There are many laws in place to help consumers. I am currently having the same problems you are having with Vanderbilt. Our account was bought from Associates Housing. My advice is to learn as much as you can about the laws. Much of the research can be done on the internet.
I dont think i can post a web address on here but do an internet search of the "Federal Trade Commission" and "The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act" (RESPA). It is a lot of reading but well worth it to become knowledgable about your rights as a consumer.
Keep everything you do in writing, keep the dates, names, and times you talk to people. If you write a letter, send it via certified mail. KEEP EVERYTHING!
As I said, I am having the same problem with these people. They are charging me an outrageous amount for force place insurance and they are all of a sudden charging me for taxes that I have paid out of my pocket for the last six years. I sent them a letter disputing the charges (both certified and regular mail, I received the return receipt from the certified letter so I know for a fact they received it and therefore they can't dispute that issue).
According to the RESPA they are required to send me a written notice acknowledging the inquiry within 20 business days and within 60 business days they are required to either correct the account or determine that it is accurate (and send written notice of the action they took and why). Along with this letter I sent copies of all my tax receipts that show I had paid all the taxes along with a signed, notorized affidavit from the Collector of Revenue stating that I personally paid the taxes on my home. (They may argue with me, but I dont believe they will argue with the County Collector).
I also informed them that any correspondence regarding this dispute, other than general questions, needs to be in writing. It has not quite been 20 business days since they received the inquiry but believe me I am counting the days.
If you dispute any amount that you owe, I suggest you make your dispute in writing via certified mail and let them know that it is a "qualified written request under Secion 6 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)". But I recommend you read up on this Act before you write the letter. I will post again after I find out what they are going to do about it.
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