collections

[jhogan333]

I apologize for the length...

I recently received a phone call from a collection agency claiming that I owed my previous property management a substantial amount of money due to damages that had been done to my apartment. I called my previous property management and was informed that a letter had been sent to my parents home not the forwarding address that I gave them (I am a college student and no longer live with my parents) stating that I had caused a significant amount of damage to both the room that I leased and the common area of the apartment (each room was individually leased). However when I asked about the damages it became apparent that I was being charged for my roommates room (bedroom b). When I first moved in I was given my roommates assigned room because they did not have mine prepared and she wouldn't be moving in for another two weeks. I assumed they would have changed this on the lease and was not aware that I was still on the lease for the other room . When I moved in I filled out an inspection sheet for bedroom A which is what I lived in for the duration of the lease. However they are saying that I am still legally responsible for the other room and now refuse to answer my phone calls. They have already sent it to collections and I have received several threatening phone calls from the collection agency. Is there anything that I can do?

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

You could consider paying this and then turning around and suing the former roommate for these charges.

Do you have documentation of the inspection sheet done at move out for Bedroom A? That could be used in court to prove that's the bedroom you used during the rental period.

Gail

 

[jhogan333]

I do not have the final inspection sheet because I was unable to do the final walk through. I've attempted several times to contact my previous landlord regarding obtaining these forms but I have yet to receive a phone call back. Can I legally obtain them if I go to them in person? Also because the collection agency initially contacted me on the 2nd and i'm still within the 30 days can I still dispute it via a certified letter? Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Yes; you can do both; dispute this claim for damages and attempt to get a copy of the inspection sheet.

Gail

 

[ndragon]

Definitely write a letter. Don't rely on having them call you back. A phone call is much harder to submit as evidence in a court case than a letter you sent to them disputing their action.
Good luck.
-Nick