I wasn't home, so they intimidated my wife.2) They will try to plead, cajole and threaten you into instant decisions. 

@Nathan G.I certainly would admit the mess and pay fine if I was guilty of the mess.

 (  I’m guilty of this also).Let me know your experience, and what you think.

Your post was unclear.)You can also contact the water company and plead with them for some sort of settlement.

And on a sidenote, I believe the guilty tenant used the set-up the rental house to get off because how could anyone prove it was really him on that computer when the house was rented the way it was...- One of my tenants who lived in the house for no more than 4 HOURS had a made a terroristic threat over his gaming system and the police dept. shut down a 4 block radius around my boarding house! 

I have printed all material (text messages, bounced check, etc).I feel guilty over doing this and keep replaying in my head that maybe she has some point on the grace period (even though she is late and bounced a check) The lease reads in two total different paragraph "rent is due on or before the 1st of month", Late fee is $50 after the 5 day grace. 

Either because 1) they now know you'll ultimately pay, or 2) they may see the fact that you paid as an admission of guilt and therefore any future claims may seem more credible since you were "guilty" of discrimination on this prior occasion? 

The person taking it is not guilty of any crime.   

I don't know if you've been reading too many of the exploits of a certain President-elect (who shall remain unnamed) in coming to the conclusion that you can be "guilty as hell"... and still get REWARDED for it, but, such conniving doesn't sit well with me...* (But I'm not used to thinking about skirting the rules, so I my "instincts" may be wrong).

I have been guilty of this for quite some time, but I am moving forward and actively pursuing deals.