Consumer complaint received 2025-11-17 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing a formal complaint against Columbia Debt Recovery LLC ( Genesis ( DBA ) ) for attempting to collect a debt that is fabricated, misrepresented, and unlawfully created. This stems from invalid charges initiated by my former landlord, which have either already been paid, never existed, or are being double-collected through abusive and deceptive practices. The agencys actions are in violation of state and federal laws and have caused emotional distress and unwarranted pressure. 

1. False, Duplicate, and Illegitimate Charges The debt currently being pursued is unlawful and includes : Charges that were already paid ; Charges that are not valid under California landlord-tenant law ; Duplicate charges previously disputed and reclaimed ; Fees that were never owed under any written or verbal agreement. 

These actions are in direct violation of California Civil Code 1950.5, which governs how landlords must handle security deposits and post-tenancy charges. Pursuing invalid or duplicated charges amounts to a misrepresentation of debt under both FDCPA and Californias Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. 
2. Lack of Debt Validation and Improper Collection Behavior Despite the fact that the debt has been clearly disputed : The agency has failed to provide any legally required validation ; No contract, lease, itemized breakdown, or ownership proof has been shared ; Collection efforts have continued without any substantiation or legal basis. 

The agency has not paused collection activity, nor have they responded with the required verification under FDCPA 1692g ( b ). This refusal to investigate or validate the debt, while continuing harassment, is unlawful. 

3.Harassment and Abusive Communication Patterns These collection attempts and harassment began in early XX/XX/year>,, when I started receiving vague and repetitive text messages from unknown numbers claiming I owed a debt. The agency has engaged in ongoing harassment, including but not limited to : Repeated texts such as Hi, can I have a chat with you? from different phone numbers across various area codes ; Contacting me at odd hours early morning, late at night, and weekends ; Messaging on holidays and non-business hours, clearly violating 1692c ( a ) ( 1 ) which prohibits communication at unusual times or places; Using deceptive or vague texts that fail to identify the sender as a debt collector, in violation of 1692e ( 11 ). 

Even Genesis XXXX, in its own website referencing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, states that collectors must avoid such abusive patterns and must not harass the consumer via calls, texts, or emails yet this agency continues to do so. This ongoing pattern of manipulation, unwanted messages, and privacy violations meets the federal definition of harassment and abuse under the FDCPA and California Civil Code 1788.11. 
Attached are screenshots of unsolicited, vague, and harassing text messages received from various numbers between XXXX and XX/XX/year>, in violation of FDCPA Sections 1692c ( a ) ( 1 ) and 1692e ( 11 ). These messages lack proper identification, were sent during odd hours, and constitute a pattern of deceptive and abusive contact. 

4. Suspicious Exclusive Offer Email With No Valid Response Channel On XX/XX/year>, I received an unsolicited email from XXXX, claiming to represent Columbia Debt Recovery LLC dba Genesis. The subject line was titled Exclusive Offer, and it referenced an alleged debt tied to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, with an account number of XXXX. 

This communication raises serious concerns and appears non-compliant with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) for the following reasons : No ability to respond : The email was sent from a noreply address, blocking any opportunity for me to request validation, dispute the debt, or communicate further. 
Flagged as spam : The message was automatically filtered into my emails spam folder, signaling suspicious or potentially deceptive formatting. 
No written notice received : I did not receive any prior formal or written communication regarding this alleged collection, nor any follow-up by mail as required under FDCPA 809. 
No proper validation : The email provided no details about the debt beyond a vague account number and a creditor name. It failed to outline the amount, date of the debt, or verification procedures. 
Deceptive subject line : Labeling the message Exclusive Offer makes it appear promotional or misleading, rather than a legitimate debt notice. 

Due to these irregularities, I had no legally viable opportunity to respond, request validation, or dispute the claim, which directly violates my consumer rights under federal law. I request that this entry be formally investigated and that the collector be held accountable for failing to follow required notification and dispute procedures. 
A screenshot of this email is attached under the filename : Genesis_Exclusive_Offer_Email_Screenshot

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation