Consumer complaint received 2015-07-23
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint:
In XXXX 2015, I looked into securing an apartment for my daughter who had just XXXX from University XXXX XXXX, TX and had accepted employment with a XXXX company. We toured the " District at XXXX '' and decided that my daughter would like to live in this apartment complex. I then proceeded to write XXXX checks ( {$200.00} and {$170.00} ) to complete the application/administration and background check process. 
Several days later the district informed my daughter that the checks I wrote were returned as NSF checks. I immediately contacted my credit union and they confirmed that there were sufficient funds in my account to cover these amounts and that there was no shortage of funds in my account that would have triggered this issue. 

I then called the leasing office and tried to explain this matter to the agent. Since the leasing agent could not comprehend this issue I asked to speak to the business/accounting office. An employee in the business office spoke to me briefly and was extremely uncooperative towards me even after I offered to send a copy of my bank statement that would have clearly shown that there were adequate funds in the account. 
In the next 2 weeks I tried to contact the business office only to be told that they would not take my calls. The issue became compounded since I live in XXXX and could not drive down to the Apartment complex ( in XXXX ) without advance planning and inconvenience to my schedule. Since my daughter had to report to her new job on XXXX XXXX, we had to search elsewhere to secure a place for her to live. 
On XXXX XXXX, a debt collector ( from National Credit Systems ) named XXXX XXXX called my daughter and threatened and intimidated her, demanding that she pay {$470.00} immediately. My daughter was extremely traumatized by XXXX XXXX 's telephone call. I later called the collection company only to be bullied by XXXX XXXX repeatedly. I then called the " District at XXXX '' but they again refused to speak to me. I then sent them an email asking for an explanation. 
I received a reply from the manager - XXXX XXXX with an attachment that shows that they attempted to collect on the XXXX checks I had written, but the way in which they presented it to my credit union was incorrect. In fact the account number was correct but the account holder 's name they used was my daughter 's name and not mine. I immediately emailed the manager and pointed out the error. She then replied and stated in her email that she would waive some of the charges but I would have to pay {$170.00} in the form of a money order and once they received these funds they would contact the collection agency and instruct them to stop harassing my daughter. In order for my daughter to have peace of mind we decided to pay the {$170.00} immediately. 

I have the email trail with file attachments from the " District '' that clearly shows that they made an error but they continue to try to extract money from unsuspecting customers. 

I can be reached at XXXX XXXX XXXX if needed.

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