Consumer complaint received 2020-06-29
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Federal Adjustment Bureau, Inc. (OH)

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX - XXXX ( rental company ) sent a damages statement after we moved out. We called and told them that we believe these charges to be valid. We consulted with a lawyer and are only responsible for the depreciated values, assuming the damages are outside of normal wear and tear. We only spoke with the receptionist who said she'd pass it along, but told her we would need proof, including pictures, and receipts of installation to calculate depreciated value of the carpet, vinyl floors, and A/C cover. We did not hear anything back. 
XXXX, XXXX - I noticed a collections agency had late payment reports since XX/XX/XXXX and filed a dispute with the credit bureau as I was unaware of what they were. 
XX/XX/XXXX - FABCO sent first letter, the same damages statement XXXX provided, and an unsigned renewal copy of the lease from and a signed pet addendum with the wrong address from XXXX, XXXX as a response to my credit dispute. 
XX/XX/XXXX ( postmarked XXXX ) - I sent a request for proof of debt validation., requesting pictures of the accused damages, receipts of original installation, original value, and life expectancy of each item they were charging to be replaced, and requested the late payments be removed from my credit score for the dates I was never notified of the debt XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ). 
XX/XX/XXXX - FABCO sent extremely blurry, black and white, close up pictures that can not even be identified in most cases, and internal statements provided by XXXX. These internal statements just have one line of a number representing original value with no actual information or proof of the original installation/value/life expectancy of the items to calculate depreciated value. Additionally, one of the  statements containing the carpet information ( only one that shows a date of installation ) claims that the carpet was installed in XXXX of XXXX, which I know is untrue because I lived there at that time. I believe XXXX is trying to scam us and assumed we would believe it because the copy of the lease they provided was really a renewal of the lease from XXXX, so they didn't realize I had been living there in XXXX. Additionally, I believe some of these charges are made up so they could try to get us to pay to replace the entire carpet throughout the house, as they claim holes in the carpets from the dogs in all bedrooms. Only 1 bedroom was actually used, the remaining 3 bedroom doors remained closed at all times and the dogs were not allowed in. The pictures provided are also completely unidentifiable, and the few that I think I can identify look to be normal wear and tear. They also claim that the lease states the walls were not allowed to be painted any color other than neutral colors, which I questioned as I did receive approval, but am unable to get a copy of the original full lease from them. 

I have provided examples of the photos and statements as my zipped file containing all the correspondence is too large to submit. However, I do have all letters, statements, and pictures if needed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation