Consumer complaint received 2019-01-10
Company: Stuart-Lippman and Associates, Inc
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
From XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX I worked as an agent for a new XXXX office. 
I was explicitly told by management that for my entire first year, I would not have to pay rent or other office related fees. 
It's common for many insurance and financial companies to charge agents/representatives rent and other fees associated with running an office. 
I remember accepting this job because I thought a first year with no rent was a fair offer for a brand new office trying to establish itself. 

Anyways, I left the company in XX/XX/XXXX for a better job opportunity. 
And I specifically asked my manager, when I gave my notice, if I owed any money to XXXX. 
He told me " No, '' and I thought that was it. And it was, until XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter in the mail from XXXX stating I owe them {$1400.00} and that I was delinquent on it. I asked for a breakdown of the charges and an explanation on how they could fail to notify me of an alleged debt of {$1400.00} for well over a year and then threatened me with collections. 

Needles to say, they had a poor explanation for the delay and a majority of the money I allegedly owed XXXX was rent and technology fees ( effectively office expenses I was told I wouldn't have to pay during my first year ). I told the XXXX finance director trying to collect this debt that I disputed it and that I never agreed to these expenses either verbally or in my written contract with XXXX. Furthermore, XXXX couldn't even provide me with a contract that I physically signed. 

XXXX ignored my dispute and didn't respond to any of my concerns. I would have happily paid them back for any charges they could show me I agreed to. 
I figured they would take me to court or arbitration ( part of my contract with them ) in order to collect and I would be able to make my case. 
Instead, they sent my " debt '' to a collections agency called " Stuart-Lippman & Associates. '' My lawyer immediately responded to the collections agent from Stuart-Lippman when he contacted me via e-mail on XX/XX/XXXX about the debt. My lawyer notified this collection agent that the debt was disputed and no evidence of me consenting to these charges existed. I did not sign or consent verbally or in writing to pay rent or other office expenses at all, let alone at whatever rate XXXX charged me. The collections agent sent my lawyer the same few documents that XXXX had already given us ( i.e my " bill '' and employment contract ). None of those documents have me agreeing to pay these charges. 

My lawyer explicitly asked the collections agent to please show and prove where in XXXX 's documents I agreed/consented to these charges. 
Again, I would've gladly paid once I was shown where I consented to these charges and agreed to pay them. The collections agent ignored my lawyers request and reported me to the credit reporting agencies. 

I now have a delinquent/late payment impacting my credit score and it's for charges I never consented to. 
Furthermore, myself and my lawyer have disputed the charges and asked for evidence. Our requests were either ignored or given useless documents that don't prove anything.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation