Can A Collection Agency Put A Collection On My Credit For A Verbal Lease I Did Not Agree To

by pamela
(homewood)

I have been placed in collection for not living out a verbal lease that i never agreed to. My original lease was over in 9/2010, i notified the apartment complex that I was closing on my house on 10/21/2010 and asked if i could extend my lease for an additional month. I was told that I would be able to extend the lease for an additional month for a $25.00 fee.

Prior to moving out of the complex after residing there since 2004 without any issues with paying my rent, I contacted the office to inquire about a final walk through. I was told that if someone was available I would be able to do a final walk through, but if no was available at the time I would receive a notification in the mail when the walk through was complete.

I did not agree with their method because I was warned by a 17 year former tenant that the complex falsify findings after the tenant move to keep the security deposit. I decided to live out my security to be on the safe side. I did clean the apartment and the carpet as listed in the lease. I have the receipt for the professional carpet cleaners. The keys were turned in on 11/1/10 after the carpet cleaners were done.

I received a letter in the mail from a collection agency representing the complex attempting to collect over $2,000.00 for not completing a verbal lease which according to them would have ended in 12/2010. There were also late fees for the two months, attorney fees, and cleaning fees.

I have made several attempts to contact the original creditor, but to no avail. The collection agency is refusing to remove the information from my credit. Is this legal?