Consumer complaint received 2019-09-11
Company: I.Q. DATA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
I moved out of my rented apartment on XX/XX/2019. Community name XXXX at XXXX XXXX, XXXX, TX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Texas XXXX I had paid out my months rent of {$200.00} in the renters portal for period XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. Since I had terminated my lease early, I was required to pay the rent for the remaining period till it is let out. The apartment was listed available from XX/XX/XXXX because they would clean the apartment and make it move-in ready. When I had gone to surrender my keys on XX/XX/XXXX ( since office closed at XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX ) I got to know that a new application was received for my apartment and the tenant is expected to move-in on XX/XX/XXXX. Felt relieved since I would not have to pay for a vacant unoccupied apartment waiting for renter. Since we didnt receive any final settlement letter from my community, my wife dropped an email to the leasing office on XX/XX/XXXX enquiring any move out charge. We had a deposit of {$250.00} which we were expecting to get back or settled with move out charge ( if any ). There was no response from the community email account. Few days later on XX/XX/2019 I received a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX   management company ) dated XX/XX/XXXX stating that I owe an amount of {$740.00} to XXXX XXXX. The timing of the letter makes me feel they woke up and send the charges to me after we enquired. Maybe my bad, I was a good resident and asked them on any move out charges so that everything is settled. I should have stayed silent and let them sit on it. Anyways, they considered rent of {$450.00} for XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX, pending utilities - {$130.00}, move out readiness of apartment including cleaning - {$400.00} and adjusted my security deposit of {$250.00}. 
It stated in bold and underline that it was not a collections letter. I should send a check of the amount within 10 days of receipt to the address of IQ Data International Inc., Attn Accounts Receivable. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, WA XXXX. Please contact IQ data international Inc. immediately at XXXX as soon as possible if you have any issues to prevent collections activity. And any unpaid amount would be reported in our credit history and would affect our credit score. 
Since the amounts were inordinately high I decided to call the community management and discuss the line items and ask for a reduction in the charges. 
- I had maintained my apartment pretty well. Carpet didnt require a replacement even after 4 years of occupancy. After 5years of occupancy they normally write off the carpet and put in a new one. It required a basic cleaning which is expected of any community to do before listing the property. If they dont want to spend this much on their owned properties, they might as well ask the renters to clean and stage the apartments and showcase the apartment and get the new renter as well. 
- Since there was no technical delay in getting the new renter, I was expecting the community not to charge me for the period XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX.  That as the basic period of move out cleaning which they would have done even if I moved at the end of the lease. 
- Only amount payable from my end should have been my utility bill of {$130.00} which when adjusted with my security deposit of {$250.00}, I should have still received {$110.00} I talked to the property manager on XX/XX/XXXX and informed her about my opinion. She assured me that she would check with corporate and seek if any deduction is possible or not. I did inform her that I was running against a timeline of 10 days to clear the payment to prevent it from going to collections. Post that me and my wife followed up with her on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX seeking a response if she has heard from corporate. She responded on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX that she has informed corporate and waiting on a response. She responded back on XX/XX/XXXX that corporate didnt consider adjusting any charge. 
Meanwhile, I received a Collections letter dated XX/XX/2019 from IQ data international on XX/XX/XXXX stating that I owe a debt and I should inform within 30 days in writing if I dispute the debt. Seeing the letter, I was surprised that - IQ Data international didnt even wait for 10 days before sending a collections letter to the consumer. Even if the original letter date of XX/XX/XXXX was considered, they sent out the letter on XX/XX/XXXX ( 5 days )!! and if I considered my letter receipt date of XX/XX/XXXX, I didnt get 10 days to pay the due collections letter was sent on XX/XX/XXXX itself ( 0 days ) and I received on XX/XX/XXXX ( 7 days ). The company didnt even wait to give the consumer to send the money but went ahead sending a collections letter threatening them with negative action. The amount of stress which is caused to consumer on receipt of a collections letter is not taken into account by these companies who just want to clear of $ line items from their receivables book and move onto the next account / phone number /address to harass. 
- XXXX corporate office XXXX XXXX XXXX just waited for 13 days to confirm they wouldnt adjust charges while they gave the consumer 10 days to send the payment. So in a way they work hand in gloves with the collections agency to harass the consumer by delaying response and allowing the collections agency to send out harassing collections letters. The apartment community and their collection agency seem to be having the strategy to use the move out of tenants as an opportunity to make money using unjustified cost items and threatening them with credit impairment language to coerce money out. 
According to my calculation, I should be owing only the utility bill of {$130.00} to XXXX / XXXX XXXX XXXX / IQ Data International which when adjusted with my security deposit of {$250.00}, I should be receiving {$110.00} from XXXX / XXXX XXXX XXXX / IQ Data International Inc. 
I'm expecting XXXX XXXX XXXX or IQ Data International Inc. to send me the check of the amount due to me within 30 days.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation