Consumer complaint received 2026-04-24 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding inaccurate credit reporting and improper debt collection arising from a disputed residential move-out account. Kimball , Tirey & St. John LLP is attempting to collect an alleged balance of {$1000.00} under reference number XXXX on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in connection with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX. The collection letter is dated XX/XX/XXXX. I dispute this alleged debt in full. The claimed balance arises from excessive, unsupported, and disputed post-tenancy move-out charges after the security deposit was already retained. The resident ledger shows that a {$600.00} security deposit credit was applied on XX/XX/XXXX, and then additional charges were assessed, including carpet cleaning ( {$120.00} ), apartment cleaning ( {$140.00} ), paint and supplies/labor ( {$130.00} ), and tub resurfacing ( {$250.00} ), among other charges, to reach the alleged balance of {$1000.00}. I dispute those charges and do not owe the claimed amount. The documentation provided to me does not substantiate the debt. I was given a copy of the lease, a ledger, and black-and-white photographs that are difficult to interpret. Those materials do not establish that the charges were necessary, reasonable, authorized, or legally chargeable to me. Despite my dispute, a derogatory collection mark was placed on my credit report. I disputed the account with the credit bureaus, but the account was reported as substantiated. I have also disputed the account directly with the furnisher/collector. My concern is that the furnisher is verifying or continuing to furnish disputed information without competent substantiation and, to the extent the tradeline is not accurately marked as disputed, furnishing materially misleading information. My specific concerns are : The balance being furnished is inaccurate and not owed ; The account arises from disputed post-tenancy charges after retention of the security deposit ; The furnisher appears to be relying on inadequate documentation to verify the account ; Any reporting that omits the fact that the account is disputed is inaccurate and misleading ; and The collector is using the tradeline as leverage while refusing to remove it unless I pay the full claimed amount. I request that the CFPB require the company to investigate this matter, explain the basis for any continued furnishing, correct the tradeline to accurately reflect the dispute status, and delete the tradeline entirely if it can not be substantiated with competent documentation. I also request that the company provide : the documents it relied on to verify the account, the dates and agencies to which it furnished information, confirmation whether it reported the account as disputed, and correction or deletion of any inaccurate credit reporting. This is a disputed debt. I am not acknowledging liability. I am requesting correction and deletion of inaccurate credit reporting and cessation of improper collection activity based on unsupported charges.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation