[Legal Advice] Former Apartment Office Won't Return Security Deposit

hey guys. i'm posting my dilemma with my old apartment office on this board in the hopes one of you works in or knows about the legal aspect of it all and can advise me on how to proceed with this. sorry about the length of it all; part of it is venting and runs long at times

i moved out of my apartment complex (Water Song Apartments near Westheimer and Kirkwood) on June 9th, 2007 and just before my move-out I met with management and was told I would receive by security deposit within 30 days. i left my forwarding address so they would be able to mail a check for any amount i'd get back. fast-forward to the middle of july (more than 30 days have passed since my move out) where i call up the office and am given some new info:

1. the management company that used to be in charge of the property left on June 9th and was replaced by new management
2. the new office staff would look through my file and determine where my check is

no big deal at this point. i figure it's a coincidence that new management took over the day i moved out and let them sort out the situation. i check back about a week later and the new manager tells me I am owed all of my security deposit and the check is with the corporate management office. again, no great concern even though there's a delay in the whole thing. i figure more than anything it's a poor bookkeeping issue.

after not hearing from them through the end of July, i started calling them again and more frequently. i have spent all of august calling them several times a week and not once have they transferred me to the manager. the excuses i've been offered range from "the managers are out on the property", "the computer is down and we can't pull up your file", "the manager has taken an early lunch", "the manager has taken a late lunch" <- i called at 3 one day, and on and on.

i've reached the point where i am not sure what to do next. it makes it hard for me to visit them since my lunch hour won't be enough to run out there and come back and the office is closed on weekends and holidays. i've posted a comment on an apartments ratings website about all this. i've tried to Google search an office number for their corporate management company and didn't find anything. i've even called the apartment's office to get a number for their managemetn company and surprise surprise, they don't have it. just today i called and was told the manager is compiling a monthly reoprt and isn't available. i'm seriously looking into some kind of legal action against their company at this point. i want my money back!!

 

Maybe someone in their office reads the BBS

I called twice today and in my second call told them I would check in the afternoon to give them time to look up the management company's phone number for me. When I called about an hour ago it went directly to the manager and I recounted the whole story for the umpteenth time and also made a mention of not receiving a written notice about my deposit within 30 days from the move out (thanks guys). She placed me on hold for several minutes and when she came back told me she had gotten through emailing her boss, the current management company's accountant and the old management company. She said the old one should have taken care of my deposit and said she would give me an update today or tomorrow. I said I would call tomorrow afternoon and in the meantime took down the number to the current management company. If I don't hear from her today or tomorrow morning, I'm going to call her in the afternoon and also speak with their bosses. If this doesn' turn out anything, I'm taking this baby to a small claims court (thanks everyone for the links and info). Hopefully it doesn't come down to that.

 

just an update on eveything...after yesterday's calls i got a call today from the apt. manager who told me the check will be sent out this Friday!!!

thanks to all for the advice!