Consumer complaint received 2024-07-16
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc. (GA)

We lived in apartment at XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. We moved out XX/XX/2023. During the move out process, tenant provided XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX with our new address on the key return form. Upon move out, we were told we would be contacted with what is owed within a week or so. We never received this communication. According to Georgia code XXXX, the apartment complex must complete the inspection within three business days and the tenant is then allowed to come into the apartment within 5 business days and disagree with any damages pointed out by the apartment complex. We were not provided this opportunity which is well within our legal rights. This could have been circumvented if the paperwork outlining the damages was signed upon move out which I do not believe was done. 
We provided our new address which was mentioned above on the key return form. We never received a first-class letter detailing the charges for the damages to apartment which was to be sent to us after the landlord did a final walk through. We neither received the statement for the damages nor did we receive the final bill that is owed to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. We also never received an email stating that we still owed a balance and the balance did not show up in our resident portal. The next notification we receive is on XX/XX/2023 from a debt collector who provided a damages list which is not itemized. So up until that point, we have yet to receive an itemized list of damages from XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX which goes against our rights as tenants. After emailing XXXX, we received an itemized list of damages on XX/XX/2023 via email. This list included two items that were in contention as actual damages to the apartment : the vinyl flooring as you enter the kitchen and the blinds which were damaged when moving into the apartment. After talking with XXXX, he agreed that the blinds were part of original damages and there were multiple requests to get them replaced while living there. He also agreed that the vinyl going into the kitchen was considered wear and tear and not damages. This brought our bill from {$280.00} down to {$150.00}. We were happy to pay the {$150.00}. 

This check was dropped off XX/XX/2023. Tenant was told on XX/XX/2023 on a phone call with XXXX that it would take a couple of days since he was working with corporate on how to mark as paid since the bill was already sent to collections. On XX/XX/2023 we were emailed by XXXX informing us that the check will not satisfy the balance owed and we must settle with collections. Collections still has our bill as {$280.00} and needs to be updated to the {$150.00} before we will make a payment to clear the account. XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX has informed us that this is not something that they are able to do. They are unable to recall the collections as well when asked. 

This is damaging both tenants credit reports as an unpaid debt when we were not properly told of the debt as outlined in Georgia law. The credit agency is willing to take {$150.00} and will mark debt as settled and not paid in full which will further harm credit report.