You should send a letter disputing the charges and asking for copies of receipts. Let her know that if she doesn't respond, you will be filing suit in small claims court. Google Michigan's laws to find out how long the LL has to respond; if she does not respond within that time, file the lawsuit.
Whatever. send a demand letter, certified with return receipt, then sue if you must.
If the l/l doesn't want to talk anymore, fine. It's paper and nothing but from now on.
The court wont care if the letter is refused or not. If the former, keep it in your records unopened; the JUDGE will open it. Maybe. If you sue and the l/l does not appear you win in about 30 seconds and it wont even matter. this latter scenario is very common for small claims courts.
A demand letter is NOT harassment unless a restraining order or similar is already in place. even then, IIRC, the serving of legal process can NOT be blocked, so such process would go to an atty.
BE WARNED: Winning is NOT collecting.
Don't call and dispute it - send a certified letter so it's documented via the postal service and make sure you have proof of your side - photos of before and after, for example.
Sounds like you might have to take her to small claims court to collect what you say she owes but ONLY do it if you can prove it. Also you can sue both her and the owner of the property and let the judge decide if you can garnish bank account of one or either - in case one has insulated herself and assets.
Filing a claim is easy - just make certain you can prove your side (not just verbally but actual photos, video or move-in sheet that clearly states item condition, etc.) AND that you can collect - I assume you have her bank account # if you wrote a check and it was deposited in her account - so you can garnish her account or put a lien on her house if same name you are suing owns the house.
A landlord you are renting from can not deny you the rights to communicate with them. How can business be conducted properly when renting issues arise?
I bet if you didn't pay rent, she would communicate. Is the mother now in charge? If so, the person listed on the contract needs to inform you of the change in writing.
Good luck
Here's the best guidance for MIchigan:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/...
Don't attempt to communicate by phone - that is useless. Make any statement you wish to make in writing.
So you sure her in small claims court. Simple. Communicate in writing.
When my landlord sent the itemized list of deductions from my security deposit (which was past 30 days, and I notified her of that), she wouldn't listen to any disputes that I had, blocked my phone number, and then had her mother (who I just found out is the actual property owner and was not mentioned anywhere on our contract) tell me tat if I tried to contact my landlord again that it would be regarded as harassment.
Is this against the law?
This is taking place in Michigan.
