Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
Type 4 years ago we moved out of an apartment when our lease was up. We had lived in the apartment for 3 years. Upon moving in we paid a $1800 deposit on top of first months rent. Now we are trying to rent another apartment and there is a collection on our credit saying we owe that apartment complex $1500. I called the law office in charge of collecting the debt and he said he was going to call and make a settlement offer. They directed him to a managment company that runs the apartments now. That managment company did not run those apartments when we lived there. I called the apartment complex and they said we did not owe them any money in fact if I brought them cash they could not take it. So my question is..If the company listed on my credit report says I do not owe them the money can I dispute it on my report?
The reason I am asking is the apartment building we are trying to move into will not rent to us until it is either paid in full or deleted from our credit report.
1 Answer from Attorneys
You should immediately dispute the alleged debt with all three credit reporting agencies: Transunion, Equifax and Experian. This can be done online.
In the meantime, you should request a letter from the management company stating that your account with them is paid in full and further stating that they will correct the reports they made to the credit reporting agencies. This letter might satisfy your immediate need to satisfy the requirements of the management of the apartment building you are hoping to move to. If the management company of the former apartment complex seems reluctant to do this, you might casually mention their legal liability under federal law for making a false credit report.
Finally, you should write a letter to the law office stating that the management company told you that you owe nothing. This will trigger certain obligations on the part of the law office to investigate.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
