Roomate: Warning

[KennyD]

I'm not for sure this is the right area to post this; BUT here goes ....
About eight weeks ago, I ran an ad for a roomate and this twenty one year old guy came and applied .
Since his boss came with him and said what a great guy he was and that he (the boss) picked him up and brought him home ... so I figured he'd be able to pay his rent etc , so I let him pay the first weeks rent and move in ...
Well; he started to get behind in his rent by $160.00, he hadn't brought any groceries into the house in three weeks, and my liquor supply just disappeared ...
Then; last Tuesday morning, I awoke and saw the door to his room wide open and the TV and DVD player (which I furnish) MISSING ...
Upon further investigation ; I found that my Playstation 2 and twenty one games were missing as well as my chain saw, hedge trimmers, 17 DVD's, four credit cards, my cash, keys to my buddy's car, the tag from my Expedition, and my buddy's Buick.
We then found out that he had a rap sheet for several felonies including larceny, grand theft, falsification, rsting arrest, and several other charges ..
Luckily for me the Sheriff's Department caught him and a friend at the pawn shop just a mile from my house ... so "Keith" is now in jail on $6,500.00 bond .
I had to pay the pawn shop to get my DVD's and PS-2 back ... and the PS-2 games are still missing. Everything else xcept the cash has been recovered ..
Right now ..I still just feel so f'n violated .... This guy violated my friendship, hospitality and generousity ...
The point I wish to make is that IF you are going to get a roomate ; be sure to do a Background Check and even a credit check ... make copies of Drivers License and Social Security Card ... maybe even a credit card .... You can't be too careful about protecting your property -maybe your life ..

 

[metta]

That is horrible.....I'm really sorry that happened to you. I don't think that I could have someone as a roommate unless I really knew them pretty well. Hopefully, we can all learn from you experience. Thank you for giving us the lesson.

 

[190E]

This is one of the few cases in which I wish vigilantism were legal, then you could take out your frustration on him. It's good that you got your stuff back though, most people dont.

 

[dr_beat]

I'm sorry for the situation you are in. Please don't take this as criticism because in terms of choosing the wrong roomie, well, I've been there.

However, I think the thing that sticks out in your story is the fact that the boss came with him. No boss would do that unless the boss is also a friend. That should be a warning right there.

As for background checks, sure, go ahead. Don't forget though, that you can stil be a lowlife without ever having been caught.

The best way to find a good roommate is to sit down and seriously chat and determine how he/she handles the questions, the answers, and you yourself. Besides, can you really do a credit check as an individual citizen? If so, I think we all have something else to be concerned about.

 

[brandon84]

OMG!!! Waht a horrible thing to happen to you.

 

[YeahWhatever]

Wow. And I thought my last roommate was bad.

It sucks that all that crap happened to you, but you're lucky you were able to catch him before he got away with it.

 

[james1200]

this is why i've only roomed with friends from college...i know people leave sometimes and you are hard up for the rent but...i'd just as soon borrow the money from family and wait...but i guess i've been lucky. i'm sorry man...that's such a nightmare scenario...

 

[pixie77]

Thats ugly sorry to hear that.

Out of intertest.
I have a second hand dealers licence. In my country NZ I would have to give you back the goods.
And stand the lose of what I paid for them.

 

[metta]

Roommates can work. I have never tried it, with the exception of my best friend, but I think that you have to just be very careful. I have a neighbor that rents a couple of the bedrooms in his home and he has told me that he has not had any problems. They are all young doctors.... and work tons of hours. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Living and working with my best friend was a wonderful experience.

 

[frankfrank]

So sorry to hear about what happened to you. I've never liked the idea of roommates; they were sic'ed on me a couple times in college and fortunately I ended up with roomies who weren't thieves or mean people.

I've often made comments over the years, saying something like "When you're looking for a roommate that you can truly trust, you have to be almost as careful as when you decide to marry somebody." Potential problems aren't always very easy to notice before it's too late.

 

[starlight70]

Now I feel thankful that I am living without any roommate. So sorry about ur situation.

 

[ahotjock71]

I had a roommate & best friend when I first moved to Dallas. We had been roommates in Ft. Smith, Arkansas for 2 years, and were tight as brothers.

2 months after moving to Dallas, he moved some guy into the townhouse who I didn't know from Adam's housecat. But I trusted James, so although weary, I went along with it.

A couple of months later, I woke up one morning, went downstairs to get a cup of coffee....and...there WAS no coffee. Nor coffee maker, or coffee cups, or any other kitchen item. EVERYTING was gone! All the kitchen stuff, the entire living room, bathroom & his bedroom were GONE.

Now I can be a heavy sleeper, but my God! They midnight moved on me & took EVERYTHING! We had spent equal amounts of money to furnish the townhouse, etc. So he ended up with all my stuff except what was in my bedroom.

I was hurt, and flabbergasted to say the least. I have not seen him since, although I did try to search for him. I just wanted an explination.

Then come to find out he had not paid any of the bills for 3 months....rent, phone, cable or power. I had always given him my half when he asked for it.

So he took my money, and my shit. Left me with the lease (my name was on half of it), & the cable bill, which was in my name.

Never, ever again will I trust someone like that. I thought of him as my brother!

 

[bedbugy]

if you get a room mate scan alll the documents you can ie passport id drivers licence ect and keep in your e mail better still take photos this way you have who they are if any thing goes wrong knowing that you have this information about them will MAYBE make them thing twice about ripping you off never ever trust anyone till you know them and that takes time been there done that

 

[metta]

Oh my God, these are horrible stories. I don't want to live alone forever. And I'm too shy to ever end up with any kind of a partner. These stories are depressing.

I miss my best friend. He was the best roommate that I could of ever of dreamed of having. He was the most organized and tidy person that I have ever met and we loved to do the same things. He even put labels in the pantry and refrigerator so that everything had its place. His appreciation of nature was a dream come true. He loved to make me laugh. We had total trust in each other. I could write a speech for him (he wrote many as well) and he would go up to the city council and give it. It was awesome. We started the community events which helps to bring the community closer together. He loved to MC them and I loved to be in the background. He was always willing to listen to and enjoyed hearing my next crazy idea...Lucy!!!! We did own everything together so I guess that could make a difference as well.

I guess that I should just feel fortunate that I was able to live with him for 3 years. We knew each other for several years prior to buying a home together. Most people never even get to meet anyone like him. He was one of a kind...an inspiration to many.

To think that I will be alone for the rest of my life is very sad. My neighbors did joke about all of us moving into the same convelesant hospital when we all get old...lol. I said that it would be fine as long as it was ocean front.

 

[cocktales]

Hot Damn!

What can you do to ensure you're NOT renting to the "Room-Mate From Hell? I mean people even do background checks; but these scoundrels still end up being the dregs of society??

I don't know if I would go into a rental agreement with anyone.... I think a single room is the best policy, don't you?

I mean, like above where you think you know your best bud and he turns on you and takes you to the cleaners!!

WTF is the answer folks?

 

[Xavier_Holland]

Here's why I hate roomates but would let my friends stay instead.

1.My ex-boyfriend was my roomate for 2 months before we got,"close." He lived with me and we were still going out, I couldn't stand how he always pressured me for sex. I still hadn't had my first time with a guy but banged a bunch of chicks before. So it didn't make matters any better by him going to jail three times, me bailing him out, never asked him for the money back. But eventually he just stopped paying to live there cause he got fired from the job I got him with a friend of mine. Finally after a year of living with me my parents found out who he really was, my cover was blown, and holy shit I got so angry we had a fight. I beat his ass, and told him he had 45 days to move out. When he left I broke down crying like a bitch. He died about two weeks ago and it's the worst experience I have ever had.
2.There's always misconceptions about how much food someone can eat.
3.Noone ever cooks for someone else.
4.Having sex with someone else in your room is fine. When I catch you on the counter when me and my friends come in, it's time to talk.
5.When your video game saves are suddenly over written by an earlier level and another profile name it's the last straw.


Fuck roomates, only let a friend move in.....

 

[KennyD]

UPDATE: I found out today that he actually used the Visa card to the sum of $245.00 ... thank God he did not know there was still $5,000 left on it ...

I spoke to the Detective in charge of this case and he is going to arrest Keith again at the jail tomororow at the jail for the theft of the DVD's . He'll be charged with Grand Larceny, Dealing in Stolen Merchandise, and Violation of the Pawn Brokers Law. This will add another $1,500 to his bail ...

Additional charges will then be filed against him on Thursday or Friday for using the credit card as another six counts of theft ..each one carries $500 bond will be added to his bail ...

I was formerly in the real estate rental business for many years and am considered to draw up one of the best rental agreements that is used . But ; a contract is only as good as the parties signing it ... and it is a waste of time to sue someone who has no assets or money ...

I've lived with friends before and I prefer living that way ... at least you have a better idea of what they are all about ... My best friend from Ohio and my nephew are going to move in within a couple of weeks .. so no strangers again for now, at least .

That is all for now ... THANKS for the Support !!

 

[bj____]

That's terrible. I'm glad you were able to recover your belongings so quickly and that they busted "Keith". I hope all goes well for you with this. I can't stand when someone takes advantage of a kind soul.