Friends,
I was living in an apertment for three years and now I moved. We had paid a deposit of $250.00. While leaving we tried our best to clean the apartment. While we were expecting a deposit return, we had a bill with $190.00 dues instead. They charged us for carpet replacement and cleaning of apt of $440.00.

The question is, the letter says if we do not pay in ten days they will take legal actions and report to collections and credit bureau. What should I do in this case? I am not willing to pay that $190.00. I lived in that apartment for 3 years and what do they expect the apartment to be? What steps should I take now? Will it be difficult for me to rent an apartment in the future if I do not pay them? Will it affect my credit history? Has anybody went through similar situation?

Please suggest!
Thank you and you all have a blessed night!!

Cool down yours just $250. I lost almost $900( $800 rent deposit+$100 parking deposit). Our apartment was on fire so the carpet was damaged. The good thing is building manager was our pot buddy so he let us go on everything else!! (cleaning, painting etc)
And yes, your supposed to leave the carpet as it is. Did you read your rental agreement before you signed? Moreover do you have the agreement with you now? They an sue you on that basis Bro. Take a look & let us know.

Sorry to hear that grenade.
They usually want the carpet to be clean after you left ur apartment. I know its sad to hear that u got lot of bills. May be u sud talk with someone who used to live in same apt building before.
U might need to pay that. I guess.
Samikshya

grenade you should pay it before the due date because they will make you pay by any means.
If you don't pay then that may stuck in your credit history and might affect while leasing a good apartment later on.

 Actually Most apartments suck as you said..but when you are liable to pay some amount, you have to.....Yeti paisa mai ta HISTORY bigari halnu ta bhayena ni..

Paisa tirdeu pareko ma behorchhu!

Try to negotiate with the manager. Tell him/ her that u lived there for 3 years and never late on your rent. Also tell, you r a student and can't afford to pay $190. say that you will refer your friends to stay there in future. Possibly they will settle with your deposit and not make u pay that $190.

But, if they don't waive that 190, just pay it. It will hamper your credit history. Before you pay, tell them that unwillingly you will have to write negative reviews about the apartment because you aren't leaving satisfied.

 thank ya all for your comments. I like Furke's comment the best. I will try to ask the manager that way rather than shouting. Afterall, this America will make us pay in one way or other.

They will not let you go without paying ....that's how it works they will simply hand you your signed lease .  It's always good thing to have steam Vaccumm cleaner lol helps big time before leaving apartment .

It happened to me too and it is gonna happen to everyone. It is the last resort to make money from you. The more frequent movers the more  money they make. If you dont move they increase your rent in renewing lease.

Westgate apart always sucks in this case. I refer nobody in that complex .
The only thing you can do is pay and write negative review.

You can always avoid such costs i have never paid single extra stuffs . Just read your lease find out what needs to be done .

Can you explain why did they changed your carpet ? was it something from your side or they just decided to change it .

Go to small claim courts if you fell you have been duped. You dont need a lawyer. Also they might also just cancel the charges and might give you the deposit back for the hassle of going to the court.  Did you guys damage the carpet badly or was resonably dirty? Resonable damages are a part of a lease. Three years is a long time and they cant be expecting the carpet to be in like new condition after all these years.If the place was dirty they will need to prove the resons and the charges associated. Check the internet if other people have written something online about the apartment. You cannot be charged for them. Also you are supposed to get interest on your deposit accumulating to one year. Your state might be different. Also read your lease and see if you are binded in any way.

Grenade, 
you can't do anything. without trying anything, pay them off. 
I've gone through similar incidents, I tried everything I could reading ppl's comments off forums and internet, 
but in practical,it doesn't work that way. They think you made them look like liars and they try their heart out
to make you prove guilty. Ultimately, it's a waste of time and effort, and you end up paying feeling like loser.

So, just pay it now, without those hiccups. Don't listen to anybody here who's suggesting you to do this and that.
They've nothing to lose, it's you, who'll be penetrated. So, don't argue with them and pay immediately. 

I'm telling you this because, there is no reason for them to trick you.  I've lived in my apartment for 5 years and 
there is no sign of dents,stains anywhere. Now these ppl are coming to me changing things for free. 

I'm pretty much sure, you didn't take care of your apartment that well or may be there are some poorly handled
indoor conditions. 

lol @ bittertruth ...i am about to moved from the apartment where i lived for a year and i was slapped with crappy fee's and i was able to get away with it easily by talking with them nicely and they didn't had any proof to get my money .

If everything is fine they can't charge you at all unless there's your fault  . I lived in dallas for year and few months after moving out from there i got cheque of $250 deposit .  No people can't just fool you like that and there's law if you think you were falsely charged .

 @bittertruth,
living for 5 plus years in US, you still kiss people's asses; that's sad.
When I came to US, for the first year, I was tricked, phished, or being ignorant paid hefty sums unnecessarily. Now, these people can't get a penny that rightfully belongs to me even if they get deep into my a$$. Two words for them: F((k off!!!

@tun3er, 
that's how we r supposed to act. kudos!

After reading the posts above,,it seems like every missed one thing for sure,,ie to call the landloard or the people from the lease office to walk in through the apartment after the cleanup for inspection before you hand in the keys to them and have the papers signed in or if they want something else (in your aparment) to be cleaned up,,get it done so as per their judgement and as per your lease agreement. If you can even take pictures to have it as proof that you handed them the apartment the way you got it.

It does not matter how long you live in the place,,all that matters is that piece of paper that you signed and agreed upon which states the charges for each item to be cleaned up.

If you just hand in the keys and walk away without the inspection and the refrigerator gets stolen in between ,,you are most likey to get billed for that as well..

I have moved a few places without losing a dime from my deposit.. So here is my five cents..

tun3r and furke,
no comments.
may be I was/am  blessed :D