Consumer complaint received 2016-03-30
Company: U.S. Collections West, Inc.
State: AZ
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Not given enough info to verify debt

Complaint:
I received a phone call from U.S. Collections West Inc., a debt collection company based in XXXX, on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I was told that I am responsible for paying {$2400.00} in damages they claim were left when my family and I moved out of an apartment complex, XXXX XXXX XXXX, in XXXX XXXX. I received a follow up letter in the mail shortly thereafter, which was dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I responded to the communication on XXXX XXXX, XXXX with a certified letter requesting the debt collector provide documentation to verify the validity of the alleged debt. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I received a copy of the lease signed in XXXX XXXX, a copy of the " notice of intent to vacate '' that was submitted in XXXX XXXX and a copy of an itemized list of damages dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I have responded with a letter, sent on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, challenging the charges -- which totaled {$2400.00} -- they claim are still owed. Meantime, I have also learned that U.S. Collections West Inc. reported the alleged debt to XXXX in XXXX XXXX, months before anyone contacted me. My mother was the primary person on the lease, but my sister and I were both required to sign after we turned XXXX. However, I am the only person to have received a letter in the mail regarding the charges. ( But my sister and I both received calls on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, which resulted in us XXXX saying we knew nothing about any debt from the apartment we moved out of nearly five years ago ). I disputed the report to XXXX on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and two days later received a report back indicating the account on my credit was " updated. '' After speaking with an XXXX representative on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I was told that the debt collector verified my responsibility of the debt, although she said there was no way to hold the debt collector 's accuracy in determining the responsibility accountable. The alleged debt is no way legitimate for a number of reasons. For XXXX, it includes charges for damages they claim occurred outside the apartment unit my family and I lived in ( i.e. {$230.00} for " stair damage '' ). They also claim we owe an {$820.00} " administration fee '' to fund the cost of marketing the unit so the apartment management could find someone to re-lease the unit ( even though we were told numerous times that there was a waiting list of perspective renters ). It 's important to note, again, that XXXX XXXX, XXXX was the first time anyone in my family was made aware of the alleged debt, which is nearly five years from the time we moved out. What 's more, my mom spoke with the apartment managers when she returned our keys to the unit and was told that no additional money was owed to them at that time. So to find out nearly five years later that they want us to pay nearly {$2500.00} is absurd ( especially considering that amount is nearly triple the amount of the monthly rent we paid, {$820.00} ). It 's also important to note that we never received the letter they claimed to have sent on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and the debt collector failed to provide any sort of proof that the letter was actually sent -- nor did they provide proof that it was delivered. Arizona law requires landlords provide tenants an itemized list of all deductions within 14 days ( XXXX ( D ) ). Even if the itemized list was sent on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, that would have exceeded the 14 day period required by law. Regardless, U.S. Collections West Inc. has refused thus far to remove the alleged debt from my credit report, even though they have not provided adequate documentation to substantiate their claims.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation