Consumer complaint received 2021-05-21
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis
State: CO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX Re : Move out fees and fraudulent debt information reported about me to credit reporting companies. 
Responsible parties XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX/XXXX XXXX & Genesis Credit Management. 

I have been going back and forth with Columbia Debt Recovery LLC/Genesis Credit Management and XXXX XXXX XXXX to ensure the last bill of my occupancy at XXXX XXXX XXXX is resolved. I am very upset about this situation and how XXXX handled my account. 
Reason for reporting a complaint : XXXX XXXX XXXX managed by XXXX located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - XXXX, CA XXXX - Phone : ( XXXX ) XXXX, submitted my move out account to collections without sending me an email, calling my phone or providing me with a final bill at the time of the move or within the 30 days required. During my lease with the company, I had been enrolled in paperless billing, so I was expecting the final bill via email. They had submitted every statement via email during the duration of my occupancy of the apartment unit. For a final bill, instead XXXX XXXX XXXX sent me to collections and provided incorrect and false information regarding my debt. 
Below is a detailed explanation of what happened : A Manager of XXXX XXXX XXXX Apartments in XXXX, CA under XXXX XXXX management, submitted my name and information to collections for the amount of {$6600.00}. The collections company Genesis Credit Management did not call me to inform me or attempted to collect this debt before sending it to the credit reporting companies. I checked my credit report because I subscribe to monitoring services and noticed a substantial drop of my score. I asked Genesis, why they had not called me? and they stated that the manager at XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX said that they had no information to contact me. Imagine that, I lived there for 3 years and 8 months and they did not have my email, my phone number, the address to which I moved and even my work address information. The debt reported caused a substantial drop of my credit score. I disputed with the credit reporting companies XXXX, XXXX & XXXX  and they stated the debt is valid according to the information provided by XXXX XXXX XXXX. The information provided to the reporting companies is false and I have been unable to obtain a resolution. I am looking for a resolution and help from CFPB. 
Attempts at resolution and debt dispute with XXXX XXXX XXXX and Genesis Credit Management : I called Genesis Credit Management to dispute and understand the charges. They stated I had broken my lease early and {$6600.00} was what I owed. I disputed this information because I knew that I had not signed the lease renewal in XX/XX/XXXX. At that time, I had many questions regarding the fees and had email XXXX XXXX, but they did not respond to my emails. I checked the portal XXXX XXXX for my lease during the summer of XXXX and the lease was not there. Since there was no lease, I provided my move out notice XX/XX/XXXX with the sufficient 30 days required as per the law, due to Covid reasons and a family emergency. I moved out on XX/XX/XXXX. 
I called XXXX Apts and asked why was my information provided to a collections company without being respectful and reaching to me after 3 years and 8 months living in the apt . I emailed and asked for a copy of the lease. They did not provide it or respond to my email. I called and asked Genesis Credit Management, why wasnt the existence of a lease not verified? Genesis Credit Management sent me an updated bill via email and adjusted to the amount {$740.00} which includes the cost for painting. I proceeded to challenge the painting cost providing pictures of the apartment where the apt was left in good condition. As per California law, I am not responsible for painting after living in an apartment for 2 years. 
I challenged XXXX XXXX  Apartments and sent an email for documentation purposes. I requested an update to my bill regarding the painting charges, but they have failed to respond. I stated the following via email. 

According to the Department of housing authority in California, a tenant is not responsible for normal wear and tear to the walls and floor. Normal wear and tear which is defined as moderate scuffs, marks, nicks, light stains or spotting. When the walls and carpet reflect damage beyond normal wear and tear, tenants become responsible because it is considered damage. Painted walls are expected to have a useful life of two to three years, according to California landlord-tenant guidelines. Under these guidelines, a tenant who has lived in a rental unit longer than two years would not be charged for the cost of repainting for normal wear and tear. This falls under the responsibility of XXXX/XXXX. I lived in the apartment for 3 years and 8 months. Charging me for this is violating the law. I never even hanged a picture, which is evident by the pictures attached. Also note the dates of the pictures. Also please see attached California rental guidelines page XXXX. After two years there should be no deduction for painting. Please review the history of my occupancy at XXXX. I was there longer than 3 years I should not be responsible for the painting of a property. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX under XXXX XXXX XXXX has ruined my life by sending me to collections, which has caused a huge drop in my score. I paid my rent-on time, for 3 years 8 months and they did not even have the respect to reach out to me via phone or email when they had that information to resolve the final bill. Genesis Credit Management has left a fraudulent amount in my credit report even though I have disputed it with XXXX, XXXX, XXXX. These reporting companies have allowed false information and parked debt. Neither party has removed this false information from my credit report even after filing a dispute with each credit reporting company. The credit reporting companies have stated that the information is valid only because a collection company has stated that is valid without allowing me to prove it wrong. They asked me to file a complaint with the FTC and CFPB. This is absolutely disrespectful, and I need a resolution. 
I feel unable to resolve the situation. My credit is ruined and the information on the file is incorrect. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX have parked false debt in my credit report. They have left and stated false debt ant the information has not been updated on my file. I offered to settle for the amount of the rug and the cleaning bill, minus the painting costs and they have not responded to my request. Please help me to resolve this. I am attaching documentation to substantiate my case. 


Thanks,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation