What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA
We have a dispute for $60 only which we paid to screening fees with a management company.
We applied for tenancy and they asked earnest money of $300 and screening fees of $60.
After we paid this we asked for draft of lease agreement that we are suppose to sign mainly because they are charging $300 earnest money.
Earnest money is for their protection, in case we change our mind and decide not to rent they would not refund earnest money and it will be forfeited.
And manager got irritated with that and she said you are a trouble and we are not renting it to you, you can pick up your refund of $300 earnest money today but we will not refund screening fees.
We went to better business bureau for resolution, manager said in her written response that $60 will be refunded, but they did not so we went to prepaid legal lawyer and property management company's owner lied in their written response saying ' we did not reject them and that we decided not to rent from them '(it is not true and proof is they refunded us earnest money which could be forfeited if we decided not to rent)
We wrote to attorney general's office but same saga,
Now we are thinking of going to Small Claims court and my question is ' if we don't hire a lawyer and represent the case ourselves than can we ask for 'damages' towards our time and energy spent in this process? it has been a year we are struggling to get 60$ but no luck yet and of course it has take a lot of time in writing complains and more.
Also in case they win can they ask for damages for their lawyers fees?could our case be considered groundless?(no basis in fact or in law?)What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
We have a dispute for $60 only which we paid to screening fees with a management company.
We applied for tenancy and they asked earnest money of $300 and screening fees of $60.
After we paid this we asked for draft of lease agreement that we are suppose to sign mainly because they are charging $300 earnest money.
Earnest money is for their protection, in case we change our mind and decide not to rent they would not refund earnest money and it will be forfeited.
And manager got irritated with that and she said you are a trouble and we are not renting it to you, you can pick up your refund of $300 earnest money today but we will not refund screening fees.
We went to better business bureau for resolution, manager said in her written response that $60 will be refunded, but they did not so we went to prepaid legal lawyer and property management company's owner lied in their written response saying ' we did not reject them and that we decided not to rent from them '(it is not true and proof is they refunded us earnest money which could be forfeited if we decided not to rent)
We wrote to attorney general's office but same saga,
Now we are thinking of going to Small Claims court and my question is ' if we don't hire a lawyer and represent the case ourselves than can we ask for 'damages' towards our time and energy spent in this process? it has been a year we are struggling to get 60$ but no luck yet and of course it has take a lot of time in writing complains and more.
Also in case they win can they ask for damages for their lawyers fees?could our case be considered groundless?(no basis in fact or in law?)What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
