Funniest excuse for not paying rent?

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Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
7y

In my one triplex I had two tenants pay very late both in the same month they both ( separate apartments) used the same excuse . I guess they figured I’d buy it lol the excuse was

“ someone stole my identity and now the bank has a lockdown on my account “

To which I respond .

“ I don’t believe you and your now going to get a late fee because I know that no one would ever even want your identity because you have bad credit no money and no assets !

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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    OP
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Matt M.:

    @Nathan G.

    Mid November he told me he was going to be late with November and December rent because he had to pay for his kids Xmas gifts on layaway. I told him the kids won’t enjoy the gifts as much living in your car. Dec 22 he moved out with a pending eviction hearing scheduled.

    My account was hacked..

    Something happened with my direct deposit from my job..

    Transmission went bad..

    I’ve heard all these numerous times

    Same here. One Tenant reported he couldn't afford the rent because of repairs to his motorcycle. I told him it would be pretty difficult to sleep on a motorcycle.

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  • Dennis M.
    Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    7y

    @John Morgan

    Sounds like my luck .. screen a single guy with a good job and no prior criminal issues or evictions .. great tenant by my standards - wrong !

    Guy moves his family in goes through three different employers in 6 months hopelessly addicted to alcohol gets a few pets gets cops called on him tries to jump off the roof of the house before he’s thrown in the psych ward . Fun fun fun

    1Reply
  • Shiva Bhaskar
    Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 523 posts · 476 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Nathan Gesner:

    My example is kind of long. Tenant was a work-from-home attorney. Regularly late, and this time he was 15 days late. I sent him a 3-day Pay or Quit Notice and this was his response:

    • Complete payment history, the requirement of which has been established via Spears v. Brennan, 745 N.E. 2d 862 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001);
    • The agreement bearing the signature of me, wherein I agreed to pay;
    • The letter of sale or assignment from the original creditor to your company. (Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt.) Coppola v. Arrow Financial Services, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26788 (D. Conn. 2002) - Information relating to the purchase of a bad debt is neither proprietary nor burdensome. Debtor must clearly phrase their request to obtain: the source of a debt and the amount a bad debt buyer paid for plaintiff’s debt; how amount sought was calculated; where in issue a list of reports to credit bureaus; and documents conferring authority on third party to collect debt.
    • Documentation of the creation of the debt with your collection agency.

    My response:

    I'm an attorney who represents clients dealing with credit and debt issues. This is the sort of validation letter one might send to a debt collector, who contacts your client out of the blue regarding a debt. The law mentioned (FDCPA), does NOT apply to original creditors, including a landlord like you or I. Any lawyer who spent more than five minutes researching the law would find that out. This attorney tenant is the reason we have lawyer jokes, lol. 

    2Reply
  • Gordon Starr
    Rental Property Investor · Dayton, OH · Member since 2015 · 312 posts · 273 votes
    7y

    "You can do us any time you want, but we aren't going to pay rent anymore"

    1Reply
  • Natelya G.
    Rental Property Investor · Macon, GA · Member since 2017 · 61 posts · 12 votes
    7y

    @Nathan G.

    "I tried to pawn my tv but they would only give me $40"

    "I'm a single mom and have bills to pay"....only to pull up and see a cable company truck installing cable. So you can pay for cable but not rent.

    1Reply
  • Dennis M.
    Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    7y

    Seems Everyone has plenty of money for 9$ a pack cigarettes every day , alcohol , and the best dog feed

    .... but none for rent

    The one I see most often is my account was hacked .. my identity was stolen , my credit cards were stolen and as a result the bank has my accounts all locked up so I can’t get my money out . It’s the banks fault !

    1Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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    OP
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Dennis M.:

    Seems Everyone has plenty of money for 9$ a pack cigarettes every day , alcohol , and the best dog feed

    .... but none for rent

    The one I see most often is my account was hacked .. my identity was stolen , my credit cards were stolen and as a result the bank has my accounts all locked up so I can’t get my money out . It’s the banks fault !

    Definitely one of the most common! What do you do? I require them to provide a letter from the bank verifying the theft was reported and is being investigated. If they don't provide proof, I don't waive late fees or stop eviction. Even if they do provide proof, I will waive late fees for 72 hours and then proceed with normal eviction process.

    I've had dozens of tenants make this claim and only one ever provided proof. 

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  • Katie Roettgers
    Member since 2018 · 6 posts · 10 votes
    7y

    I had a tenant tell me he can't keep a job because he doesn't like to wear steel toed shoes and those are the only jobs he's qualified for. He then asked me why I was so hard to get ahold of by phone during the day. I told him I also work full time for an employer. He asked me what I did... My response was, "I wear steel toed shoes for a food manufacturing company".

    3Reply
  • Sylvia B.
    Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    "Rent will be late I was stuck out of town all week"

    -- Ok, please add the $50 late fee. When can we expect it?

    "Whenever I make it home"

    -- Do they not have mail where you are?

    "Nope I am usually at work before and after the PO closes"

    1Reply
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