BiggerPockets

Check your lease contract for emergency contacts. That is usually a good start, although you will likely have to hid the truth about who you are if you contact friends/family. I'm guessing you should also have an employer listed on their application . . . that is also another good bet. If that doesn't work and you run out of options, you can just use a skiptracing company to help you out.

I'm not sure " putting the letter in the file" is good enough, in the unlikely event that they come back at you for non-compliance. In my experience deadbeats who already know that their deductions exceed the balance aren't concerned about being found.

I darn sure would be careful about contacting them at work, particularly the " getting them fired" part. That's a very clear vioation of the Fair Credit Collection Act, which is one of the few federal consumer protection laws that anyone takes seriously.

Forget about suing, and (the correct word is not garnish) but GARNISHEE, 99.9% of all small claims judgements in the US are against people who are " judgement proof" .

One of the things that I always did was mail the INSPECTION REPORT within a day or so of move-out, without the check! That keeps them from cashing the check and then coming after you. Of course in this case there wouldn't be a check!

all cash

They're collectable - he's had the same job with the state for 20 yrs. I suppose I could send it certified there. Just wonder if that's legal. Don't see why not.
Also - doI send them their deposit statement and a bill and do I have to give them time to pay, or can I just go ahead and start a small claims suit?

In my building (Los Angeles), we collect the amount a tenant owes the day they are scheduled to move out. Primarily to avoid this situation.

However, it sounds like you are on the right track and will be able to collect your money by having them served at work.

You may have to mail the statement (w/o check) to the "last known address." They may have done a change of address at the post office. Send it certified, return receipt requested, address correction requested. Either you will get it back undelivered, which will prove your compliance, or you'll get the signed receipt back with their forwarding address on it, I think. I won an eviction and money judgement against a tenant, then ended up paying her since the penalty for not doing it (I was one day late) was double the deposit amount (state of WI). I argued that the judge was miscounting, but she said, no, I'm not. bam.

I know the thread is old but going to add this here instead of start a new one.

If you have filed a court case and you are representing yourself and need to find a tenant's change of address with the post office you need to send the postmaster the info. The form you need is 39CFR265-266.rtf from the USPS website.

The form will need to be submitted to the postmaster in the city and state they last resided. To locate the postmaster you will use the Postmaster finder and locate the postmaster with the most recent appointment date.

Do not attempt to misuse this form unless you have a legal right to the information. I don't want them making it anymore difficult for Landlord's to find and collect damages.