I was sued by an old landlord 3/98. At the time, a property management was in charge but I was sued by the property owner. The lawsuit in listed on my credit report in the public records section. Can the property management company also make a TL in the "negative accounts" section of my credit report regarding this judgement? If so, how long can the property management company try to collect on this account?
As I was checking into this situation further, I have noticed that the judgement is listed on Experian and Equifax as a public record with no collection account TLs in the rest of the credit report regarding it. TransUnion, on the other hand, does not have this judgement listed in the public records area (zero judgments on TU) but the property management has a TL dated 6 months after the judgement date. So the debt is actually only listed one time for each CRA. Can anyone provide me with any insight as to what is going on and how to proceed? The judgement amount is $1289 and the property managment company has a balance due of $1736. Also, can the property management company be considered an OC? I paid my rent to the management company but was sued by the property owner.
Sounds as if this judgment is still collectable. The judgment can be reported as a public record, and if the lessor was the property manager and not the property owner, then you may also owe the property manager per the lease. I do, however, believe that the inconsistency in the judgment amount and the collection amount might work in your favor. If the property owner sued you and won a judgment for $1289, then the property manager would be hard pressed to try and collect more, especially since the lower amount is "public record". And if the property manager thinks that they can simply revise their amount to be the same as the judgment, then you have duplication of accounts. One of them would have to be deleted. I'd dispute with the property manager and then with the CRAs.
"the inconsistency in the judgment amount and the collection amount might work in your favor. If the property owner sued you and won a judgment for $1289, then the property manager would be hard pressed to try and collect more, especially since the lower amount is "public record". And if the property manager thinks that they can simply revise their amount to be the same as the judgment, then you have duplication of accounts. One of them would have to be deleted." Would the property manager be considered a CA or an OC ( I stopped renting from him 2/98)? Also, perhaps the property manager is adding on interest and fees??? I would like the property manager's TL off my credit report, but on the other hand, I don't really want to wake a sleeping lion at the moment. I intend on paying this off, but since it is attached to a public record and will remain on my credit report for 1.5 years more, I am prioritizing other things first. I'll pay that off shortly before the 7 year mark.
