Payment arrangements on (unowed) debt before moving, or not?

[amyluvsrich]

What is the name of your state? Arizona

My fiance and I applied at a new apartment complex today because we may have to get out of where we are (LOTS of neighbor troubles, etc and management company not responding) and we want to know that we'd have a place to move to... we're still waiting for a final answer from the new apartments, but the last thing we heard was that I would have to make arrangements to repay a debt (that I don't feel I owe) to a previous apartment complex from 4 years ago... here's the story, as short as I can make it...

4 years ago I lived at (we'll call them) Lakeside Apartments... I had many problems with them including someone entering my apartment w/o permission, refusing to change the locks, and losing my rent twice and not accepting my proof of payment... finally I asked to be let out of the lease because of all the problems and I was told okay, write a letter and state my move out date and bring it back to the office... I did and was advised that's all there was to it... so I moved... a couple months later I received a collections notice for past due rent to Lakeside Apartments... I disputed it with collections because I was told I'd been released from the lease... I never heard anything further from anyone about it... Now, fast forward 4 years... apaprently Lakeside is listed on my credit report, and it's not favorable! Well, these new apartments won't accept me on the lease unless I show them I've made payment arrangements and have made at least one payment to the previous apartments...

Now my dilema... I was planning on disputing that on my credit report because I should never have owed them anything! Unfortunately I was stupid and trusting back then and didn't document things the way I should have, so I don't know how successful disputing would be, but I still want to try because I NEVER OWED THEM ANYTHING! But the problem is if I have to make arrangements to repay a debt that I never owed I wouldn't then be able to really dispute that would I? Since it would be seen as taking ownership, right?

 

[Ladynred]

If you never got anything from 'Lakeside' in writing, releasing you from the lease w/o owing anything, you're going to have a hard time proving you don't owe them any money.

Obviously, if you DON'T pay it, you're goint to have troubles renting at any commercial complex that checks credit. I think you have 2 choices - pay it and take the apt, or look somewhere else for a place to live. Look for PRIVATE rentals, individuals renting an apt or house. You usually get more room for your $$ from a private rental anyway.

If you decide to pay, you might still be able to dispute it off your reports.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

amyluvsrich - - has Rich been reading your posts to this site?

I hope not. With all the problems, and situations, and more problems you have, I sure hope he doesn't read your posts. If I were him, and after reading all the crap you get yourself into, I'd be running as fast as I could.

You're an accident just waiting to happen.

I'm thinking of giving you your own personal forum category called, "the amyluvsrich forum."

IAAL

 

[amyluvsrich]

My response:

amyluvsrich - - has Rich been reading your posts to this site?

I hope not. With all the problems, and situations, and more problems you have, I sure hope he doesn't read your posts. If I were him, and after reading all the crap you get yourself into, I'd be running as fast as I could.

You're an accident just waiting to happen.

I'm thinking of giving you your own personal forum category called, "the amyluvsrich forum."

IAAL

Didn't your mother ever teach you that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all???
Please do not respond to me any longer... I don't want to hear it... you're a waste of my time.

If you never got anything from 'Lakeside' in writing, releasing you from the lease w/o owing anything, you're going to have a hard time proving you don't owe them any money.

Obviously, if you DON'T pay it, you're goint to have troubles renting at any commercial complex that checks credit. I think you have 2 choices - pay it and take the apt, or look somewhere else for a place to live. Look for PRIVATE rentals, individuals renting an apt or house. You usually get more room for your $$ from a private rental anyway.

If you decide to pay, you might still be able to dispute it off your reports.

Yeah, I was too trusting and didn't keep records... I believed them when they said all I ahd to do was give them a letter... silly me ~sighs~
I did find out a little more information... Lakeside no longer exsists, it's under a different name and management company... I was able to get from them the name of the collection agency that would have been given the account back then... of course they're not open on the weekends though... the woman I spoke with that gave me the phone number said she was under the impression that this particualr collection agency didn't keep records more than a couple years though, in which case they wouldn't even have my information... if no one has record of this (supposed) debt then I would think it would be hard to make payment arrangements... oh well, we'll have to see what happens on Monday when I call them.
Thanks for your help!

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

amyluvsrich

"Didn't your mother ever teach you that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all???
Please do not respond to me any longer... I don't want to hear it... you're a waste of my time."

==============================================

My response:

Nope. Mother taught me how to take care of myself, and not get into trouble. She taught me how to read and understand contracts, live with my neighbors, and not file bankruptcy. She was one smart cookie!

I guess saying "something nice" was a lesson I missed. But, she did teach me to say what was on my mind - - whether it hurt someone's feelings or not. If it needs to be said, it's worth saying.

Every time you write to this site, I always get a chuckle. I say to myself, "Now what trouble has Amy gotten into today?"

Oh, and for what it's worth, I'll keep responding to your posts.

You're a funny lady!

IAAL

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Does anyone even have a "Right" answer for you?


Amy, From the first time you posted I and many saw that you have a need to complain and feel the world is screwing you over. You speak well, you are smart and educated so it seems, but you do not have social skills what so ever.

This is a free legal advice forum, you are correct, but you have taken it over with every single problem you may have.

There are lawyers who will answer, but the responses that you are getting at this point is that you are driving every one nuts.

You have alot of issues going on, and I noticed you did get help with some, but it really does appear you are now relying on this site to solve every day issues that you have.

I don't mean to affend you, as you seem sincere, but it is time to cut the cord or you will start getting nothing but negative attention.

 

[Ladynred]

If "Lakeside" is gone and there's a new management company, chances are pretty good they don't have the old records either. If the collector doesn't have any records either, even better.

You can try disputing it with the bureaus as 'not mine' and see what happens. If they try to contact whoever reported it and they either don't have records or don't exist, the bureaus MUST remove the entry.

Rather than just saying 'not mine' when you dispute, say something like "I have no recollection of any such debt".

 

[amyluvsrich]

Does anyone even have a "Right" answer for you?


Amy, From the first time you posted I and many saw that you have a need to complain and feel the world is screwing you over. You speak well, you are smart and educated so it seems, but you do not have social skills what so ever.

This is a free legal advice forum, you are correct, but you have taken it over with every single problem you may have.

There are lawyers who will answer, but the responses that you are getting at this point is that you are driving every one nuts.

You have alot of issues going on, and I noticed you did get help with some, but it really does appear you are now relying on this site to solve every day issues that you have.

I don't mean to affend you, as you seem sincere, but it is time to cut the cord or you will start getting nothing but negative attention.

I'm sorry, I really hadn't realized there was a 2 question maximum... as a popular TV comercial says "Life comes at you fast" so yes, sometimes a person may have more than one issue going on in their lives at a time... I simply would like to get everything cleared up at once so I can continue on in my life without these things hanging over my head.

I'm sorry if some people here are getting tired of my questions, and I never once tried to insist everyone answer me... seriously, if someone is tired of reading what I write then why not just skip over my post and ignore it?

I'm not relying on this site to help resolve everyday issues... only situation where I would prefer to know the legal side of things before proceeding... I got myself into some of these problems by not caring about what I should legally do, and I don't want to do that anymore... I'm here to educate myself and try to fix my mistakes from the past... I'm not here to try and annoy anyone, but I'm also not planning on just running away with my tail between my legs either because some bullies want to call me names... I had enough of that in elementary school.

If "Lakeside" is gone and there's a new management company, chances are pretty good they don't have the old records either. If the collector doesn't have any records either, even better.

You can try disputing it with the bureaus as 'not mine' and see what happens. If they try to contact whoever reported it and they either don't have records or don't exist, the bureaus MUST remove the entry.

Rather than just saying 'not mine' when you dispute, say something like "I have no recollection of any such debt".

Thank you... I like the wording you suggested when disputing... I can see how that would be better received. I appreciate the fact that you've taken the time to give me advice on this situation. ~smiles~