Seeking the advice of clutchfans smarter than I.. Moved out of an apartment complex in August of 08. Left a permanent fwd address, and contact number. Last month I received a call from a collections agency saying I owed 116 dollars for an unpaid electricity balance from that apartment. I called the apartment complex and they said it was actually for water/trash and a 60 dollar clean up charge. here are my issues: 1. I am just now hearing about this. (they claim it was sent to collections 60 days after I moved out) 2. The documentation the apartment complex faxed me was a sheet of paper that laid out the charges(looks like a word document they put together real quick) 3. I left that apartment spotless, so when I asked for a list of things they had to do I was told all they have is the charge and that this was under the old property manager. So they have no further detail. 4. Seriously? 116 dollars. What should I do here guys? Would something like this really hurt my credit if I just told them to go to hell? Seems like their "documentation" is a little fishy. Any ideas as to how to fix this issue. I'm thinking about just paying it, but to be honest the whole thing just pisses me off. I have never been sent to collections on anything, and I get this. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!
I know it sucks, but I would just pay it. In the long run, $116 is a lot less than what something like this could snowball into.
Did you pay a deposit when you moved in that didn't count toward rent? If so, they should take the $116 out of your original deposit and send you the rest as a refund. That's how most deposits work anyway, unless it was specified as non-refundable. They probably hired a service to give it a detailed cleaning, shampoo carpets, etc. and are charging you for it. It might have been written that way in your lease, who knows. But $116 is probably not worth the hassle.
I would pay it. You don't want something like this lingering over you for the next 7 years. Bite the bullet, pay it, and move on. Going to collections can really hurt your credit, for a very long time. You could try calling the complex and make a deal with them (get it in writing). Say that since they have no proof of what was done and no documents you signed (I assume), that you are not liable, but you are willing to split the amount with them to end it. If they say no, then, unfortunately, I would just pay it. Pugs
You can always dispute the claim. Do you have a copy of any lease/rent documents from the time you first moved into that location? I'd look over them carefully if you do and see if anything that others have mentioned is listed within those documents. If so, I would find a way to pay the $116. Are you in a position where you can just pay it off? You might want to check statute if limitations on something like this in your area. I don't figure the amount of time has passed for something like this but then again you never know.
I would ask them first to provide you with a statement, in writing, that upon payment all debts are settled and will not be reported to your credit report. Then follow up for a receipt of the payment if they don't send you one.
If you don't seem to be making any progress with anyone, I would probably just pay it. It will go off your credit report after seven years, but that's kind of a long time. I had something similar happen to me with a medical bill. The careless secretary at the hospital transcribed my address wrong and I never received the bill. I went ahead and just paid the stupid collection agency, and then afterward contacted two of the credit bureaus to dispute it. Whatever you do, don't even bother reasoning with the collection agency because they don't give a ****. The first dispute I submitted through the Internet and they didn't give a good option for indicating "never notified of bill," so they probably just tried to dispute that the charge was even valid (which it was). It ended up getting rejected. The second credit bureau I actually called them directly and simply said they never sent me a bill. 30 days later I got an envelope saying they removed it from my credit report. I plan to go back and (re-)call the other two credit bureaus and see what happens.
^ What some have said is right on the money. Too bad you can't deny or prove otherwise. It makes no difference whether you're hearing about it now or two years from now. You owe them money you can either dispute in a long fight or avoid losing lots of time by just paying it. You can't prove they put it together real quickly and it wouldn't matter if a kid wrote it or if a lawyer wrote it on Word or Notepad, it's just a detail of charges. You'd want me to pay you back 1, 100, or 1000 dollars if I were any other business, I hope. Don't sweat the small stuff, brother. At what point will you stop asking "Seriously?" about a debt... $117, $120, or $200? Pay the money. Again, it doesn't matter how "fishy" it is. Be more honest than them and get rid of the problem quickly before it escalates. Follow the other peeps' (mostly macalu's, Lil Pun's, and pugsly's advice. Just between us ClutchFans, your arguments come across as weak in a business-like environment. I've used them before and failed. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
I would not pay. If they are charging for clean-up and you think you left the place spotless, than the charge is bull**** and should not be paid. Is the trash/water claim legitimate? The collection agency will harass you with phone calls and they will eventually ping your credit. Big deal. Don't pay if it's not legit. I think you'll survive a little bad report on your credit. When it comes through, get a copy of your credit report and challenge the charge they put there. In the meantime, harass the apartment management to substantiate their claim or else drop the claim. Sure, paying it would probably be easier, but there's a principle at stake here. Why should you pay a debt you don't have? I'm actually doing the same thing right now with a rental car company that wants me to file a claim with my insurance company for 'discovered damage' that I did not cause. The insurance company would pay, but I will not file a claim because it's not legit. I contacted my insurance company to tell them such a claim would be fraudulent; I told the rental car company the same; and I'll be damned before they ever get a nickel for it, from me or my insurance company.
Concur with not paying until you get proof they own your debt. Still relevant. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?p=3561949&highlight=verification#post3561949
Check your lease if you have it. If you are worried about your credit score, the collections agency will usually settle for an amount. You can easily settle for 50% of the "debt"
wikipedia is your friend here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act#Prohibited_conduct
Don't forget that $119.73 you owe me. I'd like to avoid resorting to legal measures and would accept $100 to call it even. You can email me through the board.
Don't pay it. When we ALL have bad credit ... what are they going to do? **** credit. It's a method that more powerful people use to bully you.
I got sent to collections over a $28 dollar debt to Blockbuster for late fees that I didn't want to pay.
I got a letter from Blockbuster several years ago stating I was going to be sent to collections for a $7 late fee. I paid it and simply chose not to give them anymore of my business. I wasn't surprised at all when the stories about how they are failing started to come out a few years ago.
You should have shorted 7$ worth of BBE stock , which was trading around that level in 2005. You would have come out even.
