Consumer complaint received 2020-07-14
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis
State: OR
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Alleged debt originates from an apartment lease with {$850.00} security deposit ( XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. On or about XX/XX/XXXX I conducted a Move Out inspection and discussed turnover costs with the new complex manager, who had been on the job perhaps six weeks. Other than some repairs ( < {$200.00} ) and some cost for repainting, conditions were deemed fine. Together we filled out the Move In / Move Out inspection form. I vacated and expected to receive around {$550.00} of my deposit back. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a " Final Accounting ''. This document stated I owed {$490.00} for " cleaning '', {$280.00} for repairs, {$250.00} for " tampering '' with a smoke alarm, {$260.00} for carpet repairs - a total of ~ {$1200.00} against my {$850.00} deposit, for a balance of {$410.00}. I immediately emailed the manager for an explanation and was told one would be forthcoming by post. I received nothing, and due to exigent life circumstances, moved on to more pressing issues. The debt was not initially reported to any agency, I received no mail, no calls and no further requests for payment until XX/XX/XXXX. 

In late XX/XX/XXXX, I and my former roommate each began receiving robocalls and mailings from Genesis Credit Management of XXXX, WA. An important note : my roommate had been removed from the lease six months prior to its expiry, yet Genesis continues - into XXXX - to report this debt on their credit. 

In XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX, I called Genesis to determine what this was about ; upon being told I immediately disputed and requested validation of the charges. This took some time. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX finally emailed me a PDF of scanned documents from the apartment complex. Absent from these documents was the signed Move In / Move Out Inspection and any invoice for carpet repair. The kicker - the " cleaning checklist '' form used to " validate '' the {$490.00} charge ... contains no " Date '', " Apartment Number '' or " Employee Name ''. By phone, I immediately demanded the missing documents and asked how GenesiXXXX expected to take this matter to court if these things could not be produced. Their position - including their reporting to the credit bureaus - is that the debt has been " validated ''. It can not be with the provided documents. 

After these prolonged discussions with Genesis, I heard nothing else and collection attempts ceased. When the debt appeared on my credit report ( which it has occasionally not XXXX, it appeared as disputed. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was denied safe housing due to a " property debt '' appearing on my credit report. I immediately called Genesis to determine if they were still reporting the debt. The rep stated Genesis was reporting to credit agencies for both myself and my former roommate. Reporting someone  removed from the lease months prior to expiry can not be legal under the FCRA. 

I confirmed Genesis ' receipt of my previous dispute documentation and reiterated to the rep that validation documents were not complete nor sufficient to litigate. I explained his company had failed to file suit specifically because I had pointed out how these documents were insufficient. I was given a story about how another individual was denied housing for property debt during the pandemic and " just had to deal with it ''. I was treated to a lecture about the rep had been taken to collections over a phone bill, disputed it but had to pay because the company wouldn't give up. Then, after a 10 second " review by the manager '', I was given a chance to settle and delete for {$310.00}.

I first informed Genesis in XXXX of the absent and incomplete documentation. They do not care. To decline judicial scrutiny while continuing to report " debt '' ; then using pressure tactics attempt collection without sufficient documentation, Genesis is engaging in actual extortion. 

I have attached the recent correspondence and some of the documentation provided by Genesis mentioned. I am happy to provide the original 13 mb file emailed to me in XXXX. 

Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation