Edit to add - there are procedures to deal with that; procedures that I deal with on a regular basis. I was prepared for any of those; but not this. Sort of struck me off-guard.

[ 04 October 2004: Message edited by: James ]

BTW, I'm sorry you're going through such a hard time right now. I know what it's like to fall behind financially - no fun at all.

[ 04 October 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]

And if he "parades in front of the building" (with a picket sign or some such I assume, "James Unfair to Poor Landlord," blahbity blah) he'll just make himself look a fool. More of a fool, that is.

In truth, he sounds a bit irrational. Are you worried that he might take harsher measures, maybe cut off your power or something?

[ 04 October 2004: Message edited by: 'lance ]

quote:

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Originally posted by 'lance:
Sorry to hear it, but if he thinks any media outlets are going to pay the slightest attention to him because of such a grievance, he doesn't understand the first thing about media.
[ 04 October 2004: Message edited by: 'lance ]

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Edit: you can see where I'm not at all fond of landlords, as a class. Particularly individual landlords, because they so often play the martyr, and it's tedious. I've lived in places owned by such people, and in places owned and managed by companies. Give me the companies any time.

[ 04 October 2004: Message edited by: 'lance ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Are you thinking this might hurt your law practice? Is that what he's threatening - to go after your reputation in that way?

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Yes, that is exactly what he is thinking; in fact todat remarked on "what my kids and parents will think; etc.

It's "extra=legal", but I can't think of anything that would make it "illegal".

quote:

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Sorry to hear it, but if he thinks any media outlets are going to pay the slightest attention to him because of such a grievance, he doesn't understand the first thing about media.

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quote:

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Originally posted by James:
For you media savvy people, I am thinking of contacting all the media outlets, and putting them on notice that I know that this person is giving them info that is defamatory, and that I will take action. Would that work ?

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IANAMSP (I am not a media savvy person ) but I don't think it would work. I think that threatening the media off of a story before they are even aware of it will just make them curious and want to dig. And if you actually ARE behind on your rent, it wouldn't be defamatory, and I think most reporters are pretty well-versed on what they can and can't get away with printing when it comes to libel issues.

I think if your landlord were to do something like what he's threatening, then what I'd do if I were you is go for the humble, professional, low-key approach. Admit what's true, don't volunteer any detailed financial information beyond that you're having personal financial difficulties right now, and even admit that you're embarassed at what your landlord is doing and that you've felt terrible about not being able to pay your rent. People are often contrary - even if it's your fault, they'll look at you as the underdog if your landlord is being an ass, and you're being dignified and not pompous and not belligerent.

There aren't a lot of people in the general public who haven't gone through financial difficulties at some time or other, whether because of their own mismanagement or because of circumstances beyond their control.

quote:

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Is there any way of making a deal with him to pay back your arrears over time, an extra quarter or half month's rent per month until it's paid up? - I sure as hell couldn't afford to pay one and a half times my rent.)

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Like the time I couldn't move in (and didn't have a key) until half way through the month cuz the appartment wasn't ready and he wanted a full months rent, and went on about it for FIVE stinking months...

As for being behind on rent I think it's gotta be one of the worst feelings, being home but having to hide out from the landlord. My landlord once caught me coming in the garbage door so I didn't have to pass his office...

This guy sounds like a real jackass but i'm puzzled as to what he thinks he's going to accomplish, unless he has some misguided notions about running for Mayor or something...

I'm pretty sure it's a bluff, just another threat to intimidate you with. I really can't see how he'd come out of the thing looking good at all.

I agree with the thing above about being contrite but hell, there must be a law against that no? Isn't it private information? I can't believe there's nothing preventing him from doing that.

Good luck James, keep your chin up and let us know if there's anything we can do. (Posting the slimebag's name all over the internet would be a start - you'd just be doing to him what he did to you)

First though try to negociate with the asshole, come up with a payment plan or something.

quote:

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Originally posted by Socrates:

This guy sounds like a real jackass but i'm puzzled as to what he thinks he's going to accomplish, unless he has some misguided notions about running for Mayor or something...

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quote:

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Originally posted by James:
As a free-lance self employed, my income tends to be sporadic. A year ago, hell, six months ago things were going well. Then my biggest and most regular client (ironically, a corporate landlord) sold out and the purchaser does everything in-house. Concurrently, I developed and dealt with some physical health issues that might well have curtailed my energy in pursuing other clients, and both of my parents were hospitalized with heart troubles. Shit, this sounds like whining, which I am not.

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It's not whining. It's life, and it could happen to anyone, whether they're a lawyer or a cashier. Financial circumstances can often be precarious - all that has to happen is for a few things to go wrong at once, and you're screwed.

If it makes you feel any better, I can relate (although rent was the one thing I DIDN'T fall behind on - just everything else). A year and a half ago, I went through a major financial crisis, due to a whole bunch of personal crap that all hit me at once - school ending, separation and custody stuff flaring up, a huge long bout of unemployment, and some health issues. I've never had such a series of blows one after the other in my life and they just about flattened me. I'm mostly okay now, but one good bout of illness, or a family crisis, and I'm toast. As it is, I'm already defaulting on my student loans. It's either pay the loans or pay child support, and my son comes first. But when they finally get around to coming after me for the student loans, I'm dead meat.

He wistfully begs you to show him
Your think he's a friend, not a louse
Remember the debt that you owe him
The landlord who lends you his house

So pity the downtrodden landlord
And his back that is burdened and bent
Respect his grey hairs, don't ask for repairs
And don't be behind with the rent

You are able to work for your living
And rejoice in your strength and your skill
So try to be kind and forgiving
To a man whom a day's work would kill

You can work, and still talk to your neighbour
You can look the whole world in the face
But the landlord who ventured to labour
Would never survive the disgrace

So pity the downtrodden landlord......

When thunder clouds gather and darken
You can sleep undisturbed in your bed
But the landlord must sit up and harken
And shiver and wonder and dread

If you're killed then you die in a hurry
And you never will know your bad luck
But the landlord is shaking with worry
"Has one of my houses been struck?"

So pity the downtrodden.....

When a landlord resorts to eviction
Don't think that he does it for spite
He's acting from deepest conviction
And what's right, after all, is what's right

But I see that your hearts are all hardened
And I fear I'm appealing in vain
Yet I hope this last plea will be pardoned
As I beg on my knees once again

Oh, pity the downtrodden landlord...

[ 05 October 2004: Message edited by: fuslim ]

As an attorney, you are unused to playing serious hardball with someone who is threatening your interests?

I never had much problem with landlords, but the few I've had have been toned down by a call from the rentalsman. Maybe an official reminder of the processes he's supposed to follow will make him think twice.

Really, what are you then that you've never had problems paying rent, a trust fund brat?

You ignorant, mean-spirited SOB, that's such a horrible thing to say! GRRRRRRR!

quote:

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PAY YOUR RENT !!!

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Ah, doesn't that feel better? You were probably feeling pretty crappy about being the pathetic, unlikeable little dickhead that you are, and then you came across this thread with some stranger who was having trouble paying his rent temporarily and you thought,"I may be an utter failure in a great many ways but I am paying my rent!", and then you felt superior. How comforting for you. Too bad it never lasts long and you go right back to hating yourself again.

quote:

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Originally posted by Socrates:
Cyl: you're a jackass.

Really, what are you then that you've never had problems paying rent, a trust fund brat?

You ignorant, mean-spirited SOB, that's such a horrible thing to say! GRRRRRRR!

[apologies for the strength of my language but that was just inexcusable.]

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Trust fund brat??? HA! Not likley.

During the few tight periods when I couldn't pay all my bills, the order in which I held back payment was something like 1) credit cards, 2) the bank, 3 the power company, etc. I never stiffed an individual in my community!

Obviously the landlord is acting like an asshole, threatening to parade on the sidewalk etc, but how do you know he isn't starving and unable to pay HIS bills because tenants are not paying their rent? Everyone here was pretty quick to condemn him without any idea of the full circumstances.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacob Two-Two:

Ah, doesn't that feel better? You were probably feeling pretty crappy about being the pathetic, unlikeable little dickhead that you are, and then you came across this thread with some stranger who was having trouble paying his rent temporarily and you thought,"I may be an utter failure in a great many ways but I am paying my rent!", and then you felt superior. How comforting for you. Too bad it never lasts long and you go right back to hating yourself again.

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Do YOU feel better? Calling a complete stranger a "pathetic, unlikeable little dickhead" and an utter failure who needs to insult people to feel superior, because I told the guy to pay his rent, which would in fact solve the problem.

LOL - In fact your post is far worse than what I wrote.

I have the vague memory of this happening before, only with coloured type, flashing type, scroll-by type, type of all sizes...

Click.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:T4eApa

http://www.orht.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_3_7976_1.html

Click.

http://www.tenants.bc.ca/guide/chap5.html

http://www.sftu.org/harass.html

http://www.tenant.net

http://www.edsellshomes.com/landlords.html

[Message edited by Michelle to fix side-scroll]

[ 09 October 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ] :

[ 10 October 2004: Message edited by: yankcanuck ]

The way you use the board's URL function is like this:

When you're writing your message in the text box, and you want to give a link to another page, you press this button:

Then a box will pop up asking you for the web address you're trying to link to. So you type or paste the web site address into that box and press "okay". Then another box will pop up called "script prompt" which asks you for the name of the web page.

You write anything you want to there - the name of the web page (e.g. "Government of Canada"), or you can just type "click" or whatever.

If the URL is so long that this feature doesn't work, you can go to http://tinyurl.com and follow the directions there in order to get a smaller link so that it doesn't cause side-scroll.

Please, those who don't know how to do this, learn. It's not difficult, and it stops threads from becoming unreadable due to side scroll.

[ 09 October 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]