Consumer complaint received 2024-07-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
The company attempted to collect on a rental that by law the state law in California ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), landlords could not seek eviction for non-payment of rent until XX/XX/XXXX ; For unpaid rent owed XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. The company did not follow the law in the state. In addition, beginning XX/XX/XXXX : Normal rent payments must resume for rent due on or after XX/XX/XXXX to avoid being evicted. My son moved out of the apartment XXXX, XXXX to transfer to another college, therefore he was not evicted from the property. 

I began receiving harassing calls from FCO around XXXX, XXXX after I informed the company that regular creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX reported on my credit report XX/XX/XXXX that I had a {$0.00} balance. Upon my email sent to FCO on XX/XX/XXXX, I was informed FCO would stop collecting on this account until XXXX, XXXX. I did not receive any correspondence from FCO in XXXX or XXXX of XXXX. 

Today, XX/XX/XXXX I received an alert on my credit report that I owe FCO {$32000.00}, so I called the company to see what this was about. They kept me on the phone for over 20 minutes before someone answered. The first rep could not find anything with my name, then the manager took over the telephone call informing me that they sent me an email on XX/XX/XXXX. When I informed him that I did not receive anything, he stated it was sent to your email. I then typed in the company 's name to find the email in my spam folder. No one tried to contact me via phone or U.S. mail. If they planned to settle on this account, why did I not receive any communication before I reached out to the company myself to see why this was being reported on my credit report. The settlement amount sent out says to pay {$19000.00} by XX/XX/XXXX, and today is XXXX XXXX. Therefore, Im not sure why this was reported to the credit bureaus before the expiration of the offer. In addition, what is reported on my credit report says I opened an account XXXX, XXXX. I did not open an account in XXXX of XXXX. My mother was dying from XXXX in XXXX of XXXX, therefore I was dealing with a dying parent and did not have time to open any account during that time. Therefore, it definitely is mismanagement on the part of the company. 

I asked how could we get this rectified and was told the only thing I could do is pay the {$19000.00} settlement by XX/XX/XXXX. A settlement of I was not even aware of to be paid two days before the settlement is set to expire. Therefore, I have filed a complaint with the XXXX XXXX XXXX in addition to your company because I believe the money they are trying to collect on is not valid due to my credit report dated XX/XX/XXXX that shows the account was closed with a {$0.00} balance on XX/XX/XXXX. I believe they are acting unfairly and not in good faith by only sending an email to me that I never knew I received due to it going to my spam email and not honoring what was sent to me in email by reporting this before the settlement expires. If the original company has changed their mind on what I owe and now trying to collect on that amount, this is unfair to me and deceptive on the part of FCO and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX . 

I want this error fixed as I explained to FCO on XX/XX/XXXX. This is negatively impacting my credit.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation