Collection agency- Bring it on?

[alienlovechild 75]

Here's the obvious question: have you contacted your old property manager to see what's up?

They don't answer the phone. It's just an answering machine and they don't return calls even when there's someone in the office. I wasn't happy to see someone sitting there ignoring the phone. We went over this when we wanted our deposit back. We went there in person and it took about month to get our security deposit back. They weren't happy when I contacted their main office earlier about not getting notice when we gave a date to vacate. Manager was pretty pissed about that one. I didn't sign another form verify the date to vacate so we paid another month for an empty apartment.

The idiots mailed it our check to our old address despite having our forwarding address and phone number.

I already informed the collection agency in less than 30 days that the apartment management waived their rights by returning my deposit and all charges were after we had already moved out. They also have no documented attempt to call or send certified mail (or any mail) for several months so no notification. I'm going to copy the charges and highlight dubious items. They must send a detailed explanation for their accounting items or it's a frivilous debt.

[natty bumppo 297]

Take them to small claims court. if you have a case you can reverse the judgment. If you win, you can charge them for lost wages and inconvenience.

drop a freakin dime and call the old place .... be nice and get the story. make sure it isn't a scam first ...

[Wyld Blu 35]

So you did advise him to pay it even if he doesn't owe it.

I advised him to not ignore it. However, just my opinion again, but it comes down to if it is worth his time and/or money to go to court based only on principle. For some people, no matter what the cost, it IS worth it based completely on principle, so rock on if that is the case. For me, I prefer to cut my losses and put it behind me. If you win in court, sure you could recoup your court costs, however, if you lose, you have lost more than the original debt. Choice is his.

-Blu-

Edited January 27, 2010 by Wyld Blu

[Ali G. 37]

IF you had read the whole thing...you would have SEEN that I suggested he take them to small claims court if he felt he didn't owe it, but to not just ignore it. Try reading THE WHOLE POST before posting nasty remarks. DUH.

-Blu-

This scary-reptile has a knack for jumping to conclusion, reading what he wants to read and talking out of the buttocks.

[natty bumppo 297]

This scary-reptile has a knack for jumping to conclusion, reading what he wants to read and talking out of the buttocks.

so .. will the op call the old place and get the story?

the plot thickens ....

[MrsCat 6]

Maybe I am more cruel, but if I didn't owe the money, I'd let them chase me for it. Wait until the statute of limitations passes on the debt. Chances are they are going to write it off anyways. Its not worth chasing such a small amount of money.

But if you're not interested in the headaches of going to court, or having collection agency calls, just pay the damn thing.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I'm currently dealing with a collection agency and I'm contemplating my next move.

Here's the deal. We moved out of our apartment in September and paid an additional month's rent ($705.10 for October) for not giving 60 days notice. We finally got part of the security deposit back minus the water bill in December. The apartment complex never tried to contact us.

In January, we got a letter from a collection agency claiming we owed $135.57. There's no itemized list of charges just this stuff:

10/2 Move out refund reversed $62.25

10/2 Prog Gen Reverses $73.32

Other oddball items

10/2 Apartment rent ($0.36)

10/2 Security deposit refund $1.07

If I don't pay up on this charges, what's the worst that can happen as I already live in a house and can buy a car without a car loan?

They may whack you on the wee wee.

[slim 1,533]

Just do like I do - rip it up and throw it in the garbage. Eventually they stop sending them, calling, etc.

[tom&tata 2]

worst thing is to ignore. You can ask for validation by mail to them - it is their job to prove that you owe the money. Browse around creditboards.com for sample of validation letter. You need to send the validation request by mail - certified with return receipt.

One sample is below. Not sure if you can see the sample without joining.

http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18802

[Krikit 1,165]

Post containing TOS violation has been removed.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This scary-reptile has a knack for jumping to conclusion, reading what he wants to read and talking out of the buttocks.

Why don't you read the last paragraph of the post I was referring to?

[*JG* 2]

This is what I read:

On the other hand, if you truly feel like you don't owe it, take them to small claims court. Don't just ignore it. Most likely they WILL write it off as a bad debt, but that will take years to come off your credit reports. My opinion is that it isn't worth it for that little amount of money.

I agree

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm currently dealing with a collection agency and I'm contemplating my next move.

Here's the deal. We moved out of our apartment in September and paid an additional month's rent ($705.10 for October) for not giving 60 days notice. We finally got part of the security deposit back minus the water bill in December. The apartment complex never tried to contact us.

In January, we got a letter from a collection agency claiming we owed $135.57. There's no itemized list of charges just this stuff:

10/2 Move out refund reversed $62.25

10/2 Prog Gen Reverses $73.32

Other oddball items

10/2 Apartment rent ($0.36)

10/2 Security deposit refund $1.07

If I don't pay up on this charges, what's the worst that can happen as I already live in a house and can buy a car without a car loan?

Tell them not to contact you again in any way. They will have to kick back the case to the owner and he can sue you for the $135. Fat chance. If your credit is otherqwise good, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Wyld Blu 35]

Tell them not to contact you again in any way. They will have to kick back the case to the owner and he can sue you for the $135. Fat chance. If your credit is otherqwise good, I wouldn't worry about it.

This is true, if you inform the collection agency to not contact you (sometimes required in writing), they may not contact you again. My only concern is that if they report to a credit agency on the bad debts, your credit COULD get dinged. If this is the only ding on your report, it is most likely not a big deal, but you never know.

[alienlovechild 75]

This is true, if you inform the collection agency to not contact you (sometimes required in writing), they may not contact you again. My only concern is that if they report to a credit agency on the bad debts, your credit COULD get dinged. If this is the only ding on your report, it is most likely not a big deal, but you never know.

This is the only potential "ding" on my credit report ever. I've never been reported to a collection agency before as I said before, I won't need any loans for the foreseeable future.

I going to send my second reply that their "evidence" of my debt is baseless complete with a numbered/highlighted dissection of the delinuent tenant report. The burden is on them to prove their case not on my me to prove my innocence.

Soon I'm going to contact the BBB about the apartment complex's practices and stick it them on the apartment rating websites. May not do much as they already have an "F" rating with the BBB and their reviews have dropped on the apartment review websites.

The 30 year record high of rental vacancies has driven apartment managers to stick it to outgoing tenants and kiss up to prospective and current tenants.