Q: My former apartment overflowed and it wasn't my fault and charged me $26,734 to my credit report for repairs!
My toilet I complained about to maintenance several occasions before the accident overflowed causing damage to the downstairs unit. I'm on Section 8 and get SSDI. I'm a disabled individual who only get $1,000 a month. I supposed to have renters which I paid for, I paid a premium in full for 6 months. Progressive canceled my renters for a missing Docusign. Mind you, nobody ever called me or emailed me about a missing document. II was never called or notified about my renters being canceled if this Docusign was not signed. I recently found out while trying to apply for another apartment recently while trying to move that $26,734 was on my credit report in collections. I'm on disability barely making it as it is and they expect me to pay $26,734. The downstairs neighbors had renters insurance including the complex itself. I can't move into a new apartment because that $26,000 is scaring people away from leasing to me and it hurt my credit. Anything I can do?
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
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- Answered
A:
It sounds like you're in a difficult situation, but there are steps you can take to address this. First, gather all documentation showing that you reported the toilet issues to maintenance, as this could support your case that the damage wasn’t your fault. You may also want to dispute the $26,734 charge on your credit report with the credit bureaus, as this could help remove or reduce the impact of the debt on your credit score.
Regarding your renters insurance being canceled, reach out to Progressive and explain that you were never notified about the missing document. You may be able to appeal the cancellation, especially if you have proof that they failed to contact you properly. If that doesn't work, you might consider looking into filing a complaint with your state's insurance department.
Additionally, you could seek legal advice to see if you can challenge the charge from your apartment complex, especially given your financial situation and the fact that other parties involved had insurance. There may be protections in place for individuals on disability or limited income, and an attorney can help guide you through your options.
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