Consumer complaint received 2026-05-06 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Southern Management Systems Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint regarding an alleged rental/apartment debt associated with XXXX XXXX and Southern Management . I mailed a written request for validation of this alleged debt. In that request, I asked for documentation proving that I am legally responsible for the claimed balance, how the balance was calculated, and what authority the company has to collect or report this account. The company has failed to provide sufficient documentation validating this alleged debt. I have not received a lease agreement, complete resident ledger, move-out statement, full itemization of the balance, documentation supporting the charges, proof of damages or fees, proof of deposit application, or proof of authority to collect and report this account. Despite the lack of validation, this account continues to be treated as collectible and continues appearing on my credit file. That is the problem. The company is not just failing to send paperwork. The company is continuing to collect and report an alleged rental debt without proving that the balance is accurate, itemized, legally owed, and authorized by a lease or rental agreement. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ), once a consumer disputes a debt in writing and requests verification, collection activity must stop until the debt is verified and mailed to the consumer. The company has not provided proper verification but continues to treat the account as valid and reportable. This conduct also raises concerns under 15 U.S.C. 1692e, which prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with debt collection. Continuing to report and collect a rental balance without producing the lease, itemized ledger, move-out statement, and supporting documents is misleading because it represents the debt as valid and collectible without competent proof. This also raises concerns under 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ) ( A ) because the company is representing the character, amount, or legal status of a debt that has not been properly verified. If the company can not show exactly how the balance was calculated and why each charge is legally owed, then the amount and legal status of the debt remain unsupported. The companys conduct also raises concerns under 15 U.S.C. 1692f ( 1 ) because a debt collector may not collect any amount unless it is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. Without the lease agreement, ledger, move-out statement, and charge documentation, the company has not shown that the amount being collected is authorized. If this company or its collector is furnishing information to the consumer reporting agencies, there are also accuracy obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. After a dispute, a furnisher must investigate and correct, delete, or modify information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ). A rental collection can not be properly verified with a bare balance claim. Rental debt requires documentation. The company should be able to produce the lease, resident ledger, move-out accounting, itemized charges, deposit application, fees, utilities, damages, credits, and the basis for every amount claimed. The company has not provided that documentation. Until it does, this account is unverifiable and should not remain on my credit file.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation