|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tenant's Excuse of the Day page 2 |
 |
|
|
 |
Page 2:Don't you just love some of the excuses tenants have for not paying rent?As upsetting as it can be, sometimes we have to stand back and get a perspective. Some of our experiences are even funny afterwards.
The LPA selects the most original excuses made by tenants to their landlords. If you have an interesting or funny story about your tenant's excuse for not paying rent, we'd love to hear it! Excuse of the Day for 8/28/06:"BG&E (Baltimore Gas & Electric) was here earlier threatening to shut-off my power. The only reason they didn't shut it off earlier when they came is because my children (oldest child is 15) were here without adult supervision. The BG&E agent said he would be back later this afternoon, however, and will only leave the power on if he receives payment in full. I can't live without my power."Interestingly enough, the amount owed to BG&E was almost the same amount of the rent, late fee and water bill charges for the past 6 months. My question is, what good is the power being on, if one doesn't have a home in which to use it? - LGB in DC Excuse of the Day for 8/27/06:"You can wait cause you are so cheap you haven't done a thing in here since we moved in 6 months ago!"She moved in to a brand new beautiful apartment complete with everything. They have been complaining because they burned out some lightbulbs and want me to change them because they don't have a ladder to reach them. - Michael K., San Diego, CA Excuse of the Day for 8/22/06:"My boyfriend is a landlord too. He told me not to pay another dime unless you lower the rent to a reasonable amount."Her boyfriend is a sloppy know it all hippie. Maybe she can go rent from him because I'm about to send a notice to pay or quit. - Sally B., Massapequa, NY Excuse of the Day for 8/12/06:"My husband's car burned up on the highway. The rent was in the car. It was cash."I was almost a believer and then she said it was cash. They have never had the rent in full and in cash before. - Madge R., SW FL Excuse of the Day for 8/08/06:"We don't have it right now. My husband has been out of work and he had a heart attack last month. The pipe under the sink is leaking and now we have toxic black mold making my baby girl very sick."Wow. I'm sorry about the heart attack. He's gonna hate being evicted too. My attorney's not cheap when he knows the tenant is paying. (They used the heart attack and mold excuse last year, the dead grandmother a few months ago, the car accident, you name it. These people are a great source for new excuses.) BTW: I passed the husband on the road today. He was having a great jog. - Jack Klein, NY Excuse of the Day for 8/04/06:"It has been so hot we needed the air conditioner on all month. The electric bill was sky high, so we don't have the rent."The electric bill didn't come yet for this period. Besides, what's more important - a cool home or having a home? - Thomas William, Rockaway, NY Excuse of the Day for 8/02/06:"I'm going to China for June - August for vacation I'll have my friend make sure you get your rent ."JN, New Jersey Excuse of the Day for 8/01/06:"I can't pay the rent because we just bought a new home and we are moving in a week."This was 4 months before their year lease was up. I am taking them to court for the lost rent. Time to test the lease. - Wayne, Rutherford, NJ Excuse of the Day for 7/28/06:"We adopted a homeless dog. He is a beautiful fully trained showdog, but he was very sick and we had to take him to the vet to save his life. He's fine now, but we spent so much on the vet and other dog stuff that we don't have anything left for the rent now."YOU GOT A DOG?! YOUR LEASE SAYS NO DOGS! YOU AND YOUR NEW DOG WILL ALL BE HOMELESS IF YOU DON'T PAY THE RENT TO MY LAWYER along with the attorneys fee. - Big Bad Steve, NY Excuse of the Day for 7/27/06:"Sorry I don't have the rent this month because I had to buy diesel fuel for my truck to get to work."Well I hope you like living in your truck after you get evicted. - Sandy Jamison, California Excuse of the Day for 7/26/06:"I won’t have the rent for 3 weeks because my husband changed his job and won’t get paid until the end of the month."At the end of the month they only had half the rent. They were served with a 3-day notice immediately. - Sandy Jamison, California Excuse of the Day for 7/25/06:"My job transferred me to another area and I will have to break my lease, I'll be out by July 31st. And I still don't know what the bank did with the July rent … I'll have to look into it and get back to you."After calling his employer to ask about the job transfer they informed me he was fired for fraud and stealing from the company and fled back to Texas. Guess I'll have to take him to court to collect since he only stayed there for 2 months out of 12. Sounds like a lot of others will be looking for him too. - Sandy Jamison, California Excuse of the Day for 7/24/06:"I spent days cleaning up sewage in the basement and you have the nerve to ask for the rent?"Don't act like it is my responsibility to clean up your sewage. After all who clogged the line with non-flushables? Pay or leave. - Stefan G., ME Excuse of the Day for 7/18/06:"I have a TOOTHACHE. GET OUT OF HERE NOW!!!"He scared the heck out of me. He looks like Danny Devito and sounds like Arnold. Luckily he apologized to me the next day and paid the rent. - Morgan W., PA Excuse of the Day for 7/14/06:"I have half of the rent. Could you waive half the late fee? My roomate doesn't get paid till next week."Both of you rented the house as 1 tenancy on 1 lease. You are both equally responsible for 100% of the rent and 100% of the late fee. - Erin R., Portsmouth, RI Excuse of the Day for 7/10/06:"You're prejudiced. You keep asking me for the rent because I'm a minority."Not true. If I were prejudiced, I wouldn't have rented to him. I am prejudiced against people who don't pay their rent, though. - Marge H., Corona, NY Excuse of the Day for 7/8/06:I paid Junes rent and even got the deasel engine out of the back yard what more do you want?Tenant has been collecting truck and car parts, welding out side and in the basement and asked/told to clean up. He paid Junes rent after the first of July. - Kerry G., Manistee, MI Excuse of the Day for 7/7/06:"My brother is paying the rent this month. He's out of town. I'll let you know when he's back."The tenant does not know when the brother (who is not even a tenant ) will be back with the rent." - Gabbi O., Naples, FL Excuse of the Day for 7/2/06:"I had to lend my son money to move into a house. You know I'm good for it."I thought you were good for it when we signed the lease. Now, you have shown me you are NOT "good for it". - Claudia in Akron, OH Excuse of the Day for 6/29/06:"Just because I signed the lease doesn't mean you'll be able to enforce it. My brother in law is a lawyer. He will rip this lease to shreds."I don't think so. My attorney is serving the eviction notice tommorrow.It's an LPA Lease. - Michael K., San Diego, CA Excuse of the Day for 6/23/06:"I just replaced your boiler. You owe me $2,100."That is very strange. This tenant is about 10 days late every month and calls us to handle much less expensive problems.Why would she violate the lease and have the boiler replaced without at least calling to ask ud to repair or replace it?. She also owes more than that in past due late fees.- Steve S., BVR Excuse of the Day for 6/22/06:"As I stated earlier this is your mistake not ours and until we talk, another check will not be issued until we get some issues resolved concerning the depositing of the rent checks."They have been served a 5 day notice. All I did was deposit the rent check the next business day. The check bounced. I guess they think they can change the date in which rent is due. To bad they signed a lease. - Anthony, Belleville, Illinois Excuse of the Day for 6/21/06:"My father will pay the rent. He is out of town, but he will be back before the end of the month."If this were the first lame excuse I might try to work with them, but this is the 12th or 13th in a year!. - Margaret Riley, Tiverton, MA Excuse of the Day for 6/14/06:"This apartment is a fire hazard, I'm afraid I'm going to die !!"This tenant has had every reason, I mean every reason. this is his newest one. He has dragged the eviction out 6 months!! I've had no rent for 6 months. He has drove other tenants out on me, threaten to sue my workers, (he came with the house when I bought it) he just left, I finally got to see his unit (he wouldn't even let me see it before I bought it). He actually had one of the better units. ~ (and the pictures he used in court, were NOT from his unit, I don't know where he got them). Glad he's gone!!! - Cheri, Revere, MA Excuse of the Day for 6/10/06:"I'm behind on my car payment which is more important than my rent because I need my car to get to work."I hope she likes living in her car. I filed eviction today. - Carrie H. Olathe, Kansas Excuse of the Day for 6/09/06:I'm in arrears of $13,000 in child support, the judge says I need to pay it fast, or else!""Jail does not collect rent" have a good stay. - Diane/Long Island Excuse of the Day for 6/07/06:"The guy who pays my rent is going away for two weeks. Can you wait?"- J Warburton, Newburgh, NY Excuse of the Day for 6/06/06:"I'm expecting a death in the family pretty soon. After that, I'll be all caught up."She's talking about her elder neglected father who should be cared for and fed. - Sharona R., NJ Excuse of the Day for 6/02/06:"I can't pay the rent AGAIN this month, I need to buy another van in order to get to work."I told him to pay up or enjoy living in the van. Its better than the crappy car he parks in the driveway! - Diane/Long Island, NY Excuse of the Day for 5/28/06:"I got a really bad sunburn. It hurts so bad I won't be able to send the rent for a few more days."I better see a painful looking case of sunpoisoning plus her face when she pays the late charge. - Victoria, NY Excuse of the Day for 5/21/06:"I had the rent money, but the front door of my apartment blew open, and someone came in and stole the rent."This tenant has a filthy apartment, and is always late on the rent. This is the second time her rent has been "stolen". Perhaps a bank account would offer a solution to her poor cash management skills. As a regular reader of this forum, I just laughed to myself, knowing I had just come from magistrate's court after filing the eviction papers, and also knowing I had just heard "The Excuse of the Day." - David B. Kennesaw, Georgia Excuse of the Day for 5/19/06:"My daughter had a Breast Implant Surgery and I had to pay it"Our Answer: "Good for her but we want the rental payment now". A week later we went back and the lady was out of the country. A few weeks later they were evicted. - Y.A. Tampa, Florida Excuse of the Day for 5/15/06:The note in the envelope in place of the rent reads: "My job needs me at an out of town convention for the next 2 weeks. There will be no way to contact me. I'll have the rent when I get back."If this were a reliable tenant, I might give him the benefit of the doubt, but he's late with a different excuse every month. - Jeff C. Portland, ME Excuse of the Day for 5/13/06:"I'm only 1 month behind!"I waited too long to begin the eviction, thinking that he would somehow come up with the rent. I was wrong. I found an attorney to represent me because I wouldn't know how to handle an eviction. We'll be in court next week. - Irma in Mission Viejo, CA Excuse of the Day for 5/08/06:"We had a family emergency. My cousin is being evicted and we decided to chip in to rent another apartment for when she gets back from her cruise."Holy cow! Her cousin's being evicted and is away on a cruise? My tenant can join her cousin in the new place, because she's getting evicted too! - Arthur F., NY Excuse of the Day for 4/28/06:"You have 2 months security deposit! Take it from that!"Security is not rent. The lease states that. The matter of non-payment is already in my attorney's hands. - Mario L., Monks Corner, SC Excuse of the Day for 4/23/06:"My computer crashed and cost me over a week of work."This tenant's business is involved with a website. I still need the rent. - Sondra E., Irvine, CA Excuse of the Day for 4/21/06:"My rooster died last night. Without him I don't know what I'm gonna do."I wasn't aware of it till now, but my tenant was supplimenting his income by hosting cock-fights in the yard. - Steven F., Huntington Station, NY Excuse of the Day for 4/19/06:"I hurt my back. I've been out of work the last 2 weeks. "This he tells me on his way out to go jogging. - Mary D., Tampa, FL Excuse of the Day for 4/16/06:"So sorry rent is late-my sister gave birth over the holiday, It's a bit crazy."Her sister did not live at the apt. where she rented from. this is from an ex-tenant in LA area. (Her rent was 8 days late..still don't know if it's a boy or girl).... I guess her sister is the only woman who has given birth on the planet. Can't give that excuse to my mortgage company. - Ann, Los Angeles, CA Excuse of the Day for 4/12/06:"My accountant is in the hospital. Everything financial is on hold till he gets back."They obviously don't have the rent money. I am serving a Pay Rent or Quit notice this afternoon. - Debbie K., New York Excuse of the Day for 4/11/06:"I'm waiting for my tax check. Keep your shirt on."That excuse is so old I'm going to increase the late fee if we renew the lease. - Sharon T., NM Excuse of the Day for 4/6/06:"I didn't get paid the last 2 weeks. My boss was arrested."I have no snappy comeback, but I'll have to evict if she doesn't pay the rent soon. - W. Harriman, CO Excuse of the Day for 4/5/06:"Did you see how much work I did to this house?"Yes. I don't want to talk about lease vioaltions right now. I just want the rent. ( They painted the livingroom lime green and painted the newly stained clear pine moldings a high gloss black. Our lease requires written permission before the tenant is allowed to do any painting or "improvements".) - George B., NY Excuse of the Day for 4/1/06:"I lent the rent to my brother who had an emergency. He'll have it back to me in just a few days."I happen to know her brother is a drug addict always in and out of jail. I'll give it 7 days and then start eviction. - Mogee W., Los Angeles, CA Excuse of the Day for 3/30/06:"I got a great deal on this widescreen TV. I got you one too. I had to take yours off the rent, though 'cause I didn't have enough cash."I don't watch TV. I want the rent now! - Jeff R. in Kentucky Excuse of the Day for 3/27/06:"I just had oral surgery. The rent is the last thing on my mind."It will be the first thing on your mind when you get your late fee notice! - Violet B., Toms River, NJ Excuse of the Day for 3/23/06:"My husband signs the checks and he went away for the week."The rent came the next week with the wife's signature on the check. - Gaye Allen, Cottonwood, AZ Excuse of the Day for 3/20/06:"My boss did not pay me for the last 2 weeks."I know her employer and called him. He fired her for stealing 2 weeks before. - Donald Smith, Atlanta, GA Excuse of the Day for 3/17/06:"I'm very sorry, but I had some unexpected expenses that could not be avoided."When pressed, she told me she had to buy a dress and pay a hotel bill for her high school reunion. I still had to send a late charge notice. - Rosalind Hietz, Portland, ME Excuse of the Day for 3/15/06:When January's rent wasn't paid by the 20th of January, 2006, my tenant told me that she mailed it on the 31st of December, 2005. She said it must have got lost in the mail or maybe she didn't mail it and she accidentally shredded it. Okay. Now this month (March) she is 14 days late and when I finally got a hold of her this a.m. she said that she needed my address again because she lost her day planner. Whatever. I am so glad I found the LPA, now I know I am not alone in this nightmare. - Jennifer Hill, Sherman, TexasExcuse of the Day for 3/11/06:"I'm getting married! We'll talk about it after my honeymoon."She said they were returning in 2 weeks. I said they may not have a home to retuirn to because I am starting court action now unless they work something out. - Jane K. in Illinois Excuse of the Day for 3/5/06:"My girlfriend broke up with me. AND SHE TOOK ALL MY MONEY!"They are both on the lease so I will be starting the eviction against both of them. I will also be reporting them on LPA to their credit reports. - Wilton in Ohio Excuse of the Day for 3/2/06:"My work changed my pay schedule. Now I get paid on the 2nd Friday of each month. Can we change the due date?" - Dick Derle, Bellmore, NYExcuse of the Day for 2/27/06:"Don't tell me I can't pay it next month. I know you let Mrs. S. take 2 months to pay last year. I will sue for discrimination if you persist!"I let a credit-worthy tenant catch up on a payment plan after a hospital stay. This tenant is always crying discrimination and always pays extremely late. As soon as the market opens up a little, I'll be looking to replace her. - Marc S., HI Excuse of the Day for 2/23/06:"I have my share, but my partners don't have the money."Who said anything about "partners"? I rented the apartment to a single person who now seems to be sharing with partners who also can't afford the rent. William T., Phil, PA Excuse of the Day for 2/18/06:"The guy who pays my rent is going away for two weeks. Can you wait?"- J Warburton, Newburgh, NY Excuse of the Day for 2/11/06:"I'm sorry, I paid my credit cards first. I'd much rather pay your late charge than theirs."This is why the late fees have to hurt enough to prioritize the rent payment. - John@TheLPA Excuse of the Day for 2/9/06:"I'm sorry but there is something wrong with 'my check' and I didn't receive it yet. I will check to see what is wrong and get back to you........"- J Warburton, Newburgh, NY Excuse of the Day for 2/7/06:"I'm sorry but I was arrested last week and lost my job. Can we work something out?"What were you arrested for? Identity theft. Nice. - J Warburton, Newburgh, NY Excuse of the Day for 2/6/06:"Someone broke into my apartment last week and stole all my money and my jewelry. I'm sorry but your are going to have to evict me. I can't pay my rent."PS: no request to do repairs was ever made or reported until rent was due - J Warburton, Newburgh, NY Excuse of the Day for 2/1/06:"Can I skip this month? Things are tight and my boss said I can take some time off to relax."At first, I laughed because I really thought she was kidding... Nope. She's for real and so is my Urgent Late Notice and Late fee! - Ricky D., CA Excuse of the Day for 01/25/06:"I brought my car in for an inspection and it failed the test. I had to pay $900. to get my car fixed."The rent can not be dependant on your car repairs, I told her. She will still have to pay the rent and the late fee. I agreed to give her 7 days extra to come up with everything befor i have to start legal action. - Michael K., Newport, RI Excuse of the Day for 01/17/06:"No rent. Sorry. I don't have it. Do what you have to."I tried to find out why, but could not get an honest answer, so I have no choice but to start legal eviction. - D. Leonard, Port St. Lucie, FL Excuse of the Day for 01/16/06:"It's nothing personal. I do this to all my landlords. You should have checked me out better."Although it was many years ago, this was one of the catalysts that helped propel me to create The LPA. - John@theLPA Excuse of the Day for 01/15/06:"Can you hold this check till the monday after next monday? I'm having a little problem with my bank. They're telling me that I don't have any money in the account."I'm sorry, I don't take post dated checks. You'd better find a way to pay the rent and the late fee before the attorney's fee gets added on. - Steve S., NY Excuse of the Day for 01/11/06:"I'm not paying another month until you remove the furniture I don't want."I rented the condo out furnished to an old woman who keeps trying to change the deal as she goes along. In the lease, it was agreed that she was renting it furnished and "As Is". I may have to ruin her credit and report her to the National Tenant Rating Bureau. - J. Klein, FL Excuse of the Day for 01/01/06:"I know all the landlord tricks. As soon as I pay the rent, you will evict me anyway."This person has been a nightmare tenant. If she doesn't pay the rent I definately will have to evict her. - L.J. Chess, NY Excuse of the Day for 12/29/05:"My Pastor will pay the rent this month and will be calling you today."Needless to say, a pastor never called me and I found out from the courts that the tenant was there that very same day pleading to the clerk to prevent eviction and told the clerk that she had paid me and could prove it with receipts! She's been evicted. - James C., Atlanta, GA Excuse of the Day for 12/28/05:"Boy, you really want that rent money. Don't you? Well, I had a lot of holiday expenses this year. You're gonna have to wait and be real patient like."This guy thinks he can intimidate me. I am not afraid to evict this alcoholic loser. - John G., TX Excuse of the Day for 12/22/05:"I was rushing to get you the rent on time and got a very expensive speeding ticket. That messed everything up. I argued with the judge and then I had to pay additional fines. See what happens when you put pressure on me?"I'm sorry he got a ticket. I gave the tenants envelopes to send the rent in. I can't accept the blame for the rent being late. A late fee is still gonna have to be charged.- Landlord Mike S., TN Excuse of the Day for 12/18/05:
"You have a dead raccoon stuck in the back of the dryer! Get it out or we will call the Health Department!"Three things: 1. Pay the rent. 2. You brought your own dryer with you, remember?, 3. In your lease, you are responsible for all pests and extermination remedies. (LPA Lease clause # 13) - George C., PA Excuse of the Day for 12/13/05:"I called the original owner, he says he will not charge you any late fees."That is not how it works, I pay on time. You pay your late fees.- Bart P., CA Excuse of the Day for 11/28/05:"My son had to quit his job because his grades are slipping."I rented the apartment to her based on her income and references. The son didn't even have a job. I guess they'll have to move if they can't afford the rent. I told her that. - Robert A., Tustin, CA Excuse of the Day for 11/27/05:"I looked up this house in the tax records and it belongs to someone else. I'm not paying you. I'll be holding the rent until I find the 'real' owner."The deed and mortgage is in my partner's name, but we are both on the lease. I know this is just a stalling tactic and must charge a late fee. - Martina K., GAExcuse of the Day for 11/23/05:"I don't have it. I'm a landlord too and I had to use this month's rent to evict my non-paying tenant."Well it sure is a domino effect. The only difference is that I'll have my mortgage paid even after I evict you. - Ronald C., KYExcuse of the Day for 11/18/05:"I can't use the toilet anymore. You have to widen the area around the toilet so I can use it!"What this tenant of 5 years is talking about is something I never thought I'd hear. She has gained so much weight in the last few years that she can't fit on the toilet in the space between the vanity and the wall. Now she is using the rent as leverage to get me to make the bathroom "Obese Friendly". The house has only one bathroom. I wonder where she is going to the bathroom now. - Jonathan L., PAExcuse of the Day for 11/14/05:"Oh, hi. I was just making out the check now."This is what shes said when I called on the 14th of the month. I told her we needed the check immediately and will pick up the check right away, she said: "I'm not home now, I'm at the car place getting my car fixed." (By the way, I did get the check later in the day and it was dated the 4th! Does she think we are stupid?)- Steve S., NYExcuse of the Day for 11/11/05:"I spent all my rent money on the massage parlor. It's great for stress relief and I needed it."When you get your late fee notice, you're really gonna need it. - Lou C., NYExcuse of the Day for 11/08/05:"I ain't paying no rent. You got black mold!"When the tenant showed me the "mold", it turned out to be a stain on the garage floor where her car has been leaking oil. She still didn't have the rent when I explained that it's not mold and she's responsible for the cleanup of the oil. - Thomas N., Golden Gate, FLExcuse of the Day for 11/07/05:"I have to save up for another place. A roach crawled into my ear and I had to have it removed in the emergency room!"This tenant is 2 months behind in the rent and by the looks of the housekeeping, it is not suprising that there are roaches. - Walter M., Baltimore, MDExcuse of the Day for 11/06/05:"I wanna renegotiate our lease. MY sister is in real estate and she says I'm paying too much."Sorry the lease stands. So does the late fee. Ask your sister if you can stay with her after you are evicted. - Jack Klein, NYExcuse of the Day for 10/29/05:"I ain't payin no rent till the dumbass toilet flushes my paper towels." You are not supposed to flush paper towels. The sewer company already told these people not to flush paper towels and feminine products anymore. It's also in the lease. Thanks for letting me vent. - Marla in ChicagoExcuse of the Day for 10/27/05:"I lost a baby and am staying with Aunt until I recover. I feel so weak and cannot drive to post office to mail the check.."I said let me talk to your Aunt to mail the check. She goes...."she not home at the moment she will be back soon". The phone was accidentally cut off ( how? I have no idea), after that, until today, she never answer my call. - Eric R.Excuse of the Day for 10/24/05:"My brother is getting married and he asked me for money for the wedding."As a good landlord, I gave her the benefit of not paying on time, she seems so sincere about it. A week later, trying to get a hold of her. No answer. - Eric R.Excuse of the Day for 10/20/05:"My daughter needed to get braces and we had to give a downpayment."I'm sorry you can't afford to stay. I realize you might not be able to pay the late fee and the rent now, so I know you'll understand that I need a judgement for eviction to show my losses for tax purposes. - Joseph C., NYExcuse of the Day for 10/12/05:"I already paid your wife."No they didn't. When I asked her to describe my wife she couldn't. Of course she didn't have a receipt either. Then I informed her that I don't even have a wife! - Don S., Tampa, FLExcuse of the Day for 10/7/05:"If you don't give us the OK to have a dog, we're not payin the rent."My lease says no pets and I don't want to change it. - Nick, NJExcuse of the Day for 9/24/05:"We can't pay the rent because we went on a cruise. It was very expensive especially with the casino. It definately set us back. Don't worry we'll have next months rent on time. Its just gonna take a while to raise this month."I sent an LPA Notice to Pay Rent or Quit with full late fees. My lawyer is ready to take it to court to evict if they don't pay up. - Bob G., Merrick, NYExcuse of the Day for 9/10/05:"We can't pay the rent because the address on our check is wrong."Meanwhile they told they mailed out the rent 3 weeks ago - Jennifer W.Excuse of the Day for 9/8/05:"We were invited to my boss's wedding and we had to give a decent gift."Your rent is $1500. a month and your boss's wedding just cost you a late fee of $150. I hope your boss was worth it. - Valerie C., GeorgiaExcuse of the Day for 9/7/05:"Don't worry about the rent. Relax, in a few months my family is going to come through with some cash and I'll be able to buy the house form you."Thanks anyway, James, but the house isn't for sale. You've had a different excuse about the rent every month since I know you. Maybe if you give me your forwarding address, I'll let you know when I decide to sell. (When he asked: "What do you mean 'Forwarding Address?', I handed him an LPA Notice to Pay Rent or Quit.) - John, Bellmore, NYExcuse of the Day for 9/1/05:"I just bought a brand new Honda and it is "so sick" so I will not be able to give you rent for to more weeks."That's when I asked her if it was nice and roomy she said yes, I said great cause you are going to be living in it. Papers were served the next day. - Sara P., FLExcuse of the Day for 8/30/05:"My friend is a lawyer and he said the only reason you keep saying you want to know what happened to the rent each month is because you cannot afford to pay your mortgage."My answer: Your friend is a lawyer? Great! Have him chew on this, this is a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Get the Hell Out. - Chris, Studio City, CaliforniaExcuse of the Day for 8/19/05:"Just because I owe you the rent doesn't mean you are getting paid. I have to work for that money."Me: If I don't get paid the rent, you don't get to stay in my rental house. - Eddie M., FLExcuse of the Day for 8/12/05:"I was at the bus stop and had your money order in my hand. The wind blew it out of my hand and into the street. A bus drove over it and it stuck the wheel."I inquired about a late rent payment and this was the 'reason'. Bear in mind that this was a day or two after a major WI snow storm. - Aldo, Milwaukee, WIExcuse of the Day for 8/6/05:"I am not paying rent until I know you are paying the mortgage I will not spend my money on rent every month if you don't have to."Stupidity must run real deep in this bloodline. I don't know if they thought I was going to fall for this or what. - Cheryl W., Antelope Valley, CaExcuse of the Day for 8/2/05:"I really have excellent credit, but I can't give you my social security # because I was a victim of identity theft."This isn't a rent excuse, it's really a screening excuse I received today after an interested tenant returned an LPA Rental Application. The other red flags on the application made it an easy denial. I'm finding the "identity theft" story has become a more and more popular excuse among unqualified tenants. - John@theLPAExcuse of the Day for 7/27/05:"I can't pay pay the rent because I'm across town and am out of checks"Me: You have to tomorrow before I issue pay or quit.Tenant: All you care about is the money, don't you? Me: You have till tomorrow. - Joe S., CO Excuse of the Day for 7/9/05:"Sorry, but the bank froze my account."I'm sorry too. Now you have to pay late fees and attorney fees to keep from being evicted. - Matt S., in PAExcuse of the Day for 7/02/05:"We're looking for another house, so we don't want to pay till we find something."I am sending a pay rent or quit notice. - Ryan G,, FLExcuse of the Day for 6/24/05:"My car's been in the shop for the last 3 weeks. I didn't even use it."This was about past due rent for a garage. - Rob A., NYExcuse of the Day for 6/18/05:"My son was in the hospital."I know that doesn't sound funny, but the funny thing is that she didn't realize she's used this excuse the last 2 months, while her son is really fine and playing on the high school baseball team. She's also 2 weeks late! - Mike B., Rutherford, NJExcuse of the Day for 6/7/05:"My husband is on a confidential business trip. It is Top Secret. That means I can't tell you what it is. He'll be gettin the money when he comes back."This tenant and his wife are trying to keep it Top Secret that they just can't afford the rental. Maybe "James Bond" can get the rent from "M" to avoid being kicked out for nonpayment of $660. in rent. - Marty M., NJExcuse of the Day for 6/4/05:"Yo, uh, I couldn't go to work last week cause I got de-nutted."What does having a vasectomy have to do with paying the rent on time? (Classy guy.) - John C., Philadephia, PAExcuse of the Day for 6/2/05:"Something happened recently which I am not at liberty to discuss. I expect to have all the rent and late fees by the end of the month."It was already at the end of the month - he means by the end of the next month. I just sent my attorney the info to start the eviction. - Manny, Bronx, NYExcuse of the Day for 5/23/05:"I will not pay rent until you replace that noisy refrigerator. It keeps me up all night."I've heard the fridge and it is not loud. The tenant's unapproved dog makes more noise. I have sent the LPA Lease Violation Notice. - Carman S., NVExcuse of the Day for 5/19/05:"I'd like to make our rent payments in large lump sum payments. In 2 months, we'll be able to pay a year in advance."He has been my tenant for 3 months and has not yet paid on time. Why should I beleive him now? - Rob S., CAExcuse of the Day for 5/15/05:"I had to buy a Prom dress for my daughter. I tell ya, they ain't cheap."Well at least the dress was for his daughter. The weirdo. I want my rent! - Gregory J., NJExcuse of the Day for 5/10/05:"I'm sorry we don't have it. My husband needed the money for his defense attorney."From what we hear, he was accused of stealing from his job. - Tom C., NYExcuse of the Day for 5/03/05:"I cant pay your rent because I'm saving for the deposit and first months rent on a different apartment. "She got her pay or quit tenancy the next day. Duh!!! - Tara in MichiganExcuse of the Day for 5/02/05:"I spent so much of my own money fixing up your place, that I didn't have any left over for the rent."He was actually hired by the previous owner to remodel, and went over budget. Then he decided he didn't need to pay rent because the amount he went over budget was in lieu of rent. Not my fault he doesn't know how to price a job. - Joshua W., Bountiful, UTExcuse of the Day for 4/25/05:"My brother in law is an attorney who eats landlords like you for breakfast."I thought that was kind of unprovoked. All I did was ask if the rent had been sent yet. But I have to be thankful for the tenant's honesty and stupidity because I would have waited another week if she asked me to. - Frank M, NVExcuses of the Day for 4/22/05:I read about you in the "Apartment Magazine." I'm not a member of LPA, but I wanted to share the excuses I received, all from just ONE tenant, starting with the first month he moved in, and lasting for the 3 months he lived in my rental unit:
I'm taking both my former tenant AND his mother, a co-signer on the lease (due to his BAD credit!) to court. I'm not worried about getting the unpaid rent- he told me she's a "millionaire." I'm still waiting for her to pay........(smile) - Cheri Woods, Los Angeles, Ca. Excuse of the Day for 4/21/05:"The bank made a mistake. I had all the rent money in the bank, but now they have no record of it."This isn't the first whacky excuse out of these tenants. - George B., NYExcuse of the Day for 4/10/05:"I can't pay the rent this month because my transmission went on my car and it cost $350.00 to fix so I used the rent money to fix it and you won't be able to call me back because I dropped my cell phone in the toilet and now its not taking incoming calls."Tenant left the message on my machine. She has only lived in the apartment one month. This is not a good start. - Kevin C. Syracuse, N.Y.Excuse of the Day for 4/7/05:"I don't have the rent; can I trade you something??"- Julie H., CAExcuse of the Day for 4/7/05:"I'm going fishing today, I'll pay the rent tomorrow..."- Julie H., CAExcuse of the Day for 4/2/05:"You got mouses all over the home! You got to do something about these mouses to make this home habitual again."My exterminator found no evidence of mice and the unit was always habitable. This is just one of many excuses this tenant has used for not paying the rent on time. This time I am enforcing the late charges, and sending a copy of the LPA "Pests" clause in the lease. - Lisa M., Far Rockaway, NYExcuse of the Day for 3/30/05:"Can you lend me some cash?"I think this tenant has snorted my rent money up his nose in drugs.- Mary Lou, KYExcuse of the Day for 3/23/05:"Rent, Rent, Rent. All you ever want is rent. Well here it is... Oh, by the way, don't deposit the check till the 28th. Harry's mother died and we paid for the party after the funeral."I just took the check, but then I decided to charge them with a late fee anyway. The 28th is pretty late. - Phil S., AZExcuse of the Day for 3/20/05:"My nephew is law student and he tells me that this lease is illegal."I knew it was just another excuse, so I my lawyer served them the next day. They did wind up paying the late fee, a partial attorneys fee and the rent. - Jack Klein, NYExcuse of the Day for 3/18/05:"I had to pick my sister up from the airport. Then she needed money."It turns out the sister is here to become a permanant unauthorized resident. Too bad she didn't use the money to pay the rent. Now they will have to use it to move. - Anna Marie, Fort Lauderdale, FLExcuse of the Day for 3/15/05:"I am filing Chapter 7, so scr@# you! "As he drives off in a SUV, and his $50.00 haircut looks like s###t! - Pam, MichiganExcuse of the Day for 3/12/05:"We will not pay the rent until you split the PG&E bill."I'm afraid I have no choice but to evict. They are angry because their utility bill is higher than expected and feel it is somehow my fault. - Robert G., CAExcuse of the Day for 3/11/05:"I'm sorry, I just don't have it. I don't even have an excuse. I'm such a loser."This guy looks like Dagwood Bumstead. I'd feel sorry for him if I wasn't so pi$$ed off. - Walt in PAExcuse of the Day for 3/7/05:"Oh no. Not you again. My husband is away on business. He'll talk to you then."When asked when her husband is coming back, she said "How the heck should I know?" and hung up. I think I have an eviction brewing. - Theresa L., NYExcuse of the Day for 3/6/05:"I can't pay the rent because the company I work for went bankrupt, wrote me a bad check and the bank that cashed it made me pay it back."Every month our brother is late on rent and this is the best excuse he's come up with yet! - CarolExcuse of the Day for 3/5/05:"I don't have the money. My boss can't pay me till 2 weeks from now."I'm sorry but I don't understand why your McDonalds manager can't pay you this week. Do I have to talk to him myself? - Hector from NYExcuse of the Day for 3/3/05:"My wife is a SLUT! You think I care about the rent?"Holey Moley. OOOOKAAAY. I'll just check back another time. Maybe a late fee will work. - Jeff, NJExcuse of the Day for 2/27/05:"Baby needed an emergency hysterectomy. It could be a while till we have the rent.""Baby" is their attack dog that I never gave permission for. - Mike, M., Boston, MAExcuse of the Day for 2/23/05:"I'm not going to pay my rent until you stop using your computer or let me use it too."Sometimes we become landlords because we don't know any better! I allowed a young adult to stay in my home after he was kicked out of his parents home. I was laid off at that time, and since he talked me into letting him stay and pay rent past the first 15 days "to help me financially as a way to thank me", now I have to get a lawyer to perform the eviction proceedings. I'm joining the LPA to help keep this from catching me off guard again. - William G.Excuse of the Day for 2/22/05:"I thought I was supposed to pay you at the end of the year in full."WHAT IS THIS MORON TALKING ABOUT? I went over the whole lease with them. He is playing dumb or he's really got a screw loose. - Steve S., NYExcuse of the Day for 2/19/05:"I have company from out of town staying with us a couple of weeks. You know how it is."Yes I do. The 3 day pay rent or quit notice has been served.- Robert, San Diego, CAExcuse of the Day for 2/17/05:"I didn't do any of that damage. My kids did all that. You know, how kids are? Kids will be kids."Ok, I have kids, and not once have they broken any windows OR torn out any screens! Thank goodness for big deposits and exterminators, a dumpster and the bug doctor and my place will be on its way to a more deserving tenant in no time! - Lori in St. Paul, MNExcuse of the Day for 2/15/05:"We have to buy a new washing machine! We can't goes to work if we aint got clean clothes an we can't pay the rent if we can't goes to work."If you don't pay the rent, you don't have an apartment any more to put your washing machine and your clothes. - Keith M., NYExcuse of the Day for 2/12/05:"I have more important things to worry about. My daughter JUST GOT KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL!"I'm truly sorry to hear that. I don't know the details. I do know that the rent is still due with a late fee. - John C., VAExcuse of the Day for 2/08/05:"I can't pay you in money right now."I asked "what the heck is that supposed to mean?", and he started bringing out his comic book collection and offering me fairly recent issues of Spiderman and Superman. -Nick, VAExcuse of the Day for 1/31/05:"We found mold. I am allergic to it. We may have to call the health dept if you can't get this problem takin care of."These people never wiped down the bath tub tile enclosure and are growing mildew in the grout between the tiles. Now they want to use this as an excuse to hold back the rent. Obviously they don't have the money. I told them to get some Tilex and start looking for another place because this is going to my attorney. They paid the next day. -Jeffery R, FLExcuse of the Day for 1/28/05:"My car is broke and it will be $800. to fix it and I ain't got that neither."He speaks in double negatives, but when he asked what my Notice to pay or Quit means, I tod him "It means you ain't gonna stay here no more unless you pay." - Johnny A., SCExcuse of the Day for 1/20/05:"My camera was stolen out of my car. How am I supposed to make a living?"He's a photographer and has like 5 cameras. I told him that the rent is still due and he will have to get out if he can't afford the rent. - Marshal M., NYExcuse of the Day for 1/16/05:"I put it in the mail last tuesday"Wow, twice in a matter of 6 months the post office has lost your rent check... that's gotta go in a record book somewhere. I'm posting a pay or quit notice Monday. - Paul K.Excuse of the Day for 1/14/05:"My locker at the gym was robbed and I had it in cash in my wallet."Now I know it's a lie. First of all, he hasn't paid on time yet, plus he's never had the rent in cash. And if you look at this guy, it's hard to beleive he ever set foot in a gym! - Submitted by Adam, PAExcuse of the Day for 1/11/05:"I will receive a big check from my business next week. It's big enough to pay the two months rent past due"One week later: "I received the big check, but it came from Hurracane flooded area of Florida. The party who wrote the check lost lots of money to the Hurracane. It will take one more week to clear the check." Another week later: "You pushed me too much that I cashed in the big check too early, and it was bounced. The check was mailed back to Florida and was lost in between. However, the other party will issue another check, and I will receive it next week" You know there will be another excuse for next week! - John C Chou, El Dorado Hills, CA Excuse of the Day for 1/08/05:"My sister in-law won the lottery. Don't worry you'll get your money."They been here 14 months and have not paid on time in 14 months. So here's another B.S. excuse. - Submitted by Kathy H., NYExcuse of the Day for 1/06/05:"My husband booked a cruise. It's more expensive than we thought it would be. This will be our first real vacation in I don't know how long. We'll catch up on the rent somehow."I think I may win the judgement for eviction before they even go away. Dummys.- Submitted by Joey B., NYExcuse of the Day for 1/04/05:"I have to make up rent and deposit for another place, can't you use the security deposit for this month... And by the way I won't be out at the end of the month, I'll be out of the first of the following month and you can pick up keys then, since my deposit covers me until then."Evicting this one on Friday!! - Submitted by Lynde F.Back to Main Tenant Excuses Page | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
 Look-up Associations Attorneys Businesses Rentals Available Classifieds Rentals Wanted Realty Brokers Tips & Advice Tenant Histories Other Areas Q&A Forum Landlord Tenant Law Essential Forms Free Forms Credit Reports About Us Help |
|
||||
© 2000-2008 The Landlord Protection Agency, Inc.