Consumer complaint received 2024-06-25
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis (KY)

On XX/XX/XXXX I emailed Columbia Debt Recovery a debt validation letter. In the letter, I requested the following information : The amount of the alleged debt ; the full name and mailing address of the original creditor for this alleged debt ; documentation showing they have verified that i am responsible for thew debt ; documentation showing they are licensed to collect in the state of KY. I also requested a cease and desist in attempting to collect on this alleged debt until after the above information was provided. On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email from the compliance department for Columbia Debt Recovery with a copy of the signed lease agreement from the original creditor and a copy of the summary of move out charges. They did not provide me with proof they are licensed to collect in the state of KY. On XX/XX/XXXX, I called Columbia Debt Recovery and spoke with a representative who transferred me to a supervisor. I believe his name was XXXX. I advised why I was calling and he responded with " is this a money issue or what ''. I advised that I had requested specific information and that was not received. He said they sent over the lease agreement and the summary of move out charges. I asked what page of the lease agreement does it show i will be charged {$3300.00} for a termination fee AND an insufficient notice fee. He told me " its in there ''. I asked what page and he responded with " I am not going to walk you through your lease. if you need to hire someone to do that for you, you are welcome to do so. '' I asked him for proof that they are licensed in the state of KY and he told me it was public information. I then advised that per the XXXX XXXX XXXX website, Columbia Debt Recovery is only licensed to collect in AZ, CA, ID, IN, MD, MA, NE, NV, NM, ND, OR, RI and WY and since they were not licensed to collect in my state they need to remove this from my credit report. The supervisor refused and told me he doesn't have to and that they are licensed. I have read through the entire lease, top to bottom, multiple times. No where in the lease does it state that I will be charged {$3300.00} for an early termination fee or insufficient notice fee. It does have the lease buy out fee, but that does not match what I am being charged. My original lease agreement also states that I will be charged 18 % interest, compounded annually but I am being charged monthly for interest and it is not being compounded annually. Columbia Debt Recovery is unlawfully charging me interest monthly and can not provide written proof in the lease agreement of the fees that I have been charged. I am also being charged for utilities from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX which were paid for in my rent for public spaces like the pool, grill etc. My regular electric bill was paid directly to XXXX which is the electric company. I should only be responsible for water/sewer for the last month of my residency which would be XXXX. I am also being charged for pet rent for the month of XXXX which again, was paid in the XXXX rent which is documented as received by XXXX XXXX on the summary of move out charges.