If I stayed in a hotel about year ago and it is now accusing me of breaking the TV and charging me $1100, what should I do to not get charged?
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If I stayed in a hotel about year ago and it is now accusing me of breaking the TV and charging me $1100, what should I do to not get charged?
The hotel has a lawyer dealing with this and the tv was definitely not worth $1100.
Asked on March 19, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You have essentially three choices:
1) Pay what they're asking for;
2) Try to negotiate or settle at some lower rate (for example, if you agree that you broke the television, but do not agree with the cost); or
3) Refuse to pay, then try to defend yourself if they sue you--they would have to be able to prove by a "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not) that you broke the television and its value.
If you're interested in exploring a settlement, then without admitting to doing the damage, ask the attorney to provide any proof of the cost--and then also do you own research (e.g. once you know the make/model) to find the cost. That will give you some basis for knowing what a reasonable price might be.
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