I am on a Housing Corporation that subleases rooms in a house to students. One of the students up and left and quit paying rent. We decided to try using a collection agency instead of one of us having to take off work and go to the court house to file against them. We all do this on our own time and do not get paid.

Does anyone know of any collection agencies that do single collections like this?

7/15/2009 3:45:47 PM

This sounds like fraternity drama.

Small claims court is really your best option. It's cheap, you can schedule the time you need to take off well in advance, you don't have to give the collection company half the money, and once you receive a judgment in your favor there will actually be some legal authority backing your collection efforts. Collection companies may be annoying, but they don't really have any teeth.

7/15/2009 4:06:51 PM

Yeah, that is what we would like to do but we have never done it before and don't want to have to take vacation to do so when we are not even getting paid. I looked up the form and started filling it out. I would prefer to do it that way but wanted to check out other options.

7/15/2009 5:04:02 PM

Quote :

"Does anyone know of any collection agencies that do single collections like this?"

sounds like you want more of a collections attorney than an agency

7/15/2009 5:08:34 PM

The person moved out and stopped paying rent? Unless he signed a lease that locks him into a term I Don't see what the issue is. he no longer lives there and is no longer required to pay rent. You could just put all this energy into finding a replacement and save yourself a hell of a headache.

7/15/2009 6:11:39 PM

No we have a signed lease that ran through April. He paid part of February after he moved out but then nothing else. He told us he was going to keep up payments but he hasn't.

7/15/2009 7:17:40 PM

at least he isn't still there without paying.

7/15/2009 9:32:42 PM

Hire Omega to handle all of your collections going forward. they take a cut, but it's worth not having to battle the deadbeats.

7/15/2009 9:39:02 PM

Figures BobbyDigital would know.

7/15/2009 10:23:56 PM

^^ Thanks, is that a deal where you keep paying them or is it a case by case basis. Hopefully this will not continue to happen but we gotta be prepared to act because if we do nothing then we might as well not even have a lease.

7/15/2009 11:45:12 PM

If he signed a lease, is it not the responsibility of the owner of the lease to collect delinquent payment? If he signed a lease with you, then I don't understand this "I don't get paid for this" thing. Apparently you do since you get paid a monthly amount for a room.

7/16/2009 4:05:19 AM

^ The Housing Corp is a nonprofit organization. Any revenue generated must be used towards the purpose of the organization and not to me. I get no money personally and do not own the property. As for collection being our responsibility, I agree but we are not going to get to the point where we are hunting them down personally and showing up at their house. And we may be able to call and get the money out of him if we get a hold of him. I still wanted advice on this matter if it got to that point or this situation happened again.

[Edited on July 16, 2009 at 8:09 AM. Reason : .]

7/16/2009 8:08:50 AM

how old is the person? If they are still claimed as a dependent of their parents, you can put a lien on their parents house. that means no credit line in the house until the rent is paid.

7/16/2009 1:09:22 PM

^ Unless the parents are cosigner on the lease you'll never get that lien approved.

7/16/2009 1:40:44 PM