I just found and about this site and I 'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I applied for an apartment and had 72hrs to change my mind. Within the 72 hours I changed my mind gave the leasing office a notice saying so and asked for my security deposit back. They said they could not give it back so I stopped payment on the check. This was 2 years ago and I never thought about again but now they have reported it to a collection agency saying that I owe them #365.00. I called the apartment complex and they said that $65.00 of the money I paid them was non refundable so I owed them $65.00. (Don't know why they reported that I owed them $365.00 when I only owed them $65.00) I went and paid them the sixty five dollars and asked them to send a letter to the collection agency stating that the account was paid in full. The collection agency is still reporting that I owe $215. Everytime I call and tell them that I dispute that amount, they don't believe me and eventually the person hangs up the phone in my face. I have disputed it with Equifax and they always verify that I owe the amount. My report does not even state that the amount is in dispute. I have a letter from the apartment complex saying that the debt is satisfied and that they have asked the collection agency to update their files. My question is what can I do to make the CA update the account? Also, what can I do about apartment complex lying to the collection agency about the money that I actually owed? I have all documents from the complex that stated that the $300.00 was refundable if I cancelled withing 72 hours. Any help will be appreciated!
I would send a validation letter to the collection agency. Search under "Sample Letters" to find a good one. lb
FILE A SUIT againt them for $1,215...then you can pay the $215 they "THINK" you owe them...and still "POCKET" $1,000
Thanks for the replies! The apartment complex who would be the original creditor has sent a letter saying that I don't owe them any money. The collection agency will not update that on my CR though. Every time I dispute it through equifax, it come back verified even thought I have a letter from the original creditor say the debt has been satisfied.
Ok, I've looked throught the sample letters but I'm not sure what type of letter to send. Could someone please help me! I have been dealing with this collection agency for almost a year now and I'm tried of them and want to sue them badly!! Do I send them a validation letter or do I send them a dispute letter? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do so I can sue them later if they continue reporting inaccurate information. Should I also send a letter to the orignal creditor for saying that I owe $365.00 when it fact I only owed $65.00? Can I sue them too?
Have you tried the FCRA? Section 623? Get the Attorney General involved. Get the Better Business Bureau involved. Some people say that they have had no luck going this route, but other people seem to have had it work for them. I personally am sending off letters to the Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau, and the agency that licenses the CA in my state, because of this one particular CA. At least I am establishing a huge paper trail. So far I have 2 CRRR, 2 faxes, and after this weekend I will have 3 more letters. I can't wait until I go before the judge on this one. Of course, I have original receipts and endorsed checks for the correct amount as opposed to the amount they are showing. I just want to show the judge that I really *didn't* want to go to court... "Your honor, I tried everything... it's obvious that they only way they will listen is to be filed against in court..."
Send the CA a validation letter No If you send them a letter saying it is 65 bucks you just confessed that the bill is yours and validated it for the CA. You have to watch you don't hang yourself.
