Consumer complaint received 2024-03-30
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC. (MD)

XXXX alerted me about a debt on my credit report in XX/XX/XXXX. It indicated that I owed {$17000.00} on a delinquent account. In XX/XX/XXXX I went to court due to recurring summons for overdue rent payments. The leasing manager asked to speak with me in the hallway, wanting to know how/why I was disputing the charges. I stated to her just as I had stated to every employee I had spoke to that leading up to that day & thereafter, I wanted a complete history of charges & payments. Id been told they didnt have my information or lease from the previous property owners, didnt have a copy of my current lease nor had any knowledge that as a result of accepting & waiting on federal funding I was not supposed to incur additional charges, late fees or have court filings against me for that time period. I disputed the amount through XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, attached the Landlord Agreement for Covid Funding signed by XXXX XXXX dated XX/XX/XXXX & disputed the debt with a statement. From the time XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX took over the property their renter portal had been changed at least 3 times and each time funds showed up differently. In addition, when the most current version was released, my lease was no longer in the portal & I immediately asked for a copy. However, they consistently charged me additional fees and sent court notices that I was specifically told to disregard! I believe that the collection company, Fair Collection & Outsourcing, contacted me in XX/XX/XXXX ( if not them, someone on behalf of property owner ) and I explained everything I have stated above. Until today I didnt know I was supposed to receive a validation of debt that should include the information I have been trying to obtain. I am not aware that I have ever received that documentation on behalf of the collector or property owners. In addition to that & because my lease with the previous owner disappeared as well as my lease with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX received a court summons well into my lease with XXXXXXXX XXXX  showing my rent was doubled without prior notification. Im uncertain of how long they were charging me the doubled rate. I am certain that they failed to abide by the Landlord Agreement, though they accepted & received federal funds towards my rent in several lump sums. It is impossible that I owe the debt of {$17000.00} & the only response to my dispute through XXXX appears to be a change in XX/XX/XXXX indicating ND ( no data ), XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX still shows XXXX, XXXX & XX/XX/XXXX show XXXX, but every other month shows- The result was that the account showing an updated Payment History Guide that reads Collections as of XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX. That in itself doesnt make any sense to me as I have never made any payment arrangements and I wasnt aware that some months of the year are in collections, but others are not or werent. The apartment was XXXX ft., no dining or eat in kitchen, lead paint that wasnt checked, rodent issues and filthy common areas ie : washer/dryer rooms that rarely worked or were inhabited by homeless people or used as storage by other residents & the outside common areas were hazardous ie : playground and basketball court. Had I known the rent was going to increase to $ XXXX, they werent going to remove the extra charges & in turn come after me for {$17000.00}, I wouldve left long before I did.