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My former roommate (supposed to be a 6-week subletter, but stayed 3+ weeks) may not be able to fully carry out his threat, but could still potentially cause either a large financial loss or a major disruption in my life.
He wrote that he can get the landlord to evict me. Although it seems unlikely, it still affects my mind. After imagining it, my blood pressure goes up, my stomach pains come back, and this thought distracts me from other important tasks.
Below is maybe too long background while my own actions and the related questions are at the very end.
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I am the main leaseholder of the apartment, always paid the rent on time and take a good care of it. I'd be glad to live here long. But it is expensive and difficult for me to pay. I was subletting rooms when other family members are away. My lease allows adding another tenant upon approval of his/her rental application, but it is not practical for a couple months. I and my spouse are the only responsible long-term tenants.
This person came for studies from another country. He did not pay the entire agreed upon originally amount of "move in costs" but promised to pay in smaller installments. He did (in cash), but not fully. He arrived when thousands of students leave for winter break, graduating, etc. There was little chance of finding someone else, so I agreed.
3+ weeks later he wrote that he had moved out and asked for a refund. It happened very unexpectedly. But I consider it unfair, I wouldn't let strangers into my home and share the bathroom, etc. if I had lots of money. I need it to pay rent, heating bills, etc.
Then he disputed his PayPal payment because "he never received the item". This put my account into a negative balance. PayPal demanded that I transfer additional funds or provide a confirmation that the item was shipped to his Mexican address. I wrote that I'm not a merchant, this is a roommate dispute. It's for a small claims court, not for them. But the negative balance remains.
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The above are minor issues compared to the major threat. I don't know how this guy got the landlord's cell phone number, maybe from the neighbors or just bluffing. I didn't know it myself until now. I moved in 2 years ago and things have changed since then.
The young troublemaker thinks he is so smart that he can get a "free ride". He is indeed very capable of causing stress.
He thinks that I'm vulnerable, that he could hurt me by contacting the landlord, telling that I'm violating the lease by subletting rooms. Therefore, I should return him the money. I mentioned at the beginning that the LL's approval is needed for the long term.
This could create a strain and become an obstacle to renewal (coming up soon). Or the rent goes up a lot, forcing me to move. I spent several hundred hours if not over a thousand on finding/securing the apartment, moving in with all my belongings, and setting it up. To do that again would be a major disruption in my life.
But I'm strongly against giving money to those who blackmail/extort, it is against my beliefs. Also, it may not help me for more than one reason.
In addition, he has called dozens of times (from his Mexican number, so it's hard to call back), has come and rung our very loud doorbell dozens of times at odd hours, important expected mail was missing.
I have filed a police report and will get a restraining order from the court.
He believes that he is "protected", because I don't know his new address. I know that he is nearby and I can find on the web the contact info for his department's administration, the university's International Office, and even of his academic advisor. I gathered some information before I let him in, and can find more based on that. It is not what I want to do, but it can be done.
If he violates the court protection order, I can report it to the police again. The accumulation of police reports, the court order (which is public record) may affect his ability to extend his student visa or to enter to the US next time.
The most helpful to me would be the specific wording. I already filled most parts of the Complaint for Protection from Harassment.
I would like the court order to specifically state that further actions aimed at harming me, are not allowed. It could be written in one, at most two sentences.
He wrote that he can get the landlord to evict me. Although it seems unlikely, it still affects my mind. After imagining it, my blood pressure goes up, my stomach pains come back, and this thought distracts me from other important tasks.
Below is maybe too long background while my own actions and the related questions are at the very end.
~~~~
I am the main leaseholder of the apartment, always paid the rent on time and take a good care of it. I'd be glad to live here long. But it is expensive and difficult for me to pay. I was subletting rooms when other family members are away. My lease allows adding another tenant upon approval of his/her rental application, but it is not practical for a couple months. I and my spouse are the only responsible long-term tenants.
This person came for studies from another country. He did not pay the entire agreed upon originally amount of "move in costs" but promised to pay in smaller installments. He did (in cash), but not fully. He arrived when thousands of students leave for winter break, graduating, etc. There was little chance of finding someone else, so I agreed.
3+ weeks later he wrote that he had moved out and asked for a refund. It happened very unexpectedly. But I consider it unfair, I wouldn't let strangers into my home and share the bathroom, etc. if I had lots of money. I need it to pay rent, heating bills, etc.
Then he disputed his PayPal payment because "he never received the item". This put my account into a negative balance. PayPal demanded that I transfer additional funds or provide a confirmation that the item was shipped to his Mexican address. I wrote that I'm not a merchant, this is a roommate dispute. It's for a small claims court, not for them. But the negative balance remains.
~~~~
The above are minor issues compared to the major threat. I don't know how this guy got the landlord's cell phone number, maybe from the neighbors or just bluffing. I didn't know it myself until now. I moved in 2 years ago and things have changed since then.
The young troublemaker thinks he is so smart that he can get a "free ride". He is indeed very capable of causing stress.
He thinks that I'm vulnerable, that he could hurt me by contacting the landlord, telling that I'm violating the lease by subletting rooms. Therefore, I should return him the money. I mentioned at the beginning that the LL's approval is needed for the long term.
This could create a strain and become an obstacle to renewal (coming up soon). Or the rent goes up a lot, forcing me to move. I spent several hundred hours if not over a thousand on finding/securing the apartment, moving in with all my belongings, and setting it up. To do that again would be a major disruption in my life.
But I'm strongly against giving money to those who blackmail/extort, it is against my beliefs. Also, it may not help me for more than one reason.
In addition, he has called dozens of times (from his Mexican number, so it's hard to call back), has come and rung our very loud doorbell dozens of times at odd hours, important expected mail was missing.
I have filed a police report and will get a restraining order from the court.
He believes that he is "protected", because I don't know his new address. I know that he is nearby and I can find on the web the contact info for his department's administration, the university's International Office, and even of his academic advisor. I gathered some information before I let him in, and can find more based on that. It is not what I want to do, but it can be done.
If he violates the court protection order, I can report it to the police again. The accumulation of police reports, the court order (which is public record) may affect his ability to extend his student visa or to enter to the US next time.
The most helpful to me would be the specific wording. I already filled most parts of the Complaint for Protection from Harassment.
I would like the court order to specifically state that further actions aimed at harming me, are not allowed. It could be written in one, at most two sentences.
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