Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

After coming home from work today and getting home around 8 PM PST, I walk into my apartment and notice all the power's off. It's just my apartment, though; everyone else seems to be up and running, as are all the lights in the building. At 8:15, I place a call to Seattle City Light, who told me that they couldn't do anything after all the basic diagnostic crap (cycle the breakers, mainly) because the main breaker was likely in a locked closet that only management has the key for. After speaking to them, I called the emergency 24-hour line for the apartment and it went to a cell phone's voicemail, WTF? I left a message, waited 10 minutes, and called back. Sure enough, it's the voicemail again.

Normally this wouldn't be a huge problem, but I left work fairly early tonight to get home and work on a significant project for a side consulting job, a large portion of which that required talking the client through a few things via IM and phone. Since all of the requisite files were at home, I was unable to complete the tasks necessary.

I left messages with the 24-hour line every 30 minutes or so, and called a few times without leaving one just to check. It's now 1:45 AM and I'm back at my office where I plan on sleeping.

My question for OOT is this: How much can I milk the apartment complex for? I clearly left work early with the intention of doing consulting work for a client, which was semi-high value and is going to be a huge bitch to reschedule. We have a work history together, so I can produce receipts that show we do business together at not-insigificant dollar amounts. Should I check to make sure that it was indeed the apartment complex / manager's fault, then present them with a bill for 6 hours of my time plus punitive considerations (e.g. pain/suffering)? I kept a very detailed log of all of tonight's events (I saw that it was helpful on a TV show) and can very easily prove what my hourly rate is with documented receipts.

What should I expect to receive in compensation here?

EDIT: I know the title is not very descriptive. Sorry.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

I'd be v surprised if you get anything out of this.

If you do, my old apartment complex owes me a ton of money.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

The thing is, it's not online poker. I can very clearly prove that they were negligent with regards to turning my power on, and in this hippy-ass state, there is probably some pro-renter clause about needing to be attentive 24/7 for basic needs (utilities would almost assuredly fall under this category). Since they were negligent, it directly and negatively impacted my ability to work from home, and they know I work a lot from my apartment.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

I used to work in RE management in the Seattle area. Just have all of your stuff together (documentation), and talk directly to the management company, not the on site manager. Tell them you'd like to avoid any legal proceedings and ballpark them a high number. They will most likely counter-offer, then give them a "take it or leave it" middle number before you go the legal route. Odds are they will most likely take it.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

kyle,

"What should I expect to receive in compensation here?"

$0

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

frostbrn,

Thanks, that was basically what I was planning on doing.

El D,

stfu

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

depending on your desire to fight with mgmt/potentially be on bad terms with them, you could withhold a portion of your next months rent.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

I would be surprised if you get anything. You aren't a business customer so no one cares if you missed work or not.

Your building doesn't have a live in super whose door you could bang on?

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

[ QUOTE ]
kyle,

"What should I expect to receive in compensation here?"

$0

[/ QUOTE ]

The remote control for my cable TV broke tonight. I can only change channels by going over to the box and hitting the up/down buttons. More importantly, I can't watch the On Demand channels.

Kyleb, I think I've got about as much of a claim for $$$ as you've got.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

[ QUOTE ]
frostbrn,

Thanks, that was basically what I was planning on doing.

El D,

stfu

[/ QUOTE ]

[censored] happens. Have a back up plan if it is that important. Did you try calling the client and reschedule do to the power outage?

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

The most you will likely get out of this is an apology and, if you are persistent, a grudge against you.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF to do?
 

[ QUOTE ]
The most you will likely get out of this is an apology and, if you are persistent, a grudge against you.

[/ QUOTE ]

haha awesome post

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
depending on your desire to fight with mgmt/potentially be on bad terms with them, you could withhold a portion of your next months rent.

[/ QUOTE ]

do this if you'd like to be sued. tenants are not able to withhold rent as a bartering tool or what they feel theyre owed.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

Kyle,

Come on, admit it. You didn't have a client. You were on your way home, on your 2 hour commute, and with every passing mile you were more and more desperate to get on 2+2. Finally your apartment complex came into sight. You stepped between the crack dealers and hookers and gingerly made your way upstairs, giddy with excitement and anticipation. You opened the door, it swung open, a few roaches raced out into the lit hall, you flicked the light switch .... and all your dreams went down faster than a nympho on speed.


And here we are ...

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

adsman,

Clearly you have been to Lake City before.

kyle,

I assume you checked your own breakers in your apt right?

I think the absolute best you'll do is get like 50 bucks off your rent. If you're not already month to month, what you really should do is angle to let them break your lease and move to someplace more respectable.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
Kyle,

Come on, admit it. You didn't have a client. You were on your way home, on your 2 hour commute, and with every passing mile you were more and more desperate to get on 2+2. Finally your apartment complex came into sight. You stepped between the crack dealers and hookers and gingerly made your way upstairs, giddy with excitement and anticipation. You opened the door, it swung open, a few roaches raced out into the lit hall, you flicked the light switch .... and all your dreams went down faster than a nympho on speed.


And here we are ...

[/ QUOTE ]

If you'd been to my apartment, you'd know that roaches run away from light, not towards it.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
depending on your desire to fight with mgmt/potentially be on bad terms with them, you could withhold a portion of your next months rent.

[/ QUOTE ]

do this if you'd like to be sued. tenants are not able to withhold rent as a bartering tool or what they feel theyre owed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, withholding rent is always a bad idea.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
Kyle,

Come on, admit it. You didn't have a client. You were on your way home, on your 2 hour commute, and with every passing mile you were more and more desperate to get on 2+2. Finally your apartment complex came into sight. You stepped between the crack dealers and hookers and gingerly made your way upstairs, giddy with excitement and anticipation. You opened the door, it swung open, a few roaches raced out into the lit hall, you flicked the light switch .... and all your dreams went down faster than a nympho on speed.


And here we are ...

[/ QUOTE ]

While this may very well be true, it is not mutually exclusive with what I wrote!

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

Update: The power is back on (finally) after a bunch of running around and sleeping in my office. They told me to submit an itemized receipt for lost hours and possibly spoiled food in my fridge, and didn't really balk at my hourly.

Interesting!

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
Update: The power is back on (finally) after a bunch of running around and sleeping in my office. They told me to submit an itemized receipt for lost hours and possibly spoiled food in my fridge, and didn't really balk at my hourly.

Interesting!

[/ QUOTE ]

I sense weakness; try to convince them that you left to go someplace with power and a drunk driver hit your car. Ask for a new car.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

kyle's car already looks like a drunk driver hit it. No chance.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
kyle's car already looks like a drunk driver hit it. No chance.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol nice

edit: pics of car ldo

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
do this if you'd like to be evicted. tenants are not able to withhold rent as a bartering tool or what they feel they're owed.

[/ QUOTE ]

This may vary with jurisdiction, but in a lot of states, not paying rent in full will get you evicted pretty fast.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
kyle's car already looks like a drunk driver hit it. No chance.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is being rather charitable, actually. My car is a total piece of dicks,.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
depending on your desire to fight with mgmt/potentially be on bad terms with them, you could withhold a portion of your next months rent.

[/ QUOTE ]

do this if you'd like to be sued. tenants are not able to withhold rent as a bartering tool or what they feel theyre owed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, withholding rent is always a bad idea.

[/ QUOTE ]

it depends on your jurisdiction...MA is extremely renter friendly, and eviction is an extremely painful process for landlords. they do NOT want to try to evict you here, it will take many months and cost serious legal fees.

my gf used to just stop paying rent when the landlord was refusing to fix things. then he would come over and fix things again.

we shorted our landlord $800 last month b/c there was a hole in the roof he knew about, it rained, and the subsequent leak ruined some stuff

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
it depends on your jurisdiction...MA is extremely renter friendly, and eviction is an extremely painful process for landlords. they do NOT want to try to evict you here, it will take many months and cost serious legal fees.

my gf used to just stop paying rent when the landlord was refusing to fix things. then he would come over and fix things again.

we shorted our landlord $800 last month b/c there was a hole in the roof he knew about, it rained, and the subsequent leak ruined some stuff

[/ QUOTE ]

your landlord sounds like an idiot for several reasons. i wouldnt advise your repair method as a normal tactic for rental property.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
My car is a total piece of dicks,

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2...guydickox7.gif

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

Essentially that is accurate, yes

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

Did you reschedule with the client? If so, what have you actually lost?

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

UPDATE

I demanded $650+ or so and they called me today informing me that they would be crediting $427 to my rent account for next month.

Ship it.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

That's great, but you should realize they are doing you a massive goodwill-generating favor rather than fulfilling an obligation.

No matter how negligent they were in failing to keep the power on, you'd have a hell of a time making the case that the harm they caused you could've been reasonably foreseen. If there was any other doctrine out there utility companies would be placed in the awkward position of insuring everyone's services for a completely unknown amount of money.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER ALL THE MONEY THAT WAS TAKEN OFF MY RENT

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

[ QUOTE ]
I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER ALL THE MONEY THAT WAS TAKEN OFF MY RENT

[/ QUOTE ]

lol.

ps- how'd they come up with $427?

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

I have no idea. I have the estimate in my mailbox at home that I have to go review.

Re: Power out, no one answers apartment 24-hour line, WTF
 

Demand $429.