Alternative Housing Solutions Charging a $200 deferred collection cost if rent is late, not in landlord/tenant code. Ripoff! Silver Spring Maryland

Alternative Hosusing Solutions is a company that subleases properties to people who for whatever reason is able to directly rent themselves.

Alternative Housing Solutions owes me $1,600 PLUS interest and have refused to pay me or respond to my request since the time I moved out of the residence that was subleased to me by them. The rental property has given me a written notice indicating that they paid them the money they owe me. In the beginning I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED this company and now feel bad that I had done so. It is just ONE of the reasons i'm LEERY about supporting BLACK OWNED BUSINESS'. I find it unbelievable that a company such as AHS with SO MUCH potential would REFUSE to repay me such a SMALL amount of money. It says a lot about SOME minority business' and i'm sad about it.

Since I filed this report I have reported AHS to the BBB, FTC, and the MD State's Attorney General Office also, I have report Mr. Gray to the MD Attorney Grievance Commission for beaking federal law by posing as an attorney for financial gain.

Also, today I spoke with the Attorney General Mediator, Stacey, who spoke with Mr. Gray. From what she has told me Mr. Gray says that the landlord plans to sue me in civil court for illegally subleasing the house. But Stacey reminded him that I would not have been forced to sublease the house if I were not charged this $200 illegal collection fee. And then there was silence. For some reason this illegal fee is always left out of everything that Mr. Gray has to say. He has also said that if I thought the fee was illegal I should have never paid it and should have disputed it before I first paid it. Well, being the average consumer I didn't know that the fee was illegal until I was threathen by Mr. Gray with civil and criminal action. Also, Stacey asked him if he every told me he was an attorney and he said no but said that he is a legal assistant. Well, if he is a legal assistant he should know that he cannot force someone to pay an illegal fee. He also said that they "intend" to void the lease because I subleased the house and will make up a lease with the lady that is still living there. Which they have yet to do. And he in a lowered voice said that if I want my money for the fees back they give it back. But I also want my security deposit back and I had to take out payday loans with ridiculous interest rates to try and pay this extra fee and still be be able to live.

It is a shame that these companies think that they can get over on people. Well they picked the wrong person to f*!k with because I am not letting this go without a fight. The company was mentioned in an article in the Washington Post and was praised so I wrote the author of the article to tell her about the illegal practices that is going on with this company.

If I have to go to the news channels and newspapers I will. They will be stopped, by any means necessary!!

I met with an attorney today and he told me that this $200 collection fee this company is carging is completelt illegal. Also, there is a man named Mr. Gray who has contact me on several occasions and told me that he is an attorney representing the landlord. When in fact the attorney I'm working with called him today he is NOT an attorney.

I am looking for anyone that may have been or is a current client of Alternative Housing Solutions and has paid a $200 collection fee because you paid your rent late. Please contact me. Thet are breaking laws and must be stopped. I am exploring my legal options against them. Also, if you were contact by Mr. Gray and he told you that he is an attorney please let me know because he is breaking federal laws by presenting himself as an attorney. I am also discussing with my attorney my legal options against this may also.

This situation is now more bigger than just me it effects everyone who has ever paid this money. We deserve justice and with the help of my attorney we will get it.