Consumer complaint received 2025-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
This debt is directly linked to a class action lawsuit : FTC vs XXXX XXXX, where XXXX XXXX was found liable for deceiving renters about lease costs, charging undisclosed junk fees, failing to inspect homes before residents moved in, and unfairly withholding tenants security deposits when they moved out and ordered to pay XXXX XXXX in damages. The settlement directly advises that collections for debts between a certain time must be stopped. The settlement also advises that any consumers with NO outstanding debt owed to XXXX XXXX will receive an {$18.00} payout. I received a {$18.00} check, proving I have no outstanding balances. Please see attached as proof of my payout and proof of me being a class member. Please also note that this lawsuit was filed because of trumped up charges in relation to a clients rental agreement. 

Fair Collections & Outsourcing ( FCO ) is directly violating FDCPA law section 808.1 regarding unfair practices : The collection of any amount ( including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation ) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. Per the class action settlement, it is no longer lawful to continue attempting to collect this debt. 
FCO is keeping this debt on my credit report, purposely stopping me from finding housing, in hopes that I will pay a debt they are not owed.

I have requested countless times, proof this debt is STILL owed and is not related to the class action lawsuit and have not received any documentation whatsoever. I have not been sent any form of evidence proving this debt is owed I have countless forms of evidence showing my class member confirmation, receiving payout ( proving I have no outstanding balances ), and evidence of horrible living conditions due to cheap materials and bad labor of the XXXX XXXX dwelling ( proving not inspecting homes before move in portion of the lawsuit ) again proving I was directly a class member. 

I have sent all the settlement information ( via settlement link and document upload ) to all three credit bureaus and they all have not followed FDCPA laws that they must maintain reasonable procedures to ensure the highest possible accuracy of the information they collect and disclose. No real investigation has been done to confirm the debt is still owed. Fair Collections Outsourcing has only provided notice of the debt even though the circumstances have changed. I have provided those circumstances to credit bureaus with no avail. I have also contacted them via phone and was continuously advised that this can only be changed by the creditor ( directly violating their FCRA and FCDPA duty to properly investigate disputes ) This issue is preventing me from accessing housing, even though I have good enough credit to be approved, the rental debt is stopping my approval. 

FCO was also reporting an address that didnt exist to XXXX  and it took a CFPB complaint against XXXX  & FCO for them to remove it. When FCO responded to my CFPB complaint, they advised I was not showing my entire credit report, insinuation that I was providing incorrect information when my documents clearly show that they were the only creditor reporting that address ( the screenshot is directly from XXXX  and would show multiple creditors if multiple creditors were reporting that specific address ) I have also attached that information. 

This instance is a direct violation of FCRA & FDCPA laws in regards to unfair practices, deception, negligence, failure to investigate disputes, and providing false information to credit bureaus. 


I have contacted multiple credit experts, credit counselors, and attorneys. They all have advised the same thing : this is a serious issue that needs to be properly investigated. I have also contacted the CFPB via phone and they agreed

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