Consumer complaint received 2023-12-06
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Carter-Young, Inc. (GA)

CFPB Dear sir/Madam : Collection Agency , Carter Young Placed a Collection on my Credit Bureau Report for NEW apartment Lease contract I did not sign. On the previous contract from XXXX to XXXX, I had co-signed for my XXXX son. But on the NEW Lease from XXXX to XXXX, I did not know about it, and did not sign. 
Before the First Lease ended on XX/XX/XXXX, On XXXX, under the pretense that he is about to be put out of his apartment, the Apartment complex coerced my son to sign a new Lease for XXXX to XXXX on his own cognizance. They did not contact me to seek my permission to be a Guarantor for this new Lease contract like they did on the first contract. I was not aware of this, so I did not sign. I was not going to Co-sign for another Lease for him, because, I felt my son had established his own credentials and creditworthiness by having successfully completed his obligations under the first contract by paying his rent on time month after month by himself. 
After the First Lease ended on XX/XX/XXXX, I did not hear anything else about this apartment again until XXXX, XXXX when the Credit Bureaus informed me that Carter-Young collection agency has placed a derogatory info on my Credit Report, causing my Credit Score to be badly damaged. They said I owed XXXX dollars. 
I wrote to Carter-Young telling them they had violated the FAIR DEBT COLLECTIONS PRACTICES ACT, and FCRA by not notifying me that they think I owed this debt, and then should have given me the opportunity to own to pay or to dispute it, before they reported it to the Credit Bureaus . 
Carter-Young and their Client, XXXX did not notify the Credit Bureaus that the account is being disputed by me. 
They wrote back and changed the amount they claim that I owed was now {$2400.00}, instead of the {$5000.00} they initially, and incorrectly reported to the Credit Bureau, because they now discovered the Appt. was re-rented from XXXX, XXXX to XXXX, XXXX during the so-called New Lease term. Since this new revelation, and only after I questioned the validity of this Debt by me, I have asked for official XXXX proof of that apartments rental history during the alleged and so-called Lease Term, to see the exact date the appt. was re-rented. Something looked fishy.

Because of these errors, they should now remove the negative info on my credit report, at least, until the validity of these numbers, AND the validity of my involvement with the second lease dated XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX is established, and I have had the number of days allowed to dispute or validate this so-called debt. 
I have attached a copy of the First Lease signed with me, my son, and the apartment, which was fully satisfied and completed, along with its Application Confirmation and the Rental Quote I received for this First Lease.

I have also, attached a copy of the 2nd Lease. I did not receive any of these connected documents, like the Application Confirmation and the Rental Quote I received for the First Lease, because I had nothing to do with it. That is why my signature is not on that 2nd Lease. 
For the first Lease was from XXXX to XXXX, which I received invitation from XXXX appts. management team to serve as a Guarantor my son. For this Lease, I accepted the invitation, and electronically co-signed as a Guarantor for this Lease only. Nothing more, no renewals, nor extensions. 
On the Second Lease dated from XXXX to XXXX, the previous process followed on the first Lease outlined above in order to, also, consummate this second Lease was not followed. I was not informed, nor invited to Co-sign as a Guarantor. I was not aware of what was going on. I assumed that, similar to what many organizations do, XXXX had determined that my son had earned and achieved the honor of obtaining and paid for a residence on his own standing, without the need for a Guarantor. He had successfully completed his obligations under the first Lease, on his own. 
XXXX underhandedly coerced him into signing the Second lease on XXXX under the pretext that he was about to be evicted from the appt., in just two days when the first Lease ends. 
No where on this second Lease does my signed signature appear, like my signature appeared on the First lease. That is because I never acquiesced and agreed to cosign as a Guarantor on this Lease. A copy was not provided to me because XXXX knew I did not sign, and therefore, I was not a party to this Lease. I never resided at this Appt.

Carter-Young and their Client, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX Should be compelled to remove the derogatory information they furnished to be placed on my Credit Files with the Credit Bureaus, immediately. They have violated all my rights and Legal protections accorded to me by several consumer protection statutes, including the FCRA and FDCPA, or I am contemplating taking Legal Action. 
I need the CFPBs help to resolve this haunting nightmare. I take my financial obligations seriously. As a result, I have had a Good/Excellent Credit Rating, until they initiated this problem. 
I am almost XXXX XXXX XXXX, and have been XXXX on XXXX. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX