Originally Posted by
jlkarp52
In August 2015 we stayed at a Marriott Spring Hill Suites for several nights after we sold our home. There were problems with the room including an inability to open a locked door from the inside.The hotel was at the time undergoing a renovation which was somewhat disruptive. We checked out of the hotel and nothing was said to us about the condition of the room. Last Saturday, some nine months after we stayed there, we received a lawyer lettter demanding payment of $5,000.00 for alleged water damages caused by sink overflow in the bathroom.few details were provided, other than copies of bills. Also we were told to turn the matter over to our homeowners insurance . I assume that if there were any damages to the room, it would be covered by the hotel's insurance. Is this a new thing with hotels to get money out of guests.?
First things first:
1) Do you now live in the same state as the SHS you stayed in?
2) Have you received any sort of demand letter before this correspondence from an attorney?
3) Note: chasing down $5k for repairs sounds like a subrogation claim where the attorney is representing an insurance company that paid a claim for this Marriott (Assuming this property is not self-insured). Fairly standard for bottom-feeder law practices. This is not a debt collection. You have no obligation to pay for services you have not received - unlike medical care, a loan, or a credit card. it is not a debt.
4) Whatever you do - don’t answer this letter on your own and acknowledge anything or start 'defending' yourself.
Hire an attorney particularly if 1 and 2 are “yes."