Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Washington

Do the apartments have a right to bill me?!

Last year my boyfriend and i signed a 12-month lease. We only stayed there for

3 months out of the 12. I just checked my credit and they are charging me

11,000 + dollars. I called my friend that works for puget sound energy, found

out that i moved out on the 1st of November and another couple moved in

December 5th. Do they have the right to charge me, when someone else is now

living in there? Can they double charge? Am i liable for the 11,000 + dollars. It is

in collections now, i didn't recieve a notification, i just found out by pulling up

my credit. What should i do?


Asked on 12/05/05, 7:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Lee Brettin Brettin Law Office

Re: Do the apartments have a right to bill me?!

It really all depends on (or at least begins with)the lease. For example, if the lease has a rent escalation clause and you were furnished default notices and the landlord eventually obtained a default judgment against you, then you may very well be liable for the $11K. The $11K may be a combination of rent, late charges, interest, attorney fees and legal costs. From your posting there really isn�t enough information to guide you. I would need to review your lease and correspondence from the landlord in order to give you any kind of reasoned opinion. Even at this late hour and even if the account has been �assigned� to a collection agency, however, landlord�s are often willing to negotiate a settlement that could save you thousands and possibly restore your credit. Feel free to call if you would like to further discuss.

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Answered on 12/05/05, 8:08 pm


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