Q: What can a debt collection agency due? How can I get out of it?
So summer 2020 I signed a lease for a college apt. I decided it was a better financial decision for me not to move in and the apartment company refused to cancel the lease since it was a legal document. However I told them weeks before move in me, nor my co applicant (my mom) could afford it. I also lied on my application since my mom made too little and they said they could not give me a lease for that. So I talked to the lady from the complex saying if I could change that and she said sure. Which I told her I was just gonna make up a random amount about her income. Now in June 2021 after my debt was passes around from another collection agency to this one even though they said it was closed they want me to pay $4425 by July 21. My mom cannot afford that and I cannot afford that if I wanna keep going to college. We do not have any expendable money. What can I do? They looked on the rental app. and said my mom makes enough to pay that amount, but I lied about that so... what can I do?
A: The landlord has an obligation to try to find a new tenant, and you're not liable after they do. (It's not clear to me what the $4425 represents.) If you owe the money and can't pay, they can sue you and your mother, and get a judgment against you both for the amount due, plus interest, court costs and attorneys fees. You might want to consider settling with them for some amount that you can afford, with a payout arrangement.
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