returning "part" of the security deposit

[hilary]

I was actually thinking of the best outcome in the longer term and broader sense. It might be possible, for instance, to win this relatively petty financial battle, be left feeling horrible about the whole thing, and have your old landlady and her family warn all their friends not to let to you without a harsh contract and a high rent to cover the cost of taxes. In other words, a Pyrrhic victory.

But anyway. Hexagram 18 is about dealing with a current mess. It suggests there is something nasty hidden away here that is bringing you bad experiences. The first priority is to bring that corruption into the open; the second is resolution to change it, with proper attention to both preparation and implementation.

What's the nasty hidden thing? You have a choice of interpretations. It could be some problem your landlady and/or her daughter have that make them desperate to try for every cent they can get. It could be something within you, that drives you to pursue this even when you are already exhausted. It could be some combination of the two - your hidden drives and theirs getting together to make a really nasty soup.

(BTW, those hidden drives and patterns tend to be inherited. If you're doing something 18-ish, then as often as not you'll be able to recognise it as something your parents did, too.)

To a considerable extent, Yi leaves it up to you to uncover the nature of the corruption you're dealing with. This is a very personal hexagram, hard to interpret for another person with any certainty. I think the role of the second hexagram here is as an attitude to use in getting through 18. Seeing opportunities, recognising gifts, and putting them to the most active, positive use possible. 'Deal with corruption like Prince Kang'. (He's the one who received the gift of horses.)

More on the moving lines later if I can. (As you can learn things about what you're dealing with from the lines and the hexagrams they point to.)

 

[elizabeth]

Hilary,

Thanks so much for your post. I always feel graced by higher powers when I have your professional input on my questions! I thought to reply to you and to the other posters w/the final outcome of this situation, so people can assess their interpretations if they like.

As you know, I received the partial security deposit from the landlady's daughter on Monday night. I consulted a trusted girlfriend here and she suggested SHE phone the landlady, Russian to Russian ("I understand where you're coming from, I"m Russian too, but...") and explain the situation and how it seems to be a bit unfair. This friend of mine is *extremely* soft spoken, polite and gentle. She knows the entire story, has seen my rental agreement, helped me move apartments, helped me with former apartment related legal questions etc. I trust her completely.

So my friend phoned the landlady last night (one night after I got the partial deposit back). She began to introduce herself and explain the situation. The landlady made up a sudden lie about having to pick up her nephew (who was already at home) to get off the phone. Signal number one. The landlady asked my friend to phone back in ten minutes. Fine. My friend phoned me in the interim with the report and while we were on the phone, the landlady phoned my cell three times. I did not answer. My friend then phoned the landlady back again. The daughter answered this time. My friend asked for the landlady instead, and the daughter began to yell at my friend on the phone, saying "there was no rental agreement" and "send whatever you want to the tax authorities!" - spewing blatant lies and condescension at her, and then....she hung up the phone on my friend!

So, signal number two, temper tantrums. If they knew they were acting fairly I dont think that would have happened, there would have been a calm, adult discussion explaining why they were right, etc. This daughter talks down to everyone she meets -- me, my friend, and even her own mother. The landlady had been telling me about the daughter's 2 year old who lives with them now, and how he has a difficult character, "probably from his Italian father". I just feel sorry for this husband who fell for such a witch and now is screwed big time... but I digress.

So we can still send a copy of the lease to the Tax Inspection. They may or may not then charge the landlady retroactively. I haven't picked up (or even turned on) my cell today as I dont want to deal with her if she phones. So those who said "no" to my question -- you were correct! It was a small battle, and I realize in what my friend undertook for me, angel that she is, that these people are trash, and I'm just lucky they're out of my life.

Case officially closed.

-E.

 

[luz]

Hi Elizabeth,

thanks for telling us how it ended!

I have one question, though: did your friend tell them (in a soft spoken way) that you might take the lease to Tax Inspection? Otherwise, where would they have gotten that idea?

Thanks.

 

[elizabeth]

Yes, she did. She first began with the kind/gentle approach. then when they started playing games, (started? okay sorry, "continued"), that was her final comment. We planned it this way, ie "we can do this the easy, agreeable way, OR we can do this another way." Not sure they care one way or other frankly.

 

[hilary]

Congratulations on closing the case. There must be better and more interesting places to expend your energy! (And since we've reached 'final outcome' I think I'll leave the lines alone, unless you/ anyone especially wants to explore them.)

Question: since the threat of reporting to the tax authorities didn't get you your refund, is there any point left at all in going ahead with it?

 

[elizabeth]

hi Hilary,

To your question, aside from carrying through on the word/threat (consistency), to promote justice among civilians (adhering to the law, even though it's not my job), or for vengence's sake -- no, not really. I haven't decided yet if I will alert them or not. It wouldn't hurt me to do so, but would hurt her.