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 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 have been forced to cancel programs and layoff hundreds if not thousands of full-time and contract instructors.
Again, the Liberal government has messed up the education environment.
QuoteReplyTopic: NCO - nuisance calls only!!!?? Posted: 09/November/2004 at 4:03pm
Hi all
Just found your site today - its fantastic, and very very comforting to know "the truth is out there"
I "went back to school" in 1999 after being a stay at home mom, and
after my divorce. I graduated from high school in'78, but had to
take academic math, english and biology in order to take nursing. (by
the way, the upgrading I had to get student loan for, because I was
stupid enough to NOT quit school - all those who didn't graduate took
courses for free)
Just before I started nursing I found out I have ADHD, which explained
the fact that I was a walking talking "rain man" all my life (I am
sometimes a genius, sometimes a complete idiot!) Long story
short, I couldn't complete the courses - even after requests for
assistance with my mental disability
So, never having had a student loan before, when the RBC started taking
payments out of my account for "student loan", I assumed I was paying
my student loans. I did recieve a few notices from them for
payments, but ignored them, thinking "I'm paying the stupid things,
what the H-ll is their problem!?"
Anyways, I got laid off so applied for interest relief (which I
previously was unaware that I could do - see what I mean?) I just got
the letter today saying I don't qualify, which I found unbelievable
because my EI is less than $1000/mth.
So, I called the 1-888 number to ask why, and they tell me because my
loans are in collections (2 out of 3). The good news is the
Canada Student Loans(RBC) both agreed to really low payments, starting
in January. The National Student loan (CIBC)I left a message, but
right after I hung up, lo and behold, NCO calls me to collect National
Student Loan. She took all my info, and proceeded to degrade me
for not paying anything on this for 2 years, and told me to borrow the
money. Told her I'd try to start payments in January, that I had
to buy oil to heat my home, I already wasn't having a Christmas.
Then after she repeated herself many times, I reminded her that I
wasn't aware of the loan (they had a different address - my fathers in
Ontario who was used as a "next of kin" on my application) She said it
wasn't her problem. I told her that I had a mental disability,
and that some things weren't as obvious to me as to other people.
Then all hell broke loose, she started talking to me like I'm a
complete idiot, repeating herself, yelling. I asked for a
supervisor, who continued to yell at me about my "suposed" disability,
mocking me. I knew then the conversation was useless, so I very
politely asked for his name and an address to write to (as
he continued to make fun of my disability) I take that so personally,
because I don't tell too many people, and it wasn't an excuse, it was
an honest explanation for not paying it for the last 2 years.
I've read some of the others horror stories, and it is unbelievable to
me what they get away with. I felt like asking him if he made fun
of people with down syndrome or people in a wheelchairs. I feel
bad enough about myself, lack of money, and especially all this money I
owe - for nothing!!
I know they can't harrass you, but what about making fun of someone's
disability? What would I say the infraction was on the complaint
form?
Any help or information would be helpful. Thanks
Smile (I'm trying)
Sue
When the bank starts to arbitrarily take money from a bank account, this means that the debt is at least 90-120 days in arrears - and on it;s way to collection. Or, if the account is outsourced to third-party, they bank will still continue to off-set monies in your bank account (providing the account is at the bank you borrowed the loan from) for as long as it remains open.
Your situation is definely a traditional default case, I am afraid. If you would like help geting some relief, feel free to write to me or call.
Best of luck!
Johnny
Solve Student Debt specializes in solutions for students and graduates in student loan default, and those at risk of defaulting.
Thanks guys
Just to update, I went to take money out of my bank account this
morning, and it wouldn't let me (I had $150) and showed -23?? So I just
called RBC, whoever the nice people I talked to yesterday to work
out my low payments "forgot" to let the computer
know, so they froze my account. Now my phone payment is going to
bounce and they'll cut off my phone. Just what I need when I'm
deperatley looking for work. I don't know about eveyone else, but
it just seems that Murphy's Law is in full effect, every day brings a
new and improved little piece of BS. Just when I think I'm ready
to dust myself off and face a new day, someone throws a handful of
sawdust my way.
Mr collector out there, hows this for an "excuse" (my term is real life
honest and true BS) I can just hear you now " It is not my
concern that you can't manage your money , or that you are willing to
co-operate, or that you make less than $1000 a month and need
atleast $1500 to survive. Now, if you just make a lump sum
payment right away, we can work with you.... Just borrow the money from
yur parents and we'll clear this up. " (No, that sounds way too nice
and civil, use your imagination......)
I can picture the job interview "Mr Blank, do your friends think
your're an a--hole? Great! Can you yell? Really loud?
Great! Were you a school yard bully? How about feeling superior to all
others? Just pretend that you are collecting money for starving
people around the world, but replace all the "pleases: with
"right now", and replace understanding with disgust.? We fight
for the cause - commission!! If someone is depressed, even on the verge
of suiside, can you inch them closer to the edge? Do you have a
problem with lying? Invasion of privacy? Super!! Your're
hired. Just a little inside knowledge, once you're in here, you
can fix your own personal credit rating, we'll turn a blind eye.
Welcome to Vultures and Vermon Unlimited!!
Just my imagination,...,running away with me..."
Smile
Sue
I can picture the job interview "Mr Blank, do your friends think your're an a--hole? Great! Can you yell? Really loud? Great! Were you a school yard bully? How about feeling superior to all others? Just pretend that you are collecting money for starving people around the world, but replace all the "pleases: with "right now", and replace understanding with disgust? We fight for the cause - commission!! If someone is depressed, even on the verge of suiside, can you inch them closer to the edge? Do you have a problem with lying? Invasion of privacy? Super!! Your're hired. Just a little inside knowledge, once you're in here, you can fix your own personal credit rating, we'll turn a blind eye. Welcome to Vultures and Vermon Unlimited!!
I love that! How utterly true! "Can you yell? Really loud?" ROFL. Thanks for my morning laugh, Suze.
Just thought of this after reading the other posts.
Before Mr. Sunshine hung up on my (well, he did scream "have a nice day
and said my first and last name before he slammed it down)
Anyways, he kept asking me if I was acknowledging this debt (not
asking, demanding really) and this was when I decided I only wanted his
name and address, so I didn't answer him
So, does this mean that I technically have't acknowledged this
debt? I just read another post that said after 6 years its
cleared, its been almost 5 year since I got the loan.
Just wondering
Thanks
Sue
Suze, I can't tell you how many people we talk to every day that are in the exact same position as your self. I empathize with you, however like Johnny says you've got your self into a bit of a predicament and now you have to play the cards you were dealt. Yes it isn't right that the RBC people didn't update their system but they aren't out to get you, it really probably was human error. And I couldn't agree with you more on the actions of NCO. That is the exact reason you will find complaints like that all over this system however just because NCO employees don't seem to care that they are dealing with people on the other end of the phone doesn't give you a reason to assume we are all like that. There is a reason some of us don't work with that firm. And no, I didn't get hired here because I "was a school yard bully". My education background is soley with animals so this was an unexpected career choice that I am good at because I care about the people I deal with. My biggest beef is with people like you that stereotype collectors. Let's remember that we didn't put you in this situation and you should chalk it up to a tough learning experience. You are right to talk to supervisors, frankly go the VP of the company if need be but word of warning it is not legal to tape record someone with out asking permission. If they are a respectful collector they won't mind a bit and my put them in their place if they have a bit of a tude so go for it. But please do realize that we are not all out to get you and we are here to help you so please remember that the next time you have to deal with a collection agency. Everyone seems to love Johnny so much and he seems to konw a bit of what he's talking about so we can't all be that bad. By the way, read your student loan contract, the payments they were taking out of your account originally were probably set up when you signed your contract and most students seem to forget that day at the bank. Good luck in the future and I hope things work out for you. Wether you believe me or not.
As Islander stated it is perfectly legal to record any conversation you are having. The reason a collector/business must notify the the customer/client that a recording is taking place is because someone other than the people having the conversation may be listening to it, or may listen to it in the future. That would require a court order to record.
On another note, incase it has been overlooked, this is a student debt site. That would lend to the probability that some people here are educated. We are broke not ignorant.
have you looked into getting your debt forgiven on medical grounds ?depending on your situation it might be worth investigating. couldn't hurt to try, right ? i think the disability or medical condition has to be either severe or permanent and you may have to prove financial hardship depending on the province where you live.
professionals built the titanic but amateurs built the ark...
Do you expect any one of us to believe a d***word you are saying?
People can see through "nice". Bottom line is your goal is the same as every other collector out there. Get your commissions and move on to the next. Perhaps you are so nice so that's why you work for a less aggressive agency who may not be collecting so well????
I realize you are trying to be reassuring/consoling....come on...trying to change the world of collections....maybe you should look into that since you are not that bad. Good luck....you are obviously new to your job. Everyone gets crusty at some point.
As for the disability thing, well, its something that I'm still trying
to accept on a personal level. Also, because its not visible, it
just seems like its too minor. Mind you, it has affected my
life. Most people who know me think I'm very intelligent, and in
most ways I am - its all the little (important, but little) things that
set me apart. Give me something really involved and difficult and
I'll speed right through it, give me something simple and minor and out
comes rain man. I mean I'm in my 40's and I'm terminally
restless, the absent minded professor, I lack in social skills and I
have no concept of time passing, etc... If I wasn't like
this my entire life I'd think that I was in the final stages of
alzeimers!
That is why Guy Smiley at collections upset me so much, I still find
this wound too fresh and don't like to share this information, so for
an "alleged" professional to mock me, I think crap, who else is going
to respond like that to me
I am totally clueless (me?? clueless??) about the 5 W's. Do
you know who I would speak to about getting the loan forgiven?
HRDC? I know that this is termed permanent according the the
diagnostics for mental illness and disorders. Proving financial
hardship would not be a problem. I just need a few hints to get
me started
Thanks
Sue
I was watching a segment on CNN the other day where they mentioned NASA was running MRI and CT scans on the real rain man to find out what makes him special. Very amazing man indeed.
For those who don't know who the real rain man is here's a link to a news article. Fascinating!
Cure...to quote a phrase popular on this side of the ocean: ON YOUR BIKE.
Stop denying what happened to us, and, most importantly, stop blaming us. We are not anti-social people; we are adults; we have been taught manners. We tried to be reasonable; it didn't work.
When will you get it through your head that we have all tried to do exactly what you said AND IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD??????????????
We are on this forum because we have done everything we could and nothing worked; not because we are looking for an easy out. Negotiation and compromise does not work with you people; we need to protect our homes and families and our mental health or nobody will get any money ever. We also come here to get reassurance that we are not the lowlifes your agents are determined to convince us that we are.
As most of us are in this predicament due to errors committed by the banks, the usual tactics employed by collectors are even MORE upsetting because we didn't do anything wrong. You are talking to intelligent, educated adults with families and responsibilities, not con artists and sleezebags...or...________________. (insert the name of your favourite bad person here!)
I can sure relate, the ADHD part of life.. You describe things well!
It's hard for others to even come close to understanding. I'm a older,
in my 50s and things are definitely not getting better (sorry not
trying to worry you) I had problems when I was younger, We didn't have
anything called ADHD. Kids with these kind of problems were considered
"stupid", Lazy", "Trouble Makers" and other such things.. As I grew older I managed to do
a great job of finding my own ways to make things work, to compensate
for my short comings.
I learned about the term "ADHD" when my son was diagnosed with it
among other things. I did a lot of reading on the topic and when to
some meeting to listen to speakers talking about their ADHD
experiences.. At last I understood my problem! Sad to say, our medical
system has been of little help. In my province they do not diagnose
adults for mental health problems unless the person goes really bad, break the
law or something.. all they have to offer me is talking and pills.
I was a "military brat", my dad was in the air force. In some ways that
helped me manage things as we never stayed in one place very long. On
the other hand, it had the bad side that kept me from really
belonging any where.
Despite trying extra hard all the time, I never really fit in, I was
always the geek, the weirdo.. all I knew was that I was different. When I started working, I did best at
jobs where I worked
by myself as it made life easier.. I was a good talker and was able to get some good jobs
without really being qualified. All the time, I had to work harder and
try harder to do things right and
managed to pull it off.. A lot of my life was a
lie, I was the "great pretender" never letting other see or know about
my problems. (Ok, I was a great lier) The time came when I could no longer do it..
it
was too hard and took more energy than I had.
So here I am, after a couple of break down, living in "Student Loan
Hell", being punished for a loan I shouldn't have, never wanted. The
student loan for the correspondence course that was going to solve my
employment problems and make my life wonderful.. Then I reality
struck, I know that I could pass this course, it was way over my head,
and there was no one to help. I got really sick, mentally and then
physically, one
big screw up that has hung over me for close to 15
years..
I really relate to when you say "its not visible". in
reference to the disability.. The system has a very hard time
of accepting this kind of disability because they can not see the
injury. We have all our arms and legs and appear to function normally.
In some ways, we can and are very intelligent... The
problem come when you try to put it all together, work with other
people and fit in, etc. I can no longer handle the rat race, the
competing
for jobs.. things are moving too fast, I just can't take it, much of it
makes no sense to me. Without an education, no papers, no marketable
skills what can I
do.. I'm so stressed out most of the time and to handle that my
body shuts down, they call it depression.. I can't sleep, my
brain won't stop thinking... even though I'm tired, I can't sleep.. Why
else would I be still up from yesterday typing this?
Pills you say... yes but they take what little life I have.. If
this doesn't make sense, don't worry, It's just a product of ADHD and
some OCD...
but there is really nothing wrong with me.. I'm just a no good
bum who made myself this way so I could get out of paying my SL..
ask any bill collector, they'll explain it all to you. All
I need is to take some more "meds"!
Yes, I laugh at it, what else can I do? If I was to take it seriously I would be much worse..
has info on disability benefits (bc and federal) which may or may not be of use. i like the way this site is laid out and use it for reference quite often.
casey, suze, i can relate to the "hidden" disability quite well. i have carpal tunnel and fibromyalgia and chronic depression. my stress level is through the roof, the fibromyalgia makes getting out of bed excruciatingly painful, i can't concentrate on anything. my memory is shot, as is my self confidence and my ability to perform many normal tasks. yet the government does not recognize my doctor's diagnoses as being permanent so i am sol with getting any assistance or debt forgiveness though i obviously cannot work. we should start a support group - people who have been ignored by the system.
hope the info helps. good luck to all.
professionals built the titanic but amateurs built the ark...
Wow, where to start...
For the person who sent the Rainman link, is that the collector? If it is, I won't waste my time
For the person with fibromyalgia, I know someone with it who is on
disability. It took over 2 years for her to get approved, and she
relied on welfare until it did, but that is her only medical problem.
(she was 38 when she applied)
Casey, I was an army brat, and married a military man, and was a stay
at home mom until my late 30's. I know for a fact that is how I
managed to get by in life. My poor kids were late for school at
lot, I would lose thier homework, forgot doctors appointments etc - so
we all have a great sense of humor.
I am supposed to take Ritalin, and I do, if I remember.(I read an
article that they are addictive, which is a joke! Maybe to someone
without this) I guess some provinces have ADHD coaches to help
people like us, but not here. Maybe they do in your province.
I went back to school in my late 30's, I made high marks - it was
getting through sitting in a classroom all day. I felt like a kid
because the only way I made it through highschool was to skip school,
and here I was a mature adult, and I didn't want to be there.
Sitting someone like me in an auditorium like classroom is a disaster
waiting to happen. I have taken nursing, accounting, computers,
welding, electronics, precision sheet metal fabrication, I was trained
in a medical lab doing venipuncture and ECKG's. And I did very
well on all of them, its just the nursing that I quit.( and that is a
story in itself)
You know yourself, when I said Rainman, we don't walk around like
that. We appear perfectly normal, for me its when I engage in
conversation that I get the "look". NO, not turretts, its just
that it doesn't "flow", I get sidetracked, I can't concentrate so if
someone is talking too long (or boring me) I'm off to Jamiaca in my
mind, or I ramble, I say too much or too little. So, a lot of
times I'll just smile and nod my head and people think I'm a snob or
that good old "anti social" because I don't speak. If I interupt
someone, it is honestly because I know if I don't , I'll just forget
what I wanted to ask. So, for people who call us impulsive, its
not impulsive, its just that we've learned the hard way that if you
don't act on something when you think about it, theres high odds that
whatever it is won't get done for a long long time - if ever. I
cringe when someone asks me "why" I did/didn't do or say
something. Because I have no sense of time, I don't remember
dates, what year etc.. Its all just too overwhelming to
explain. And, when I try to explain it makes things worse because
there is a large difference between what I'm thinking in my head and
what comes out of my mouth. I'm an unintentional stand up
comedian, if I didn't have my sense of humor I'd be in a looney bin!!
Anyways, I know this forum is not for this, but thanks for the support
and info. I want to work, I want to pay my bills and clear up my
credit. I also want to win the lottery, but ...... LOL
Sue
"My brain has a mind of its own!"
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NCO - nuisance calls only!!!??
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suzeyque wrote:
How utterly true! "Can you yell? Really loud?" ROFL. Thanks for my morning laugh, Suze. 
