My former apartment complex has sent me to a collections agency to collect on move out charges I never knew existed.
I recently got a job in a new city and notified my apartment complex 47 days prior to the lease end date that I would be moving out, but at the time I did not have a forwarding address to provide. I was not present at the final inspection due to living out of town, but had contact with the complex on several different occasions after officially moving out and turning in my keys. When I signed the initial lease, upon running a credit check, the complex found that my credit had been tampered with. While I sorted that out, my mother had to sign in my place on the apartment application.
My lease ended on April 30, and a letter arrived from the collection agency on June 4th, stating that I had outstanding charges from the complex. I never received any notification and immediately called the complex, who referred me to the property management company. They told me they had sent me a final moveout statement, but I never received it. I was then told that since I hadn't left a forwarding address, it was my fault I never received the letter. However, my mother's address is still on my application, and has not changed. I have had my mail forwarded since March 26th and have never had any problems getting mail.
I am more than willing to pay the charges from the complex, however I am not willing to pay the collection agency, and I don't want anything on my credit report. I have since sent payment, only to have the payment sent back to me.
Am I in the wrong here??
I recently got a job in a new city and notified my apartment complex 47 days prior to the lease end date that I would be moving out, but at the time I did not have a forwarding address to provide. I was not present at the final inspection due to living out of town, but had contact with the complex on several different occasions after officially moving out and turning in my keys. When I signed the initial lease, upon running a credit check, the complex found that my credit had been tampered with. While I sorted that out, my mother had to sign in my place on the apartment application.
My lease ended on April 30, and a letter arrived from the collection agency on June 4th, stating that I had outstanding charges from the complex. I never received any notification and immediately called the complex, who referred me to the property management company. They told me they had sent me a final moveout statement, but I never received it. I was then told that since I hadn't left a forwarding address, it was my fault I never received the letter. However, my mother's address is still on my application, and has not changed. I have had my mail forwarded since March 26th and have never had any problems getting mail.
I am more than willing to pay the charges from the complex, however I am not willing to pay the collection agency, and I don't want anything on my credit report. I have since sent payment, only to have the payment sent back to me.
Am I in the wrong here??
