The Court at Northgate    |    Jaynie Black    |    SEATTLE    ,    Washington 98125    Landlord Complaint 20-1691

I had lived at this property from 9/2009 to 4/2011. On the scheduled move out date the manager did not show up for walk-through process. I had to leave without signing the move out form. I gave a valid forwarding address so that they can send the security deposit refund on the vacancy form 3 weeks before I move out. After 32 days from the move-out date I received a letter from a collection agency I am in debt of $807.86 + $4.77 interest without any details. I promptly responded by writing to both the property manager and the collection agency to verify this. Then after 50 days from the move-out date I was able to receive a move-out form that I did not signed from the collection agency. According to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act, landlord must by law return my security deposit in full or provide a written explanation as to why any of it is withheld within 14 days of my moving out. RCW 59.18.280. At this point they already violated the law. On the move-out form they charged $150 for cleaning, $120 painting, $722 for 3yrs carpet + pad, $95.86 for water bill, and finally $20 for drip pans. I thoroughly cleaned, vacuumed, and paid the water bill in full. I believe there was nothing damaged beyond mere normal wear and tear and they cannot ask for normal wear and tear by the State law. I again wrote a demand letter to both the collection agency and the manager saying they did not comply with the law and why the debt is not valid. The manager emailed me saying I spoiled the carpet and nothing about other stuffs(water bill, paint, etc) and she was not able to reach me because I gave them a wrong forwarding address. This is not true because I got the first letter from the collection agency at the same address I gave to the manager. It simply does not make sense she were not able to reach me while the collections were under the same condition. I reply to the email saying it is nonsense and asking if she can prove it. For 4 days as of today I am still waiting for her response. And today I again received a bill from the collection agency with higher interest. I am willing to pay what I owe if there is any but not in this manner. They had to contact me directly first within 15days not through the collection agency. I do not want to hear her obvious lying to avoid legal responsibility. Clearly they failed to comply with the law so I can ask for double the deposit in the court without a counter-claim.