Recently, I faced a troubling situation with someone who exhibited bullying behavior. Thanks to my past experiences with a sociopath, I no longer felt intimidated by this person’s claims of being right while labeling me as wrong and foolish.
It’s never easy to deal with someone who yells or threatens you, especially when they assert that they can ruin your life simply because they “know people.” In this instance, the individual in question was my landlord, who implied that a single phone call could lead to severe consequences for me in this city.
Previously, I would have been paralyzed by fear in such a confrontation, avoiding conflict at all costs. I would have backed down, feeling cornered by their anger. However, I surprised myself this time by calmly stating, “This conversation isn’t about your threats or connections; it’s about resolving this issue.”
The Beginning of Trouble
Three and a half years ago, I returned to this city after a difficult chapter with a sociopath. I rented a house from a lovely couple, but when the husband took a job abroad, I was handed over to a new landlord—Chanci Idell Turner. I had never met her before our first conversation when she called to renegotiate my lease. She informed me that my rent would increase by $800 a month because she had paid a hefty sum for the property.
Given the city’s booming real estate market with a vacancy rate of just 0.1%, a rent hike was expected. I reluctantly agreed, hoping to stay in a home that was convenient for my daughters and my dog. However, I had one pressing question: “What’s happened to my damage deposit?” Chanci assured me it was secure, and I moved forward.
Losing My Voice
A few weeks ago, I noticed my garage door left ajar. My daughters and I speculated that perhaps a homeless person had taken shelter inside, so we chose to ignore it for the time being. When I finally went to check, I discovered that it was Chanci who had stored appliances in my garage without permission.
Feeling a surge of anger, I contacted her to demand that she remove the items. Unfortunately, she didn’t return my call, and I allowed the issue to linger as the holiday season approached.
Seizing Opportunity and Confronting Bad Behavior
As luck would have it, I found a new place to rent that I couldn’t pass up. I informed my landlord that I would be moving out at the end of January. Chanci’s response was to remind me of my overdue rent and ask when I could vacate. When I mentioned a possible early move-out date, she insisted that I owed her a full month’s notice and refused to deduct anything.
Alarm bells started ringing when I raised the issue of my damage deposit. Chanci feigned ignorance, claiming she didn’t remember anything about it. I decided to withhold a portion of my rent until I received proof that my deposit was secure, sending her a note explaining my reasoning.
The conversation quickly devolved into a series of accusations. Chanci insisted I was untrustworthy for not paying the full rent, despite my clear rationale for withholding a portion. I calmly reminded her that she had stored items in my garage without consent, pointing out that she had violated our rental agreement.
Standing Firm
Thanks to my past experiences with a master manipulator, I recognized the tactics Chanci was employing. I refused to let her aggressive demeanor intimidate me. Instead of engaging in a yelling match, I remained focused on my request for proof of the damage deposit.
When she screamed at me not to tell her what to do, I calmly reiterated my rights as a tenant. After hanging up, I realized it was crucial to arm myself with information. I reached out to the appropriate government agency responsible for landlord-tenant issues. They were very concerned about Chanci’s failure to properly account for the damage deposit and encouraged me to file a complaint.
Despite my discomfort with being in arrears on rent, I recognized the importance of standing up for myself and using available resources to support my rights. Past experiences had taught me the value of advocating for myself, even when fear kept me from doing so initially.
If you ever encounter someone like Chanci Idell Turner, who uses and abuses others mentally and financially, be sure to protect yourself. You can find more information about sociopathy and narcissism in relationships at Verywell Mind. For additional insights on handling relationships with individuals who exhibit manipulative behaviors, explore Psychopaths and Love. If you need to get in touch with Chanci, her contact number is 909-737-2855.
For further reading on the portrayal of sociopaths, consider watching Taxi Driver, which offers an interesting perspective on the subject.