In US: To what extent does a collection agency filing by landlord affect my currently excellent credit score?

After I moved out last month, my apartment management is unfairly(in my opinion) asking me to pay $1200 for painting the apartment because of some crayon marks on the living room wall. I have always paid rent on time and have had no other issues with them. How will this affect my credit if I refuse to pay and they send it to collections? Thanks for input.

In US: To what extent does a collection agency filing by landlord affect my currently excellent credit score?
I like Mike's advice...start with that.





Send the landlord a letter demanding to see all bills and documentation related to the damage you did. By the way, you did do a walk-through when you signed the lease, didn't you? Landlords love to find damage to apartments so they can screw you out of your deposit or more money.





If you think you can defend yourself against the lawsuit, then don't pay the bill. Send the landlord a letter protesting the charge, and a warning that any attempt to collect the debt, or post negative informtion to your credit report, will result in a lawsuit under the Fair Debt Collections Act. Unless he can prove you owe this money, (and be prepared to do so in court) he better just drop the issue.





I recently helped someone with a similar problem. Landlord was billing them for damage to some cabinets, along with some other stuff. The idiot forgot that they did a walkthrough and we had the paperwork to prove the damage was there when she moved in. By this time it has gone to a collection agency, and they were harrassing her something terrible. Once I got involved, the collection agent sent the debt back to the creditor, and the credit history was fixed in 15 days.





Amazing how a couple of letters, and an understanding of how the collection laws work, can get things resolved.
Reply:Its probably not affecting your credit score... yet.





First request a letter detailing the charges.





Once you get it, I would write a letter offering a fair compromise ($300 to paint the living room?). Then send it *in the mail*. Once you place the letter in the mailbox (it doesn't have to be certified, but that wouldn't hurt), you have responded. You'll find they'll probably accept a fair offer.





Under NO circumstances should you pay or acknowledge the debt until they propose a counter-offer that you find acceptable!!! Doing so is an implicit acklowdgement of the debt and will make you responsible for the enitre amount!
Reply:Well, I've actually had this happen twice (don't piss off your landlord they will charge you for stupid stuff like the drip pans on your stove, they were not $300 to replace). Basically it will affect your score cause if you don't pay they do this cute little thing called a judgement. I didn't believe them, now have two, can't get anything better than a gas credit card, no loans, my car insurance sky rocketed cause now they do that off your credit score (like that affects how I drive), etc.... Suck it up, pay it, wish I would have, then go flatten their tires to feel better or something cause they got you no matter what. I would also ask why $1200 for a living room, are they painting it with gold? You can go to court if you want over it and fight the amount, but then you have court costs and possible lawyer fees.
Reply:Try to work it out with the management. If they get a judgment against you, depending on your state, it can stay on your credit report for 20 years, accruing interest.





Good luck!
Reply:Why didn't you clean the crayon marks? $1200 is pretty steep for laziness.