Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Missouri

Unfair collection after leaving month to month lease

Several years ago we were asked to pay or leave our apartment by the new owners when we couldn�t pay rent. We should have gotten that in writing but, we left a note that we decided to leave. We were on a month to month with the previous owners and never signed a lease with the new owner. We received a collection notice that we owed for nine months plus cleaning fees and collection charges. I called the collectors and said it was illegal to charge that much and our security deposit hadn't been applied either. They agreed and wanted a lump sum amount but cut contact.

Now a credit report shows a collection amount of 5388.75 and the collectors respond that it is legal for them to report this amount even if not correct unless it went to court because we signed a lease until 2000. We never signed a lease with this new owner and when I asked for a copy of the lease I received only a tenant payment ledger with a three-year gap that jumped from the deposit in 96 straight to the takeover date in 1999. They don't have a lease and that they didn't use our security deposit toward any of this. Now they say they will sue for the entire amount of $5388.75 if we don't give them $800 by November 30th. What can we do in this situation?


Asked on 11/21/03, 11:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael R. Nack Michael R. Nack, Attorney at Law

Re: Unfair collection after leaving month to month lease

First, hire an attoney to represent you. The attorney will need to see any lease that you ever signed for this apartment to see what is says about renewal. The attorney will also advise you about contacting the credit bureaus in an effort to clean up the damage to your credit. Then, if you are in the right, the attorney may advise you to wait and defend any collection law suit, or possibly the attorney will advise you to take the offensive and sue the landlord and/or collector. Good luck!

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Answered on 11/21/03, 11:54 pm


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