Consumer complaint received 2024-05-31
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC. (WA)

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX reported an initial balance of damages owed in XX/XX/XXXX, with an amount of {$5000.00} After attempting to speak with them, they refused contact. We sent a formal letter disputing these charges directly with them, but were offered no response to speak with management. Beginning in XXXX, XXXX XXXX hired the first collection agency, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX. and they requested this amount from us. This was immediately disputed with evidence and a list of each charge disputed. It was then " dismissed or closed '' sometime in late XXXX. They then hired a 2nd collection agency, Fair Collections Outsourcing which was formally disputed via US MAIL on XX/XX/XXXX which I have documented/dated pictures of the completed " dispute paperwork '' so that I could document the date and time that we dropped it off at the post office. No response was recieved. We then received another attempt of collection via e-mail, the amount was then changed to {$3800.00}, assuming they applied our deposit. We then sent a response on XX/XX/XXXX, " via email '' regarding the disputed information that was sent on XX/XX/XXXX, that we never received a response to. We STILL have not had a formal investigation into our claims, along with a list of all charges disputed and reasons why. We reached out to XXXX XXXX Dispute Resolutions requesting help with getting a response to our disputes. They have worked hard on our behalf to contacted both the Fair Collection Outsourcing and the XXXX XXXX XXXX to reach a settlement or resolution, but they have also had no response to both the phone calls, messages left and e-mails. Due to the fact that we were denied housing on XXXX rental applications due to this item being on our credit report, we are now at risk of being homeless. We attempted to find resolution, not due to accepting ownership of this debt or agreement that it is valid, but out of the desperate nature of needing our credit cleared for housing, so XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX left multiples messages offering to settle on our belalf and agree to pay a portion of this debt, but still have not received a response for resolution or a denial of agreement. After asking XXXX XXXX project for legal advice, we were adviced by an attorney assigned to our case to " take legal action against XXXX XXXX XXXX, because we had a valid case with supporting evidence to sue for our desposit back, and to dismiss the bogus debt '', but we are still at risk of being homeless in the mean time, due to XXXX 's refusal to discuss our debt at all. Each time we have tried to dispute this collection off our credit report, XXXX has responded faithfully to validate our responsibilty, however the last discussion with XXXX we were told that they were unable to discuss our case with us due to the fact that we had " legal representation for a dispute ''. It has now been XXXX months where we are suffering fromt this collection on our credit reports. I have successfully had the collection removed off of XXXX, but XXXX and XXXX continue to fall for the stack of papers to support this collection that XXXX is providing them, without considering that most of the documents in the file they are using as evidence does NOT include a response to our disputes, and fails to provide an explanation of each charge that was disputed, nor provides validating evidence of each charge that was disputed. Without this information, this collection should NOT remain and is not legally owed, especially if they unwilling to speak about payment options whatsoever. The last direct communication with XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX, was directly with agent " XXXX XXXX '', which resulted in agent XXXX claiming that they were refusing any discussion with us regarding this account, reason stating it was still in " review.