Consumer complaint received 2018-07-21
Company: Carter-Young, Inc.
State: CO
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Problem with personal statement of dispute

Complaint:
In XXXX and XXXX of XXXX, I sublet an apartment at XXXX XXXX XXXX. I moved out on my move out date of XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from XXXX XXXX XXXX stating a Final Account Balance. Listed were the following charges : Carpet Damage/ Replacement Bedroom Carpet- XXXX Cleaning-1/4 Common Area Cleaning- XXXX Damages-1/4 Replace Drip Pans in the Kitchen- XXXX Electricity- 1/4 Electric owed from XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX Turn Cleaning Fee- Clean Baseboards in Bathroom- XXXX Turn Cleaning Fee- Clean Toilet Base in Bathroom-XXXX Turn Damage Fee- 1/4 Replace Missing Light Globe in Common Area- XXXX Total Additional Charges/ Credits/ Payments- XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a response letter to them disputing all charges. Listed below were my disputes based on each charge. 

Charge 1 : Carpet Damage / Replacement Bedroom Carpet : Before move out day, I vacuumed and cleaned the carpet. The carpet had no stains and was in better condition than when I moved in for my sublease. Somehow, they decided to falsely claim that the carpet was damaged to the extent of repair. When I asked for photographic evidence of the alleged damages, receipts for carpet replacement, and for them to provide the age and method in which they decided the depreciation of value, nothing was given nor proven. They declared it and so they said it was so. That is an infraction on their part, no way to properly do business of any kind, and is all here say. This in itself is evident enough to show the methods they use to try to extort money out of college students. Not to mention, in the Tenant Landlord Act, I can not be charge for anything consisting of normal wear and tear. Regardless, I left it above the standard and do not deserve this charge. Finally, they do not give you details or specifics on what was damaged when you inquire. Based on the small dimensions of the room, there can be no justification at base cost with labor that even if the carpet for my room needed to be replaced, that it would cost a whopping XXXX, almost as much as my rent each month. 

Charge 2 : Cleaning Common Area Cleaning : No details were given or a point of reference for this fee, something they charge every tenant for, no doubt. Again, I inquired for photographs or some specific detail on what they needed to clean in the common space. Again, no proof or response to my inquiry was given. Once again, they completely disregarded my dispute and inquiry. As pointed out in the previous charge as well, they can not charge me for basic cleaning and for normal wear and tear. 

Charge 3 : Replace drip pans in kitchen : What was wrong with the drip pans in the first place? Why did they need to be replaced? There was no explanation given, once again a common theme. Most kitchen drip pans can be cleaned and re-used, why were these not just cleaned? Regardless, unless they were beyond normal wear and tear, why did hey need to be replaced in the first place? All of these questions, no answers, and just a charge of declaration, not of validity. This was never addressed nor acknowledged, like the majority of my dispute. 

Charge 4 : Electricity unpaid bill : On move out day, I wrote a money order for the electrics amount we were told would be charged to us, based on the average for the apartment. I put that money order in the drop box along with my key as per instructions. Not sure why this is even on there in the first place. Regardless, no one explained to me what happened and why this was on my bill. I did have my concerns and questions answered and my dispute was not even address properly in an manner across the board with every charge. 

Charge 5 : Cleaning of Bathroom Baseboards : As part of my dispute the charge for cleaning the bathroom baseboards, that is nothing that I can legally be charged for. Nothing was damaged, and all that is stated is that they were dirty. In the vague response to the dispute they sent me one poorly taken photograph of slightly dusty baseboards. None of which have I certainty were taken in the bathroom associated with my room. Back to the basic point as well, there was nothing damaged nothing horrific or disgusting, nothing below normal wear and tear. 

Charge 6 : Cleaning Toilet Base : Once again, this was listed and is not a damage but a cleaning fee and no proof was provided otherwise. This was not damaged was not disgusting, or in a horrific dirt condition. This fee should not be listed as the others and nothing was categorized beyond the normal wear and tear. 

Charge 7 : Replace missing light globe in common area : During my two months at XXXX XXXX there was a faulty light in the hallway that would work sometime and other times it wouldnt. Before move out date, the hallway light was turned on by one of my roommates as she was moving stuff in the dark to her room. In the process of her moving stuff, the light blew out and the globe above shatter in to pieces. This was immediately cleaned and reported to maintenance via a maintenance report. The maintenance crew fixed the light fixture but never replaced the globe. I was told by one of the maintenance guys that it was not the right one and that they would return to fix it. That was never completed. When I disputed this XXXX XXXX XXXX stated that they did in fact receive the maintenance report, but that the globe was missing nevertheless. So, it came down to either the maintenance crew didnt come back to fix it, or one of us stole a globe that only fits that structure. So, not only are they not taking responsibility for the maintenance issue, the inference of one of us being a thief and stealing it is the best option for them, because they can put their accountability on us as renters, and try to extort money off of it. 


In my dispute, I asked for photographs, receipts for proof of purchases and damages, and a specific breakdown of the alleged damages that I was wrongfully being accused of. These charges were reported to my credit on XX/XX/XXXX, the same day as my move out date. I found it interesting that the charges were reported to my credit same day as my move out, and before I was even contacted about said charges. When contacted via email on XX/XX/XXXX, for the Final Account Balance, they listed that I had 7 days to respond and dispute these charges, in which I did. However, I also stated in my dispute that they needed to respond to me within 7 days or else these charges would be null and void. They responded on XX/XX/XXXX, 22 days after I disputed the charges, and they had already reported it to my credit without my knowledge. As of XX/XX/XXXX, I am trying to get this settle. 

So far, they still have yet to provide any proof, receipts, or evidence to back these charges. They are ignoring the Kansas State Laws in regards to wear and tear and they reported the charges to my credit before trying to contact me about these charges and get them reduced. The most of the negotiation was the willingness to reduce the alleged charges XXXX, the same charges that they have you to properly rebuttal or acknowledge my disputes. The way they have gone about this entire situation and continue to do so is unethical and clearly a bullying method to pressure and force young college XXXX  into paying for imaginary damages in order to extort and gain more profit to run their establishment. On further investigation on my part, I am one of the of many who have fallen victim to this establishment. There are several reports against them in regards to the XXXX XXXX XXXX in regards to this issue, as well as negative reviews on XXXX. There should be a large investigation into this establishment and how they deal with their renters and some sort of restitution to the those that they have bullied and extorted money out of.

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