Consumer complaint received 2022-10-04
Product: Debt collection — Other 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 (TX)

My wife and I leased an apartment in XXXX Texas call XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX'. We terminated our lease as of XX/XX/XXXX. 
However, we were forced to move out early because of the 'Texas Freeze ' in which pipes in the apartment burst flooding our apartment. We were informed that the heat and water would have to be shut off to prevent a fire hazard and that we should move immediately. 
We vacated on XX/XX/XXXX with apartment manager XXXX XXXX 's consent and verbal approval as the severity of the Freeze resulted in much damage thru-out the apartment complex and living conditions were difficult at best. 
Upon leaving the flooded apartment, I asked about our rights as tenets under Texas law to a walk thru and adhering to the move-out provisions in the lease. Due to the emergency situation caused by the unprecedented weather conditions, XXXX XXXX assured me that cleaning provisions, and a walk thru would not be necessary since this was an emergency situation. We took her at her word ( primarily because dozens of residents were experiencing the same hardships ). 
About two months later, while cleaning out some junk e-mails I found several notifications from XXXX claiming that we owed {$390.00}. With a break down of charges that included " Deep Cleaning '' {$100.00} " Broken microwave door '' {$50.00} Nail hole fills in walls {$80.00} and water and trash bills {$270.00}. After our security deposit and final rent the balance came to the aforementioned {$390.00} There was no credit for us leaving 7 days early and obviously they charged us for services we couldn't perform do to the freeze. ( As well as the managers verbal agreement to waive these charges under the circumstances. 
I sent a letter and complained vigorously that they had broken their word and were now trying to recoup losses at my expense without addressing the manager 's position at the time. I was told that the manager can not amend the lease provisions. However, in the emergency the manager did indeed over rule the lease provisions in order to help the residents during the storm. 
In XXXX of this year I was notified by e-mail that my account was sold to a debt collection agency - Genesis- I sent them the same information and explained that I was not responsible for these charges since they occurred under duress and were waived by the apartment manager. Since then I learned that the complex was sold to another entity and that all the people associated with XXXX have been terminated. The company Genesis promptly added this to my and my wife 's credit report without consideration of the debt being factually accurate or returning multiple attempts to discuss the issue. This action has caused my family immense harm as our credit scores have dropped over 50 pts each from a respectable mid 700 's to the high 600 's causing me to lose opportunities to purchase a new vehicle at a desirable rate. I 'am under the assumption that Genesis has done this to many people who may have been affected by the Great Texas freeze and are in fact looking for payments on fraudulent claims such as mine. I know it's a small amount of money, but I'm an honest person and I swear to you that paying this blackmail is just wrong. I'm hoping you might be able to help. Thank you XXXX