Consumer complaint received 2024-09-20
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis (CA)

We moved out of XXXX XXXX  managed by XXXX on XX/XX/2024. We also had our final move out inspection done by their Maintenance Personnel on the same date, and we were informed verbally by XXXX that our apartment did not have any signs of damage beyond normal wear, and would not be charged for anything due to the length of time we had lived at the property, and the renovation plans the property had on the unit itself. We had the place professionally cleaned, and we have video and pictures as proof of its move-out state. We were expecting to receive a part of our deposit back, as we were only set to pay for the final utility bill. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX sent us a move-out statement via email, appending a cleaning fee, and claiming damages beyond normal wear. They claimed we owed {$100.00} in excess of our deposit, due to a {$170.00} cleaning fee, and {$150.00} for drywall repairs beyond normal wear. 

On the same day, we responded stating that we were present at the final inspection, and no issues were brought up by their personnel. We also asked for an itemized list for the additional charges which they claimed to be cleaning and repair for damages ( they were unnecessary as the place was spotless ). Their receivables department responded shortly after, stating they received our request and an account specialist assigned to our account would review the request and respond. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, the account specialist sent us a pdf document of the same statement, with no additional detail, and a second document with pictures that they claim to be from our move out inspection. We were present during the move out inspection and no pictures were taken then, which already nullifies the document itself. On top of that, the document cited the pictures as issues, but had no descriptions as to what the issues were. 

After reviewing the documents thoroughly, we responded on XX/XX/XXXX, via email disputing the validity of the statement, and the document with the falsified photos. We reiterated our request for receipts/proof of the cleaning fees and drywall damage repairs. We also stated that the apartment had been professionally cleaned, and our deposit should more than cover what was remaining. We received an automated response stating that the account specialist was on vacation until Monday, XX/XX/XXXX, and would respond to our queries then. We never heard back from them, so we considered the case closed, and wrote off the remainder of our deposit ( which was not returned to us ) as a loss, as we just wanted to be done with the place. 

We had received no prior notices to these, other than vague voicemails to call a company ( XXXX ) which we had never heard of. We also were not informed that our balance remained unpaid and that they were sending our account to collections, until we received notice from the credit bureaus that there was a new collection account added on to our credit reports. Upon receipt, I disputed the information with all three credit bureaus. An email then followed on XX/XX/XXXX, stating our account was placed in collections on XX/XX/XXXX, over two months prior to us hearing about any of this. The letter was threatening us of further collection efforts if we did not pay.