Consumer complaint received 2016-03-25
Company: HW Holding, Inc
State: NC
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:
Bills turned over to collection agency BEFORE ever being sent to renter who moved out! XXXX different invoices turned over with bogus charges. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX my son moved out of his student housing apt . at XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ). He had worked for the complex for 4 yrs. as a maintenance tech. The manager, XXXX inspected the apartment. The XXXX roommates were told everything was good. They turned in their keys and signed out. I am one of the renters Mom and my name was on my son 's lease. He moved to an apartment in XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. That apt . ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) requested and was sent a statement that my son was paid up at the XXXX BEFORE they would allow him to move in. We have a copy that paperwork signed by the manager. Months passed, in late XXXX XXXX and early XXXX XXXX, we started to receive phone calls from a Hunter Warfield. We had no idea what that was and thought it was a solicitor. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX XXXX recieved an alert in the mail from Hunter Warfield, attempting to collect a debt! We had not received anything at all from XXXX although they had our home mailing address! I contacted XXXX XXXX with XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I explained we never received a bill or statement of charges and had no idea what this was about. She said she did n't have the info. only the bookkeeper ( XXXX XXXX ) did, and I could email her. I emailed her that day and many others, but NEVER heard back from the XXXX XXXX. I called again the next week, but did n't get an answer. I left several messages. I decided to call the corporate office in Texas to resolve the issue. I left messages for XXXX XXXX and the manager of apartment properties for the XXXX XXXX. No response from the company. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I received a call from Hunter Warfield! Up to this time only my son had received had gotten calls. Now I was getting them. I called back and was verbally harassed by the collections clerk. I explained we had never received any correspondence from XXXX and I felt it was unfair and unethical to turn something over to a collection agency before being billed. I was told too bad, that 's the way it is and the charge is with them now. I was not willing to speak with them any further until consulting an attorney and reviewing my legal rights. I have a XXXX credit rating and had never been late on a bill in over 50 years! I called XXXX XXXX more time to try to reach the bookkeeper, XXXX XXXX. She was unavailable, but the rental rep. pulled up the account and FINALLY emailed a statement of charges to me. Thank goodness for XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX. To my surprise, I received XXXX statements. XXXX dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX for {$71.00} signed by XXXX XXXX, XXXX dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX with an additional {$13.00} added for utility overage ( also signed by XXXX ) from XXXX, bringing the total to {$84.00}. We have no problem with these charges at all and are willing to pay these immediately. The third charge is dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and signed by XXXX XXXX for an additional " repair work '' of {$410.00}! Move in day for the new students is XX/XX/XXXX and these charges appeared over 45 days after all inspections were conducted. We have requested but are unable to obtain any other information, itemized statement, or pictorial proof of this damage or repair work. We are disputing this charge AND the practices by which this company conducts business with their renters. It is unethical and, I would think, illegal to turn someone over to collections BEFORE they receive a bill, are given evidence of the need for repair work when requested, and have the opportunity to resolve the issue in house. Also, my son 's roommate has been in touch and is being harassed by the collection agency for some of the same charges!!! I do n't intend to pay for bogus charges and be bullied with threats of " ruining my credit '' by Hunter Warfield or XXXX.

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation