HELP! Being scammed!
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Worth also noting I have had the contract translated since (by my Khmer tutor) and she mentions there is zero reference to a minimum contract at all, only on the edited version.
They say it was there from the word go, they haven't replied to any messages we've sent with pictures of the original agreement, they just ignore it. The landlady states that because we said "we might stay for 1 year" this overrides the contract, which as we all know is complete and utter BS.
Whenever we mention the contract she says "I don't care about the contract, I just care about what we said" (i.e. that we might stay for longer).
They say it was there from the word go, they haven't replied to any messages we've sent with pictures of the original agreement, they just ignore it. The landlady states that because we said "we might stay for 1 year" this overrides the contract, which as we all know is complete and utter BS.
Whenever we mention the contract she says "I don't care about the contract, I just care about what we said" (i.e. that we might stay for longer).
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Yeah, I wouldn't be over the moon about it myself if leasing a property to somebody. But when they specifically tell you before leasing the place that it might only be for a couple of months (I wasnt sure if I was staying here), then you need to take it on the chin.
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I told them I would be there for a minimum of 2 months, and I was there for exactly 2 months. So I lived up to my end of the bargain.
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I'd suggest asking your current landlord not to register your tenancy with the sangkat for a few months - he shouldn't have any issue with that, means he won't have to pay out money.
Change your phone number and put it down to experience.
If it's any consolation - this kind of things doesn't happen that often.
In the future I'd suggest offering to help them find new foreign tenants (you don't have to actually follow through). This maybe the carrot to convince them to be more reasonable.
Also the deposit is very often used as a substitute for the last two months rent - this means that if you haven't trashed the place then the landlord doesn't have you by the short and curlies. So just inform them 2 months before you leave that you will be leaving and that they can use the deposit to cover the rent.
Hope it works out for you.
Change your phone number and put it down to experience.
If it's any consolation - this kind of things doesn't happen that often.
In the future I'd suggest offering to help them find new foreign tenants (you don't have to actually follow through). This maybe the carrot to convince them to be more reasonable.
Also the deposit is very often used as a substitute for the last two months rent - this means that if you haven't trashed the place then the landlord doesn't have you by the short and curlies. So just inform them 2 months before you leave that you will be leaving and that they can use the deposit to cover the rent.
Hope it works out for you.
OP, their changing of the tenancy agreement is a fraud. I imagine if you lawyer-up, they would get pretty scared.
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Yeah, even without lawyering up over a $200 dispute, I would aggressively call them frauds and cheats every time they called and insist they owe you $140. Let it be known that if they pursue the matter you will embarrass the hell out of them for altering the contract after it was signed and thumb printed.QED wrote:OP, their changing of the tenancy agreement is a fraud. I imagine if you lawyer-up, they would get pretty scared.
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I'm not bothered enough about the money to go to a lawyer (it'd be cheaper to pay them the $200 no doubt!), but if they keep pursuing it after we've blocked their numbers (by calling from a different phone or contacting the police) i'll go that route. Threatening to do this is what made them offer us $400, so you're definitely right.
Current landlord knows all about it as his Mum lives next door to the old house (which is how we found it) and they are equally disgusted, so he should do that for me. My biggest concern is and was if the police get involved and side with the former landlord because they've either been bribed or because he himself is a police officer. If that does happen what do you guys suggest? Just pay up or lawyer up? Would the police even get involved in a civil dispute like this in the first place out here? I know they wouldn't back home, this is for the courts, not for the police. Not paying a bill isn't a crime, fraud however is, so I'm fairly sure if the police did get involved and were fair we'd win this every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Current landlord knows all about it as his Mum lives next door to the old house (which is how we found it) and they are equally disgusted, so he should do that for me. My biggest concern is and was if the police get involved and side with the former landlord because they've either been bribed or because he himself is a police officer. If that does happen what do you guys suggest? Just pay up or lawyer up? Would the police even get involved in a civil dispute like this in the first place out here? I know they wouldn't back home, this is for the courts, not for the police. Not paying a bill isn't a crime, fraud however is, so I'm fairly sure if the police did get involved and were fair we'd win this every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
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If the police did get involved and told you to pay they'd probably be bluffing. They're not going to arrest you over this. Just stick to your guns. If you do get arrested and thrown in prison please do post about it here, that's good content.Brainstormcs wrote:I'm not bothered enough about the money to go to a lawyer (it'd be cheaper to pay them the $200 no doubt!), but if they keep pursuing it after we've blocked their numbers (by calling from a different phone or contacting the police) i'll go that route. Threatening to do this is what made them offer us $400, so you're definitely right.
Current landlord knows all about it as his Mum lives next door to the old house (which is how we found it) and they are equally disgusted, so he should do that for me. My biggest concern is and was if the police get involved and side with the former landlord because they've either been bribed or because he himself is a police officer. If that does happen what do you guys suggest? Just pay up or lawyer up? Would the police even get involved in a civil dispute like this in the first place out here? I know they wouldn't back home, this is for the courts, not for the police. Not paying a bill isn't a crime, fraud however is, so I'm fairly sure if the police did get involved and were fair we'd win this every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
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If your current landlords mum lives next door to them then a penny pays a pound that they already know where your new home is.
I know someone who was contacted by a solicitor for an unreturned modem at the end of an internet contract. It was just an oversight but they ended up having to pay legal fees as well as returning the equipment.
I think they were also reported to (or threatened with reporting to) the credit bureau. Not really an issue for you but maybe for your Khmer gf/wife - she may struggle to get banking products if there is a financial dispute on record.
I probably wouldn't pay, but I would try my best to swallow my pride and be conciliatory. Things have the potential to get nasty if they are indeed connected and feel slighted.
I know someone who was contacted by a solicitor for an unreturned modem at the end of an internet contract. It was just an oversight but they ended up having to pay legal fees as well as returning the equipment.
I think they were also reported to (or threatened with reporting to) the credit bureau. Not really an issue for you but maybe for your Khmer gf/wife - she may struggle to get banking products if there is a financial dispute on record.
I probably wouldn't pay, but I would try my best to swallow my pride and be conciliatory. Things have the potential to get nasty if they are indeed connected and feel slighted.
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[quote="Brainstormcs"My biggest concern is and was if the police get involved and side with the former landlord because they've either been bribed or because he himself is a police officer. If that does happen what do you guys suggest? Just pay up or lawyer up? Would the police even get involved in a civil dispute like this in the first place out here?[/quote]
Of course the police will take their side, and it'll cost you thousands to get a lawyer. They likely have a lot more money than you so will win any legal case.
Of course the police will take their side, and it'll cost you thousands to get a lawyer. They likely have a lot more money than you so will win any legal case.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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Fuck them. They don't feel slighted. tThey know they altered the contract, which is why they gave him back $400 out of his $760 deposit. And since he took that up the ass so easily, now they are coming back and demanding $220 more.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: I probably wouldn't pay, but I would try my best to swallow my pride and be conciliatory. Things have the potential to get nasty if they are indeed connected and feel slighted.
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They will feel slighted if there was a public shouting match. All the neighbours will know that the landlords didn't get their way... it doesn't matter what the truth is when Khmer pride is involved.gavinmac wrote:Fuck them. They don't feel slighted. tThey know they altered the contract, which is why they gave him back $400 out of his $760 deposit. And since he took that up the ass so easily, now they are coming back and demanding $220 more.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: I probably wouldn't pay, but I would try my best to swallow my pride and be conciliatory. Things have the potential to get nasty if they are indeed connected and feel slighted.
And then if the current landlords mother is running her mouth off around the neighbourhood... about how these guys tried it on and 'lost' to the foreigners.
We all know they won and successfully scammed a portion of the deposit but i guarantee that isn't how they will see it.
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