About ten years ago after moving out and asking for my deposit back I got a list of ‘damages’. Prior to this letter I had agreed to one small damage to a carpet and had gotten quotes for the repair.

I went through the list and attached photos of the day we had moved in to counter each one.

So that left him with just one item he could charge me for. So I got another list which simply had the carpet damage which I was prepared to pay for or repair and cleaning and repair of the washing machine. Except there was no washing machine !!!. I sent the inventory and a photo of where the washing machine should have been.

He phoned me up and said I was being unreasonable because if there was a washing machine it would have needed to be cleaned and repaired so why was I not prepared to pay for it ? That was so bizarre and out of left field I actually had nothing to say for a few seconds. Fortunately I recovered to let him know we could take this to the small claims court if he wanted. I got a new list hand delivered that afternoon with just the carpet damage.