Consumer complaint received 2026-01-18 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc.
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute the charges assessed to my roommate and me following the termination of our lease, specifically those reflecting damages that, in actuality, fall under normal wear and tear as defined by North Carolina landlord-tenant law. 

The Residential Agreement Act ( NC General Statute 42-38 to 49 ) outlines the tenant 's duties, stating that tenants are responsible for damage to the unit unless said dwelling damages, defacement, or removal was due to ordinary wear and tear, acts of the landlord or his agents, defective products supplied or repairs authorized by the landlord, acts of third parties not invitees of the tenant, or natural forces. This means landlords can not hold tenants liable for deterioration that naturally occurs over time through normal use, regardless of whether a security deposit was collected. Examples of wear and tear include faded paint, minor scuffs on walls, worn carpet from typical use, or other deterioration resulting from the tenants ordinary, lawful use of the property over time. 

I have reviewed the itemized list of charges and maintain that the listed items including, but not limited to, light wall marks, worn countertops from general use, and slight discoloration of paint are routine and expected conditions that do not constitute tenant damage under the law. Additionally, work order # XXXX was submitted prior to lease termination and was not addressed, making the blind replacement charge disputable. It should also be noted that late move-out fees were charged despite no prior notification of a required move-out time. The property was vacated within regular office hours and on the lease termination date. The keys were promptly returned to an agent in the office during business hours.

It is also worth noting that no security deposit was collected from us at the start of the lease. Regardless, this does not relieve your organization of the obligation to comply with the law regarding what may or may not be charged to a former tenant. You may not assign arbitrary or excessive costs for conditions that would have reasonably occurred during the course of a standard tenancy.

Also, our billings were swapped, meaning Trinity 's charges for her room were billed to me and vice versa. The apartment complex confirmed that they made a mistake in our billings, yet it was never changed. 

We hereby request that these charges be immediately rescinded and that no further collection attempts be made. If this matter is not resolved promptly and the unlawful charges are not removed, we are prepared to pursue any and all available legal remedies, including filing a complaint with the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office and taking further legal action as warranted.

Please confirm in writing that the charges have been removed and that no outstanding balance remains on XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX account.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation