can I report a landlord to the BBB?

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16 years ago 05/22/2007 7:05pm EDT

I rented a vacation condo for a few days. Everything was fine, but the people seemed a little flaky.

Bottom line. It's been after the stated deadline for deposit return and I have not gotten the deposit back nor any mention of it.

I've already called to inquire and followed up with an email. The guy said to check my cc statement (which I did, and it has not been credited).

Would the best course of action be to chill out and wait a few more days, or should I get my hackles up and threaten to report this to...whoever the hell that I can? (BBB, FTC-consumer protection, local authorities,etc.)

I have records of the payments on my cc statement and the rental agreement, as well as email correspondence detailing the rate and amount of (refundable) deposit.

Just curious if anyone has dealt w/ this and perhaps has any feedback.

thanks.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 7:24pm EDT

re: pissed off renter

The BBB has no enforcement capabilities, and they are pretty much worthless. Not even a regular business would be worried about being 'reported' to them. You might try your local small claims court.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 7:46pm EDT

re: Joe Blow

You're wrong about businesses not worrying about being reported to the BBB. I once signed up for a 6 month membership to a gym during the summer under the conditions that I could "freeze" my account when I go back to college, then start off where I left off when I returned during breaks. This promise was verbal, and wasn't in our contract. Anyway, when they wouldn't allow me to do this I threatened to contact the BBB and they folded. Gave me a refund.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 7:52pm EDT

re: pissed off renter

Send a registered letter.

Also, if you have a friend who is an attorney, let him/her know the situation. I once had a hard time getting a deposit back from a hotel and my brother (an attorney) wrote a friendly letter on the law firm stationery requesting the deposit back. No threats, just a friendly reminder.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 8:07pm EDT

re: pissed off renter

coming to lets run for this instead of going to the BBB website is a very wise option.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 8:26pm EDT

re: pissed off renter

Assuming you paid with a credit card dispute the charge.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 8:35pm EDT

re: ghHSh

ghHSh wrote:
coming to lets run for this instead of going to the BBB website is a very wise option.

I already went there. Just looking to see if others had experience with this.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 8:49pm EDT

re: pissed off renter

I lived in a real slum in St. Louis for a few years and when I moved out, my landlord refused to return a security deposit. It's a long story, but basically a letter from an attorney didn't do anything -- getting served with papers for small claims court, however, did. I believe I also reported him to the BBB for others' sake, but small claims court was what I needed to get him to act. He paid up in a hurry.

16 years ago 05/22/2007 9:57pm EDT

re: Fifty

Fifty wrote:
Assuming you paid with a credit card dispute the charge.

Yes, do this, because it could potentially hit him even harder. He may have to pay a fee back to the bank and it could put a nice dent in his business reputation.

16 years ago 05/23/2007 1:25am EDT

re: pissed off renter

I'm not sure how disputing the charges would work. I think lying to the credit card company would cause additional problems. Shit, I don't know. I just want my damn money back.

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