?

Post: #5

(11-17-2014 05:49 AM)Russkie Dusha Wrote:  Forgive me if this comes across as overly blunt..BUT

Surely, the time you're spending trying to recover a measly 200 bucks would be better served earning more money?

So everytime you get conned, you will just say, let me earn more money?

Post: #6

I'm not so sure you were conned in this situation, entering a lease with a landlord comes with some risks, including accepting the property AS IS and dealing with all it's problems whilst the landlord takes care of the mortgage. That's the trade off.

If there's a leak and you didn't notice or report to have it fixed before you got the bill, tough shit, that's how it works.

You wanna live in hood apartment then these are things you're gonna face.

Post: #7

I see two options:

If you have an attorney friend have the attorney draft a letter. Sometimes a threat letter is enough.

Otherwise, small claims court, which will cost you 60-75 bucks.

Post: #8

Go back to your apartment and cause 200$ worth of damage, will it get you your money back? Probably not but you will feel much better

Post: #9

(11-17-2014 06:50 AM)Moma Wrote:  

(11-17-2014 05:49 AM)Russkie Dusha Wrote:  Forgive me if this comes across as overly blunt..BUT

Surely, the time you're spending trying to recover a measly 200 bucks would be better served earning more money?

So everytime you get conned, you will just say, let me earn more money?

That's not a con. Something in the place was drawing current and the bill is in your name.

Post: #10

Mechanico, I asked the apt building and they said that their water heater was malfunctioning. Is that in my name?

Post: #11

The water heater inside your apartment? Either way if the ac is drawing too much or whatever I don't think anyone will pay your power bill.