Complain about a product or service

Property Management Specialists

Orlando

Tracy of Orlando writes (7/26/01):
My husband and I rented a property from this company and when we moved out in May 1999 they said we owed them money for repairs. We disputed the claim and asked to see the receipts and pictures of the "damage" they say we caused. None of this was ever shown to us and they never contacted us again regarding the charge.

Exhibits: Tracy's 6/12/98 letter complaining of the condition of the apartment prior to moving in. Tracy's 7/8/98 letter describing broken, non-functional and dirty items upon move-in. Property Management's 5/17/99 letter claiming dmages of more than $1600 after Tracy moved out. Tracy's 5/25/99 letter disputing the claim. Tracy's 8/30/99 letter objecting to PMS' reporting the disputed amount as bad debt.

Two months later it showed up on our credit file as a past due amount owed. We disputed that through Equifax and in October 1999 the claim was deleted from out credit file because they could not prove to Equifax we owed the money either. We never had any further contact with Property Management Specialists after this happened. Now, almost two years later, it has been replaced on my credit file again, this time as an individual account.

I cannot get anyone at Property Management Specialists to return my phone calls. I have tried NUMEROUS times to get through to them. I am having no luck with the credit agency because they work for P.M.S., and Equifax has also been extemely unhelpful (that is another complaint in itself). I just want proof or validation of why they feel we owe the money. I have several supporting documents I will be faxing regarding this matter. I do not feel we owe them any money. I want this off of my credit file and never to be replaced again. I also feel P.M.S. should be repremanded for fraudulent charges on my credit file.

We are trying to get a loan and are fighting with the bank now regarding these allegations. I have made stressful phone calls to Property Management Specialists, The collection agency (Rapid Recovery & Professional), The Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Fraud, Consumer Services and the Better Business Bureau. I have wasted numerous hours researching The Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Florida Statutes. This has been extremely stressful for a second time.

Disputes over damage deposits are about as common as fire ants in Florida. Usually, the tenant, being busy, fails to keep a written record of who did what and when. Tracy, on the other hand, has all the documentation to demonstrate that she contested the charge. Yet it is being reported as a bad debt. This is potentially actionable and Tracy should contact an experienced consumer attorney or, probably better yet, pay a visit to Small Claims Court.

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