Consumer complaint received 2025-08-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern at XXXX  : My name is XXXX XXXX, and I am writing to formally dispute a collections account that has been added to my credit report. The debt collector is FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, and the original creditor is XXXX XXXX XXXX. This entry is inaccurate and invalid, and I request that it be investigated and removed from my credit report immediately.

Here is a detailed summary of the events leading to this dispute : 1. * * Initial Tour and Application * * : I toured an apartment building managed by XXXX XXXX XXXX. During the tour, the representatives advertised a promotion stating that if I submitted an application within 48 hours of the tour, the application fee and any hold fees would be fully waived.

2. * * Timely Application * * : I applied for the apartment within 24 hours of the tour, well within the advertised 48-hour window, expecting the fees to be waived as promised.

3. * * Decision Not to Proceed and Refund Request * * : After further consideration, I decided not to sign a lease for the apartment. Despite the promotional waiver, XXXX XXXX XXXX refused to refund or waive the fees associated with the application and hold process.

4. * * Dispute with Debt Collector * * : The matter was subsequently turned over to FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING for collection. I promptly disputed the validity of the debt directly with them, providing evidence of the promotional offer and my compliance with its terms. However, FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING failed to respond to my dispute in a timely manner. Instead, they verified the debt as valid without proper investigation or substantiation, which violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Under these laws, debt collectors are required to investigate disputes and cease
collection activities until verification is provided, which they did not do.

This debt is not legitimate because it stems from fees that should have been waived per the advertised promotion. To this day, the building is advertising this offer on their official website. I was fully planning on accepting the lease, until the building informed me that my move in would be getting significantly delayed because they werent permitted to open yet, as it was a new building. This was unacceptable to me as I would have had no place to stay in the meantime. The lack of response to my dispute and the improper verification further invalidate the reporting of this account. Reporting inaccurate or unverified information to credit bureaus is a violation of federal law, and I believe this entry is damaging my credit score unjustly.

Please investigate this matter thoroughly by contacting FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING and XXXX XXXX XXXX to verify the details. If the debt can not be substantiated as valid, I request that this collections account be deleted from my credit report in its entirety.

Under the FCRA, you are required to complete your investigation within 30 days of receiving this dispute. Please provide me with written confirmation of the results, including an updated copy of my credit report showing the removal of this item.

Additionally, I have filed a report with the CFPB to assist me. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Feel free to contact me if any other information is needed.

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

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