Do These Things Look Level to You???

I have been on a quest for justice for about a year now. And I tell you, Lady Justice is a difficult sister to follow. The blind part seems about right, but I haven't happened upon the equal part just yet. Maybe it's coming. I like to think I am an optimist, or I try to be anyway. Or for sure believe in that old "what goes around comes around and you can only hope you are still around when it does to see it" proverb !!!

I own a small rental house in town. Thought it would be a good investment. That could have been one of the first flaws in this plan. Purchased it soon after one of the hurricanes in north Florida. At the time, rental was King as there were few undamaged homes and if I had 100 of them I could have rented them all.

As this was my first foray into rentals, I bought the Landlord for Dummies and made sure I followed all the rules for renting. Ran all the checks, references and verifications that are allowed and signed a guy up for 12 months. The first 12 went off without a hitch. Paid on time and actually, I don't think I ever heard from the guy. I thought this was a match made in heaven. Signed another 12 months with him. He appeared to be a contented renter. About 2 months into this one, he decided paying rent was optional, and he was choosing the NO payment option plan.

I attempted many times to contact him with my messages becoming very uncharming... and always unreturned. I would have appreciated even an excuse. I eventually had to go through the long, expensive and tiresome process of eviction. I then had to bring my extensive snoop sister skills to the forefront to find his new address. Appears this is all MY responsibility to provide this information to the courts. But those skills are still there (they come in quite handy for a variety of life's necessary information gathering..)

I am getting ready for my 2nd trip to Atlanta(where his employer is), with another 12 copies of 6 forms, for what I hoping is the last step in garnishment of his wages in this little 12 month saga. All of this fun in my life has resulted in him skipping out on about $5 grand. One way or the other, it will be over for me. I will probably get zip out of it, or maybe $5 a month for the rest of my days, but am hoping he may think just a little about the next woman he doesn't return her phone call!!!