Consumer complaint received 2018-10-09
Company: HW Holding, Inc
State: MI
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I was a cosigner on an apartment for my nephew who followed strict leasing protocol. He paid his rent on time monthly, gave appropriate notice when he moved and left the apartment clean and in good shape when he vacated in XX/XX/XXXX. 

Unfortunately, while he was a tenant, he casually dated XXXX XXXX in the Leasing Department of the complex in which he lived. She became disgruntled when he left and broke off the relationship. She broke a window in his apartment and asked her co-worker to charge him with false charges. My nephew contacted XXXX, the Leasing Manager, who had the window fixed, terminated XXXX and said everything was taken care of, per the leasing agreement, and released his security deposit. 

TWO MONTHS LATER I received a bill from XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$770.00} dated XX/XX/XXXX with no evidence to support these charges. ( attachment # 1 ) I have tirelessly tried to get evidence supporting the breakdown of charges to no avail. My wife has called and I have sent certified letters. When my wife called she was told everything was taken care of and we owed no money. My certified letters were refused and sent back unopened. 

I then began getting calls from Hunter Warfield, a collection agency. Again, we asked for a breakdown of the charges on multiple occasions. On XX/XX/XXXX at approximately XXXX XXXX  we spoke with XXXX XXXX with Hunter Warfield. XXXX agreed that XXXX XXXX could not levy these charges with no supporting evidence and stated that Hunter Warfield would open up a dispute and that the derogatory mark against my credit would be flagged as a disputed charge. XXXX also stated that they would request evidence supporting these charges from XXXX XXXX and I would hear in writing from Hunter Warfield regarding the resolution of the dispute in a timely manner. To date we have not received any correspondence whatsoever from Hunter Warfield or XXXX XXXX. 

I am requesting these charges be dropped and my credit report cleared. The actions of XXXX XXXX and Hunter Warfield have negatively impacted my credit score significantly and cost me several hundred dollars in loans that would have been approved at lower rates with my previous credit score. Prior to this negative credit report my payment record has been perfect and my credit score was in the mid XXXX. 

I have attached documents that we sent to XXXX XXXX and Hunter Warfield supporting my claim that I have done due diligence to address the charges, along with documents I have received from these institutions.

Bill dated XX/XX/XXXX ( attachment # 2 ) for the full amount of {$770.00} from Hunter Warfield, the collection agency hired by XXXX XXXX. 

A second notice from Hunter Warfield on XX/XX/XXXX ( attachment # 3 ).

Letter to XXXX XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX, regarding the matter that I sent certified mail ( attachment # 4 ). This letter was refused by XXXX XXXX and returned unopened. We sent it to two different addresses the corporate headquarters and the leasing office in XXXX. 

We continued to receive phone calls from Hunter Warfield so I then filed complaints against XXXX XXXX to the XXXX and to XXXX, XXXX  and XXXX. XXXX  responded by sending me a copy of the lease agreement only with no evidence of the alleged damage done to the apartment or which month the rent was delinquent. 

Letter from Hunter Warfield on XX/XX/XXXX requesting documentation from me to support my claims ( attachment # 5 ) to which I responded on XX/XX/XXXX providing the requested information. ( attachment # 6 ) We heard nothing after that so I followed up with another letter dated XX/XX/XXXX ( attachment # 7 ) to which I summarized the situation and requested the charges be dropped and my credit report cleared. Still heard nothing from Hunter Warfield.

A letter from Hunter Warfield dated XX/XX/XXXX ( attachment # 8 ) stating that if the {$770.00} was not resolved, then it may be reported to the credit bureaus, which had already been done months before. 

It is nothing short of criminal that companies like XXXX XXXX and Hunter Warfield are allowed to file negative credit reports with no support of such charges and to simply ignore our repeated requests for evidence. Consumers have very little recourse to fight such fraud. The credit agencies simply contacted XXXX XXXX and asked them if these charges were legitimate, Hunter Warfield simply assumes such charges are legitimate and my credit score plummets and I am forced to spend countless hours fighting this. These fraudulent charges have cost me money and time for which I should be reimbursed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation