Keystone Management Company, Inc.

When the tenant moved out,account ledger was paid in full. Months later, we were billed over $2,000 (in dispute), now on my credit report.I cosigned on a lease in the [redacted] complex, Kinston, NC for [redacted]. I was not happy with the condition of the apartment when we moved the tenant to NC. The dumpster is located directly outside the apt; the front window was broken out and we had to walk through trash to get to the door as we took furniture into the place. The tenant paid late over the term of the lease, and was served eviction notice. However, the lease ledger was paid in full as of the date the tenant vacated per the eviction notice.Months later, we received a bill for over $2,000 in rent and fees added 3 months after the tenant vacated the premises. It is understood that the only damage to the apt was that it was dirty. They kept $450 in deposits which should have been enough to clean the "efficiency" apt which was a tiny room and a bathroom. I offered to pay an additional $500 to cover any additional costs to clean the apt and cover court costs for eviction notice. I received no response from my offer. Keystone has refused to negotiate whatsoever and offer a reasonable settlement.As of December 2015, they have listed over $1,400 in collections on my credit report. My credit report was perfect before this happened. It has prevented me from obtaining credit, from obtaining a new job, affecting our insurance premiums and more. We just sold our home and applied for an apartment and this collection notice is preventing me from obtaining approval for an apartment for myself. What Keystone is doing is extortion. They have ruined my credit because I did not pay their manufactured debt that is nothing but false expenses made up to extort former tenants. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer to remove the collection notice placed on my credit report sometime between Dec 2015-March 2016, including a reasonable settlement with Keystone Management Company.Regards,[redacted]Desired SettlementWe respectfully request the collection notice to be removed from my credit report and a reasonable settlement with Keystone Management Company.Business Response In response to Ms.[redacted]'s claims. She is stating that the apartment was not in an acceptable condition when they took it back in 2012 and that the windows were broken out. That claim regarding the window and the claim that the apartment not being in an acceptable condition is false , this claim only came up when she was sent a bill. Ms.[redacted] in a letter dated 4/17/15 states that she is aware that the apartment was left dirty and that was an understatement. They apartment was left in an unacceptable condition with cat urine and cat feces as well as other trash and debris strewn about the apartment, causing Keystone to have to replace both the vinyl and the carpet and padding. They were charged the hauling fee because as Ms.[redacted] put in her letter of March 19, 2015 "charging $100.00 to carry trash about 30 feet to the dumpster in unreasonable". The trash that was left included a couch, boxes, bags of trash, a table, a suit case etc. When tenants sign their lease they also sign a "Cleaning Checklist Upon Moving Out of An Apartment" which is instructions on what has to be done to the apartment prior to move-out and the minimum charges if they fail to do them. This check list was signed by both Ms.[redacted] and her son Mr. [redacted]. Ms.[redacted] has also complain about the water and sewer bill, which was never paid by them but Page 2 of their signed lease it states that the "Tenant will be responsible for the following utilities...water and sewer electric, telephone and cable are all checked off indicating that they are the tenant's responsibility. Ms.[redacted] and Mr. [redacted] were also charged a fee for not signing their lease, which was delivered to Mr. [redacted] stating that if the lease was not returned there was a $100.00 month to month fee and Mr. [redacted]'s monthly cat fee. We have sent letters back and forth including sending Ms.[redacted] a detailed letter that included a copy of the tenant ledger with corresponding paperwork and pictures of the apartment showing the condition that it was left I, as Ms.[redacted] did not herself see the condition of the apartment when Mr. [redacted] vacated the premises, indicating why certain things were charged to Mr. [redacted]'s account as Ms.[redacted] was a co-signor is also responsible for said charges.Consumer Response Keystone has not dealt with us in good faith and has been untruthful in the statement they sent the Revdex.com about the condition of the apartment when we moved the tenant into the one room smelly place. I had many conversations with them, especially during the first months of the lease about the condition of the building and the apartment. The apartment was in livable condition, but the floors were worn. The front window was broken and the grounds were full of trash. These came up many times in my discussions with the management during the first months of the lease. Why the company is now saying that is untrue, I do not understand. Perhaps the person I spoke with so many times is no longer employed by Keystone? I had very serious concerns from the first day, walking through broken glass and garbage to get to the door of the apartment. Most of my initial contact with Keystone at that time was by calling since they would not respond to my emails. The floors were in a very used condition and after 2 years of use, it is understandable that the floors would need work. To put that cost on our bill is unacceptable. The floor replacement is normal wear and we should not be charged. The tenant was told (as shown by no charges listed on the ledger until March of 2015, months after the tenant had vacated the premises) that the management would include the water and sewer charges to be included in the rent because of problems with the service (frozen pipes, etc.). Also, it is not reasonable to think that the charges would be as high as the bill presented for one person in a one room apartment. These charges are obviously for a different apartment in that building and incorrectly listed for this tenant. I was not presented with any bill or pending charges from Keystone until March 2015, months after the tenant had vacated the premises. None of the charges have been validated except that we agree that the apartment was not clean and items were left because the tenant was evicted and did not have the opportunity to remove all of the items. There was no argument that the management company should keep the $450 in deposits for cleaning.Is it legal for Keystone to manufacture whatever charges it wants after a tenant is evicted (over $2,000 in the initial bill)? This is predatory business practices at best. The tenant owed absolutely no charges according to the ledger as of 11/22/2014. Charges were manufactured and a bill was presented to me for over $2,000 for the 1 1/2 months between the time after the lease was not renewed (November 1) and when they were evicted (December 15). It was only after months of requests that they agreed not to charge 3 months rent after the eviction! The extra fees that they say we were charged for not signing a new lease were never presented to me, nor was I sent a new lease to sign. Those charges were made up when a bill was created months later. I understood, as every tenant, that the lease would continue to be paid month-to-month until notice is given by the tenant or management. The notice we received was an eviction notice, event though according to the ledger, the tenant was paid in full as of November 2014. The tenant complied with the eviction notice as requested and left the premises as of 12/15/14. Requiring a tenant to pay charges, other than the normal, reasonable charges of cleaning the apartment after evicting a tenant would not happen if dealing with a legitimate respectable management company. I have offered in good faith to pay $500 in addition to the $450 in deposits for any cleaning or other bills remaining for this one bedroom apartment. My good faith offer was met with no response. Because I have refused to pay the entire bill (most of which is false and created months after this lease was expired), this company has placed a collection notice on my credit report that is making it impossible for me to purchase a home for myself or even to rent a place. I have always had excellent credit with no negative items whatsoever and everything paid on time. This company has refused to negotiate or to settle this in any reasonable manner. To hold my credit hostage for bills that were completely manufactured is extortion.I would appreciate any assistance that the Revdex.com can give to settle this matter and have the collections notice removed so I can regain my life with excellent credit, which I earned by paying all the legitimate bills I owed on time, before this situation and Keystone with its predatory business practices took it all away.Regards, [redacted]