Consumer complaint received 2024-11-27 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
1. In a call to Columbia d/b/a Genesis ( " the Company '' ) on or about XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I spoke with a debt collection. I made a good faith offer to his client, which he refused to convey, despite the generally recognized ethical obligation by collectors and collection attorneys alike to convey good-faith settlement offers. The collector then said they considered the debt valid and made a vague threat about escalating collection efforts, despite his job title likely being that of a debt resolution specialist -- meaning he'd have no idea about escalation attempts. Only a collections manager, attorney, or some other role with supervisory powers would be able to do that.

2. The Company has made credit reporting misstatements about the ownership history. I have called and spoken with the apartment complex listed as the " original creditor, '' but their representative specifically disclaimed ownership of the account. They also claimed they were sold from what might be the true legal entity in charge of the XXXX, which is in all likelihood XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ). So it is extremely muddy as to whether the XXXX or its client have a valid debt claim against me anymore. Proof of the chain of title is essential in order for me to confirm whether they have a valid right to collect on any alleged debt. 

XXXX. In a previous validation of debt request ( " VOD request '' ), the Company has shared another consumer 's private info with both myself and the co-tenant. The Company has also likely shared our own private info with another consumer, since presumably another recipient would have gotten the VOD request details meant for me.

4. The Company claims interest on a charged-off debt claim despite the contract being silent as to any permissible interest in this sort of situation. Specifically in their email correspondence, they include the following notice : " Your account bears interest at 006.00 percent per annum. Because interest and other charges vary from day to day, please contact us to learn the exact amount you owe as of the date of your payment. '' In both the underlying rental lease agreement and any additional VOD request, the Company has failed to establish any legal right to collect the interest rate alleged. This is distinct from any legal right to collect interest on late or unpaid rent. Co-tenant and myself contend that we do not owe any late or unpaid rent, and the VOD request even reflects our payment ; the only amount in dispute would be post-move out charges, which are themselves completely ineligible for interest pursuant to the contract we signed.

5. I made a good-faith offer of settlement to resolve this account, advising the company that failure to respond would necessitate the filing of this CFPB Complaint. The Company has wholly failed to respond, or even reject the offer provided.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief