Consumer complaint received 2025-03-22 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:
Subject : Formal Complaint Invalid Collection Reporting by XXXX XXXX and Columbia Debt Recovery LLC Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am submitting this complaint to report an inaccurate and potentially fraudulent collection that was reported to credit bureaus under my name by Columbia Debt Recovery LLC ( dba Genesis ), on behalf of XXXX XXXX, an apartment complex located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX and managed by XXXX. 



Situation : On or around XX/XX/year>, I began the rental application process for an apartment at XXXX XXXX. During the application, I was asked to provide a guarantor, which I did. However, due to a change in personal circumstances requiring me to relocate to California, I informed the building management that I was withdrawing my application before completing it. 

I never signed a lease agreement, never paid a deposit, never received keys, and never moved in. The apartment staff acknowledged in our communications that my application was incomplete and not approved at all. My guarantor application history further confirms that the process was never finalized. At no point did any staff notify me of an outstanding balance or mention any move-out fee. I have never paid any rent or move-in fees to XXXX XXXX or its management company. My bank records clearly show that no payments were ever made to them. I simply never became a tenant in any capacityso where could a move-out fee possibly come from? 

Several months later, I received an email stating that I owed a {$730.00} move-out fee. This was confusing and alarming, as I had never resided at the property or signed any lease. I also never paid any rent or move-in deposit to XXXXXXXX XXXX or its management. My bank account records can confirm that no payments were ever made to them. I never lived there, never signed anything, never paid anythinghow could there possibly be a move-out fee? I contacted the building again on XX/XX/year>, and was told someone named XXXX XXXX would follow up. However, I never received any reply after that. 

My email search confirmed the following : 1. No lease agreement was ever sent or signed.

2. There was no communication about any charges after I withdrew.

3. My last communication went unanswered. 

Additionally, I have never lived at XXXX XXXX XXXX. I resided at XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX for XXXX years before moving to California. My credit report and official address history confirm this. 

Whats even more troubling is that, based on publicly available rental listings and announcements, XXXX XXXX  was not even open for occupancy in XX/XX/year>. From my understanding, the building did not begin allowing new residents until around XX/XX/year>. 

How could I possibly have moved out of a building that wasnt even open yet? The timeline itself proves the charge is baseless and entirely invalid. 



Complaint Against Collection Agency : Despite the lack of any signed lease, residency, or valid debt, the apartment forwarded this alleged charge to Columbia Debt Recovery LLC, which then reported the account to credit bureaus. I never received proper debt validation, and the collection agency did not verify the debt before reporting it.

As a result, I have experienced : A drop of over XXXX points in my credit score Significant emotional stress and time lost trying to dispute something I never owed Damage to my financial reputation due to a collection entry tied to a property I never lived in XXXX XXXX XXXX by Property Management Company : In researching similar complaints, I found that XXXXstarthe property management company for XXXX XXXXhas an extensive pattern of negative reviews and consumer complaints online. 

Many former tenants report being charged questionable or unexplained move-out fees, often long after theyve left or even in cases where they never moved in at all. 
This appears to be a systemic issue, not an isolated incident, and suggests that XXXX may be engaging in widespread misleading billing practices across multiple properties. 



Requested Resolution : I respectfully request CFPB assistance in : Investigating this matter Enforcing the removal of this invalid collection from my credit report Ensuring the collection agency complies with debt validation requirements under FDCPA and FCRA Investigating XXXX  billing practices if a broader pattern of consumer harm is confirmed I am prepared to provide supporting documents, including : Email records with XXXX XXXX  Application history from the guarantor system Address history confirming I never lived at the property Screenshots showing no lease documents were ever sent or signed Public information confirming the property was not open in XX/XX/year> Thank you for your attention and support in helping resolve this matter. 

Sincerely,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation