How do I get my money back?

October 7, 2008 3:01 PM

I lived in a pretty crummy apartment for about three months with six other people. It was a pretty informal situation, no lease, people move in and people move out. The person moving in pays their deposit to the person moving out. Only, I didn't get my deposit back. What resort do I have?

In an apartment that is so crowded someone is usually elected (or self-appointed) to collect the rent and send it to the landlord, and do other "responsible" stuff like looking for new roommates. Only, the person who found my replacement had them make out their deposit check to himself, instead of me. He tells me he had hit a rough spot, but he had a big commission check coming in so he would pay me my $450 in no time. And so goes the story, over and over again. It's been a year and a half now, and for a time I had pretty much given up on getting my money, but now I've gotten fired up about the situation again and I'm wondering what options I have aside from harassing him and threatening him. I heard from others that he had a raging drug habit and he definitely has the look.

What have you mighty MeFites?

posted by mockdeep to Human Relations (7 answers total)

Where are you? You might be able to sue him in small claims court. But you think you're going to collect $450 from a deadbeat with a "drug habit?" I'd cut my losses, personally.
posted by grouse at 3:16 PM on October 7, 2008

That's $450 worth of premium experience you've got yourself there.
posted by pompomtom at 3:23 PM on October 7, 2008 [3 favorites]

You can't squeeze blood from a stone. Probably the simplest thing to do at the time would have been to call the police and let them guilt him into giving you your cheque.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:42 PM on October 7, 2008

Pretty cheap education. Some people pay thousands for similar experiences.
posted by trinity8-director at 3:44 PM on October 7, 2008

How is that money even considered a deposit? A deposit is returnable. What you have going is a transfer. What is the point?
posted by reeddavid at 4:00 PM on October 7, 2008

Best answer: Yeah, you're not getting any money back. Look, people who do this kind of thing end up leading shitty lives, they get caught out too many times, and in the end $450 way back when is gonna mean nothing to you. So forget it and be glad.
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:04 PM on October 7, 2008

Response by poster: Oh, well. I figured that was the case. Cincinnatus c, you pretty much summed up my outlook on the matter. Thanks, all.
posted by mockdeep at 1:08 PM on October 8, 2008