I lived in Family Tree Apartments in Dallas, TX before I ended my lease suddenly due to an family matter and moved. I had spoken with the leasing office and they knew my forwarding address to send all correspondence too. Before I moved I told the office manager at Family tree to come by my apartment to do the walk through but she was always busy. So I moved my things, turned in my key and left.
Well, lo and behold the Apartment community overcharged me for final moveout charges. I called up and complained but it did no good. They immediately gave my account to ProCollect, Inc. Which is a collection agency in Dallas, TX.
Unknown to me at the time, ProCollect used my lease application to start calling and harrassing my elderly, out of state parents. My mom called me and stated some company kept calling her asking for me and hanging up. Over and over repeatedly. These calls happened all times of the day and night. Even into early morning. Finally, my mom had AT&T put a tracer on the phone and the calls were traced back to ProCollect.
I called ProCollect and asked them why were they harrassing my elderly parents out of state who had nothing to do with my apartment. They denied they ever did this although the tracer from AT&T showed their number and name. I asked for the calls to stop.
I filed a report with the Texas Attorney General and the ProCollect manager replied that they had never called although my mom had the phone records from AT&T which showed they did. They all lied. They were very rude.instead of working with a person their inexperienced reps resort to threatening people.
It was during this time that I had applied for another apartment. I let the Office Manager know that I had a disputed balance with a previous apartment I was trying to work out. I also let her know that the balance was with ProCollect, Inc. She stated for me to get a letter showing I agreed to a payment arrangement and she stated this was customary that Collection agencies provide these once a person enters into a payment arrangement.
When I called ProCollect, Inc. The agent seemed almost gleeful that I was trying to get another apartment and informed me that ProCollect does not issue any letters showing a payment arrangement has been set up. She stated they simply would not give it to me. I called back to the apartment community and they understood and rented me the apartment.
Later, I found out that ProCollect actually does issue letters showing a payment arrangement. They had lied. Not just about harrassing my parents but that issue as well.
My suggestion is if you deal with this company put tracers on your phone and if possible only communicate with them in writing. Like so many other collection agencies, their reps are inexperienced, poorly trained and unaware of the Fair Debt Collection rules and regulations. Also, don't hesitate to file a Texas Attorney General Complaint against them and one with the BBB as well.
If you are silent to their abuse they will continue to abuse you.
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