Should I Fight IQ Data International?

[Vanessa25]

I'll start off by saying I'm not well versed in all of this just the rabbit hole I fell down after the first emotional call I had with IQ. 

I received a phone call from IQ International that started out rough as the person wouldn't tell me who they were until I confirmed my name once I did they asked right away if I ever lived at my previous apartment complex from 18 months ago. Red Flags for me already. I asked who was calling and the rep danced around it until I said well why are you calling about some place I lived years ago? His response "So you did live there..ok." Again the tone was a red flag for me.

He then informed me he was calling to collect a debt of 490.01 on my previous apartment complex's behalf and payment was due upfront immediately. I was flabbergasted. When my partner and I moved out 18 months ago everything was settled. Last rent, electric bill, and remaining move out fees either paid or taken from the security deposit from when we initially moved in. I said what's the debt for? He never gave me a direct answer. I am in tears because this is a lot of money that I don't have at the moment.

He continues saying I need to pay it up front today on the phone or it will go to collections etc etc etc. I again explain I can't do that I don't have the money. He fills out a hardship form I guess verifying information [I now know I should not have confirmed any of that but the cards we are delt I guess]. He again says payment is due upfront now.

Feeling like I'm beating a dead horse I repeat again I can't pay. He says well get my partner to pay on the phone I inform him I can't he's at work. He says conference him in on the call I inform him I can't he's working on base it's not possible. I get transferred several times before I just say I want written confirmation of this debt the guy says then send it to our PO Box payment is due now so are you not willing to pay. Tired of repeating myself I hang up.

I immediately contact the apartment complex leave a voicemail and email them about the situation asking if they can provide validation of this [the guy who wanted me so bad to conference my partner into the call, didn't like when I suggested conferencing the apartment complex in]. Anyway I hear back from the complex saying the person who can look into the account isn't in until Friday [2 days away] and Ill get a call back. Lovely.

While I'm drafting my debt validation letter IQ calls me again but I missed it due to my phone being across the room on the charger. All this over a debt I received no notification on, no letter in the mail, no email, no phone call nothing. 18 months later.

To add to it I never received anything stating what was security deposit was officially used from the complex to begin with after the initial 21-30 days elapsed last year. So how would I know? We left the complex in a good standing and were good tenants no issues or anything. They did have our new address on file to mail us anything if there was something that needed to be paid or needed our attention.

At this point I am drained. So what are my next steps going forward? Fight them? I mean this is all crazy to me. My partner was never contacted by them either IQ even though they say they attempted to call him? Or they sent notices in the mail regarding the debt balance. 

Sorry for the jamble of words I just need someone to tell me what the next steps are or any advice. Thanks in advance.

[nobk4me]

Yes, you should fight them.  They sound like the type of CA that violates.

You need to send a debt validation/dispute letter to the CA, IQ.  Send it by certified mail.  They can't contact you again, after they receive your letter, unless they validate the debt.  If they do try to collect without validation, that's a FDCPA violation, with statutory damages of $1000.

[Halp616]

I just had a similar scenario. Why should you not have given the information for the hardship?

[Clydesmom]

On 6/11/2026 at 3:16 PM, Halp616 said:

I just had a similar scenario. Why should you not have given the information for the hardship?

Because this is likely a scam not an actual debt call.  The scammers skim your information from the internet and gather just enough to convince you they are legitimate and then coerce the consumer to provide details needed to steal their identity.  ANY debt collector that calls the first request is they send proof of the debt in wirting so that you can investigate the validity of it.  A demand to pay TODAY along with refusal to provide a written statement of the debt are HUGE red flags for scam.

For debts that a consumer knows are accurate and they owe there is no harm in requesting a hardship cancellation but you should expect to prove the inability to pay.  The owner of the debt has a right to ensure that they aren't being fed a line just to avoid paying something legally owed.  

[LaneBlane]

I wouldn't offer any personal information over the phone.  That includes confirming your name and having a conversation about an alleged debt that probably doesn't exist.  You even provided them with details on your financial situation. 

The fact that they said they needed payment that day is a huge red flag.  It sounds as though it may have been a scam.  In the future you should be more mindful about who you give your information to.

My background is in commercial real estate management, including some residential.  Therefore, I know your landlord was required to provide you with an itemized, written statement that showed any deductions made to your security deposit.  This would include unpaid rent, repairs for damages, cleaning, and other costs allowed in your lease.  They usually have 30-days to provide you with this itemization and refund any portion of the security deposit owed to you. (This may vary by state.)  If you don't provide your landlord with a forwarding address, they'll send it to your last address.  That's why it's important to file a change of address with the USPS.

If the landlord doesn't send you an itemization, they forfeit their right to make deductions from your security deposit and must return all of your security deposit.  (Again, this may vary by state.)  It's pretty standard for this itemization to be sent certified mail so there's a record of delivery. 

The question right now is whether or not your landlord provided you with this itemization.  If they did, was there a balance owed?