Oklahoma Real Estate Partners Dba Oxford Oaks Apartments ripoff Attempted to collect a debt I do not owe. received a collection letter after 5 months from my evacuation, been victimized by a scam artist! Edmond Oklahoma

I moved out of my apartment the last day of April 2003. This was to be the end of my 6 month contract. I turned in a notice but did not keep a copy. My dad visited the office several times during the month of April. He was trying to help me make sure everything was up to speed on my move.

Never once did they say anything about never recieving a notice to him. They always said to him that everything was fine and that the girls need to turn in their keys as soon as they get everything out of the apartment. He agreed and "assumed" that everything was taken care of.

Well, 5 months later my dad gets a collection notice in the mail for $839.85 for the following. Hole in closet $30.00, Carpet repairs $75.00, Pet Fee $150.00, Clean Apt $75.00, 30 day notice $550.00, Carpet cleaning and deoderizing $150.00, Water Reimbursement $9.85. These fee's added up to $1039.85. They kept her deposit of $200.00 leaving her with a total due "according to the property owners" of $839.85.

When my step-mother called the apartment to ask why they waited so long to notify us and why did they have to go through a collector? Chris, at Oxford Oaks stated that had gone through new management and didn't have time to notify us any sooner. So they just turned it over to their collectors.

Sounds very fishy to me that they would wait so long. They girls no longer have the letter saved on their computer so we are left out to dry. My step-mother called the collection agency (Collection services international) and spoke to a lady named Gracie and told her that we would pay for charges that we believe to be ours but not any thing that we feel is being scammed for. My step-mother told her that we would be willing to pay for $470.00 but not $839.85. When Gracies boss called the apts they stated they would accept 80% but nothing less.

I disagree that I should have to pay for something that I took care of 5 months earlier. Now I don't have a copy of the letter so I feel almost helpless. I will try to fight these charges and my dad will be visiting with the apartment office staff. According to Chris they are all new. So, I will try my luck with taking them to the small claims court. If I have to pay it at least I will have fought for what I believe to be what's right. I think I have just been victimized by a scam artist! I had so many maintenance problems with this apartment and that's the reason I chose to move.

Ashley
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
U.S.A.