Credit Slander/Libel/Defamation?

[camdin90]

My cousin and I moved into an apartment in 2008, yes 2008. LOL anyways, she signed the lease and I was listed as an OCCUPANT NOT SIGNING THE LEASE. Therefore, I NEVER signed the lease. Well, my cousin decided to move away and break the lease, so we did so. The apartment complex turned the account over to a collection agency, stating that both my cousin and I owed them all the charges associated with breaking the lease. Now I stated to the collection agency and complex that since I NEVER signed the lease, I am not legally obligated to pay the balance. They reputed with "Since you are over 18, and lived in the complex, regardless of whether you signed the lease or not, you ARE obligated to pay the remaining balance."

Now this is the second time that I have to deal with this situation, the first time I DID successfully get my information out of the collection agencies system, but I just checked my credit report and it is still on there. I then called the collection agency, gave them account number linked, and the representative stated that I was not in their system (she even tried to pull it up by my social). So I disputed it with the credit bureaus, only to have the collection agency call me back stating that I HAVE (NOW) ALWAYS BEEN IN THE SYSTEM AND THE BALANCE IS DUE.

I told them to send me the lease contract but they don't have it, neither do I. I called the apartment complex manager and she doesn't have it either (states she is going to look in the attic).

Is it illegal, or credit defamation, for the manager to have turned my name over to the collection agency when I was not in a contract to pay the debt?

Is it illegal for the collection agency, to not completely validate the debt also?

The CA sent me some debt info to prove that it was mine, but all they sent me was an account statement with ONLY my cousin's name on it, and a rental applcation...NO LEASE.

What should I do? Get a lawyer?

[chen12]

but you said your name was on the lease as an occupant right?
since i don't understand all the details of your story, i would suggest seeking some legal advice from someone in your area. many law schools have hot lines that offer free advice from students and i have found that it is a free and easy way to get advice for ambiguous cases like yours