Houston, TX asked in Collections for Texas

Q: I have a debt collection from a property place that I never resided in and application was canceled. Can I sue them?

I initially applied for an apartment and they then they changed the rental price, telling me that it was an error on their end. so I contacted them and canceled my application, months later they reached out saying I owed a "move out fee" but I never once lived there ,I contacted them again about this and was told it would be taken care of and now i have a debt collection on my credit report and the agency wont drop the claim despite me sending them evidence.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
Answered
  • Frisco, TX
  • Licensed in Texas

A: Yes. You can and should sue them for a declaratory judgment under Chapter 37 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. While you will obviously have to pay an attorney upfront an hourly fee, you could recover such fees in a final judgment if you prevail at trial. The potential to recover your attorney fees under the Declaratory Judgments Act could lead the apartment company to settle reasonably quickly if your case is meritorious, particularly if you are willing to forego recovering attorney fees.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.