Consumer complaint received 2024-01-29
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: HW Holding, Inc (ND)

The originating company is holding me responsible for water damage/loss/expenses that occured on XX/XX/XXXX for which I was not responsible for. I disputed those charges with the company which is provided by the following : XXXX. This letter is in regards to water damages that occurred at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ND, XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX and XXXX due to a burst heating pipe. On XX/XX/XXXX at approximately XXXX, while I was at home, I noticed a hissing sound originating from the baseboard heater in my living room area. Moments later, water began discharging from the heater piping. I immediately notified maintenance management to have them respond. 

XXXX. I dispute these damages/charges. In accordance with the lease that was signed XX/XX/XXXX, in paragraph 3.2 NOTIFICATION OF AGENT : Tenant shall immediately notify Agent of the presences of the following conditions : a water leak, excessive moisture or standing water inside the leased premises and 4.1. General : If you are going to be gone for a day or longer please DO NOT TURN THERMOSTAT DOWN, as this may result in frozen pipes. As stated above, I immediately notified maintenance management of the leak and my thermostat was set at normal operating temperature. The current allegations from the party above is that my window was left open. Although, it does not state specifically in the lease that I CAN NOT have a window open, that was not the case. At the time of the incident, all my windows were closed. To support my argument, I have a total of five ( 5 ) photographs with times stamps showing the window was closed. In addition to this, all windows were completely taken out the week prior, leaving the apartment completely open to the outside elements with average temperatures reaching a high of 27 degrees and lows of 7 degrees farenheight ; further degrading an already old HVAC system. 

XXXX. I am not responsible for the alleged damages because they were not caused by me but due to factors out of my control. At the time of this writing, I have not received any formal at fault declaration, a notification that an objective investigation was held and concluded with me being at fault and have not received an official statement of work completed to reflect the price above. As a consumer, I feel as if my bill of rights have been infringed and taken advantage of due to subjective claims and unethical business practices. Unless proven otherwise, I will not be held responsible for the damage above or costs related to it. 

The originating company did not provide appropriate justification holding me responsible for the damage that occurred and I've proven beyond reasonable doubt that I was not at fault. The originating company response and stated what was said over a telephonic call about an alleged response conversation between the property 's maintenance personnel & I to which they did not provide me. 

The collection agency notified me in XX/XX/XXXX that my account had gone into collections for the amount due. Up until presently, I've been in contact with the agency via telephone but have not received any written correspondence regarding the amount due nor the dispute results despite numerous attempts to request that information.