Your landlord got the demand letter and ignored it. Or they wrote back refusing to pay. This is the next phase: small-claims court, AG complaints, and the evidence package that wins.
Overview When the demand letter isn't enough
Many deposit disputes end with the demand letter. Some need a push. This kit walks through the escalation paths that actually exist for tenants: small-claims court, the state AG complaint, the evidence package, and the follow-up cadence that keeps pressure on the landlord without burning you out.
Your three main escalation paths
Small-claims court. Filing fees run $30–$75. Most states allow claims up to $5,000–$25,000, well above a typical deposit. In roughly 20 states you can recover 2x or 3x damages plus court costs. For most tenants this is the highest-leverage path.
State Attorney General consumer protection complaint. Free, creates an official record, and often triggers a response from the landlord's registered agent. The AG isn't the decision-maker, but the letterhead does meaningful work.
State housing or rental regulator complaint. Varies a lot by state. Some have real enforcement (CA, WA, NJ), some are paper tigers. Worth filing in parallel with path 1 or 2.
The rest of this kit gives you the exact templates, filing instructions, and follow-up cadence for each path.
Chapter 1 Small-claims court: the complete filing playbook
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Chapter 2 State AG complaint: the free pressure path
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Chapter 3 The evidence package: what to document, and when
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Chapter 4 Follow-up cadence: the 60-day playbook
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Chapters 1 to 4 (small-claims filing playbook, AG complaint guide, evidence checklist, 60-day follow-up schedule) unlock with your code.