There’s a first time for everything: My Scammed and Screwed Story
Opening a fresh word document to write what I’m about to write is all it takes to get my heart slamming against my rib cage. And maybe it’s the most cardio I’ve gotten all week, but I wish I wasn’t so affected by something so ridiculous as my former housemate’s email.
Last night I clicked open an email from Josiah, expecting a response along the lines of, “Jason. Come by at the end of the week. I will have a check for the amount of the security deposit waiting for you.” I also imagined him saying something like, “I don’t have the money right now, but I assure you that the $200 you put down as a security deposit will be returned.”
I suppose I didn’t fully outline the financial agreement I made with the house, but I can quickly catch you up. On the day I moved in, I cut two checks. One for the first month’s rent, $230, and one to the person living in my spot for $200. The $200 “Security Deposit” works on a revolving door accounting method that works perfectly when there is a person moving in the spot that is being vacated, assuming no harm has been done to the house. I suppose harm is a relative term considering, in my opinion, demolition would be a step in the right direction.
Well, as you can probably guess, Josiah’s email was not one of understanding. Before I can share with you his email, I think it only fair you read what he is responding to:
Hey,
Sorry to spring this whole situation on you. I do wish it would have worked out. Please let me know how you think we can best resolve the financial situation and when I can, at the very least, come pick up my security deposit.
Jason
Harmless, I know. But apparently that is not the consensus:
Jason S Paul, (Yes, he used my full name for some reason)
I have discussed it with my other roommates and we
have decided that it would be grossly inappropriate
for us to return to you either your rent or security deposit.It’s actions such as yours that security deposits were
made for.Not only was your behavior recklessly irresponsible,
but wildly offensive.If you want to go around holding sinister views of anyone
tinkering with the chemical structures of their own brain, you
are free to do so. But I suggest you post this on your forehead
before you go around asking people to take you into their home.
I’m guessing he read the posts about the house. Oops. But wait, it gets better.
Passing nefarious judgment on someone because they
choose to experiment with their minds in unorthodox ways
is the same as distancing yourself from someone because
of their race, gender or sexual orientation.Besides, I don’t have any money to give you.
I run this house on the meager salary of walking dogs and
selling chapbooks (with no assistance from parents or loan
institutions) and having children like you bounce in and out
at the smallest hint of a culture unfamiliar to them really
puts a wrench in the gears of my humble ambitions.Good Luck With Your Book,
Josiah
I responded quickly and despite being completely shocked by his email, I kept a level head. Here is my response:
Josiah,
I expect to have my security deposit returned. I was told, “Unless you
take a sledgehammer to the wall,” the money would be repaid. The way
I see it, you have gotten a free month from someone. But the security
deposit was never to be held due to a change of heart. I understand
the difficult situation I put you in, and I am sorry to have done it.
I was reckless to agree to something before knowing the reality of the
situation. To however jump from discomfort to discriminating because
of personal choices is completely ridiculous. I understand if you do
not have the money right now. But when someone replaces the spot I
occupied, I do expect it returned.On a separate note, I may have left some shirts on hangers in the
house. If you have seen them, please let me know.I hope we can resolve this civilly.
Best,
Jason
Now, I don’t expect to receive ever see the shirts, mostly because I think if I went back to the house I would be tarred and feathered for my soberist–yes I made that word up–views. But because I also don’t expect to see that money returned to me, I cancelled the check.
To be honest, I feel like a jerk for screwing someone else in this disagreement, but if anyone is going to get paid back by the house, it is going to be the girl that I replaced. And because she delayed depositing my check, I was able to call my bank and preemptively cancel it.
I wrote another check last night, for the new housing situation I have gladly signed on to. $400 a month for a bed in a cozy basement with all utilities included. And because I am living with friends, Tim and Sam, I already feel at home. We have cooked dinner twice together and they are great company.
I have also agreed to take a stab at the room they are renovating. At the end of my three months we can talk about a rebate for whatever work I do. And because our housing discussion quickly came on the heels of my Art Collective explosion, we discussed rules, cleaning and comfort issues. It was almost like signing a freshman roommate agreement, only no RAs were present and it was only slightly less official.
And while we are on the discussion of scams and being screwed, I should mention a recent job interview.
Applying for jobs off Craigslist is a complete blur. Not because they are all, on some level, the same but because when you hear back, you’re never sure which listing is contacting you. My internal monologue goes something like this:
…Is this the nude modeling photographer looking for an assistant or the dental office hiring someone to greet patients and take their insurance? Can’t ask that, better keep her talking…
I managed to figure out the listing from Entertainment Marketing was interested in having me come in for an interview, that day. I thought it a little odd to have availability that same day, but I went with it. I borrowed a dress shirt—mine are probably being used to light a fire and heat the Art Collective—and drove over to the interviewing site.
I say interviewing site because office would be a flawed description. The lobby was much larger than the rest of the office and it had doctor’s office written all over it. A receptionist sat behind an open glass window and told me to fill out one of the clipboards. Now either this company is hiring an army of salespeople or there is something else at play.
Before I went to the interview, I did a bit of research. While I found the firm had an A+ rating according to the Better Business Bureau, I also found a story published in the Denver Post about how a local entertainment marketing company scammed new hires by making them sell coupon books door-to-door. I was pretty sure I was sitting in the same office the story discusses.
I filled out most of the information, skipping my social security number, and returned the clipboard to the receptionist.
After waiting a few minutes, Sean, a sleazy salesman came out of his office and gave me the rundown on the company. “Jason, we have over 500 clients that we work with,” he told me relaxing into the back of his big chair. It all sounded impressive, not really, until I started digging. What would I be doing, what is the day-to-day expectation, what do you have to say about the Denver Post story?
Maybe it was the way he started every sentence with, “You see Jason,” or the fact that my second interview would be an unpaid full day of shadowing another salesperson. Perhaps, even if the business was legit, the idea of selling useless shit to people who don’t need it was enough to make my skin crawl. Bottom line, when I got called back for a second interview, I didn’t pick up. Sean called back, and where I come from, anyone that wants you that badly, must either be deranged or full of it.
I have more to write, but I suppose I will save it. Your eyes are probably bleeding since I made you stick around so long.
it IS ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests -- that's what this is all about!
PostingID: 1280479705
January 6th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Now the question is… will Tim & Sam be “The Family #2″?
January 6th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
You were smart to not give out your SSN. Your radar was really working!
January 6th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
i don’t remember ever signing a roommate contract freshman year, but nor did I ask you to renovate the place!
January 6th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
“Passing nefarious judgment on someone because they
choose to experiment with their minds in unorthodox ways
is the same as distancing yourself from someone because
of their race, gender or sexual orientation.”
Um, no, it’s really not the same. Moral confusion reigns supreme for this fellow.
I’m sorry about what you’ve been going through, but it seems if you just keep trusting your intuition, both with the housing situation and detecting a scam at play, you’ll be alright.
You didn’t even mention being on lockdown this week in the most unlikely of places due to a shooting. I guess that was tame compared to all this.
Tomorrow night I see Avatar!
January 6th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
There’s a big difference between an unfamiliar culture (e.g. living off the grid, living in more modest conditions than you’re accustomed to, or even recreational drug use) vs living in a rodent infestation with no heat, dysfunctional bathrooms, and general unsanitary conditions. I know the latter points weren’t your decision-making factors, but an accusation of ‘nefarious judgement’ is ignorant and judgmental at best — I’m glad you canceled your check.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Still stumped over “soberist”… You handled well, but if you need that sledgehammer…
January 6th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
In general, I don’t like human beings who call themselves by the generic term “artists,” as I’m assuming those who were living in the “artist’s collective” did.
These are the kind of people that when you try to have a friendly conversation and say something like:
“So, where are you from?”
Respond with something totally assholey like:
“I’m not from anywhere.” or “I don’t believe in labels” or some shit.
Fuck you, dude. You’re from outside Pittsburgh. Or a downtown Houston. Get over yourself and be a human being again.
Good luck in the new place.
And I dare you to try meth. Just kidding.
And also, you should seriously consider starting a prank war against that old house. Nothing like a good prank war. You should solicite Craigslist for prank war ideas.
Toodles.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:15 am
Tim and I are going to Pet Smart tomorrow to buy some mice and hopefully find a meth lab on the way!
The house will be spruced up in no time!
Jason – you make a darn good roommate, glad to have ya around!! Now, get to work!!! More painting and less blog entries!
January 7th, 2010 at 7:35 am
A few things:
1. The whole roommate $200 deposit sounds like a great episode of Judge Judy to me, and I can’t wait until it airs.
2. Police accept anonymous drug tips…just sayin’.
3. Who hasn’t gone on one of those interviews!?! Alison actually went through with the second round. Waste…of…time…
4. You can come home now. I feel like you need a shower and clean clothes.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Great stuff for the book.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Jason you have two options
1) Small claims court
2) Board of health
January 7th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I am glad you canceled the check, seems like you had a bad week, but it was very interesting to read.
Keep these stories up!!!!!!!!!
January 7th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Thank goodness you could cancel the check! Besides the obvious health issues, I too would be concerned with drug use in the house. No judgement needs to be placed on their recreational activities – just plain ol’ common sense in not wanting to be associated with it.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
wow, sorry to hear about all the downsides of life. but it always gets better
January 10th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Is this why they call it the “mile high” city?
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:25 am
Jason you are a gifted writer. I don’t know if you have ever read Confederacy of Dunces but it is a classic. A Pulitzer Prize winner. Your life experiences, and the humorous ways you describe them are much like the main character in that book. Please keep writing. I need the laughs.
Teresita in Texas
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:57 am
I am a bit disappointed to see that nobody has addressed the issue that you screwed somebody who had nothing to do with your dispute. Somebody stiffed you out of $200, so you recouped your losses by in turn screwing somebody else. I feel for that poor girl and it would serve you right if she found you and prosecuted. If you have a problem with a drug addled hippie, you take your conflict to the drug addled hippie rather than taking out of some third party’s ass. But in your mind you thought”no net loss, so I’m good”. Now I read that you are utterly paranoid that you will get caught by the girl you wronged. See how it works when you do wrong by somebody?
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 am
I don’t believe that you screwed anyone and I think that your blog is very impressive. Back in my college graduate days, we had wonderful opportunities waiting for that. I love your writing and hope that I see your name as the EIC of a great mag.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:52 am
There is a whole system of couchsurfers who live a gypsy type life by finding people in more cities than you would ever believe to stay with. Some of them find temp work and decide to stay where they land, others move on. If you get to New Orleans after Mardi Gras we have a great set of “hosts” who are ready to show you the city and give you ideas of where to get “fast” jobs. Usually the pay is low, but almost livable. We have a large amount of bars, restaurants, and temp jobs. Good luck with your travels and adventures.
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Jason,
Having worked in property management in the past it sounds like a bad situation from the start and while I feel for the girl who has now lost her money a deposit should have never been handled that way in the first place. When anyone whether renting from a huge apartment community or a private owner puts down a deposit on a place of residence, an apartment, house or just a room, it is never to be spent or transferred along, by CRS (Colorado Revised Statutes, I apologize I can’t name the exact one right now) it is to be held seperate from all other sources of rent or income to the property and NEVER accessed until the renter moves out. This is for multiple reasons, one of the most important is having it available to the tenant upon move out, aside from any legitimate and legal deductions. This also includes any pre-payments for rent. If you pay your rent in advance of the actual month it is paid for, the landlord or property owner must hold it aside and is not allowed to use it until the 1st day of the month arrives that it was initially paid for. Additionally, if you moved out within 3 days of moving in, you are entitled to a refund of the rent paid minus any days you actually stayed there. If you break a lease and pay the rent as most agreements state you are responsible for until the the place is re-rented you are also entitled to a refund of any rent not used. Meaning no landlord or owner can collect rent twice for the same space. If you paid for it and are not there and someone else moves in and pays for it, then the portion you paid for that they are now living there for is entitled to be refunded to you.
Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. I look forward to future readings of your blog and wish you the best. Hopefully this advice helps someone else who may find themselves in a rent disputed situation.
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Just came across your blog featured as a story on AOL and was surprised that the topic “Living Craigslist” was not what I’d thought. I’d imagined a clever college grad pulling chairs out of dumpsters and selling online and slowly amassing a nice cash stash. One dissatisfied summer as a waitress between semesters, I quit my job and put an ad in the paper “Research Unlimited”– to my surprise a reputable company called wanting economic indicators blah blah I didn’t understand a word he’d said but nodded as if I did.. long story short I made a great income and learned a lot that summer, sure beat arguing with customers over the quality of pudding! Jason, let’s see some ingenuity, some creativity– be your own boss: think, man, think!