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Misquote on private mailbox rental

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Billlegal

Guest
What is the name of your state? Maryland.

This morning I called a company which will remain nameless, to find out how much it would cost to rent a small mailbox for 1 year. I was quoted the rate of $52.50 for one year's rental.

I drove out to said nameless company, filled out all the paperwork to obtain a box for a year, paid my $52.50 and left with my brand-new mailbox key.

Just as I pulled into the driveway, I got a call from the owner of the franchise. Seems his employee made a terrible mistake, and they wouldn't be able to rent me the mailbox for a year at the price I paid. Nope, they wanted an additional $110.00. Under no circumstances would they honor their commitment.

My choices were:

1) Keep the box, and get hit with additional rental fees (and who knows how much higher those would have gone, since they're incapable of properly quoting it to the nearest $100.00).

2) Drive back out there, turn in my key and get a refund.

I picked Choice 2. After the long, drawn-out processing of the refund, the co-owner asked if she could have my copy of the contract. "Absolutely not," I replied.

Longshot question: Since this business low-balled their quote, wasted my time, and didn't honor their agreement, I'd like to take them to small claims court. I'd seek the amount necessary to rent a mailbox elsewhere (less $52.50).

Constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 


stephenk

Senior Member
first get quotes from other po box rental places to see if any are close to the $52.50 you were quoted.

A small claims judge may not let you take advantage of an obvious mistake if all your other quotes are in the $150 range.
 
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utahbabe

Guest
You seem like an inteligent person. Do you really think it's worth all the time and stress to take this to court? I know my time would be worth more doing other things than wasting it on this.
 
B

Billlegal

Guest
stephenk said:
first get quotes from other po box rental places to see if any are close to the $52.50 you were quoted.

A small claims judge may not let you take advantage of an obvious mistake if all your other quotes are in the $150 range.
Just wanted to thank you for this. I'm now exploring the doctrine of mistake ("riveting reading," he said insincerely) and was actually masochistic enough to read a small chunk of Corbin on Contracts.

Even if I decide not to pursue it, I will have profited by learning.
 

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