Oral agreement

Hi All,
I apologize for the long post that I am going to make.
My wife and I are having a problem with the management company of our apartment complex and need some advice. My wife and I have lived at this complex for about 2 years and have moved to different apartments within this complex. The apartment that we live in now, we had a lot of problems moving in due to the management of the complex. We spoke with the manager and she allowed us to move in and not charged us 3 days for the inconvenience. We all agree to this and at the time everything was okay.
Recently the new managers were going through their accounting books and they notice a discrepancy and that we didn't pay 3 days worth of rent. We told them that the previous manager had given us 3 days of free rent. The previous manager didn't write this down and we didn't get it in writting. Since we don't have proof that we have to pay this amount.
The previous manager no longer lives at the complex and doesn't work for the company and the local managers at the complex don't have a way of going a hold of her. I contacted the director of HR at the company headquarters and asked her to pass along a message that we are trying to get a hold of the previous manager. The director asked why and I told her briefly that we are having a problem the the management and we need the previous manager to verify some info. The director said that she wouldn't pass along the message because she didn't want the previous manager to get involved and that she will be acting on behalf of the company. I told the director that I should be the previous manager's choice and that she will not be acting on the company as long as she tells her that. Still she would not pass on the message. I am in the state of California.

Do I have any legal rights even though I didn't get it in writing? From what I understand that oral agreements are still binding.

Will it help me to continue to try to get in contact with the previous manager to see if she will verify this agreement?

Can I take legal action against the company due to the HR director not willing to pass on the message if a satisfactory resolution is not meet?

Again I apologize for the long post
Thanks,
Jeff

[HomeGuru]

How much money are we talking about here for just 3 days of rent?

[Cvillecpm]

Leave it alone. Next time, when dealing with on site mgmt which changes often, do a memo and ask them to sign it OR take a witness that you can produce if necessary in court.

I doubt they will get their noses out of joint for 3 days rent....just be warned that they don't make these kinds of notes - poor directions from upper management - and make them yourself in future.

Thanks for all the replies. The amount comes out to about $200.00. Unforunately my wife and I don't have alot of money so we really need the money.

Would it help for me to try to contact the previous manager even though she doesn't work for them anymore?