Meltdown

This story is quite complicated so I'm not sure where to start.

Ok, start with tenants.

We've managed LH for several years. We've put 3 very nice tenants in there and they've all had to move out for one reason or another. Just prior to the tenants moving out the owner told us he has a tenant. It's a friend of a friend and he's helping them out. He helped them out by reducing their move in costs in half, allowing them to move in with the prorated rent. (normally first month is paid up front) and without a pet deposit. Also reducing the rent by $100.00.

One week before the move in date they came and demanded the keys. We had just received the keys less than an hour before and told them we would have to wait as we've not inspected the home and need to document the condition of the home. They insisted they needed the keys immediately as SHE is a clean freak and will need to 'sanitize' the home prior to them moving in. (yes, he did say sanitize) We gave them the keys reminding them that we had not done a walk through so we didn't know the condition of the home.

Then came more demands. This needed to be done, that needed to be done, they let us know they'll be deducting certain things from the rent. We let them know that we prefer to write a check for the receipted items as it keeps booking clearer.

From the beginning the amounts continue to change. In an email I was told they'd be deducting $175.00 from the rent for 3 separate items. One biggy was the pool inspection. It would cost $125.00 for them to come out and diagnose the problem (no heat to spa) and the tenants let us know they would pay for that and, again, deduct from the rent. Finally after 10 emails requesting receipts I was handed 2 receipts. One was the wrong amount, off by $1.92. No biggie. The second receipt was suppose to be for a $12.99 pool brush however the receipt had 2 items, one for $17.99 the other $14.99. They hand wrote 'brush' across the top. Not sure what to do with that. There was no receipt for the $125.00 pool diagnostic. They said the guy hadn't been there yet and I'd get the receipt the next day. I, of course, did not. Their rent check was brought in with the $175.00 deducted and a note having me hold the check till the 10th.

I had told them that things were getting so confusing that we may have to have them write a new check. They had mentioned in an email that they would come in to make a new check and they could possibly stop by Friday (10th). We had many appointments and were not in the office when they came by. They left no receipts. So, on Monday morning the deposit was made. An email was sent to Mrs K letting her know we've cashed the check and that in order to get the owner his money sooner, I'll be sending out his check today. When she gets me the receipts, we'll make the adjustment then.

So she knew I'd cashed the check.

While the boss man was out, about noonish, G comes flying in and appears on my door. 'Did you cash the check?' he says, 'Yes we did, I emailed Mrs. K and let her know what we were doing.' But he didn't hear me. He began screaming, yes screaming, 'Why did you cash that check? You KNEW we were coming in with the receipts, don't you read your F-ing email?' By then he had stepped forward, inches from my face. My office is quite small. There was nowhere to go, I couldn't get around him and he was so close and so furious that I was afraid if I moved he would hit me.

While this was going on The Irishman was tucked in his office. I screamed for him to get in here and get this maniac out of my office. This surprises G, he does not know anyone is in the office. He continues to yell at me. Saying things like why wasn't I in the office Friday, they said they'd be in, no one called them to tell them otherwise. I walked to the door, opened it up, and insisted he leave or the cops will be called. The Irishman had already begun that process and had 911 on the phone.

G leaves, gets in his car, gets back out, then comes back in the office, screaming some more, this time about what a skanky bitch I was, and other such nonsense.

The police do come but since I wasn't physically harmed I did not file a report or restraining order. The police officer said she was aware of the 911 call and that she recommend I file a report.

I didn't.

ALL and I do mean all of their emails have a hostile tone to them. The request for receipts was answered with 'gee, we didn't charge you for the 2 hours it took me to do that or the gas, which aint cheep, to drive all over to fix it'

I've heard this logic before. Lots and lots and lots of times.

'They don't have the receipts.' I told the boss man
'Ridiculas, why do you say that?' the boss man says
'He doesn't, you'll see. This is going to get ugly.' I said

In order to provide the owner with proper receipts I contact the pool company.
'Could you please fax me a copy of the invoice for $125.00. I think the tenant may have misplaced it and I'd like to send the owner his check.'

'Well, we didn't charge for the diagnostic. We've known G for a long time, we waived the charge.'

me: He wasn't charged for the diagnostic. He was trying to keep that money for himself. 'for all the work he's doing' and 'money he's saving us'

boss man: You think it was deliberate?

me: Yes I do, without a doubt, I know this man. I've lived with this for many many years. Next he's going to bad mouth us to the owner, accuse us of impropriety, lining our own pockets, and recommending that we no longer manage the property.

You know he did just that.

He turned in some other receipts. Some that had nothing to do with the property. Making notes that these receipts he paid for and didn't expect to be reimbursed. (because he's such a great guy that way) I'm sure that the pool people let him know I'd called because he writes, 'The pool people did not charge me for the diagnostic, I didn't know that before today. My conscience is clear!'

Why do you think he needs to tell me his conscience is clear?

Since we've known the owner for many years, we were believed. G is obviously cracked and I believe he's potentially dangerous. I shudder to think what could have happened if The Irishman wasn't there. Boss Man is still trying to decide if we should keep the account.

I say yes.

Yes because I refuse to be bullied. EVER AGAIN!

Because I won't live in fear.

Because the bad guy shouldn't win.

But also, because we are professionals. We don't manage houses, we manage people. I don't want to give up because someone behaves badly.

Isn't that the reason you hire managers? To take care of the problem people?