Consumer complaint received 2021-06-06
Company: Professional Debt Mediation, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
I rented a property in XXXX XXXX Florida and we were forced to vacate due to the owner selling and we had 30 days to leave. The property management would not let me contact the owner to see if we could get a extension to stay due to not finding something that quick, and I was XXXX  and almost due. The owner said no and we had to vacate with in the last 2 months of lease. We contacted the property management and asked if they could contact the owner and see if we found something ASAP could we get out of the lease early. Well the agent at the property management company told me no she was not going to contact him anymore. Im not sure if shes there anymore at the property management, but we had a lot of problems that person anyway at the property management and she was not gon na bother the owner anymore. She pretty told us that we had to leave or get sued. 

Come to find out later the owner has multiple properties in that community and he had gone bankrupt. 

I was XXXX  at that time and since then Im XXXX. We paid the rest of our lease but moved out before. We thought we were good until the property management said we did not pay the last month and they charged all these fees. 

So instead fighting it, we paid to avoid being sued. We rented this houses in XXXX. Since my XXXX  I was trying to rent an apartment and they told me that I had a collections on my credit for a property management, and I asked who, and they told me and it was that house we rented and was forced out. So that was almost 6 years prior. 
They gave me the name and number to the company here in XXXX FL, and I immediately called, and I called and I called and no answer. 
It took me about a week for someone to answer and their mailbox was full so I was not able to leave a message. 

When I finally reached someone, they told me the amount and said I needed to pay the full amount in order to be able to rent another apartment. 
I, of course, asked to see a document to show the balance and they WILL not give you one. They only take payment over the phone, and they do not take anyone inside their building to pay. 

For over 3 months from XX/XX/XXXX to the present, I have called and they STILL WONT give me any documentation. 
I tried it dispute twice and its rejected. 
I did read all the reviews about the collections business and they all say the same thing, not seeing any documentation upfront before you pay, or coming in to see someone. 
Some say, they took their money and never received a receipt and the debt and the same amount was still there. 

I am trying to get a apartment in my name only with my daughter and I cant due to that collections. I will NOT pay for something without seeing proof upfront. 


I am hoping that you can help me to remove this so I can move forward with renting a apartment. 

Thank you, XXXX XXXX

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