Consumer complaint received 2017-08-14
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
Sometime in XX/XX/XXXX, I was planning to move to XXXX to resume my new job as a XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ) at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX. I was looking for an apartment ( I had lived in XXXX, XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX when I moved into the country ). I had in the course of my search, went to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  where I was shown some apartments. I later applied online for an apartment and my application was successful and I paid the deposit required. I moved from my apartment at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX in XXXX, XXXX ( where I had lived for XXXX years ) on XX/XX/XXXX to XXXX to take possession of the apartment I had applied and paid for ( the deposit ) at XXXX XXXX XXXX. On my getting to the apartment office, on XX/XX/XXXX to take possession, I WAS MADE TO PAY FOR THE 1ST MONTH XXXX DOLLARS AND MADE TO SIGN THE LEASE BEFORE I WAS SHOWN THE APARTMENT, I immediately rejected it because it was n't what I had seen when I came to visit and what I had paid for, the lady told me to come back on Monday, XX/XX/XXXX to see her boss. I went back on Monday XX/XX/XXXXbut they were unable to provide the one I wanted, so I told them, I WILL NOT BE GOING AHEAD WITH THE LEASE since they do not have what I was promised, they refused, saying I had signed the lease and if I wo n't be going ahead, I had to pay about XXXX DOLLARS plus as cancellation fee and 3 months rents ). I told them I WILL NOT BE DOING THAT considering the fact that they did not fulfill their own end of the bargain. I then went searching and I found my current apartment, applied and got approved same day ( the monthly rent by the way is even way higher than what I would have been paying at XXXX ). XX/XX/XXXX XXXX went ahead to draw XXXX dollars from my XXXX XXXX XXXX account, after I had told them otherwise, I called them and mailed them as well, reiterating my stance that I DO NOT OWE THEM ANYTHING and that they even have to refund my deposit and the money already drawn from my account, I NEVER TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS APARTMENT, I NEVER HAD THE KEYS TO THE APARTMEN, The only time I stepped my foot into the apartment was when I went with one of the staff on the day I had referred to earlier. I reported them to my bank and a dispute was opened, ( see attached 1 ), dispute which was resolved in my favor and my cash was returned to me. After a few months, I started receiving mails from FAIR COLLECTIONS AND OUTSOURCING claiming I was owing XXXX XXXX XXXX, first it was XXXX, then later XXXX dollars, I called them multiple times and sent a mail to them as well ( see attached 2 ) stating my own side of the story, but they went ahead and reported this illegal act to the 3 Credit Bureau. This had adversely affected my Credit Report. I NEVER OWED THIS AMONUT, SINCE XXXX XXXX XXXX NEVER FULFILLED THEIR OWN END OF THE BARGAIN, why would I be made to pay for this. XXXX XXXX XXXX, if not that they are trying to bullying me into paying this should have taken this case to the Courts, where such issues are addressed.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation