Consumer complaint received 2026-06-16 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I submitted a formal written notice of lease termination ( via email ) to the XXXX at XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX and notified the apartment complex that I would be moving out on XX/XX/XXXX due to shipping out for basic training. Per the leasing office, I also submitted a copy of a Non- Renewal of Lease via email on XX/XX/XXXX. In late XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notice of charges for an early lease termination from the XXXX of XXXX XXXX .Upon receipt of receiving notice of the alleged charges and early lease termination fees I submitted a copy of my military orders ( via email ) on XX/XX/XXXX and noted that per the Service Members Civil Relief Act, I was only obligated to submit 30 days notice of an early lease termination instead of the standard 60 days. From May 2025-June 2026 I attempted to contact the leasing office ( via email ) on three separate dates to dispute and resolve the charges, however to date I received no response. However, my account was sent to a debt collections agency ( FCO or Fair Collections XXXX ) on or around XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I reached out directly to the FCO ( via email ) to dispute the charges and requested legal validation of the charges per the Service Members Civil Relief Act or SCRA. In this email, I also included copies of the original lease agreement citing SCRA protections, screenshots of the email noting the 30 day early-lease termination notice sent to the apartment complex, a copy ( screenshot ) of the military orders submitted to the apartment complex, and a copy of ongoing outreach attempts to resolve the matter directly with the apartment complex. On XX/XX/XXXX, I was advised that FCO opened up a investigation with the apartment complex ( XXXX of XXXX XXXX ) regarding the dispute. On XX/XX/XXXX I received written notice via email that the investigation was concluded, the account was closed, and the apartment complex had agreed to accept a settlement of {$1100.00} ( amount previously paid on the account from XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ). However, the response provided by the Debt Collection Agency and the Apartment Complex does not address the provisions set forth by the Service Members Civil Relief Act. However, I do believe that the early lease termination charges filed by the apartment complex are a direct violation of the Service Members Civil Relief Act. Additionally, this account was reported directly to all three credit report agencies and is currently affecting my ability to secure another apartment. I attempted to contact the debt collection agency on XX/XX/XXXX citing the miss-application of the SCRA, and I was advised that the orders provided were incomplete and not legible. However, the screenshots provided directly to the debt collections agency included the entirety of the Military orders and included a clear visual of the shipment dates for reporting to basic training.

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