dilemma

I moved out of my flat in london early and agreed a deposit return with the rather snooty and large property company i rented the flat off (They own most of the riverfront in London) It has taken them months to get the cheque to me, thing is they've sent a cheque for 4 times the deposit (a lot of money...) and it has been signed by two directors. It went to my Dads house and he has banked it for me straight away (he's a rebel) Thing is, is this moral? should i spend it? What would Esther Rantzen do? What would Che Guevarra do? What would you do? help?

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Answers

drinks are on me?

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

If they ask, tell them your dad spent, you can't lose.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Bar 1892?

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

i'll have 2 1892 tickets please!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

actually it'd probably be more like 1 or less :-(

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

hmmmm....the only problem lies in the fact that should they come a knockin' you had better not be there.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

I'd call them and sort it out. Why? 'Cos it's the right thing to do.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

It's a bit like that old problem of business ethics.

You are a partner in a retail concern. You are serving behind the counter one day and take a £20 note from an old lady for some goods. In error, you accidentally give her change for a £10 note. The old age pensioner is just shuffling out of the door when you realise your mistake. You are now presented with an important ethical dilema.

Should you pocket the extra £10 for yourself or should you tell your partner and split it? :-)

Keep it Swift but don't spend it yet. If they ask, you can return it ("Oh, I'm awfully sorry - one receives so many cheques one hasn't time to look at them all") and if they don't notice it - enjoy.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

..... are you implying that's 'ethical' behaviour Jonno?
Doesn't sound like it to me.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

No - I just dislike letting agents.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Fair do's!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

i consider you a higher brain jonno, so i'll gladly take your advice

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Don't spend it mate, they'll take you to court to get it back....

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Think you should be okay if you stay in Spain Swift we don't have an extradition treaty there do we? And if we do should just fly off to Brazil and knock up some Brazilan lass and you'll be alright.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

We moved house in 1995 and amazingly the local council didn't sort out their council tax register and we didn't get charged. A saving of about £400.

The next year they tried to do it again, but I was starting to get worried. I spoke to lots of people who knew how the system worked and they explained that each year was a separate account and that they'd never notice. My 'guilt' hat made me tell them about the 1996 cock up and I started paying again. Keeping the £400 a side just in case.

Last December we moved, again within the same council. What they did was close off all the accounts for the old address and said we owed whatever it was for 2000 and £400 from 1995 !!! I argued like mad but they just wouldn't have it. Luckily I'd never spent it, pah.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Stick the money in a cash ISA and let if fester for a few years until you are completely free! You can't miss what you never had?

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Spend the bugga. When I left my first flat the b@st@rds kept my deposit stating that the flat was left in an unacceptable condition. They totally ignored the fact that I had repaired a dodgy tap and straigtened a couple of kitchen cupboards. The flat, was immaculate by the way, apart from a couple of marks on the kitchen lino where my washing machine had been. If you have a concience throw the money my way, I have no time for landlords or letting agents.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

I agree with DeB - put it in some high interest account until they come asking for it back (which they will do). At least you'll have made some money out of it plus have a clear conscience :-)

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001