I lived at Waterfield Court for about 5 years and saw several changes in management, unfortunately each worse than the one before. I made use of their offer to charge rent to a credit card each month so I wouldn't have to worry about forgetting to pay the rent. This came back to bite me a couple times. One month, there was a notice posted at my door - a strongly worded demand for rent and notice that I could be evicted for nonpayment. When I called the office, they apologized and explained that something had gone wrong with their system when they ran the credit cards that month, and they hadn't realized mine was affected.

I moved out of state August 31, 2005, and made sure the manager inspected my unit, affirmed my full security deposit would be refunded, and took my forwarding address in writing. A couple days later, I received an urgent message to call the management office. They had "accidentally" run my credit card for September rent, even though I had moved out. The manager explained they would be unable to cut a check until the Monday afterward, but offered to overnight it to me, which I accepted. When I hadn't received the check a week later, I called the office again. They told me the check was there in the office and I could come pick it up whenever I wanted. More than a little irritated, I again explained that I now lived in a different state and that the manager had promised to overnight the check to me. They apologized (again), took my new address (again), and I finally received it the next day.

Now, more than 2 months later, my security deposit still has not been refunded. I have a Colorado Real Estate license. By law, they have a *maximum* of 60 days to return the security deposit or provide a written statement of any amount withheld. I have placed several calls, and each time the people I have spoken with seemed either unable or unwilling to give me a straight answer. Apparently, their accounting office is in the corporate office in Pennsylvania. Each time I have called, they have said they needed to investigate the matter by consulting corporate accounting and that they would get back to me. I typically wait a couple days without hearing from them, then call back to check in. At this point, I am considering litigation. The security deposit itself was not a huge sum. However, the law provides tenants with some recourse: if the security deposit is not refunded, or a written explanation of any amount withheld is not provided, within the 60-day *maximum* time limit, the management agent is liable for *3 times* the original security deposit, as well as reasonable court costs and legal fees. The amount still would not be staggering, but it might just teach Madison Apartment Group/Waterfield Court a much-needed lesson.

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