mysticpenguin
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? The 'crime' was committed in Texas. I am now in Montana.
I will try to be as brief as possible and thank everyone for all their help in advance.
Earlier this year I sub-leased a room in a house from someone we'll call Mike. We signed a month-to-month contract, and Mike asked for a security deposit, which I gave him. I have a signed and witnessed receipt of the security deposit.
Due to his own financial problems, Mike couldn't afford to continue living in the house and without regard for me (I am a military wife and was 2,100 miles from friends and family) told the property manager he and my husband and I would vacate the property within 2 days.
Long story short -- it came out that he used my security deposit to pay his own past due rent when hubby and I moved in. I called the police and have another witnessed statement (by 2 policemen) that he admitted to owing me the security deposit.
For over a month I hounded Mike -- he eventually gave me $20 in cash (nowhere near the value of the deposit -- would have asked for the full amount but he left it under my windshield, being a typical coward).
My husband and I got orders up here to Montana, at which point I told Mike he could give me the balance or I'd contact an attorney. He wrote me a post-dated check for the balance...post-dated for 1 day after we were due to arrive in Montana. I warned him that if it bounced he would be guilty of theft by check and that I'd sue.
Well -- it bounced.
Now, he has told me he has no intention to pay me.
My question is, where do I go from here???? I know he legally owes me this money -- I never damaged the property at all, never was late on rent, etc., and he has admitted several times to owing me the money -- the memo line on the bad check is "balance of security deposit owed"!!!!! Now how do I force him to pay up??? Especially from 2,000 miles away??
(Yes, I know I'm a grade-A DUMMY for letting him write me a postdated check.)
Help
I will try to be as brief as possible and thank everyone for all their help in advance.
Earlier this year I sub-leased a room in a house from someone we'll call Mike. We signed a month-to-month contract, and Mike asked for a security deposit, which I gave him. I have a signed and witnessed receipt of the security deposit.
Due to his own financial problems, Mike couldn't afford to continue living in the house and without regard for me (I am a military wife and was 2,100 miles from friends and family) told the property manager he and my husband and I would vacate the property within 2 days.
Long story short -- it came out that he used my security deposit to pay his own past due rent when hubby and I moved in. I called the police and have another witnessed statement (by 2 policemen) that he admitted to owing me the security deposit.
For over a month I hounded Mike -- he eventually gave me $20 in cash (nowhere near the value of the deposit -- would have asked for the full amount but he left it under my windshield, being a typical coward).
My husband and I got orders up here to Montana, at which point I told Mike he could give me the balance or I'd contact an attorney. He wrote me a post-dated check for the balance...post-dated for 1 day after we were due to arrive in Montana. I warned him that if it bounced he would be guilty of theft by check and that I'd sue.
Well -- it bounced.
Now, he has told me he has no intention to pay me.
My question is, where do I go from here???? I know he legally owes me this money -- I never damaged the property at all, never was late on rent, etc., and he has admitted several times to owing me the money -- the memo line on the bad check is "balance of security deposit owed"!!!!! Now how do I force him to pay up??? Especially from 2,000 miles away??
(Yes, I know I'm a grade-A DUMMY for letting him write me a postdated check.)
Help