Trust Worthy or Crooked?

"I am not a crook." Said the landlord who is so good at convincing you that he has your best interests in mind. But as I learned living in New York City for three years, these are the people that, once they've earned your trust, they won't hesitate to manipulate you with it to their benefit. And why the hell not?! It's easy for them to get away with it. I have to admint, I've found a bit of pleasure in figuring out how to not let them get away with it.

When I moved out 2 weeks ago and was getting my security deposit back from good ol' Jerry, he wanted to be "fair" and deduct ConEdison for the 2 1/2 year we lived there from the deposit. Now, my original roomie and I did all we could to contact ConEd and get the bill in our name in November of 2003 only to find out that our apartment and the basement apartment were on the same meter and they couldn't change the name without the landlord's permission. It was at this time that "illegal apartment" became an accepted reality for us. Jerry's response to this, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. ConEdison makes this mistake all the time." For the next month we follow up with Jerry. "Don't worry about it" becomes the play-back recording we continue to hear from Jerry for 2 and 1/2 years. There's no electricity in the kitchen or bathroom, Jerry. "That fuse blows. Don't worry about it." Water is dripping from the ceiling in my bedroom, Jerry. "It's the radiator upstairs. Don't worry about it." The ceiling is about to cave in from the water dripping from it, Jerry. "I just need to turn off the heat. Don't worry about it." The toilet doesn't flush, Jerry. "That's easy to fix. Don't worry about it." Early on, not having experienced the play-back enough yet, Jerry earned our trust and we didn't worry about ConEd. We didn't pay a bill and we continued on with our lives of big bedrooms, a large kitchen and a back yard with a garden and grill.

Fast forward to June of 2006 and we want our security deposit back and, sorry Jerry, but I WILL NOT let you take 30 months of a ConEdison bill I have never seen out of my security deposit. I want it ALL!! He writes the check, I bring it back to 'Sota and deposit it into my dad's account. Great, been spending the cash, on problem. Today, one week later I find out it was a bad check. DAMN YOU JERRY!!! I guessed it might happen but that little part of me that gave Jerry my trust refused to believe he would take it this far. But his crookedness runs deep! And I call him on it. My first voice mail message to him - he is notorious for not answering the phone at the times we need him most. "I have a life and can't always answer the phone," he once said - Jerry, you said you weren't a crook. Well, you've proven yourself wrong. You've made a mistake and we need to talk. 5 hours later, I call back and leave another message. Jerry, you might have a life, but right now, I don't. I have all the time in the world to write letters to the Attorney General's fraud division, ConEdison and I have a direct number to the New York Department of Buildings. Call me! And of course, 20 minutes later Jerry called.

He had this whole BS story about how the tenants upstairs didn't pay him on time so he didn't have the money in his account to cover the check blahblahblahblah! "Don't worry, Molly. I'll send you another check." Hell no you won't. You're sending me a money order and if it's not here one week from today, I'm making the phone call and sending the letters. "Okay, Molly. Don't worry. I'll call you when I send it. We're about to get a big rain storm here. How's the weather there. " AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Stop trying to pass for a nice guy because, there is no way around it, you are crooked!!

This is just one crooked New York resident I dealt with in my time there. Bottom line, don't let them get away with it and let them know you're onto them. More often than not, they'll respect you for it and life becomes easier for the both of you. The story with Jerry is to be continued, however. Let's hope that money order shows up and I didn't just shoot myself in the foot.