Latest news with #JJGouin
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Newsweek
Renter Bails on $20K Bill, Not Prepared for Landlord's Revenge: 'Thought She Got Away'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A New York City landlord has been applauded for their years-long online campaign to expose a former tenant who stopped paying rent and left their apartment "filthy". The landlord and original poster (OP), user Buddhany, shared their story on Reddit, explaining how they had rented their furnished Manhattan apartment to a woman from Queensland, Australia. Although she lacked previous landlord references, the OP noted, "She was gainfully employed, met the financial criteria to qualify, and provided some solid letters of reference." Seven months into the lease, however, the tenant reportedly stopped paying rent, skipped Housing Court hearings, and then left the country. "She arrogantly and callously cost me $20,000 in unpaid rent and damages," the OP wrote. So, the OP plotted their revenge. Stock image of a residential lease agreement. Stock image of a residential lease agreement. Photo by JJ Gouin / Getty Images The OP explained, "She has a very unique name, so I bought her domain name - let's say her name is Jane Smith, I purchased - and built a website. "I proceeded to post the details on said website: her photo, an official copy of the financial judgements I won against her (she owes me $16,000 in unpaid rent + $7,000+ in damages) including photos of the filth left in the apartment, the damaged furniture and broken microwave, the notice from the Marshall posted on door with eviction details, details about where she worked and the club she frequents in Queensland to play bridge." They added that they were very careful to only include facts "so as not to be accused of slander". 'Publicly unmasked' "I focused on the SEO of the website and managed to have the website be the #1 result when you google her name," the OP wrote. "Then I sat back and looked at the stats of the website visits, which showed her employer had visited the site." The OP also said they notified the people who wrote the tenant's letters of reference and received tips from people who had spotted her at conferences. In a message to Newsweek, the OP said their revenge on the former tenant has been "satisfying". 'Most people are decent human beings' "I am very surprised that I have not heard from her," the OP noted. "She has outstanding debts with me, and she can run, but she cannot hide...I have been patiently waiting for any attempts at restitution for more than 2 years." They wrote that the "overwhelmingly positive" comments on Reddit have been "heartwarming". "Most people are decent human beings, and they despise it when others take advantage and flagrantly violate the law and social norms of human decency," they added. Reddit Reacts Reddit users flocked to the comments to weigh in, with many applauding the OP's tenacity. One wrote, "While we may never be able to become friends, I most assuredly hope to never be your enemy!" Another added approvingly, "This isn't too far, this is exactly far enough. [People] like her count on the fact that landlords or victims won't have the time or money to fight back. And you said bet." "This is LITERALLY the VERY BEST revenge outcome I have ever heard of," one Redditor noted. "And you served it cold and aged perfectly." More Landlord Coverage Disputes between landlords and tenants are not uncommon, and there are plenty of examples that have attracted online attention. Newsweek covered a post detailing a young tenant's dispute with their landlord over a security-deposit deduction that went viral on Reddit. The tenant said the landlord was "super nasty over email" when they asked about the issue: "I sent her the pictures and she ignored them, mentioning that she 'also has picture proof of the uncleanliness'. She must have used a spyglass..." Not all landlord-tenant relationships end in acrimony, however. 'I was really taken aback' A landlord in Maine shared a rare find after one of his tenants, who had lived in the same apartment since 1992, moved out and left behind a perfectly cared-for home that stunned him. "I was really taken aback because it does not look like this place was lived in for 32 years," the landlord, Syed Zafar, told Newsweek. "It was in such great condition for its use and age." To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Social Security benefit payments fall later in May: When will you get your check?
Social Security beneficiaries saw their payments arrive a little later than normal this month due to a quirk in the safety net program's payment calendar. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines most recipients' payment dates based on their birthdates. Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of the month are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; those born between the 11th and 20th get their checks on the third Wednesday; and those born after the 20th get paid on the fourth Wednesday. For the month of May, the second Wednesday and first round of payments fell on May 14 — the latest day for the initial tranche of payments of any month on the 2025 calendar. There are several other months with later dates for the initial benefit payments, which fell on the 12th of February and will fall on the 13th of August and 12th of November. 3 This May, the second Wednesday and first round of Social Security payments fell on May 14, the latest day for the initial tranche of payments.. JJ Gouin – Social Security recipients who started receiving benefit distributions before May 1997 or are receiving both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have benefits paid on different dates, with Social Security paid on the 3rd of the month and SSI on the 1st. Beneficiaries who also receive SSI will receive two payments in May. This month's benefit was paid on May 1, while the payment for June will be distributed on May 30 since June 1 falls on a weekend this year. 3 Beneficiaries who also receive Supplemental Security Income will receive two payments in May. Jon Anders Wiken – 3 The SSA recommends that beneficiaries who haven't received electronic payments on the date they were scheduled to contact their bank or financial institution in case of a delay. Matt Gush – The SSA recommends that if beneficiaries haven't received electronic payments on the date they were scheduled to, they should first contact their bank or financial institution in case there was a delay. If a payment is more than three days late, the agency directs beneficiaries to contact the SSA directly to report the missing payment, so the case can be reviewed and a payment replaced if due. The overwhelming majority of Social Security recipients, roughly 99%, receive their payments electronically.
