Consumer complaint received 2018-10-01
Company: TRACO INVESTMENT CORP
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX has avoided my attempts to contact them regarding an elevated charge and lack of return of my security deposit and credit for over-payment of rent. Now after 7 years they're contacting me with high interest and late charges. Traco is now representing XXXX XXXX, a commercial real estate company. I lived in one of XXXX XXXX apartments on XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, CA from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX.  When I moved in, there was a broken sliding balcony screen door along with a broken screen door lock and backed up kitchen plumbing that I reported to the manager. XXXX had a plumber fix the plumbing and charged me for it-which I shouldn't have had to pay since it was already a problem prior to my moving in. They never fixed the balcony screen and lock causing a safety issue for me. I moved out in XX/XX/XXXX. I provided a 30-day advance letter/notice. I also spoke on the phone with a supervisor at extension XXXX regarding my move-out. At the time I never experienced it before, but someone told be that many apartment management companies try to keep your security deposit by racking-up unnecessary charges stating you owe. So, on the day I moved out I went to XXXX office ( at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX in XXXX, CA XXXX ) to return the keys and discuss my security deposit in person. The front desk female representative stated there was no one to talk to. I asked for the supervisor at extension XXXX that I spoke to before and the rep stated no one was available. I called after for the return of my security deposit and I was given the run-around again, stating there was no one available to talk to. I attempted on several occasions after that to settle my move-out and to get the return of my deposit and I kept getting voice mails and no live person to discuss. In XX/XX/XXXX I received a bill forwarded to my new address ( I have the hard copy of that bill ) with a balance of {$1100.00} : General cleaning {$95.00}, Interior painting {$180.00}, Sliding door repair {$20.00}, Legal fee {$670.00}, Security deposit credit {$700.00}, Credit for 13 days base rent {$490.00}. I'm unsure why there was a legal fee in XX/XX/XXXX when I moved out in XXXX XXXX- and also, at the time no one wanted to talk to me about returning my security deposit. If I owed for cleaning and interior paint, that could've been discussed and resolved with my numerous attempts to contact them to talk about the return of my deposit-I know the sliding screen door was broke prior to my moving in, I complained about this safety issue to the onsite managers ( the onsite managers were a married couple who never fixed the problem ) I was concerned about my safety because although the unit was elevated it still faced the street-and why was there a {$670.00} legal fee tacked onto this bill after they avoided my contacts? I called after receiving the bill and still got the same run-around. I returned a copy of the bill to the address and wrote that they were not going to receive another dime from me, regarding the jacked-up fraudulent charges. I didn't receive anything from them again until I received a notice of involuntary lien against my real property on XX/XX/XXXX for {$1200.00} from Traco billing company ( I have the copy ) lawyer : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. The phone number is cut off the lien notice, so I couldn't call to inquire. I had a financial representative do some research to find the phone number and call to inquire ; he spoke to a rep who couldnt provide any information and was given another phone number ; when he called that number he received a voice mail. I called that same number several times and left messages requesting to speak to the lawyer or a live person and I never received a call back. Both he, my financial rep, and I called many, many, many times to inquire-because I don't want a lien on my home or a false report on my good credit-and we both kept getting voicemails. No one would call back. I didn't receive any other correspondence until my financial rep received a harassing phone call in XX/XX/XXXX of a rude female person requesting information about me. I was in the car and heard the call on speaker. The rep refused to state who she was or where she was calling from. She kept asking questions about me and wouldn't reveal who she was. My rep finally told her if she couldn't reveal who she was and the reason for the call he would have to hang up. This was shocking to the both of us, and we had no clue this was Traco calling until I researched the number on his caller ID on a XXXX search. Shortly after I received this most recent contact a bill in the mail dated XX/XX/XXXX from Traco for {$2600.00} which includes interest/late charges. This time the letter has a complete address and phone number. The bill also notes that if I attempt to pay that the payment may be hire than what is stated on the bill. What kind of business practice is this? These people deliberately avoided contact with me and my attempts to receive back my security deposit and credit for rent overpayment. Then sent me a fraudulent racked-up bill and still avoided my contact. Now they're sending a bill over 7 years later with even more so-called legal, interest and late fees and will attempt to collect by putting a lien on my home and reporting this on my credit if I don't pay. I am disputing this bill and their fraudulent business practices! I dont want this company fraudulently putting a lien on my home and ruining my good credit. I worked very hard at building my credit, paying all the debtors I owed and earnestly keeping my credit in the good status it is today.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation