Consumer complaint received 2025-03-19 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Professional Debt Mediation, Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am writing again because my previous complaint, filed on XX/XX/XXXX, was not handled properly. My complaint was about Professional Debt Mediation Inc. ( PDM ) and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX violating my rights and illegally trying to collect a debt I dont owe. 

Instead of investigating, CFPB closed my case too quickly after receiving this vague response from PDM on XX/XX/XXXX : " Per our client, this debt is valid and owed. This account still has a remaining balance after the amount of {$9300.00} was paid toward the outstanding balance. '' That response is not proof of anything. CFPB should have asked for real evidence, not just taken PDMs word for it. 

1. What My Landlord and PDM Did Wrong : A. The Landlord Did Not Follow Florida Law : 1. They never sent me a list of damages. Florida law says that if a landlord wants to keep a tenants security deposit for damages, they must send a written notice within 30 days. I never got anything.

2. They are charging me for damages that were already there. I left the apartment in the same condition I received it in. No one did a move-out inspection, and they never proved I caused any damage.

3. They charged me rent after I was evicted. A judge ordered my eviction on XX/XX/XXXX, which legally ended my lease. Once a court issues an eviction order, the lease is no longer valid, and the landlord has no right to charge rent beyond that date. 
4. Despite this, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX continued to add charges after my eviction, trying to collect rent that I legally did not owe. This is not only unfairit is an illegal attempt to collect money they have no right to claim, especially since they never obtained a court judgment for any alleged damages along with the unpaid rent.

B. PDM Failed to Prove the Debt Is Real : Debt collectors must provide proof that a debt is valid when asked. Heres what they were supposed to send : A detailed breakdown of what I supposedly owe.

Before and after pictures showing damages.

Receipts or invoices for any repairs.

A court order or contract proving they have the right to collect this debt.

Instead, all they sent me was a rent ledger. That does not prove I owe this money. They are just taking my former landlords word for it.

C. PDM Violated My Rights by Harassing My Family : PDM also kept calling my family members about this debt, even though they were never listed as contacts on my lease. Debt collectors are not allowed to do this.

2. What I Need CFPB to Do : 1. Reopen my complaint and actually investigate PDM and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
2. Make PDM and my former landlord provide real proof of their claim. A rent ledger is not enough.

3. Order PDM to stop collection efforts and remove this from my credit report.

4. Hold PDM accountable for illegally contacting my family. 
5. Make my landlord return my full security deposit, since they broke Florida law by not sending me a damage report.

3. Conclusion CFPB Must Enforce the Law : I filed this complaint because my rights have been violated, and I need help. I expected CFPB to apply the law and take actionto read my complaint carefully, enforce consumer protection laws, and investigate properly. But you didnt even bother. 
The CFPB exists to protect consumers. The role of this agency is to recognize violations, hold debt collectors and landlords accountable, and ensure that consumers are protected from unlawful collection practices.

When PDM responded with nothing but a one-sentence claim, CFPB should have pushed back and asked for proof. The violations I reported should have been questioned. Instead, my complaint was brushed off without a real answer, and CFPB allowed this collection agency to continue its actions without even a slap on the wristas if their vague response was enough to dismiss the intense list of violations I provided.

I never would have thought this is how CFPB handles complaints, yet that is exactly what happened. At the very least, CFPB did not even notify me when PDM responded. 
This time, I expect CFPB to do its job by : Actually, reviewing my complaint carefully and making PDM provide real evidence.

Holding PDM accountable for failing to validate the debt.

Holding PDM accountable for harassing my family members who were never listed on the lease.

Giving me a real response and conducting a proper investigation, instead of just accepting whatever PDM says and closing my case again without a legally valid explanation or proper documentation.

At the Very Least, I Expect CFPB to Require PDM and XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX to Provide : Before and after pictures proving any alleged damages. 
Move-in and move-out inspection checklists showing the apartments condition. 
Invoices and/or receipts for any and all claimed repairs. 
A valid court order or legal document proving I owe this debt for damages and for the amount of {$9300.00}. 
A copy of the letter they claim to have sent me regarding my security deposit. 
If They Fail to Provide This Evidence, Then CFPB Must : 1. Order PDM and XXXX to return all money wrongfully charged to me immediately for the amount of {$3900.00} ( supporting documents provided ).

2. Require PDM to completely remove all negative credit reporting and collection records for everyone listed on the lease.

3. Require PDM and XXXX to send me a written letter stating that this debt has been deleted, was wrongfully charged, and that they will no longer attempt to collect from me or anyone else on the lease. 
4. Require a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX acknowledging that the {$9300.00} charge was wrongful and that the damage claims were made in error. This letter should include an apology and confirmation that all negative tenant records associated with me and everyone listed on the lease have been cleared. Additionally, the eviction should be removed from all of our rental histories. 

CFPB Must Reconsider Its Decision to Close My Case : CFPB did not conduct a real investigation before dismissing my complaint. This needs to be fully investigated, the correct laws must be applied, and this matter must be resolved fairly and lawfully. 

I look forward to a response confirming the actions CFPB will take to correct these violations NOTE : All the pictures clearly show that the apartment was in poor condition when I moved in and was returned in the same condition upon move-out. The damages they are claiming were already present when I took possession of the apartment, and therefore, they can not claim these as damages. This is due to their own neglect, as they never provided a move-in inspection or a move-out inspection, as required by law. 

This is an attempt to scam the system, and they should be held accountable for using false information to taint our records. They are attempting to collect for damages that do not exist and should not be allowed to do so. 

Additionally, court documents confirm that they only had the right to collect for eviction-related charges and not for any alleged damages, which further supports that their claims are unjustified.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation