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Updated Info on Dealing with collectors

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Category: Immediate Attention and Info!
Forum Name: Dealing with Abusive Collection Agencies
Forum Description: Help can be found here for dealing with these problems!
URL: https://www.canadastudentdebt.ca/forum_posts.asp?TID=1287
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Topic: Updated Info on Dealing with collectors
Posted By: administrator
Subject: Updated Info on Dealing with collectors
Date Posted: 11/July/2004 at 11:24am
Click this link for the most up to date info on dealing with collection agencies and where to file complaints

http://canadastudentdebt.ca/collectionagencies.asp - Collectionagencies.asp



Replies:
Posted By: marija79
Date Posted: 17/August/2004 at 3:56am

Hi there,

 

attached is my story, sorry about the grammar mistakes, i hoep its to the point, i had it in a onger version, but since i dont hav eth e time to read it, please review and help me out if you can.

thanks alot

Well for starters i would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to state my story and to have it reviewed.

it all started in sept '99 , in which i enrolled in to the toronto school of business for dental assisting. the loan officer at the time Steve took care of all the questions and i had to sign. within 2 weeks cibc student loan centre sent me the approval grant for $ 11,000. i came into the school and signed all the documents, and was told that my copy would be mailed to me and that he didnt have a copy for me now.

after several month s and several atttempts to retrieve this documents pertaining to my loan, i never got them, i was always told that they were in the mail, or that they would conifrm my mailing address etc. they had all my information on file and till this day i have never gotten a copy of my student loan application.

Problem #1: I have no documents pertaining to my loan.

Problem #2 : no matter how many times I have called and confirmed my address, I never got any loans.

At around mid Feb, 2000 many teachers were coming and going, you wouldn’t know who to see in the morning when u got into class. One day came and no teacher was there to teach us our lesson, so we were dismissed to go home, then 4 days later we are in class and the financial officer comes in and tells us that the class has been cancelled for the rest of the year and htat it will begin next sept, the money was already paid for tuition.

So in the mean time I was working at dominion as a deli clerk where I was earning $7.00 and hour and got 3 days a week with four hrs a day. Six months later, I got a message from cibc student loan indicating that they were awaiting my loan repayment and that I was already 3 months behind and that if I didn’t remitt the $ 11,000.00 that I would be ruiing my credit. Working for $7 an hour part time, do you really think I had that kind of money? NO

He gave me until the end of the week to let him know other wise he would have no choice to process my file to the collection agency. I got scared, because what was I to do, I had taken this loan out, didn’t have any paper work and now was being threatened to have my credit rating terminated because I didn’t have the money.

So now its May 2000 and the Friday finally arrives and I called CIBC Student centre and speak with Dave, who tells me that he has already sent my file down, and that I have the very least of 24 hours to get a loan of some sort and to pay for this loan, then he will pull I t out from the collection agency. I go on to re- explain my situation about the school, which had no teachers on hand, and that I was out of a diploma and not making the money that I was hoping for $7.

He gave me my deadline and said to call him when I had an idea and hung up. I scrounged around asked my friends and family, reliantly as assumed I couldn’t find the funds so I had no choice but to suffer with the consequences. Wrong, I went to the bank like Dave” had suggested and filled out a personal loan - line of credit at TD, Bank of Montreal, CIBC, Scotia Bank, guess what due to my DISCREPINCY PAYMENT” with my student loan, I had an R9 placed right beside CIBC student loan. These guys started the process of trying to collect even before I got half way through the course. Supposedly there were letters sent out, warnings, etc, in which I never got. I had even suggested paying what I could, but no where near as much as they wanted. They left me feeling like a complete helpless idiot.

I called dave told him I didn’t have the funds and due to the games” and lies, he never told me that CIBC already hit me with a report to the Credit Bureaux. Not only was I declined the application, but the fact that I made the request also had a place on the list.

My credit was ruined, and I wasn’t making enough money to make these payments, and I had no diploma supporting my schooling. I felt cheated and it bothered me. I wrote to CIBC Student centre and pleaded with the supervisors and managers not to allow my file in a collection agency they all said there was nothing they can do and that it was “company policy”.

Months went by and I was still paying $ 58.00 each month, and finally in Jan 2001 I started working as a receptionist making $22,000.00 an. At this point was able to make the miniun requirement of $ 50.00 for the provincial and $88.02 Federal. The student centre still refused the amount and this time they were kidding about the collection agency. Cibc even helped the agency out to give them my work and contact #. This agency must have called me 4 times a day, and I tried hard to hide it from my boss, but finally everything caught up to me and I was called in to his office where he sat me down and was on the way to giving me his final warning, when the phone rang and it was the same collection officer talking to my boss, telling him how I havent been paying for loan and that he was calling to see if had the money, meanwhile we had already spoken 3 times that specific day. It was truly anight mare and I cant begin to tell you how many more calls came, after my boss had even asked them first in a manner fashion to stop disturbing his office then finally when he had enough of the vulgarity of these people and the constant harassing, he called the police and had them warned by 22 Division. You think it ended here? NO, it was close to Spring and I was making my payments as usal and they were still calling me for more post dates or more monies, and my boss over heard, grabbed the phone out of my hands and hung it up and screamed in such a tone”YOUR THREW HERE”

I cried all the way home, that this individual had made me lose my job, now what was I going to do? I had to pay for rent, food, how was I going to live? The calls continued at at home 4times a day all started first thing in the morning 8am until 4 pm, and they would constantly threaten to take me to court, and that the longer I was waiting the more I was ruining my credit, and that if I were to take them up on their offer to repay in full and they would send a recommedation that my credit rating be swept clean. I couldn’t do that because I wasn’t working, so you can only imagine how upset I was , I had no job it was difficult to find a job, and they were still bothering. Payment stopped and they were sure enough still harassing me regularly. My mother finally got fed up and had her phone number changed and private, so that she didn’t have to get bothered all the time. So I admit, I wasn’t working so I couldn’t pay , and I loved the fact that there were no more phone calls, and I had peace for the first time. I finally began to work again, and after a year, and kept this job for a year until they found me again, I admit I didn’t pay them a dime because they got me fired and they were going to start again. This time I agreed to pay $ 200.00 a month in total, and make what I could, this way they wouldnt bother me, in addition to my payments I wanted a statement showing me my balance and what was being deducted.

Put it to you this way within 6 months of payment, every business day I got 2 to 3 calls from this agency asking for more money, even though I was submitting my payments. I had to send out a few more cheques by the end of the month and told them that I wanted to get my balance before I gave out anymore cheques so that I could follow up on the balance as well. I have never gotten a statement nor my documents. So months go by, and reliantly I continued to submit payment and they continued to nag and bother me and my other employees telling them my personal and confidential matters. My boss, hands me a letter of termination and a pay cheque to cover my warnings.

These people yet again got me fired. In Sept 2003 I was planning a wedding to my husband, I was 10 wks along my pregnancy. The phone rings at my mothers home and its yet another collection officer from CBV collections, calling to tell me that they are suing me if I don’t remit payment. I explain to them that I am not working, getting married and pregnant and don’t want to be bothered, and hang up. Shortly after my wedding we get back from our honeymoon, and I have 7 messages at my mothers residence, in which they informed I don’t live at anymore, threatening legal suit if I don’t remit payment. I called them all back, the superisor, manager and actual collection officer letting them know to stop calling my mothers house and give them my cell and home #. They never called me home until Nov 2003, when they threatened me yet again and started to say that I have responsibilities to this loan repayment and that I should have aborted my child so that I could work to pay it back and that I would never be able to have a house to raise my child in or own a home once they were threw with me, and belive it or not he even came out to say that I would nt be a good provider for my child, and that would be able to get any finances from the bank. All this comotion casued me to start bleeding and crapping, I hung up the phone to find myself in pool of blood and fluids. I was rushed to the hospital, and I thank god everyday for the baby, that she servived because I would have seeked legal action against him, his firm, and the entire bank. CBV collections and CIBC has ruined my credit rating since day 1, and never has called me to apoligize for there stupid ignorant employees.(I owe them money for this loan that I have no proof of, no documentaton and I have asked many times, written many times and still have yet to receive it. Now it being 2004 . Aug. I have a dependent and cost s of living with transportation, food etc, that I cant meet the requirements. I have received 8 calls in the last week from Mr. Shawn Peterson at CBV collections demanding me to call him and to give him my current job #, and the best part was when I asked him politely to refrain from bulling me around and trying to order me around, he asked: “are you paying in full?” then I would say no, well then I can talk to you in any way you owe the money not me”.

At this point I am not taking any of his calls. He has threatened putting a lien against the house which isn’t mine, its my inlaws and he s gone on to be simply rude and very stupid.

I can afford to pay $ 75.00, and that s not good for them, so I want them to sue me, because I have been keeping a record of his calls and conversations.

 



Posted By: eshelton
Date Posted: 17/August/2004 at 2:10pm
In regards to credit reports, try getting a recent copy of your credit report from Equifax and TransUnion.  With the report, there will be an update form.  Use this to dispute the loan.  Your account was clearly NOT REPORTING.  You should probably send a written letter stating chronologically what has happened.  Make sure the credit bureau READS IT as I have had trouble with them sending me form letters.  They are legally obligated to have correct information on your report.  If the creditor made no attempt to contact you, that's their fault not yours.


Posted By: marija79
Date Posted: 19/August/2004 at 7:18am
i have tried everything.  i have had to claim bankruptcy, so my credit wether it being good or not now, is ruined all because of CIBC and CBV Collections.


Posted By: limabeans
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 7:05am
I went to transunion about 4 months ago my credit was clean but 1 thing from fido that they never informed me about.....but i had a thing on there saying a canada student loan was paid in full owed 0 money and everything like that...next day allinace 1 called i still have credit report but they said oh we dont have that on your credit report it says you owe..i sent proof i heard only that they will take me to court with crown council.. and so on have a post in here, just look for my name..limabeans


Posted By: trish
Date Posted: 18/April/2005 at 10:10am

Hi! My name is Trish and I came across this site after being rudely contacted by NCO at my place of employment. I have a couple of questions to ask regarding this situation. First of all I was contacted at work by this woman who asked me for my address because she had something to mail to me. I asked her who she was several times before she gave me her name, she told me that it was important information form Vancouver. SHe would not tell me what it pertained to and I told her that I refuse to give my address or telephone # to anyone I do not know. I explained to her that I was very busy and needed the phone for interact payments for my customers and told her that I would call her after work. She told me that they would not be open when I was done work, which she did not know that I was done in half an hour (5pm). She finally told me the company was nco and I asked her what that was and she said a finance company and finally gave me the number.

Two days later I got another phone call from a very, very rude lady from nco. I told her that someone from her company called me the other day and that I would call them back from home after she tells me what their urgent matter is regarding. She told me that noone from nco has called me because this file is brand new from that day. I then realized that this probably had to do with my student loan and told her that yes I did receive a call from another rep and told her that I know that this is regarding my student loan and that I have been paying it for some time now, (My GST creidt and income tax goes to my loan).  She told me very rudely that this was not a student loan that it was a loan from the royal bank she emphasized the work LOAN. I told her that I have never taken out a loan besides a student loan in my entire life.Again with this one I explained that I was extremely busy (my boss is now looking at me and showing me a debit card) and needed the phone for work purposes. She continued to yell at me saying that she knows where I work and will garnish my wages if I do not want to deal with her. Everytime I told her I had to go she continued yelling at me. I had to hang up on her if I wanted to keep my job.

Now what I want to know is if they are allowed to harrass me at work the way that they are? I also would like to know if you know anything about student loans. I got my student loan 10 years ago and it was done through Royal Bank. The government has been taking my income tax and GST payments for my student loan for about 2-3 years now. Why is the Royal Bank coming after me as well??

Can they garnish my wages? I am a single mother with part-time minimum wage paying job which hardly pays my living expenses.  I would like to know these things before I call them back so that I can protect myself in some way. DO you have any advice on what I should say when I call them?

Thanks so Much,

Trish



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Trish


Posted By: hunter
Date Posted: 18/April/2005 at 10:19am
Trish

My advice email John LeBlanc at cfwgroup@tekcity.net
Otherwise the calls will continue and so will the harassment.
He is great at handling these issues.
Or call him at 902-440-3679

And no NCN can't harass you at work. I have dealt with them and they refused to stop calling my family and work until Johnny took care of them.

Good luck


Posted By: White Tiger
Date Posted: 27/May/2005 at 1:31pm

Okay, here it goes!!! I have 4 yes count them 4 different collection agencies after me!  I originally had an OSAP loan through my bank and then I decided to go back to school with a loan from the National Student Loan Center, because I could only obtain employment in Call Centers.  So I ended up with 2 Provincial loans equaling $8000 and 2 Federal loans equaling approximately $22,000. Ironically I have nothing to show for it because no Lawyer will take a chance on a Legal Secretary/Paralegal with no experience so all this education amounted to NOTHING!!!  Now, I had every intention of repayment, however when they all came due after my Paralegal course I realized that combined they were asking for about $500.00 a month!!! I was never aware that I would have to make those kinds of payments.  Silly me I thought that they would think of my financial circumstances you know being a single mother and all.  hahahaha!  Now I am getting calls so far from 3 of them first one was rude and condescending and quite honestly he scared me into giving him 3 postdated $150 cheques, the second was much nicer (hahaha) she at first accepted my $50 offer only to call back 3 days later to say that they cannot accept that amount if I am able to pay $150.00 to the other collection agency to which I explained to her that the first one won't be able to get that amount anymore as my Baby Bonus is going down in July by $300.  She replied that she would send me out the financial questionnaire to fill out which I am totally scared to fill out.  Now comes the third one who almost suckered me.  He is sooo nice and understanding, in fact he has even gone through something similar himself (apparently hahaha), so eventually he says that he will work with me yadayadayada...  At the end of the conversation he states what I will need from you is some kind of faith payment like a payment through your online or telephone banking even if it is only one penny because I have to send the report back by Tuesday (he has only had it just over a month with this being the first contact) and if he sends it back with no payment at all, well the HRDC may see this as a non compliance and take me to court.  The funny thing is, is that I heard a desperation in his voice (that I hadn't heard before when I was co-operating with him) when I refused to make the payment and said that filling out the financial questionnaire and sending the 3 postdated cheques should be enough.  When he kept pressing me for why I wouldn't I finally bluffed and said that I would like to consult a Lawyer before I made a payment, he was cowed and said okay.  Now every one of them tried to get me to tell them where I worked and I wouldn't tell them and after reading a lot of these stories I am glad that I didn't because I cannot afford to be getting calls at work! In addition to this all three of them mentioned the matter going to court and that I should get a consolidation loan, one of them went so far as to ask why can't you get the guy who answered the phone to co-sign and who was he to which I replied respectfully that that was none of her business.  They can be very rude!!!

Now here is the problem:  I am a mother of 2 making $2000 GROSS not take home, I live with my boyfriend (3 years) and I don't want them going after him for my debts.  It is already hard enough to keep a long-term relationship going without having to lay all of my financial hardships on him.

Now here are my questions:

1. Do I have to fill out the questionnaire’s?

2. Do the collection agencies have to accept the $50 payments?

3. What other advice can anyone give me besides hiding which is not possible with kids?

I just to let you know $2000 may seem like a lot but when your rent is half of your pay and the other half goes on food, transportation, cable, and phone believe me when I say $2000 is more like $200 because that is all I have left!  Also that is not including clothing, coats, field trips, and the $25 a week in daycare!!!  I have read quite a few stories and to be honest with some of them I have to feel quite bad because with the wages they put in their post's I really don't know how they do it.  I would like to commend those people, they are strong people!!!

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Sherrylee


Posted By: SolveStudentDebt
Date Posted: 27/May/2005 at 2:35pm

 

 

1. You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do.

 As for the financial questionnaire and statement, they are requirements set out by the government student lending sectors. If you do not want to submit one, it is not a breech in any law. However, if you refuse to comply with terms or mandates, then they can use it against you in some form or another. it is just a risk people take.

 Compliance is part of acting in good faith. Unfortunately, the third-party collection agencies involved toxify one's efforts to act in good faith by manipulation, fear installation, and the greed that feeds their hunger to earn commission dollars.

 2. For retail or "consumer" debt, third-party collectors cannot refuse to accept immediate payment offered by a debtor. However, they can refuse to accept arrangements if they determine that you can pay in full without incident or incurring hardship.

 For government guaranteed student loans (Federal and Provincial), their third-party collection agencies are not allowed to refuse immediate payment either. They are not allowed to refuse arrangements either. For Federal guaranteed student loans (CSL), if the borrower is unable to repay 3% of the principle on a monthly basis, all that is required is a financial statement substantiating one's inability to perform this payment structure.

 If it is determined that you can pay more than what you are offering, they can take action within the limitation of laws and guidelines to ensure that you repay. This would only happen if you refuse, of course.

 3. Advice is not going to solve your predicament. For instance, no medical doctor or therapist can tell you to run your keyster off for an hour a day on a treadmill to solve this problem. This problem has a "physical" presence in your life. Emotional stress and tension can be worked off. Unfortunately, the problem will still be in your face at the end of the day. The only way you are really going to solve this is to have professional assistance. In this event, the third-party sectors will have no power or control over you any longer – and their venom loses it’s potency. You are then protected – and in total control of the entire situation. This is one program that The CFW Group offers student loan borrowers.

Hiding out or bankruptcy seems to be what people talk most about. These are both very non-productive actions in most cases.

 If you would like this problem solved, give us a holler.

Johnny

  http://www.cfwgroup.ca - www.cfwgroup.ca



Posted By: DianeB
Date Posted: 01/August/2005 at 7:51am

Well, I have my share of collection experiences, both student loan and non student loan related.  I find that the easiest method of dealing with the problem is a) If you owe then money, own that fact. Running is not an answer, nor a solution. My student loan folks, as an example, have been very good with me. I haven't EVER made a payment due to interest relief, and it's going on three years. Furthermore to that, they have been made aware that due to a crippling disability, I am no longer employable. They have continued to work with me regardless of that fact, and though I do receive those stupid letters from time to time, I've never run into an issue.

b) IF you don't owe the money, stand your ground!!!  One of my favorite lines with collection agents has always been: "Honey, I owe over 45K in student loans...you're small little mark isn't really going to hurt me, now is it?" They truely don't know what to say to that. Another very good technique is to ensure that you offer no information regarding yourself at any time, and demand details of the debt.  (Write them down yourself, rather than having the agency mail them out. If they mail something to you, they know where you live...not a good thing.) 

Recently, when I had a go round with a particularly nasty and unethical agency, I went onto their website to examine their affiliations. I noted that though operating in Canada, the agency was affiliated with the ACA (Amercian Collectors Association). I filed a complaint against this agency, as well as the creditor themselves with the Government of Alberta. I then contacted the ACA via email and detailed the various offenses committed by this agency. (Including giving my personal information to individuals not in the agencies employ, and having these individuals contacting my residence requesting that I phone the agency, at my cost!!!) After I filed these complaints, magically the phone calls stopped...

I had told the agency to cease all contact in written form prior to this, but they continued their harrassment. It would seem sometimes you need to go above these people's heads. Unfortunately, the agencies themselves often are more concerned with their money than with your legal rights. Remember also that knowledge is power. Do not let yourself be ignorant of the regulations governing these people.

Most importantly, always stay calm. These agents are making $22K at best in a year. They aren't these powerful men and women in designer suits looking down their noses at you. They are kids in jeans and sweatshirts, wanting to ensure they know where their next cheeseburger is coming from. You are better than these vermin, not the other way round. Laugh at them and above all, never let them destory your day. Make it a game for yourself to see how angry you can make them. (I actually got one lady so upset she yelled "Never call here again!!" I giggled and immediately replyed "Perfect, you do the same!!" and hung up the phone!) DON'T be afraid to hang up on them the instant you know who it is. YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE'S ABUSE!!! Don't let them intimidate you. Remember, most of them don't have the education, intelligence of basic moral fibre you do. Why let someone like that get you down??



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D. Browning


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 2:36am

DianeB,

I find that the easiest method of dealing with the problem is a) If you owe then money, own that fact. Running is not an answer, nor a solution.

So....does this mean that you pay them?  From the way that I read the next line it kinda sounds like you do not.

One of my favorite lines with collection agents has always been: "Honey, I owe over 45K in student loans...you're small little mark isn't really going to hurt me, now is it?"

Also from this next line......it sounds like you are running from debt.

Another very good technique is to ensure that you offer no information regarding yourself at any time, and demand details of the debt.  (Write them down yourself, rather than having the agency mail them out. If they mail something to you, they know where you live...not a good thing.) 

But this line in particular made feel like I was having deja vu......

You are better than these vermin, not the other way round. Laugh at them and above all, never let them destory your day. Make it a game for yourself to see how angry you can make them. 

Gosh..... I don't think that sounds like owning the debt.  It seems to be contradicting.

Welcome DianeB.......??



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: DianeB
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 6:27am

Silence2long

I find it interesting you jumped on me so quickly not knowing anything about me, or the situation that backstoried the post above.  You state attacked from the first line, which was if you incurred the debt, own it, to the last, relating to an incident where my ex incurred a debt in my name. (And yes, I refused to pay it. Should I have allowed myself to be held responsible for his debts?)

As far as your comments:

So....does this mean that you pay them?  From the way that I read the next line it kinda sounds like you do not.

Given that I am unalbe to walk, let alone work and writing this tirade to you has necessitated more than one break, no I am not in a financial position to pay them off. However, I remain in constant contact with NSL and ensure they are abreast of any and all new developments in my situation. Moreover, I work with the agents to apply for all aid I am eligible for, and in that I do not ever avoid dealing with this sitaution, I own my responsibilities to the utmost of my capabilities at this time.

As far as you reading into my post to discern that my words reveal a sinister avoidance of all debts ever incurred in my life, all I can say is that I wouldn't judge someone on so little information.  Given that I have, through my life in it's entirety, been an honest, loving and moral person, I found the immediate condemnation a little hard to swallow. All I was attempting to do was take something that at the time was actually rather a heart-breaking experience, and perhaps find a little good in it by turning it into something that could possibly help others. I did not expect to become the subject of anger and judgement for my efforts.



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D. Browning


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 7:52am

DianeB

I would recommend that you read your post again..... because it is how you came across......as for immediate condemnation.... again read my post.... as it highlights..... what I found hard to swallow.... I can only read what you post.

As for your post in the other thread.... yes it is useful.... not to me personally...but to others possibly.

Do I post useful info. on this site.......maybe sometimes..... but probably not that often...... Do I mostly rant........ yep I do.

DO I OFFER SUPPORT.... to those who need it......Almost ALWAYS.

Just for the record......I work with people with physical disabilities and have the utmost respect for what they must endure, as well as empathy and compassion for their situation.

My own mother can be at any given time laid up in bed for days at a time to a week..... before the pain meds level her out.  Can the women work...... not in that state.  Can she go on disability.... nope she can't.  Can she pay her bills without the use of credit in these situtations.........NOPE.

DO I think that you should have to pay the 45, 000 back... well NO not unless you can work.  Should others that are given the debt sentence and cannot pay it back.... because of other circumstances, or are unable to work making a decent wage... have to pay it back.. well no to that one too.  Should people even have to pay for an education by taking out LOANS.........NO !!!!

SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY CONSUMER DEBT..........ALWAYS.

 



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: DianeB
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 8:50am

To make a statement that people should always do anything is erroneous, at best.  Situations differ, and sometimes *gasp* companies make mistakes in consumer matters that create a non-valid debt. To suggest that all consumer debt should be paid further suggests that no company serving a consumer makes such mistakes, or that if they do, the responsibility for the error lies with the consumer.

When I am made responsible for a debt I did not give consent for, nor for that matter been made aware of up in to the collection agency contact, I do not believe I should be willing to reconcile the matter financially.  I did speak to the agents and explain the situation, however found them to be uninterested in the reasons I felt the debt was erroneous, and far more attentive when it came to insulting my character.  Now, that was a consumer debt, however I feel completely justified in not making payment on it as it was not incurred or consented to by me!! Should that situation fall under your blanket statement that all consumer debts must be paid?

What about the single mother who's soon to be ex-husband racks up her credit card buying things for the new girlfriend? Or the single father in the same boat? Should they be made responsible for the actions of their vindictive partner? Should they allow their children to eat nothing but peanut butter sandwiches because "all consumer debts must be paid?" I'm sorry, but I fail to see the validity in your arguments.

Again, I will say if you have incurred a debt, it is your responsibility to own up to that, and rectify it in whatever way is POSSIBLE. If all that you can do is make a phone call, then so be it...at least you did that. However, in matters where one feels they are not accountable, and validly are not accountable, I do not think they should be forced or intimidated into making payments.  In these types of cases, reports should be filed with the government, which I also mentioned in my earlier post.

What you choose to read into my words is not something I am responsible for. I stand by every word.

 



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D. Browning


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 9:15am

Islander...can we converse in one thread so we are on the same page?



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 9:18am

Ooops Sorry....seems we cannot edit in this thread....disregard above name slip.

DianeB....can we converse in one thread so we are on the same page?



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 9:28am

I stand by my words that people should ALWAYS have to pay "their" consumer debt.....

The soon to be ex-husband should not be in possesion of the single mom's credit card.  If he is then that would be an arguement for fraud.... and the appropriate measures should be taken...... in all honestly to yourself.... did you actually think that I thought that would fall under the "blanket" statement that I made.



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: Shaymus
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 12:06pm

Hi Trish,

I had the same experience a few years ago with NCO and them calling me at my work place.  I can only speak regarding my own experience but what was successful for me was reporting them to my Provincial Department of Justice(Consumer affairs).  I had documented the phone calls and what they had said and the Agent at Consumer Affairs immediately took action and the contract was taken away from NCO.  It was a provincial loan but if this is a federal loan you can report them to the HRDC and they may handle it for you.  I had to report my federal loan collection agency as well and HRDC immediately handled it for me and were very pleasant about it.  I wish you  much luck.

Shaymus



Posted By: Mersan
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 5:14pm
Silence not to be too picky here but consumer debts are dischargeable.  Student loans are not.  That would seem to be the issue.


Posted By: silence2long
Date Posted: 02/August/2005 at 5:57pm

Mersan I know that consumer debts are dischargeable if one should decide to go bankrupt.... but I believe that the system is a little mixed up.  People who desire an education to improve their skills and obtain a higher paying job/career are sucked into the system.... and more often then not... unknowing what they are getting into.... and they cannot discharge that ???

Consumer debt..... people know when they sign on the dotted line for that new DVD player or those Tommy jeans... or that vacation on their credit card of choice exactly what they are doing.... or overspending at Christmas... or using one to pay the other.  I feel that if one dodges these debts...they have no intentions of paying the student loans.



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: silence2long
Date 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...



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: White Tiger
Date 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


Posted By: DianeB
Date 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.

 

 



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D. Browning


Posted By: White Tiger
Date Posted: 03/August/2005 at 5:22am

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



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Sherrylee


Posted By: silence2long
Date 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 !



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: DianeB
Date Posted: 03/August/2005 at 3:15pm

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

 

 



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D. Browning


Posted By: Mersan
Date 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.



Posted By: silence2long
Date 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

 

 

 

 



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: silence2long
Date 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.



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silence is a form of fear...fear of the unknown...has kept me silent too long


Posted By: polyhymnia61
Date 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



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Home is where you are allowed to prosper.


Posted By: copperfrog
Date 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.


Posted By: Battie
Date 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.


Posted By: paulaffleck
Date 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


Posted By: missmydad2004
Date 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. 


Posted By: missmydad2004
Date 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.


Posted By: bengalmom
Date 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.
 


Posted By: SolveStudentDebt
Date 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.

http://www.solvestudentdebt.com" rel="nofollow - solvestudentdebt.com


Posted By: Noreen
Date 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?


Posted By: bengalmom
Date 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. 


Posted By: SolveStudentDebt
Date 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.

http://www.solvestudentdebt.com" rel="nofollow - solvestudentdebt.com



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