This website is a testimony to the problems Canadian Student Loan borrowers experienced from approximately 1996 to 2008 and until their loans were paid off.

The privatization of the Student Loans system by the Chretien and Martin Liberal governments broke the system and defaulted thousands of borrowers who were trying to pay their loans. There were even stories of suicide due to the harassment of borrowers.

Read the report that I prepared back in 2007 here. Canada Student Loans-The Need for Change Fortunately the new Conservative government at the time revamped the program and fixed the system for new borrowers, but borrowers under the previous program were left with ruined credit and continued harassment from debt collectors.

I call on the Canadian Government to apologize to the borrowers affected by this fiasco and make amends.

Unfortunately the Liberal government is again clobbering the Education system with their upcoming changes to International Student Visas. Yes, there's a problem, but instead of a well thought out plan, they have pulled the emergency brake on the train causing a derailment. This has introduced unprecedented instability for both private and public education institutions who serve both international and local students.

Universities can't plan. I've heard of courses being cut because the government has no process in place for universities to send the newly required acceptance letters to the government.

This means that students who have been accepted can not attend courses that start in the summer 2024 semester. With cut sections, current Canadian students will have trouble getting courses, and may have to switch to part-time which changes their enrollment status and might trigger repayment of their loans or ineligibility for funding. I've seen this before. It wreaks havoc on the student loan borrowers.

Again, the Liberal government has messed up the education environment. Will the new system needed in a rush for the acceptance letters be the new Arrivecan scandal?

I call on the government to implement a slower phased in approach and delay the requirement of the acceptance letters until a process is in place to submit these letters.


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silence2long View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silence2long Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02/August/2005 at 6:18pm

And maybe I just get a little pissed when people have escape-goats and I don't.

And maybe I just recently found out about someone who got 40,000 to go to school....got interest relief...then debt reduction... then it went to collections... and ends up getting a settlement with NCO for 10,000 by describing some type of hardship....that the Collection Agent helped them work out because they seen the $$$$ commish on the 10 grand.

Sorry but there is no hardship.... it is a game !!!  They make 3 times the income that I do....

Where is the level playing field ????

Anyhow I think I need another break...

silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long
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White Tiger View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote White Tiger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02/August/2005 at 6:24pm

Wow, why are people arguing?  We all came to this site for the same reasons!  Student loans!  How some of us didn't realize that when we took them out that maybe one day we wouldn't be able to make the types of payments that they wanted or that they wouldn't work with us to be able to make some type of payment arrangements to keep us out of collection agencies.  How we didn't realize that some day we would be at war.  How many of us would normally pay any debt that we had because we aren't bad people?  That's right most of us!  However when you feel stalked, overwhelmed, and well just buried alive well in that case many people would feel like running away and hiding! 

My collection agency calls have stopped which I don't take as a good sign, lol.  I believe that 3 out of 4 are probably taking me to court which won't do them any good considering that between them and the stress of a call center I am not working anymore.  Good luck garnishing my wages! 

Please remember that none of us is any better than each other, we all feel guilt whether it be for a loan we took out not knowingly or for being involved in all of this *#@#!  All of us are in the same boat!

Sherrylee
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DianeB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03/August/2005 at 4:49am

Thank you so much, Sherrylee! That is how I feel about this, to be sure. Be it an erroneous consumer debt (such as the one I described above involving my ex) or the student loan monster, we are all in similar boats when it comes right down to it. (And I think most of them have holes at the bottom...)

Silence, I understand your frustrations. We've all, at one time or another, been the witness of injustice in one form or another. However, I have learned something incredibly important through having to deal with my failing health, and that is that we are all blessed in one form or another. Though I am unable to walk, my heart still runs with my beautiful child, and though I can not dance, my soul twirls and leaps with this child's joys and successes in life.  My friends and family have shown me so much love, respect and support that I am often overwhelmed by their kindnesses. Though I can not work, my life is filled with the joys that come from being home with my beautiful little one, and watching this baby grow into a stunning human being. I do not know how much longer I will live to enjoy this marvelous little person, and so every moment is precious and every minute is a miracle...and I am truely blessed. Now, I could just as easily described my situation for you this way. "I am a single mother, and in all liklihood, I don't have much more than four or five years left. Though so many of my friends have been married, I remain alone, enduring the burden of raising this child (it has NEVER been my burden, but my PLEASURE) alone without help from a partner. (Disregarding the massive amounts of help I receive from family and friends...) At night, I don't have someone to hold me when the pain gets so bad all I can do is cry. I have to endure all this suffering on my own without a husband, and my life is so unfair because I know that my friends have this in their lives...and their health too. Why am I the one without??"  Both spiels describe the same life, but one attracts the positive, while the other attracts the negative.

Unlike science, in which negative attracts positive and positive negative, life demands that we become what we want to attract.  Spending time worrying over what you don't have in relation to the other guy is useless, detrimental, and unfortunately sends negativity out into the Universe that will, more often than not, come back to haunt you. Though your perception of this earth and it's inhabitants is entirely your choice, working on your neighbours flowerbed while your own becomes choked with weeds will almost always lead you to the same non-result.  It certainly can be difficult when you see what your perceive as injustice upon injustice, others getting a break while you are stranded without...but the key word in this sentence is still PERCEIVE. 

Anger and resentment are strange emtions...because they seldom hurt the person we direct them towards. More often than not, our anger and bitterness enslaves only ourselves.  Worse still, given that we attract what we are, these emotions can only set you up for more of the same disappointments.  Our lives are meant to be lived and enjoyed, not suffered and endured. Try being happy for those that find a break, and yours too will come. Remember, Silence...it's all mind over matter. If you don't mind...then it just won't matter.

 

 

D. Browning
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote White Tiger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03/August/2005 at 5:22am

Wise words!  You are a strong woman and I wish you luck!

Sherrylee
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silence2long Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03/August/2005 at 10:31am

DianeB,

My deepest apologizes.... your post has touched my soul profoundly.

There are only two people on this site that write the way you do at any given time.....and I think I know which one you are......

Please pass me the kleenex box.... and carry on with this little persona..... you just might pull it off.

I have been such a negative bad little girl... please forgive me?

Where did I put my meds..... they have to be around here somewhere...... my search button works too !

silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DianeB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03/August/2005 at 3:15pm

And sometimes you just feel blessed that you aren't suffering from paranoid delusions...

 

 

D. Browning
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Mersan View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mersan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/August/2005 at 5:02am

Thanks silence I see where you are coming from now.  How you were making that connection wasn’t that clear to me.  I agree that people who have a history of running up debt should be looked at differently by HRSDC and whoever than someone who got trapped in the student loan system.  Unfortunately at HRSDC and Justice one is a double debt beat if one has only student loans and no consumer debt.  I have yet to fathom that logic.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silence2long Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/August/2005 at 9:25am

yes... that is what I was trying to say Mersan... LOGIC... if they followed the rules of logic....that would just make it all too simple

 

 

 

 

silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silence2long Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05/August/2005 at 3:06pm

DianeB,

I just want to take this opportunity to openly apologize to you(especially) and the rest of the posters here at CSD for my behaviour and posts over the past week.  It has come to my attention that you are not who I thought you were namely "Islander".....

I get overwhelmed at times and simply don't know how to deal with it.  I have done some soul-searching and have given myself a good swift kick in the ass for you... I am not typically so over-bearing or down-right rude.  If you are out there still reading.... I truly do wish you the best.  I am usually quite helpful and supportive most of the time. 

Lately I've been cloudy with a case of the "poor me" syndrome.  I just need to get a grip on it.... and not take this out on other people. I know when I need a break for this site.... unfortunately I haven't done it in time.... this time !!!

I just wish that when I am acting like a freak... someone would simply tell me... Silence take a break !!

I hate suffering with financial woe which I have been since my job ended 5 weeks ago.... and I keep hearing how great it is for everyone else.... Normally I would be happy for others.. so I don't know what my problem is ?

I know things will get better.. and the sun will shine, but sometimes it is hard to realize that... when I am feeling like this.... When the job ended so did the drug plan... so I have been coming off of that as well.

This in no way excuses me from my behaviour... but may shine some light on me.

Anyhow sorry....hope I haven't scared you away, there is a wealth of knowledge here should you happen to run into any problems.

Take care.

silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote polyhymnia61 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/August/2005 at 2:08am

Silence...You are no more a freak than I am...

Some people may reply that it means you're DOOMED, lol...But seriously, your reactions are pretty understandable under the circumstances. At least you're together enough to realize you were mistaken and admit it. That's more classy than freaky in my opinion!!

Hang in there, k?

Poly

Home is where you are allowed to prosper.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote copperfrog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/August/2005 at 7:22am
Morning, 
 
This is in reference to a post I made on the canadastudentdebt.ca forum under the alias Copperfrog. Link to the post is found below.
 
http://www.canadastudentdebt.ca/forum_posts.asp?TID=1250&a mp;PN=1&TPN=3 
 
I'll provide you with a bit of background with my student loan situation. I have to debt with different collection agencies. One with ARO and the other with NCO. 
 
I currently work but am the sole provider for a family of 3 my spouse, child and I. I have another child that I pay child support for that does not live with me but I do exercise my access right and pay to travel to see him. 
 
With ARO I have my Ontario student loan portion which is about $3000. They have been harrassing me with phone calls at home, at work and treaten legal action, the usual collection agency tactics. I have tried to make payments that I could afford $20 - $30 a month for now. But they have refused and needed at least $125 per month. And were pushing me to get a high risk loan which I was not accepted for. 
 
With NCO my Canada student loan portion is about $5000. Have not push so much as ARO as they are getting my income tax and GST returns. But they still are pushing for a payment. I offered the same $20 to $30 dollar payment but need a finacial questionnaire done. 
 
I was wondering if I could get a bit of advices on how to go about dealing with these collection agencies. I was thinking about just writing them a letter with 3 month of post dated checks stating that if they cashed the checks they where agreeing that this would be my payment and not to contact me to collect.  
 
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Battie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16/January/2008 at 10:26am
Hi Trish;

I am new to this forum but I can tell you that they are not allowed to contact your place of employment only if they are calling to confirm that you work there. By law they are not allowed to contact you there and harass you. When ARO Inc contacted my place of employment 137 times. That's what they bragged to me about, I was livid. I ended up contacting the National Student Loan Centre and after being transferred all over the map I was placed in touch with Canada Revenue Agency/Crown Debt phone number 1-800-667-0135. They Contact ARO and told them to back off and I made my agreed minimum payment with them not the Collection Agency.
See if they can help you.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paulaffleck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15/February/2008 at 6:39am

I've had my negative run-ins with student loan collectors.  I'm sure all student loan debtors who have experienced financial problems can relate.

However, I go out of my way to complement collectors who display positive client relations skills, wherever possible, if only to let others know that there are actual human beings doing these jobs.  Here is a recent positive experience:

I just called ARO to inquire into the amount owing on my current HRDC loan, obviously in collections with ARO.  Now, for the past year I have missed no payments and, in fact, pay well over the minimum, each month.  However, she informed me that she would be sending me another "financial questionnaire", in order to justify to HRDC why they have not yet collected the full amount owing.

I explained to her that, while I appreciate her desire to comply with the stipulations of HRDC, my position is that I will not fill out the questionnaire, because I do not want to share any of my private information.  Note, however, that I made it crystal clear that I want to pay this debt, and I pointed to my recent lengthy and positive payment history, which she acknowledged.

In the end, she said that she knows I will pay the loan, that my payment history bears this out, but that she will send the form in any event.  She also said that she appreciates my position with respect to privacy issues.

My point here is that, if you are in a position to pay the debt quickly, and demonstrate this ability and execute your plan, the collectors will typically back off.  However, I recognize that my experience is limited to ARO Inc.


I thought it was appropriate, given that I chastise the negative collectors, to also praise the decent ones.


-Paul
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote missmydad2004 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/March/2008 at 5:56am
I'm glad the company is working great for you, but I myself have had nothing but problems with this company from the get go.  They have tried to bully me on more than one occasion and I'm tired of dealing with them.  I have yet to find anyone there who is at all compassionate about their clients.  So, Paul, you definately lucked out in my opinion. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote missmydad2004 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/March/2008 at 5:58am
Personally, don't send them post dated checks.  I did this and they took the money out whenever they wanted.  And because of that, I had checks bouncing all over the place.  I am still dealing with them now, but have refused to send them checks due to this problem.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bengalmom Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02/May/2008 at 6:30am
I also have NOT had good luck with ARO.  Not only are the people you deal with very uncompassionate, but they are rude as well.  The last person demanded that I pay some ridiculous amount per month.  Between three institutions that have different portions of my student loan debt, I told them I could not do it.  I offered to double my payment to $100 per month (more then what I pay to CIBC and CIBC has the higher debt too!), which was a BIG mistake.  Then they sent me an income verification form with no instructions, and my luck I fill it out wrong.  They won't accept a revise form because "I could lie about my income". 
As far as I am concerned, ARO is no better then the last collection agency the Ontario government just got rid of. 
ARO also tries to get you to find another institution to loan you money to pay them off, threatening wage garishee and even going so far as to set you up with credit union contacts.  Problem there is that ARO reports monthly to the credit bureau that you are a deadbeat so no one will ever loan you money.  HELLO, you want us to pay you off, then help the process, report our monthly payments and the good standing then a bank will take on the loan.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SolveStudentDebt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02/May/2008 at 4:44pm
If you are being mistreated by them for a CIBC loan or Ontario government loan, you should address it with the loan provider or Ontario CMU. If you need help, let me know.
Solve Student Debt specializes in solutions for students and graduates in student loan default, and those at risk of defaulting.

solvestudentdebt.com
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noreen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/May/2008 at 11:48am
CIBC and CBV collections have been hell for years, and ever after paying them off I am still havng difficulties.

It all started with a student loan back in the about 1997.  I was a full time student, single mom and cut my hours to part time so I could get my degree.  After two years, I became ill and was not longer able to work, or attend school.  The debts we're piling up so I went into bankruptcy.  I tried to get interest relief from CIBC but no luck, they sent me into collections.  That's when the hell started.  I went through the harassing phone calls, trying to explain my situation but to no avail.  I might as well have been talking to the wall.  CBV was relentless, even though I was on disability relief (welfare).  I started back to work in 2000 and after a few months I got myself back on my feet and started to pay off the collection company.  I paid out the nose, with interest it didnt seem to be going down at all.  I endured harrasing calls from "Mr White" at CBV (like I believe that after the first guys name was Green).  He even went as far as to tell me that maybe I should get married!....Wow.  Anyway, I continued to pay, at least I had some interest to use on my income tax.  In Jan 2007, they approached me and told me the balance was 7805.52.  They said if I gave the 6500.00 they would clear my credit rating.  I asked for it in writing and they sent it to me.  The letter said....."Upon receipt and clearance of these funds, (my name) will be released from any further liabilities towards this account as we will close the account as SETTLED IN FULL."  Well, silly me though that was great and immediately sent them the full amount.  I though that was the end of it and life would go on.  A few months later I went to buy a house and it came up on my credit report as delinquent.  I still got my mortage because I showed the bank the documents saying I paid it off (not CIBC - they have been nothing but rude to me).  Today, I went to finance a new car.  I can afford it no problem as I'm back on my feet and making an above average salary.  How embarrassing when I was turned down by Honda credit...because of this damn delinquent loan.

Any ideas on what I should do to clear my credit once and for all?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bengalmom Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12/May/2008 at 2:44am

Johnny,

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I have contacted Ministry of Colleges and Universities, they passed me off to Ministry of Government Services and they told me to go back to ARO since my account was passed off to them when I declared bankruptcy.  It appears that the Ontario Government wants nothing to do with collecting the loans, just giving them out and then making peoples lives miserable afterwards. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SolveStudentDebt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13/May/2008 at 6:51am
If the Ontario government who you owe has abandoned you and is not willing to talk to you about your debt, then there is nothing that I can suggest. What you need is intervention to control this situation and solve it, and this is where I can help you. You see, a suggestion or piece of advice here and there does help out in one way or another. However, in more serious situations like yours, suggestive language and basic advisory help does not work. What you need is an intervention that will help you get back in control of this situation, and prevent any further damage from happening.
 
If you want this help, we can do it for you.
 
Solve Student Debt specializes in solutions for students and graduates in student loan default, and those at risk of defaulting.

solvestudentdebt.com
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