V for Vendetta
Revenge indeed! After weeks (no, at this point it's been nearly two months!) of frustrating negotiations and phone calls and aggravation I have won the fight against the evil slumlord from hell!
Actually, I didn't really win so much as he got fired (I would love to take the credit for having him sacked, but unfortunately someone else got to him before I could) :-D
In the merry month of July I went apartment-hunting in Ottawa. After searching far and wide I found two apartments that suited my needs: the first was every girl's bachelor-sized dream, with a view of parliament, and a completely separate kitchen :-) (if you've seen my current apartment you know why I'm so excited). The second was a somewhat more spartan place, but at a much more appealing price.
Torn between the two, I performed a feat of mental calculation and decided that I was better off saving on my rent and investing in future travel plans (or shoes). To be on the safe side, I applied for both apartments (just in case), although I didn't foresee any complications. Three days later, the first rental agency called me up to discuss drawing up a lease: at this point I was sure that my application for the second apartment would go through, so I told them thanks but no thanks.
A week wentby and still no word from the second rental agency, so I decided to call them myself: two weeks of daily calling follow, and still no answer (a secretary did promise to call me back each time, but the messages much have been written in invisible ink, because they always seemed to forget to get back to me). Finally, the day I notice that the first month's deposit that I submitted with the application had been cashed, the secretary tells me (when I call her, of course) that my application had been accepted! (but for the wrong apartment)
Long story short, I wasn't going to sign a lease for an apartment I'd never seen before, nor was I going to run to Ottawa to see the place. The slumlord (whom it took a month to finally reach) told me that my apartment had accidentally been given to someone else, and promised that my cheque (which he'd cashed illegally) was in the mail. Yeah, sure, I believe you.
So, two more weeks and still no money. This time, however, I get a pleasant surprise when I call to threaten him with legal action: instead of being told that the slumlord is unavailable the secretary transfers me to a lovely woman who shares with me the wonderful news of his termination, takes down my information and within 24 hours calls me back to tell me that my cheque wasn't in fact sent (what a shocker) and we make an arrangement to pick it up.
And that is the end (hopefully) of my adventure. Please learn from me and NEVER give any cheques (even if they are post-dated) to scummy shady slumlords.
Oh, and just in case you were curious: I called the first place back, explained my situation, and got that cute little apartment in the end :-D