Landlord Says Deposit Refund Was Sent to the Wrong Address
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Missouri.
I moved out of my apartment on Nov 2 2015. I was checked out by a representative of the landlord. She didn't have a form but I got her to write a statement saying that my security deposit would be returned in full. Apartment was clean and no damages. At this time I gave her my forwarding address.
I sent the landlord an email, on Dec 3, 2015, asking when I would receive my deposit refund. I gave them my forwarding address. On Dec 3, 2015 the landlord replied that the refund check was mailed on Nov 25 but they didn't have an apartment letter. I checked with the apartment complex and the post office. The post office said without the apartment letter the letter would be returned to the sender. On Dec 4, 2015 I sent another email informing them what the post officer had told me. I asked them to send me another check.
As of Dec 9, 2015 I have had no response to my second email. I sent another email asking for information. Hopefully, they have mailed my check but I have my doubts. How long should I give them before looking into legal action? If I do consider legal action what do I do and where do I go. I know the first step is to contact the Better Business Bureau.
It would be a great help If I could send an email to the landlord containing legal facts about this situation.
Thank you for your help
Sincerely
Robert Brigden
Re: Landlord Says Deposit Refund Was Sent to the Wrong Address
Odds are your former landlord is simply waiting for the letter to come back. For reasons I am not in a position to explain, sometimes it takes a frustratingly long time for the post office to return undeliverable mail. In some cases, I've had correspondence returned as undeliverable several months after it was mailed.
I expect that the landlord wants to avoid paying a stop payment fee, or having two valid checks in circulation.
You write, "they didn't have an apartment letter" -- is that because your email with your forwarding address did not include the letter or was in some way confusing in relation to the apartment letter, or was it simply their oversight when addressing the envelope?