I have a collection account that only shows on my EQ credit report. The collection is from when I was 18 years old and living with my parents in an apartment. Because I was 18, when we moved in, I signed the lease as a tenant/occupant - not as a lease holder. My parents were the lease holders. I was not employed or anything as I was a college student. I'm honestly not sure what happened between my parents and the apartment complex but my parents must not have paid the people and we ended up moving about 9 months later. This was all in 2009.
My parents have both since filed bankruptcy, so I doubt this account is on either of their credit reports. I've been good with my credit - never a late payment or anything. Now I'm checking my EQ report and I see this collection account from the apartment complex. I tried to dispute it but all that came of the dispute was a comment being added to the collection that says "Consumer disputes after resolution, Collection account".
Am I financially and legally responsible for this just because I was a tenant/occupant of the apartment?
It does not seem right to me that I would be required to pay for whatever my parents did. I was not a lease holder and I only signed the lease because I had to since I was 18.
I have not tried calling the collection agency yet, but I really don't want to do this, as collection agencies are historically cutthroat and probably won't want to hear my story of how this isn't my bill.
I have legal services through my job and I'm considering taking this up with an attorney. Is this the best course of action? Do I have any ground to stand on here? I appreciate any insight that you can provide.
