Consumer complaint received 2018-04-16
Company: The Phoenix Recovery Group
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I DISPUTE the Collection amount of {$100.00} total from XXXX XXXX XXXX  located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX. In fact, XXXX XXXX XXXX owes me my entire Double-Deposit refund as I provided them with my 60-day notice of moving ; I exited my apartment in a cleaner condition than when I moved in, I did free XXXX XXXX at their apartment events and I even donated office equipment, cleaning and maintenance supplies to XXXX at my exit. I was informed by Assistant Apartment Manager ( XXXX XXXX ) when we did my exit walk through ( XX/XX/XXXX ) that she would be mailing me my deposit ( less the amount of the final water bill ) within 21 days to the forwarding address I provided her ( XXXX address ). I called XXXX XXXX month after month requesting my deposit and each month I was told that XXXX ( the Manager ) was not in office and that he has my file. 
I was NEVER provided with an explanation of why XXXX had not sent my deposit return nor was I provided with a bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX intentionally and unlawfully withheld my double-deposit as well as made a Fraudulent Collection Claim against me in XX/XX/XXXX ( almost a year later ). XX/XX/XXXX, I was informed that XXXX XXXX XXXX had been sold ; is under new management and that is why I never received my deposit. The current management staff at XXXX XXXX XXXX stated " The old management company took all of their past resident files with them and that they have no record of me living there or being entitled to my deposit refund ''. I later learned that by law ; when a property management company acquires an existing property, they have to keep the files of all past and current residents on file for no less than 7 years. 

Lastly, I contacted The Phoenix Recovery Group that was collecting on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX . They informed me that my final water bill was approximately {$40.00} and the remainder of the {$100.00} they are collecting for is their fees. *Also, On XX/XX/XXXX, I paid my entire rent ; garage, water and sewage bill for the month of XX/XX/XXXX in the amount of {$1300.00}. I moved out of the unit on XX/XX/XXXX. Who skips out on a final water bill of {$40.00} after paying {$1300.00} to live somewhere for 5 nights ( XX/XX/XXXX )??? I have a copy of my move-out form with Assistant Manager XXXX XXXX which is dated XX/XX/XXXX ; paid airline tickets, date stamped pictures of my empty unit ( # XXXX ), the moving service receipts along with the customer shut-off request date and equipment return receipt from XXXX XXXX XXXX/ XXXX XXXX service that proves we moved out of XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. The Phoenix Recovery Group is insistent that we moved out on XXXX, which is not true. My son graduated XXXX XXXX on Friday XX/XX/XXXX. When it was time for me to renew my lease with XXXX XXXX XXXX ; I did not renew a year lease like I did in previous years. My lease and my 60-day written notice was submitted to XXXX with intentions to move back to XXXX   after my son graduated XXXX XXXX. So, I hope they don't lie about the lease because my leasing agreement changed at the last renewal. I did everything in order and paid my bills on time with XXXX XXXX XXXX ; just for them to " sell the property '', take off with my double deposit then send a fraudulent water bill to collections which is lowering my credit score. I have been damaged by this company and I deserve to be made whole financially.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation