Consumer complaint received 2021-04-16
Company: Mutual Management Services LLC
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, there was a house fire at my rented place of residence. I immediately contacted the property manager for XXXX XXXX XXXX  properties and informed them of this event. Whilst my husband was able to put out the fire, the fire department were still contacted to assess the damage and overall condition of the property. The property was not condemned and not deemed uninhabitable, as the damage was confined to the kitchen area. At the time I lived at the property with my husband and XXXX children ( I was pregnant with the XXXX child ). Because I was pregnant at the time, I was XXXX  to the emergency room for observation. 

A few days later, XXXX XXXX XXXX properties sent an individual to assess the damage of the property. However, we were not able to properly communicate with him, as there was a language barrier. Consequently, what I can only assume is the result of this assessment, we were informed by the property manager of XXXX XXXX XXXX  that the property was uninhabitable and were not allowed to be there. 

On XX/XX/XXXX we were emailed a notice stating that the lease would be terminated and were given 7 days to vacate the property. Prior to this date, I complied with all their requests to provide information regarding this event. There were even discussions, albeit tentative, regarding how the damage could be paid for, including paying their {$10000.00} insurance deductible and adding extra payment to our monthly rental amount. Nonetheless, my family and I left the property and were homeless for about 3 weeks. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I decided to drive by the property to see if I had any mail ; I had registered for mail forwarding but wanted to make sure that I was not missing anything important. I saw a notice for registered piece of mail and went to the post office to pick it. It was a notice to impose claim on my deposit from XXXX XXXX XXXX It stated that they were going to take the deposit and apply to the damage. Then there was a remaining amount listed " owed by tenant. '' Furthermore, the notice also had checked boxes for " legal action '' and " sent to collection. '' I immediately contacted my lawyer at the time to draft a letter to communicate with the XXXX XXXX XXXX  outlining the circumstances we were in : finding another place to live, mounting medical expenses due to my XXXX, and general expenses associated with raising the family. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX has since repaired the damage and sold the home as of XX/XX/XXXX. According to my research, however, they did not pull the proper permits to commence the repairs, as well as conduct the inspection necessary to put the property on the market for purchase. 

In or around XX/XX/XXXX, were looking to purchase a house and applied for a mortgage. it was at this time that we realized that the debt was now being reported to the credit bureaus. I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX and was told that it is now being reported because I did not respond to their notice to impose claim on my deposit. This is not true. I was then told that I was to take the matter up with the collection agency. 

In or around XX/XX/XXXX, we were informed by our current Landlord that they were selling their property and we would have to be out by XX/XX/XXXX. At this time we started looking for a place to live with both private owners and managed properties. Every application was denied due to this collection debt, and, as I recently found in one renters report, as a realty judgement against my husband and I. I must note at this point that I have not received any debt validation from the collection agency - Mutual Management - nor evidence that they are working on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX I also asked for an itemized list of the repair costs, of which I have still not been provided with. 

I have also disputed several times with the three credit bureaus, and despite informing the bureaus they have not provided the proper paperwork, the credit bureaus still report the debt. Additionally, when I spoke to an agent from the credit bureau I was told that they didn't have to provide paperwork and all that was required from the collection agency was to tell them that the debt was owed. 

We recently hired a lawyer to try to settle this debt, but they have refused our offers, and have still not provided the proper and legal paperwork to collect this debt. As a consequence of this, my family and I are now staying in a hotel, because we are unable to get approved for housing of any kind.

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