https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:41:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2035063 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:08:04 +0000 Tanjowen 2035063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most Magistrate Court offices in your state will tell you the process if you call. I live in GA, and a 10 day certified letter is required to be sent before filing a claim. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034730 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:01:41 +0000 dagret 2034730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, but in pa, they can't make them pay. After you win in small claims court, you have to take some other step - I think filing with the commonwealth court? And then that level of court can compel them to pay. But if they don't have any $$ you have to wait until they get a tax refund or something. Crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034648 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 21:08:11 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2034648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I was about to say I would send a certified letter now, but I see others have suggested that already. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034592 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:37:53 +0000 MrsADS 2034592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely start by writing a demand letter and sending it certified! (I'm an attorney :happy: ) And you need to be extremely assertive and cite to the appropriate documents/agreements.</p> <p>I had to send one to my former landlord who wouldn't give back the security deposit when we moved out. Same type of deal - story kept changing, timeline pushed back, etc. So I sent a very detailed, assertive letter. In the letter, I cited to the lease and the state's Landlord-Tenant act that stated the amount of time that the landlord had to return the security deposit. I attached those documents with pertinent portions highlighted. I'm sure they thought it was "nasty" but you know, you have to do what you have to do. And I did put a "demand" portion - i.e., please provide the check to me in the amount of xx by x date. If I do not receive it by that date, I will be forced to take legal action.</p> <p>That's a ton of money. WAY too much to sit idly by! I agree with seeing if you have a friend who's an attorney read over it.</p> <p>You have to look at this way: you're not being nasty. This is just CYA. You have to make a paper trail as the first step. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034511 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:38:35 +0000 Anya 2034511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, after sending a certified letter. Filed the claim and they decided to dispute it so we will go to court. If the court rules in my favor and they don't pay, it will go to collections. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034493 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:26:04 +0000 teawithpaloma 2034493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: @mediagirl: Ask friends on FB to have a lawyer write the letter. Let me know if you don't have anyone.... Sending letter from lawyer's stationary is very powerful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034474 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:02:27 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2034474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: my cousin is a magistrate, and yes, DH and I have taken a landlord to small clas court. The problem is they don't enforce the verdict, so even if you win you aren't guaranteed to get paid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034440 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:22:17 +0000 BSB 2034440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Do you have any lawyer friends? I would see if they would help you write a letter in legal speak. It would essentially tell them that you are threatening to sue. That could light the fire under their butts and hopefully get a check to you ASAP. Definitely send it certified mail so they know you mean business. We did this with our venue for our wedding. We had a particular situation to deal with and DH's groomsmen's mother (a paralegal at the time) helped us construct a letter. We avoided any legal action because of the letter. I would try that before actually looking into suing. Lots of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034339 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:45:08 +0000 Spinny 2034339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was once in a similar situation where I was waiting for a refund from a business (they agreed I was due the refund but I just never received the check, despite multiple calls). I ended up writing a bad review under the BBB and I received my refund pretty quickly after that.<br /> I was young and definitely not in the position to get a lawyer, so this was my last straw attempt and it worked. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034133 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:18:42 +0000 pregnantbee 2034133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. And geez! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034033 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:47:35 +0000 mediagirl 2034033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Reese: no email address that I know of... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034022 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:43:01 +0000 Reese 2034022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Does she have an email address? I would get something in writing (even text messages) that documents your conversation before it gets to nasty and you don't have an actual paper trail. She could very well receive the certified letter and say you didn't give enough notice which will just be more of a headache for you. I would still encourage the certified letter but have something in writing (from her) that agrees to the terms you stated to her in person and on the phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034016 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:40:38 +0000 Mommy Finger 2034016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did in college. I lived with 2 other girls Junior and Senior year. Long story short, one of them decided to skip out on the lease for senior year. We took her to small claims and won. She got a lawyer and we represented ourselves. Doesn't mean she paid us though. Don't think she paid the lawyer either. She was fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2034005 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:36:45 +0000 woodentulip 2034005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So things likely vary by region, but we were sued by someone who bought our old house. It was terrible, she was absolutely out of line, and it caused so_SO_SOOOO much stress for all of us.</p> <p>We consulted with a variety of lawyers in navigating the situation, and in the end we ended up going into mediation with her and came to a reasonable compromise. </p> <p>But, before getting to that point, the advice we were given was to ensure that we could indicate that all avenues of attempted resolution had been exhausted. In our case it meant that we sent her letters through our lawyer, we provided a paper trail to show that we had been active in trying to find a solution, and we consulted with 'experts' in the field we were dealing with. After all of that we responded to her claims. In the jurisdiction we were dealing with the first step is to go to mediation, with two court-appointed mediators, and if that fails, then you end up in front of a judge. We wanted to avoid that at all costs.<br /> Anyhow, long story short--taking steps to let them know that you are serious is not always a bad idea, and that court doesn't have to be the next step, but a step in the future :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2033993 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:31:33 +0000 mediagirl 2033993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: @Mamaof2: a certified letter sounds like the way to go. I think I'll do that and I'll document the times we spoke on the phone and in person regarding the refund. It certainly would be easier to send a certified letter than it would be to tell her in person that we will take her to court if she doesn't comply!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2033987 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:30:00 +0000 catlady 2033987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We couldn't get our deposit back from a landlord once after we'd moved out, and we sent a certified letter "demanding" our money back (I hate that language, but all the stuff I read online said to use it). We also threatened legal action if they did not comply. They sent us a nasty letter back (they actually made fun of the fact that we used the word "demand"), but they included our check in their reply. Worth trying that first, and building up a paper trail.</p> <p>Another option is to leave a poor review for them somewhere (like yelp) indicating that they won't refund your money, and forward it to them. That is sort of mean, but again easier than going to court. You could always remove the bad review later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2033974 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:25:13 +0000 Mamaof2 2033974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Almost!</p> <p>An old acquaintance of DH"s owed him some $$ and wouldn't pay - he went to the local court house to file in small claims. They had a Police Officer deliver a certified letter stating pay up or go to court and Dh got a letter a check from the person within the week! I think it only cost him $35 to file the claim too - well worth it!</p> <p>In your case I would mail a certified letter to her (so you have proof she got it) and reiterate what you said above. Then end with "If we do not get reimbursed by 1 Feb I will take the matter to small claims court"</p> <p>Hopefully that will jolt her enough to cut you a check!!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2033972 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:24:44 +0000 LuLu Mom 2033972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would give it until the 31st, with a reminder in writing sent now that you are expecting your refund by the end of the month as per your past conversations and if you do not receive the refund unfortunately legal action will be taken. I would also start a document of all the dates and conversations, and then come the 31st, I would talk to a lawyer and see what they say. Hopefully the threat of a lawsuit is enough to pay up and it will save you money and time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-taken-someone-to-small-claims-court#post-2033960 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:20:42 +0000 mediagirl 2033960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We left our last daycare in mid December. We told the director/owner of the daycare we were leaving in mid-November, we gave them a month's notice. When we left, we were told we would have our refund check (of close to $5000) by end of December. The story has changed 3 times now and now we're being told end of January for the check.</p> <p>I'm not sure what to do at this point. I don't know if I can believe her about end of January. We're considering looking into small claims court to get our money back from her. </p> <p>Any suggestions on our experience I have outlined above? Have you ever gone to small claims court and would this be a good case for it? </p>