Unfair deposit deducations - possible fake invoice. Next steps?

debstardeb

Another very important development. Thought that just out of curiosity I would contact the business named on the invoice that seems real (remember there is one that looks fake and one that looks real. This business is called world wipe (cleaners). Did a google search, 192.com search and can't find anything. Googled the land line number and the results came up with a mental health organisation based in Peckham. Called the number and there is a BT message saying the number has been changed. Called the new number to find it does not accept incoming calls.

Oh how the story unravels! Have emailed the LL - I am sure that as a value customer of world wipe, if they have moved address he would have been informed. He should at least be able to tell me some more information about the proprietor of this business, after all he did pay them £230.00 in cleaning costs!

Tried the email address for the business as well - got a delivery failure notification pretty quickly. That is enough to assure me that this business does not exist. I'm going to the police on this one as both of the invoices now seem to be fake. The LL has stated in an email that 'the invoices are in the office ready for collection' so there is no way he can completely deny these invoices exist. I'll update you all on what happens next!

debstardeb

Finally a result. I sent the email to the LL requesting an out of court settlement (as I have outlined above). He got back to me with a simple email saying 'when do you want to come and pick up the cheque and finalise this matter?'. Went round yesterday and got a big fat cheque for the full deposit plus an extra cheque for £750 in full and final settlement of the matter.

I asked him again to explain the invoices and he flatly refused. Once my cheque clears I'll be off to the police with all the relevant info and I can forget about this whole mess.

Thanks to everyone who provided me with advice on this topic, you gave me the energy (and information!) to fight on this one!

theartfullodger

Well done debstardeb!!!!

Right triumphs at last!!! Make sure that cheque clears (take a copy..) and then I'm sure all right thinking citizens & the Police will be 100% in favour of the little cheatin' crook getting reported...

I wonder if the local council private landlord dept. (or some name similar) would value hearing your story also....as perhaps any new tenants of the place>>???


Cheers & good on 'yer!

Lodger

Mrs_Imp

debstardeb wrote: »

How is this for the letter before action??


Within 14 days of the date of this letter, if I do not receive a full refund of the £1,200 deposit in addition to a payment equivalent to the penalty that the court could order (£3,600), I will issue a County Court claim against you. Costs and interest will be added to the amount claimed.

I'm glad you got this sorted. Just one thing for future reference, when I took someone to the small claims court, I had to use very specific wording in my letters to them in order to claim intrest on the amount owed.

Fire_Fox

Great result! Wonder if the landlord is submitting fake invoices with his tax return as well ....

-Ad-

Come back after a week and soo much has happened.

Great news, I just hope the cheque doesn't bounce. Scum LL to be frank, but certainly not unheard of. You could take this further to the police (and should), but I very much doubt they will do anything.

Full deposit back is the win we all look for as tennants !!!!