Bond never repaid landlord a common thief despite apperances

[kiwijohno]

Hi we have a problem with our previous landlady in Bali who it turns out is nothing but a common thief.
I will mention she is from Sydney to help others identify and avoid her. It is disappointing when you get screwed by another Antipodean most of my good friends in Bali are Australian and people you would do business with on a handshake.
Rented for 9 months paid a $A1500 Bond which she promised to repay everyday for two weeks until we left Bali.
She knew we were leaving so just went offline and has never replied to our correspondence or answered calls.
We left the place in perfect condition which she acknowledged and even moved out early to accommodate her return.
This lady has 4 or more properties and an export business so not broke just a bloody crook.
We have written agreements, stamped and receipts etc. but she kept sacking her managers and agents accusing them of stealing from her so not sure if she is mentally stable (paranoia) or just very cunning. All monies paid into her company account in Sydney.
I will eventually name her and post her passport photo on the Bail Black list but would appreciate any advice on getting our deposit back through the legal (or any!) channels as we are now based in Europe. Happy to spend money on a good lawyer if it isn't throwing good money after bad as they say..
Any advice appreciated.
Many thanks John

 

[Markit]

If you want your money back I'm afraid you are pretty much doomed. If you want revenge there's endless "nice" things you can do.

Get a Bali Oz friend to go down to PLN and get the electric to all for houses turned off. Goes pretty quick but to get it back on again is endless and can be expensive.

Bali Black list is good, you could also go on Bali rentals and with the lovely pictures you have of your old house advertise it waaaaay under price with her number and a request to only call late at night Bali time.

Get an Oz/Bali friend to get a pigs head and put it in her entrance but make sure it's in the morning that all her neighbors see it too - Bblack magic woman!"

I could go on and on and on but am sure you get it - forget the money, learn the lesson and maybe teach her one too?

Tell us how it goes.

 

[kiwijohno]

Hi we have a problem with our previous landlady in Bali who it turns out is nothing but a common thief.
I will mention she is from Sydney to help others identify and avoid her. It is disappointing when you get screwed by another Antipodean most of my good friends in Bali are Australian and people you would do business with on a handshake.
Rented for 9 months paid a $A1500 Bond which she promised to repay everyday for two weeks until we left Bali.
She knew we were leaving so just went offline and has never replied to our correspondence or answered calls.
We left the place in perfect condition which she acknowledged and even moved out early to accommodate her return.
This lady has 4 or more properties and an export business so not broke just a bloody crook.
We have written agreements, stamped and receipts etc. but she kept sacking her managers and agents accusing them of stealing from her so not sure if she is mentally stable (paranoia) or just very cunning. All monies paid into her company account in Sydney.
I will eventually name her and post her passport photo on the Bail Black list but would appreciate any advice on getting our deposit back through the legal (or any!) channels as we are now based in Europe. Happy to spend money on a good lawyer if it isn't throwing good money after bad as they say..
Any advice appreciated.
Many thanks John

 

[kiwijohno]

Thanks Markit I have been reading your posts long enough to know you know your systems. No consolation but that is life as we know.

We wont let us put us off Bali but will be wary from now on and will make sure she gets more agro than the deposit she stole.

Would I be in breach if I posted her name and business details here?

 

[sherm]

I would advise not posting this persons identity in a public forum. There are other ways to handle this if your wish is to impose pain and retribution against this person. If you want to visit Indonesia again take a quiet path.

 

[kiwijohno]

Thanks sherm

We like any others who have been conned by this pathetic witch and those who might be would be keen to hear your solution?

Also looking for solutions to stop it happening again to others so it benefits all readers.

 

[Markit]

Perhaps communicating the pure threat of posting this business woman's information on the FB Bali Black List and FB Expat page would do the trick and get your money back.

Or simply find the woman on FB - she's more than likely a member of one of the expat sites and have an open discussion with her on that forum?

Your call whether the agro you might get back is worth the trouble you make for her.

Bali is a funny place in that people seem to get up to all sorts of things and damage each other relentlessly but the day to day life seems to counter holding of grudges. Magic of Bali, strength of Bintang, who knows?

 

[balipod-admin]

Would I be in breach if I posted her name and business details here?

Please don't post the person's name here. Not that I don't believe your story is genuine, but I would just prefer not to use this site for naming and shaming.

As others have suggested, take a look at the Bali Blacklist group on Facebook.

 

[spicyayam]

Maybe you can try a debt collection agency such as: Bali Private Security and Debt Collectors BPSDC

 

[balibule]

This reminds me a little of the Australian wedding planner who had a business in Bali and was scamming her customers. Eventually they had a witch hunt for her on social and even Australian media I think and they did find her.

 

[SHoggard]

Hmm... just pondering... & posing some questions:-

1. She's an Australian citizen?
2. She's from Sidney (ie: has property there perhaps)?
3. You have a contract?
5. Money was paid into a company account in Australia>
6. Which 'entity' is it with?
a. A 'real' & 'existing' legal Indonesian company? ... or....
b. A 'real' & 'existing' legal Australian company?
c. An 'unreal' & 'non existent entity in Indonesia?

If the answers to 1-5 are yes and the answer to 6. is ether
'b' (i suspect probably 'b') - I think it would be devilishly difficult for a legal Indonesian entity to open an a/c in Australia)

.... then I suggest you gather the paperwork & anything else you know about this woman's business activities & hot-foot it to the Australian version of the Small Debts Court and sue her proverbial ass.
The agreement was executed in Australia, between an individual & Australian registered company - the fact that the property was in Bali has very little to with the legality or jurisdiction of the agreement.

BUT: if the answer to 6 is 'c' and she has entered into an agreement purporting to be on behalf of a legal Indonesian registered company - then it is a simple case of 'Fraud' (knowing & not caring that the entity exists) - in which case,
1. it is a police case - make a report (get it in writing with a case file number) not sure that for A$1,500 they'd take action (unless this is a regular scam - which it may be!)
2. she becomes personally liable..... hot-foot it to the Small Claims Court with all the paperwork including the police report & sue her ass personally. Seize or freeze the Oz bank a/c (you said it was a company a/c... but if there isn't a company - it is fraud)

IF the answer to 6 is 'A' : then she's most likely scamming the Indonesian tax authorities and having income paid offshore to evade tax... I think send HER a formal letter addressed to the Indonesian tax office in Bali (someone here can give you the address) threatening to send it to them unless the bond is repaid within 7 days.... if she pays it.... send the letter anyway.

Can you tell I've been here before?

 

[SamD]

You could also threaten her with this: https://www.ato.gov.au/Forms/Tax-evasion-reporting-form/

You can bet your bottom dollar she is not reporting her Bali income to the Australian Tax Office.

 

[kiwijohno]

Thanks SHoggard

Good advice