Consumer complaint received 2018-06-19
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc.
State: AZ
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I have contacted the original creditor ( XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, AZ whose management company was XXXX XXXX XXXX located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX, XXXX, AZ XXXX ). I recently learned that the company was bought and sold to XXXX XXXX located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX, XXXX, AZ XXXX ) within the past year. XXXX XXXX XXXX   located at ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX AZ XXXX ) was my residence from XXXX, I was denied a renewal on my lease even though I was a good resident. I vacated my apartment on XX/XX/XXXX. I had cleaned my apartment to the best of my abilities along with a friend/neighbor. My forwarding address was on file with the post office as of XX/XX/XXXX. I wasn't able to do a walk through when leaving due to my XXXX XXXX  being in the hospital but I did take several pictures. My friend ' s husband did as well. A year later I get a letter from a collection agency that stated that XXXX XXXX was seeking over {$3700.00} for cosmetic damages, mainly nicotine damage. I cleaned the walls, appliances, windows, doors, etc. When I left it was cleaned. Being it was a year I never received a list of damages that would clearly state what was wrong and why it cost the amount in question. I sent a certified/registered letter to XXXX XXXX asking for proof of these damages. At the same time I sent a letter to the collection agency, NATIONAL CREDIT SERVICES, telling them I was in receipt of their letter and I needed time to gather the info I requested from XXXX  XXXX. I asked for 30 days. Before the 30 days I received a letter from NATIONAL CREDIT SERVICES stating that since I have done nothing in regards to the debt they were going to place it on my credit report. XXXX XXXX never sent a list of DAMAGES. I called NATIONAL CREDIT SERVICES and spoke with a XXXX XXXX, case manager ( I think ). She was assigned to my file. She is the one who gave me info ( some ) that was on the list which is how I found out they were charging me for nicotine damage. She told me on XX/XX/XXXX that she had a list of damages and she would send it to me via email. This never happened. I followed up several times, unable to reach her. I had lived in that apartment for 7 years. It was slated for reno and the reno took place 2 days after I vacated. I was informed that I had to deal with the collection people and not the original creditor so most of my communications have been with them. I told her, all 3 credit bureaus and any/all persons involved that I was disputing the debt and if I didn't receive the info I requested that I wanted the debt deleted from my report. This has affected my credit and has caused many problems with obtaining the credit I need to help my son with his XXXX XXXX. 

Since learning that the company was sold I sent a letter to the new management company and the apartment manager to let them know what happened and what my requests were. No response. I am not sure if they have assumed the debt when they purchased the property but I am going at this at all angles. 

ORIGINAL COMPLAINT SENT TO NATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEMS VIA CFPB on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I lived at an apartment complex from XXXX. I was a good tenant but I was informed my lease would not be renewed, therefore causing me to vacate at the end of the lease. ( Their reasons were personal ). I vacated on XX/XX/XXXX. A year goes by and I received a letter from a collection agency reflecting an amount of {$3700.00} for what they describe as damages along with a {$500.00} sure deposit in which they wanted to be paid back. I wrote the collection agency a letter asking them to allow me 30 days to respond and that I was going to obtain information from the original creditor, XXXX XXXX XXXX. I sent the apts a certified/registered letter on XX/XX/XXXX, requesting a itemized list of " damages ''. They never responded. During the 30 days a letter from the agency was received stating that the debt was placed on my credit report. I was angry. I contacted them right away, speaking to a XXXX XXXX, who informed me that she had a list, same list I was requesting, and she read off a few items. When I asked for a copy of this list she stated she would email me a copy. I waited, waited, and waited. Nothing. I made several follow up phone calls requesting same list and also receipts to reflect the list of damages that were ONLY " cosmetic '' not physical. I have also written several letters requesting same list and nearly 2 months later, no receipt. I had recorded the entire conversation. The items she mentioned ( partial ) were nicotine related. I did clean the best I could given the time limit I had. My apartment was slated for reno and according to neighbors it began 2 days after I vacated. Since I did not receive a list of  damages from anyone, it was useless for me to dispute. She tried reducing the damages by I believe 25 % but until I saw a list of these damages I wasn't gon na pay anything at all. Especially a {$500.00} sure deposit that she claimed was not negotiable. I had excellent credit until they placed this debt on my report. I have disputed with all 3 credit bureaus, the collection agency. I am working feverishly to have this removed from my credit report. I am XXXX yr old with a XXXX year old XXXX son and with this on my report I am unable to move any time soon, as I had planned in XXXX. Also my son needs special equipment that is not covered by insurance and I was in the beginning stages of getting the credit I needed to buy these items only to have my available credit reduced on a new credit card ( Discover ) that I received with a limit of {$2000.00}, dropped down to {$500.00} before I could even use it. That was a {$1500.00} reduction based on the negativity of this debt. XXXX XXXX stated in our conversation dated on XX/XX/XXXX that they tried calling me at several different phone numbers, most were invalid. She also stated that she was not allowed to mention anyone 's name when calling or leaving messages. If any attempts were made they went unrecognized by me, thus unanswering, and no messages were left. First contact I had was XX/XX/XXXX, in which I sent the original creditor a certified/return receipt letter asking them to please forward me an itemized list. They did not however the signed receipt was returned to me. So they received it. On XX/XX/XXXX, I placed a call to the collection agency speaking with a XXXX XXXX that was recorded by me, asking for a list and at the same time I disputed the debt. Since the email was not received with requested documents, I phoned and left a message with XXXX XXXX at a direct number she had given me on XX/XX/XXXX and followed up with another letter dated XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent yet another letter telling her I was going to give her 30 days to comply with my request for a itemized list/receipts. I sent another letter XX/XX/XXXX entitling it as a 30 day " Demand Letter ''. In my letter I had stated that if the info was not received within 30 days of the letter then I was requesting the debt to be removed from my report. I plan on fighting this debt. I should not have to exhaust myself from retrieving a simple piece of paper. There were NO physical damages to the apt ; only nicotine related and I cleaned all to the best of my ability but to no avail. My chief complaint from the info I received verbally from XXXX XXXX was that the items she discussed with me had to be replaced anyways due to the length of time I resided there and also the renovation that was going to be done to the apt . I  received a letter from National Credit Systems stating that I made NO attempt to address the debt but I never received anything other than the one letter dated XX/XX/XXXX. They placed the debt on my credit prematurely. With more things going on in my life that I need to worry about I don't need this XXXX. If it's not removed it will hinder my son and I. I suffer from XXXX XXXX and this situation has caused me XXXX XXXX XXXX harm.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation