Consumer complaint received 2018-03-04
Company: I.Q. DATA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
State: WA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
I.Q. Data International , Inc has acquired a invalid debt from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX The debt is actually an over charge, specifically a double charge that was previously zeroed out, no balance due. 

asked landlord to send all bills/invoices by mail after moving out Instead of mailing me my deposit or the bills/invoices as required by law RCWs > Title 59 > Chapter 59.18 > Section 59.18.280, RCWs > Title 59 > Chapter 59.18 > Section 59.18.260 landlord took deposit to cover bills without approval. 
landlord never sent legally required notice of bills deducted from deposit within 21 days, or ever. 
landlord never sent a bill to pay, how do you pay a bill you never received? 

I had sent notice well in advance and made sure I was able to stay an extra 19 days. I paid the previous rent in full and all bills such as garbage, water, parking. I later paid the full balance on XXXX web payment portal for the extra 19 days. Instead of billing me for 19 days of water, garbage, parking an error was entered on paylease for 49 days worth of those expenses despite having already paid the previous month worth when it was due. They then added a carpet cleaning and cleaning bill. which they zeroed out to make the amount owed Zero balance. 

I noticed it was wrong, but since it showed " Zero balance due '' ( attached in files ) I figured it was easier to move on than dispute a big zero. 

3 months later I was contacted by someone presenting themselves as the manager of the property and demanding I bring cash or money order to them in person as " the account '' was over due. I logged into pay lease. I saw I owed nothing, and informed them that I believed this was a scam. I told them to add the bill to pay lease if it was valid and I would pay it ( as all previous bills had been paid ) They refused and said that wasn't possible. I said I would only do correspondence by mail and to please mail me all bills and invoices. 

6 months later I received many voice mails from a debt collector. Eventually after calling for over 2 weeks they sent a letter which I responded to the same day by USPS requesting validation of debt, and stating that the debt was already settled with paylease. They ignored that letter and acted like they did not receive it. I realizing I needed proof of receipt sent a fax which sends you a message back that it was received.. 

They still refused to validate the debt, they have sent me nothing at all. Worse they claim I owe interest despite the lease contract saying nothing at all about interest in this case. There's a clause where if a bill is overdue they can add XXXX dollars to the cost however I paid ALL bills and have a receipt that shows zero balance, nothing due, and have been provided with no bills/invoices at all. The debt collector has blocked the phone number of the free internet fax service that I used to request validation of the debt. So I used another one to re-request validation of the debt. 

I have no problem paying a valid debt that is sent to me via the online payment portal system that my landlord demanded we pay all bills through. It seems suspect that a landlord would demand cash payment especially when it does not match the online payment portal ledger. I still suspect that it is a scam until they can provide me all proper bills via the online portal system and invoices for all charges deducted from my deposit as well by mail. I have been waiting over 6 months to see invoices showing that a contractor actually did this work on this specific unit or to see the original copies of the water/sewer/parking bills showing account/unit numbers. They refuse to show any bills to me despite multiple requests! 

I have filed a request for my deposit back as the manger has not been in compliance with the RLTA in sending me any information about the bills/invoices deducted within 21 days.

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