Consumer complaint received 2020-04-17
Company: HW Holding, Inc
State: UT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX - Enter into a lease agreement for a family home for {$900.00} per month from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX with XXXX. XXXX XXXX. Paid a {$900.00} deposit. ( XXXX, the home owner is XXXX. ) XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX takes over the lease ( XXXX  has died ). 

XX/XX/XXXX - I respond to XXXX  claim about damaged sprinkler system ( there is no sprinkler system ; I have to drag hose ). I also advised them that I had also reseeded the lawn. 

XX/XX/XXXX - I question XXXX about renewing the lease and was told that owner was planning to sell the home. The lease was not renewed. I was my family might have to vacate on 30 days notice. 

XX/XX/XXXX - First advised XXXX that I and family would vacate at end on XXXX. Followed up with emails. This was acknowledged by XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX - Advised XXXX  that I would apply deposit to XXXX rent. They claimed I would owe a {$450.00} releasing fee. I had to remind them that I had been out of contract for over a year. They then acknowledge this, claiming they had misread the year. 

XX/XX/XXXX - Family moves out and leaves keys. 

XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX  claims {$900.00} deposit for cleaning and repairs. ( Bill had told me could use the deposit for last months rent. ) XX/XX/XXXX - I received a bill from XXXX for rent, late fees, cleaning and repairs in the amount of {$2700.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX - I immediately respond to this claim with pictures and a written dispute to damages and cleaning : I had hauled truck loads of trash from back yard, had to repair plumbing with my own labor and parts I had purchased ( as landlord never responded ), holes in walls were preexisting ( I had put no holes in walls ), the sewer leaked when we moved in and I had done nothing to carpets. I also said I would provide additional photos upon request. 

XX/XX/XXXX - Hunter Warfield, a company hired by XXXX makes a collection claim against me for {$3100.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX - Hunter Warfield sends another collection letter threatening my credit report ( and they file a negative claim ; against my credit that I have been trying hard to repair on my own ). 

XX/XX/XXXX - I sent a letter to Hunter Warfield ( copy to Ameritrue ) disputing the claim and demanding that they remove the negative credit complaint. 

Summary : I abided by the lease and a 30-day notice once the lease had been expired for more than a year. I cleaned up the property after moving in and did needed repairs, as XXXX  was unable to. The damage now claimed was pre-existing. I believing using the deposit for the last months rent was appropriate ( as the original landlord let believe I could do so. I thought I had finally resolved this with the substitute landlord until, about a year later, they send collection agency against me. Under the circumstances a negative credit report is wholly inappropriate, especially since the underlying claim has never been resolved.... 

Most of the referenced documents are in the possession of XXXX.

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