Pulaski

Thank you. I said that in #3 above but appear to have been ignored.
Which was, IIRC, what the OP was told when she first showed up here looking for advice.

I am still mystified how, when the OP's girlfriend had been offered help finding accommodation by her employer, they ended up slumming it in an airbnb.com tenement?

Shirtback

This is why I asked the question. I have a friend who got a job with the UN in NYC. She received a tremendous amount of assistance from them for the relocation, accommodation in particular.

jaffy23

RPJS hit the nail on the head earlier on - call 311 and register a complaint. Its the only way they'll get investigated and (hopefully) shut down.

This stuff happens in NYC all the time, and unless someone reports it, other people get ripped off and the owner continues to profit. Here's an entire building that was shutdown recently - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/26/ny...ain-sight.html

hungryhorace

Oh do shush. Pulaski has given the correct advice in this thread.

Either do the NYC thing and beat her up for the money, or just chalk it up to experience and the risk of doing things on the cheap.

Frankly, if you're working at the U.N. you should be able to sort out some proper accommodation. Not staying with scum.

Pulaski

I can do rude if you want but that was blunt, the cold hard truth, not "rude". That you don't value my knowledge and experience does not invalidate it. I wish you luck in your endeavors, but I do not anticipate you getting any satisfaction, and certainly not any financial satisfaction.

nadine0895

hi hungryhorace and Pulaski it seems you were both wrong as I have now reported this person to the authorties and retained a lawyer who works with the United Nations who has found the owner has changed names and business name 3 times, has contacted the landlord and so far been offered $3000 to keep "shush" I guess this is what happens when you dont keep "shush" thanks to those who offered friendly and supportive advice after all thats what were here for to help our fellow expat. Those who mentioned the illegal hotel thing it does seem the authorities are really cracking down on this and were really grateful for the info I gave them.

hungryhorace

Good luck wasting your time. I'd take the $3k personally. Good luck also receiving that.

Pulaski

So as you are occupying the moral high ground I assume you'll be turning down the offer of a $3,000 bribe.

tht

How did they do that, charge your credit card, change your checks?

nadine0895

I have retained the moral high ground I've already reported her, within a day my partners friend from the UN found that this woman owns this place, ( she had told me she was the agent ) so she is'nt able to just up and leave and run away from the situation. I guess giving the money back is her way of making her situation better when the authorities investigate. I've done my part and I'm a much happier bunny. I also contacted a past flatmate and told her how to get her money back as well as she rinsed this poor girl dry for a lot longer than me. Well by $400 was an estimation of how much she was overcharging as the cheaper places in the same area were a lot better than ours and had it gone to court I could've easily got some estimates to back that up. No bother now though, she's being dealt with and hopefully this will be enough for her to either shut down business or start running it properly and fairly. There are so many fishy things about this situation she really didnt want anyone to know she was the owner, she has changed her name 3 times and even changed the business name 3 times and public records show she failed to file taxes. Quite gready considering she has 7 rooms just on our floor, 7 below each bringing in almost 2k a month. Thats almost 28k and then couldnt be bothered to call a plumber and left us without water for 8 days. This is a hospitality company??? This woman deserves everything she gets quite frankly. If I had a nice little business like that I would go about it legitimately and I'd actually take some pride in it.

Dorothy

I've changed my name 3 times, too. So, what does that say about me? I'm also planning to change the name of the business I'm looking into buying. Does that also make me dodgy?

Seriously, Nadine. You're beating a dead horse. It is very unlikely that should this ever even get to see a courthouse anyone would bother to show up. Are you and your partner going to fly back to NY in 3 years' time to show up for a small claims court hearing? It's not worth anyone's time or expense. Just let it go and chalk it up to experience.

nadine0895

Dorothy I did mention I have been offered a $3000 refund which will be in my bank by saturday morning so I'm thrilled with that.

I am not making a small claim against this woman I have reported her to the relevant departments concerning housing, no legal papers have been filed. I did not acquire a lawyer from the UN to drag anyone into court, he simply did a favour addressed the situation and the outcome was successful for me and I am happy. And with the regards to changing names in the wrong set of circumstances for someone who is evading the law, it does not look good. Have a great day

Nutmegger

So it went from being "hush money" to a "refund" in the space of a few posts!

tht

It sounds like lots of dodgy stuff going on here, but if you agreed to a price, and then paid that price you can't really say you were overcharged. Lots of businesses charge more than others for a similar service.

OCKF

From my experience Pulaski is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful members of this forum and even though you may not like what you hear he is trying to save you future headache and disappointment. Wish you the very best!