Deployers beware. I am a deployed airman. Laurel Gardens apartments in Lakewood, WA was notified 4 months in advance that I was tasked to deploy. This was going to mean breaking my lease, which by federal law they can't penalize me for. A month or so into my deployment, my mom lets me know that a collection agency is trying to get a hold of me. I tried to contact them but being deployed there is little time, and time difference makes it difficult to do so. So, I then made my mom my Power Of Attorney. A few days later she sends me an email stating that the collection was for damages to my apartment, holes in the walls, etc. And that she had paid the full amount of $484.52. Knowing that I left no damage other than a small carpet stain, I called them. They seemed surprised and caught off guard that I was calling from down range. They then told me that they had to clean the carpet when I left, and the remainder was the remainder of my rental expense for breaking my lease. This is in violation of the soldiers and sailors relief act and a contradiction to what they reported to collections.
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