Product: Debt collection

In XX/XX/XXXX my husband  and I had to break our lease in Florida due to us losing our jobs because of the pandemic. We had to relocate to Texas since that was the only location we could find jobs. We understood we would have to pay for breaking the lease. We waited to be contacted with the final amount but unfortunately, we never heard from the apartments. Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX, I see the account has gone to collections due to us not paying. I contacted the apartments asking if we could pay them but unfortunately, they said we had to go through the debt collector. In those 9 months we were never contacted by the apartments or IQ Data Inc ( the debt collector ). On XX/XX/XXXX I XXXX their info and called them because we want to get this resolved. We were told by the apartments when I initially called, we owed {$2600.00}. Upon speaking with XXXX XXXX he proceeded to get my phone number, mailing address and my husbands phone number. He stated he did not have this information. He also stated we needed to pay {$2700.00} and he would remove it from our credit. I asked why it was more and he said they are charging an interest fee of {$89.00}. All I want is to make sure the debt collector is being honest about this. I looked up some info on FTC and read they are not allowed to collect interest. The next day XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX calls me but I am in the middle of a phone call and can not answer. He proceeds to call my husband  and was EXTREMELY hostile towards him. My husband was just questioning why the interest and XXXX proceeded to raise his voice so my husband hung up. My husband told me about the situation and I called XXXX to try and explain our side. He then proceeded to start yelling at me over the phone stating we are trying to get out of paying for this. I want to make this clear, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING OUR DEBT. We were aware we would be charged for breaking the lease and have every intention on paying it. What we do not understand is why they are charging this interest fee and why they refuse to remove this from our credit if we do not pay the interest fee. XXXX mentioned it being a flat collection fee but saying they call it interest. I dont buy this. All I want is a clear and legitimate explanation. He hung up on me very rudely and I called back because again, we want to fix this. This affects my husbands and I credit tremendously to the point of us not having anywhere to live because nobody will lease to us. We have had impeccable renting history the last 8 years until COVID hit. All we want is a legitimate explanation if this is in fact true or correct. We are not trying to find loopholes or trying to get out of paying. They just never ever reached out to us even though he claims they did. I dont have any voicemails. Nothing. Then when WE reach out, XXXX XXXX was just disgusting. He gave us horrible customer service and I told him that. He said we are not his customer the apartments are, and he said he was putting us down as refusing to pay even though WE NEVER SAID WE WOULDN'T PAY. We never not once said that, and their recording can prove it. All XXXX did was yell at me and would not let me talk. He also called me a liar. I do not appreciate the way this is being handled. He is treating us like trash, and we do not deserve it. We are honest people who are just trying to not be taken advantage of. Please someone help us with this. I can not and will not call these people again. He is rude and just overall a XXXX human.