Consumer complaint received 2025-10-22 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: RentDebt Automated Collections, LLC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am filing this complaint against Automated XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) and RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. ( RACSI ) for attempting to collect an an invalid debt under false pretenses and for failing to provide proper validation. The debt was placed by my former landlord, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, as agent for, and on behalf of, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, XXXX, as Owner, hereinafter referred to as landlord in XXXX, Georgia. 

Background of the dispute : * I was scheduled to move into a rental unit at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Georgia XXXX in Georgia on the first week of XX/XX/XXXX. Specifically the lease term being : XX/XX/XXXX, to XX/XX/XXXX. 
* On XX/XX/XXXX I prepaid for the unit ( XXXX ) in advance via e-payment through my bank in the amount of {$2000.00} ( security deposit and first months rent ), plus fees totaling {$2100.00}. 
* The e-payment was made in good faith to secure the unit ( XXXX ) prior to moving in since I was coming from California to Georgia to attend a work related training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers ( FLETC ) and needed accommodation for me and my family to include our XXXX XXXX XXXX child for the next 6 months of my training program. 
* Upon initial move-in date on XX/XX/XXXX a severe cockroach infestation was discovered and the landlord was promptly notified. 
* The infestation was pervasive and evident throughout the entire unit, including but not limited to living areas, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. 
* The infestation rendered the premises completely uninhabitable and posed a significant health risks for us specially our XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
* These health risks like the potential allergens, contamination of food and surfaces, general unsanitary conditions coupled with the hazardous XXXX  chemical treatments could not be ignored for the safety of myself, my family including our young child. 
* The lease was immediately voided with both parties agreeing because the unit was uninhabitable due to the SEVERE Cockroach pest infestation discovered at initial move-in walkthrough with the landlord representative XXXX XXXX XXXX 
* The landlord representative XXXX XXXX initially verbally agreed in person to provide a full refund with the only stipulationbeing formally vacating the unit in writing. Both parties agreed, notice of vacate was sent and received shortly after on XX/XX/XXXX. 
* XXXX XXXX XXXX stated in person a refund check would be received for pickup at the leasing center located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, GA XXXX within XXXX weeks from their XXXX in XXXX. 
* On XX/XX/XXXX, the landlord offered a refund via a Release and Acknowledgment form with a Non Disclosure Agreement ( NDA ) clause requiring waiver of all if not most of my rights, I explicitly refused to sign this form, as it would unlawfully require me to forfeit my legal rights under the lease and applicable law in spite of the prior initial verbal agreement both parties agreed to in addition to the landlords own default in order to recoup my legally owed fund. 
* At no point did I agree to waive my rights and or any claims given the landlord had breached the lease agreement rendering it null and void. 
* Under Georgia law, landlords must provide habitable premises ( implied warranty of habitability ; O.C.G.A. 44-7-13 ). Cockroach infestation clearly breaches this, allowing lease termination and refund without liability to me the renter as I was not at fault. 
* These abhorrent conditions forced my family to stay in various hotels for over ( XXXX ) week costing approximately {$3300.00} out of pocket ( through points ) while searching for alternate accommodations in addition to approximately {$560.00} usd on moving and storage costs out of pocket as well. 
* On or about XX/XX/XXXX till approximately XX/XX/XXXX XXXX consulted with Attorney XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX who assured the legality of my position and subsequently helped me draft and sent ( XXXX ) of several demand letters for my refund to the landlord after their strong-arming unlawful attempt to coerce me into signing away my rights. 
* The landlord ignored all my lawful demand letters and attempts to cordially solve this issue despite their default and breach of contract. 
* My bank, upon reviewing the mountain of evidence, on or about XX/XX/XXXX issued a full refund for my prepayment via chargeback totaling {$2100.00} usd. 
* Given that the landlord breached the lease agreement in conjunction with Georgia State Law regarding providing habitable dwellings to tenants, no valid enforceable debt exists under these undeniable facts. 

Collection agency 's unfair practices : * Despite the lease being rightfully terminated as agreed by both parties and the funds being refunded by my bank, the landlord has placed this invalid alleged " unpaid rent '' with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) acting under their subsidiary RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. to unjustly and unlawfully collect on their behalf after their default. 
* In XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a formal request for debt validation to RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. asking them to validate ( 1 ) amount and itemization ; ( 2 ) original creditor details ; ( 3 ) original agreement authorizing collection ; ( 4 ) proof of assignment ; ( 5 ) licensing in Georgia. ( 6 ) Payment History. ( 7 ) Chain of custody.

* Instead of responding to me via email or through my California address, the collection agency sent the validation attempt to an old address in Georgia. 
* On XX/XX/XXXX when I contacted RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. via phone ( ( XXXX ) XXXX ) a representative verified the receipt of my email Validation request sent on XX/XX/XXXX and further stated during a XXXX hour verbal conversation that they do not verify the debt themselves but simply " forward the information to the landlord. '' The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) requires them to properly and accurately validate a debt when requested and they have failed to properly do so. 
* RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. further made a seemingly false claim that their client XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX can still collect on a debt from a lease agreement that was voided by their client due to failing to provide habitable and safe conditions to tenants as required by law. This claim by RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. is unequivocally false and unlawful. 
* RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. when pressured for clarification of their claims on the phone further stated that they could collect this alleged debt based on the move-out notice not being properly sent which is incorrect as it was submitted and received within ( XXXX ) days and proof of this was submitted to RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. in the email request for debt validation. 
* RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. further stated that they could collect on this alleged debt based on a voided contract, in-spite of the fact that I did not officially move in due to the uninhabitable conditions of the unit I prepaid for, they further claimed I was still liable for unpaid rent from the voided contract breached by their client XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX agent for, and on behalf of, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. This is a ridiculously nonsensical claim predicated on absolutely XXXX legal basis given there is no contract to enforce since it was voided in full by the landlord failing to provide a habitable and safe dwelling as required by state and federal law leaving me the renter and victim with XXXX  liability for any and or all parts of the lease agreement their client voided. 
* The reported debt of {$2100.00} is invalid and unenforceable. It appears to stem from the landlords improper and unlawful attempt to collect on a breached contract, despite their own default per State and or Federal Law. 

Credit reporting inaccuracies : * This invalid debt has been reported to credit bureaus, severely damaging my credit from XXXX to mid to low XXXX. I am currently in the process of purchasing our first home and this has severely impacted this process for me and my family and is continuing to unjustly cause undue harm given I am a victim and in no way shape or form at fault. 
* I filed an online dispute with XXXX  and XXXX, but the investigation was cursory and only validated the debt amount from RentDebt Automated Collection Services , Inc. and did not result in the removal of the derogatory mark all together as it should have through an honest and thorough investigation with all the facts presented. The investigation did not properly consider my evidence if at all, including the chargeback and the voided lease due to uninhabitable conditions which is the precursor for the alleged debt itself.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation