Ever Get Drunk-Dialed by a Tenant?
Let me tell you that its plenty uncomfortable getting drunk-dialed by one of your tenants. First off, she’s a bit of a firecracker at the best of times, and second its just bloody awkward.
The back story is that this tenant was about a week behind on her rent and I was due to come over that day and collect the balance. I got a call around 7:00. The caller-ID told me who it was, but I could barely tell what was going on as my tenant couldn’t string a sentence together. After informing me of her love life issues, financial situation, and general happiness with life she tells me that she’s got some of my rent, but not all. Then she says: “…I love you.” So what do you say to that?
She was way too drunk to reason with and the last thing I wanted to do was set her off by pressuring her to pay the whole rent. So I said I would head over shortly to collect what she had. You see, I was also wondering if I’d even get that much if I didn’t get over there before she spent it on another trip to the liquor store.
Fortunately, my wife was out with the car and I had some time to think about the situation before I could head out. I could picture the scenario:
- Show up to collect rent
- Get in some fight with tenant because she wasn’t paying the full amount
- Tenant claims some form of sexual assault
- Yikes!
About 30 minutes later I phone her back (she doesn’t answer) and I leave a message saying that something came up and I cannot make it that night. She probably passed out. I avoided what could have been a major shit-show.
Funnily, the tenant calls me the next day wondering why I didn’t come by and remembers nothing about our phone call. Funny for that. Anyway, I did collect the money she had and obtained post-dated cheques for the balance and future rent payments. She’s now fully up-t0-date.
Next Installment: Ever drunk-dialed one of your tenants?