Tenant Disappeared Question

It isn't likely you will ever find them. If you do, you likely will never collect. People like that rarely have steady jobs to garnish or bank accounts to seize. Perhaps contact a collection agency. They will take half but you might get something.

So a few updates. Thanks for the responses.

1. I do have SSN, banking information, the phone numbers of multiple family members (hers is shut off), etc. The eviction and lien are already on her credit report. The police don't care.

2. Our property manager actually ran into the tenant two nights ago at a grocery store, which means she is still close by. When she saw her, the tenant ran out the door and left her groceries behind.

MikeBear - you simplify things too much, even in a landlord friendly state like GA. We have already tried internet searches, employment searches, etc. We've tried finding her at the school she was getting grants from, etc. She left her job about two months before disappearing with no forwarding information. She didn't give the USPS a forwarding address for the rental house, etc. etc. etc.

I feel we are to the point where we either have to hire a PI or a vicious collections company, which I am considering. We have the phone number for her brother, sister and cousin located in Chicago.

Sounds like OP got pwned. Another reason being a landlord is awesome!!!

Quote from crazygrow : So a few updates. Thanks for the responses. MikeBear - you simplify things too much, even in a landlord friendly state like GA. We have already tried internet searches, employment searches, etc. We've tried finding her at the school she was getting grants from, etc. She left her job about two months before disappearing with no forwarding information. She didn't give the USPS a forwarding address for the rental house, etc. etc. etc. .

Sometimes the simplest things are overlooked. Sorry you don't feel it's worth anything.

That has worked for me in the past, so I thought it was worth throwing out there for you. Finding her is the first part, the rest is up to the courts. Maybe you can just throw away that sort of money, but I can't. Hopefully you have a large deposit from her that you can keep to help off-set the loss?

P.S. Maybe you won't think this is worth anything either, but here goes: Offer $100 CASH to one of her relatives to turn her in, since you have the contact info for them. People are greedy, and you might just be surprised at the results.

What you are essentially doing is called "debt collection", and you should read up on laws on debt collection activities. (Ie, if someone requests that you not contact them except vai US postal mail and you go ahead and continue to contact through other means (phone, in person) or you continually try to contact/harass her family/friends) you are subject to fines per fcc debt collection rules.

there's a reason as a landlord, you need to collect 1st month rent + deposit and if the tenant does not have good credit, an additional month of rent....

take it as a lessoned learned and move on, you can try to collect but i'm guessing if she can't pay rent, she's prob got other huge bills to pay (credit cards, car payments, etc) and your liens / wage garneshment will need to get in line with the other creditors. Wage garneshment has rules in which only a certain % can be taken out beyond a threshold varying by states. If she is working on a min wage job, that means its like $10 a month or something like that.... or what ends up happening is she quits the job and goes to a new one and you have to start the whole process over.

The police won't do jack as that is the way it should be. The police are not debt collectors and shouldn't be burden down with such.

Quote from MikeBear : Sometimes the simplest things are overlooked. Sorry you don't feel it's worth anything. That has worked for me in the past, so I thought it was worth throwing out there for you. Finding her is the first part, the rest is up to the courts. Maybe you can just throw away that sort of money, but I can't. Hopefully you have a large deposit from her that you can keep to help off-set the loss? P.S. Maybe you won't think this is worth anything either, but here goes: Offer $100 CASH to one of her relatives to turn her in, since you have the contact info for them. People are greedy, and you might just be surprised at the results.

I've worked in property management. I promise one day if you continue these practices, you will be against a mighty lawsuit that you will not win.

Quote from mothernature : I've worked in property management. I promise one day if you continue these practices, you will be against a mighty lawsuit that you will not win.

It's real rare, and only once. So people like this don't file lawsuits, because they are too busy running away from life.

Better than the old days, when the landlord would just send the boys over to work the guy over...

Quote from MikeBear : It's real rare, and only once. So people like this don't file lawsuits, because they are too busy running away from life.

You'd be surprised about how wrong that sentence is these days

So many people these days are out to make a quick buck.

Quote from attgig : don't you have an application that she filled out? report her to the police, and provide all the personal information you have on her. you should have a social security number, no? report her to credit bureaus. hopefully, your application had bank accounts that she had? couldn't courts seize bank accounts?

Yeah the police love it when people try to get them to resolve their civil matters.

Tenants like this disgust me and other investors alike. They only leave a path of destruction in their wake, taking as many people as they can down with them. "Borrowing" money from co-workers to quit the next day and run away to the next town full of victims.

Imagine if Debt Collections was enforced by the law, but even American Prisioners don't make enough positive cash flow to pay the tax payers back before they die.

Quote from ViciousTide : even American Prisioners don't make enough positive cash flow to pay the tax payers back before they die.

im surprised to find out that they make any positive cash flow.. I thought only the Chinese prisoners that sell guild wars equipment made money

Quote from kyoto : What you are essentially doing is called "debt collection", and you should read up on laws on debt collection activities. (Ie, if someone requests that you not contact them except vai US postal mail and you go ahead and continue to contact through other means (phone, in person) or you continually try to contact/harass her family/friends) you are subject to fines per fcc debt collection rules.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of this. I will have to investigate the laws.

Quote from slapshot136 : im surprised to find out that they make any positive cash flow.. I thought only the Chinese prisoners that sell guild wars equipment made money

Check out Norway's prision system. If you killed 20 people with a chain saw, they put you on a prison island and you cut down forests with a chainsaw full time. $40k/ year, with taxes at 90%, while you are monitored and go back to your cell at night.

Positive cash flow for the Country.

If America tried this, we could get out of National debt in probably 10 years if the politicians reduced their spending

Quote from ViciousTide : Check out Norway's prision system. If you killed 20 people with a chain saw, they put you on a prison island and you cut down forests with a chainsaw full time. $40k/ year, with taxes at 90%, while you are monitored and go back to your cell at night. Positive cash flow for the Country. If America tried this, we could get out of National debt in probably 10 years if the politicians reduced their spending

Better yet, just put the politicians on that island.