lease

[rj1651]

My friend is a single mother and has 4 girls that she take care of with the help of goverment aid.About a few years ago her rent went up in her apartment and she was given a 3 day notice here in sacramento,ca,so she left on the 3rd day.Well her rent went up in this apartment and she is tring to move in anothe place but her former lanlord put a $1400.00 bill on her credit report and it is stopping her from getting a new place.My question is if she moved out within three days why did the put that on her report?The lease was not broken.

 

[LL]

Your friend should get a copy of her own credit report and read it. If there is a $1400 derogatory report, the credit report will give the name, address and telephone number of the person or organization that submitted that report. She should then contact that submitter asking for an explanation of the charges.

Possible reasons for the charges are:

1. Even though she left before the expiration of the 3 days, that doesn't mean that the rent which she failed to pay was forgiven. She still owes that.

2. Maybe she left the apartment damaged, or dirty. She would owe money for fixing those things.

3. the landlord may have passed on a charge for serving the 3-day notice. Process servers cost money, you know.

4. In my own case, when I have to deal with someone who is perceived to be very irresponsible, I have served them with both a 3-day notice to Pay Rent or Quit, and simultaneously with a small claims complaint. That way, the small claims court has jurisdiction to give me a judgement for money that is owed to me and I can proceed to try to collect it, even if she doesn't show up in court.