Consumer complaint received 2020-06-03
Company: HW Holding, 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:
1. I am a Texas resident. I terminated my apartment lease with XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX due to XXXX XXXX. I was and am protected under Texas Property Code Section 92.016, which allows victims of documented and reported XXXX   XXXX to vacate the property or terminate a lease early and avoid liability. I provided the property with copies of a XXXX XXXX in which I am the XXXX XXXX, as well as the police report number for the incident. 
2. Hunter-Warfield, a debt collector, called me on or about XX/XX/XXXX and notified me I owed XXXX XXXX {$3100.00} and this debt would be reported to the credit bureaus on XX/XX/XXXX if the debt was not paid in full before then. I immediately explained to the individual on the phone that I dispute the debt and explained the situation which caused me to move out. The debt collector/representative was rude, spoke over me and hung up on me. I called back and spoke to a supervisor and again stated I dispute the debt and wanted the debt validated with XXXX XXXX. I immediately contacted the property manager at XXXX XXXX to attempt to settle the matter and was unsuccessful. The property manager, XXXX XXXX stated the debt has been sold to Hunter-Warfield. 
3. Hunter-Warfield e-mailed me a statement on XX/XX/XXXX with an e-mail stating the debt was validated and I owed {$3100.00}. I called Hunter-Warfield again and explained the alleged debt was pending litigation, that I disputed the debt and to please delay credit reporting pending a court hearing. The representative, again, was very rude and not willing to work with me in any way. 
4. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a certified letter via USPS ( tracking # : XXXX ) to Hunter-Warfield stating I officially disputed the debt and to cease collection activity until the debt was legally validated and litigated ; additionally, I included evidence proving the alleged debt wasn't valid. Finally, I stated that the case was pending mediation in local court and included the case number. The package was delivered/received on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX per USPS Certified Mail Tracking. 
5. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an e-mail from Hunter-Warfield offering me a settlement for {$2200.00}, to be paid within 30 days, despite my request to cease collection activity pending validation and litigation of the debt. 
6. I have hired an attorney who is actively litigating the alleged debt with the original creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
7. I believe my rights under the FDCPA are being violated by Hunter-Warfield due to 1. Their refusal to validate the debt despite written request and evidence, 2. Their continued collection attempts despite an official dispute of the alleged debt and 3. Their threats to report this alleged debt, which is pending litigation, to my credit report, which would significantly impair my ability to move to a new property in the future due to the appearance of owing a rental property a large sum of money.

Company public response: Company believes complaint represents an opportunity for improvement to better serve consumers
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation